Leah Ayres

Leah Ayres (born Leah Simpson; May 28, 1957) is an American actress, best known for her role as Janice Kent in the sports thriller Bloodsport and as Valerie Bryson on the daytime serial The Edge of Night.

Leah Ayres
Leah Ayres at the Chiller Theatre Expo in 2017
Born
Leah Simpson

(1957-05-28) May 28, 1957
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Other namesLeah Ayres Hendrix; Leah Kalish
Alma materTufts University
New York University
Pacific Oaks College
OccupationActress
Years active1979–1998
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1990)​
Children1

Early years

Ayres was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She attended both Tufts University and New York University, earning a degree in dance from the latter.[1] Ayers also earned an M.A. degree from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California in 1996.[2]

Television

Ayres' first major role was as Valerie Bryson on the daytime serial The Edge of Night in the early 1980s. In 1984, she starred in Velvet,[3] an ABC/Aaron Spelling television movie opposite Sheree J. Wilson, Shari Belafonte and Mary Margaret Humes. In primetime, she co-starred as Linda Bowman on the abbreviated third season of ABC's 9 to 5. She also played Jill Schrader on the HBO original comedy 1st & Ten in 1986-87.

In 1990 she replaced Maureen McCormick for the role of Marcia Brady on the short lived series The Bradys. She also made guest appearances on such series as Hotel, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Married... with Children and Who's the Boss?. In 1995, she had a recurring role as Tara Flynn on three episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger.

Film

Ayres starred in Bloodsport (1988) alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme[4] and played Michelle in the 1981 film The Burning. She also appeared in Eddie Macon's Run (1983).[1]

Later years

She is now known as Leah Kalish and was the Program Director for Yoga Ed. in Los Angeles. She is also the co-creator of the Yoga Kit for Kids and Games for Life, a book of games and visualizations for children. She also wrote and stars in Living Arts/Gaiam’s Yoga Fitness for Kids videos. She is now the creator of Yoga Playgrounds and developing children's television programs.

Personal life

Ayres and her husband, TV screenwriter and producer Bruce Kalish, have a son, Mackenzie Austin Kalish, who was born on June 21, 1993.

Filmography
Film and Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1979Love of LifeChristy BringhamDaytime drama
1979Mother and Me, M.D.Barrie TuckerTelevision pilot episode
1979All That JazzNurse CapobiancoFeature film
1981The BurningMichelleFeature film
1981–83The Edge of NightValerie BrysonDaytime drama
19839 to 5Linda BowmanMain role (7 episodes)
1983Eddie Macon's RunChrisFeature film
1984Fantasy IslandLauren SpenserEpisode: "Sing Melancholy Baby/The Last Dogfight"
1984VelvetCass DaytonTelevision film
1984The A-TeamJenny OlsenEpisode: "Double Heat"
1984The Love BoatNancy SidonEpisode: "The Buck Stops Here/For Bettor or Worse/Bet on It"
1984The Love BoatArlene CortEpisode: "Country Blues/A Matter of Taste/Frat Brothers Forever"
1985Finder of Lost LovesStacey BarnesEpisode: "Deadly Silence"
1985HotelJillEpisode: "Identities"
1985Crazy Like a FoxElaineEpisode: "If the Shoe Fits"
1985–86St. ElsewhereMona PolitoRecurring role (5 episodes)
1986We're Puttin' on the RitzMicki ClineTelevision film
1986Too Close for ComfortJenniferEpisode: "Ya Gotta Have Heart"
19871st & TenJill SchraderMain role (11 episodes)
198721 Jump StreetSusan ChadwickEpisode: "Don't Pet the Teacher"
1987The Oldest RookieNina ZagaEpisode: "An Internal Affairs Affair"
1987Hot Child in the CityRachel WagnerFeature film
1988BloodsportJanice KentFeature film
1988Police Story: The Watch CommanderNancy MorganTelevision film
1989Who's the Boss?PamEpisode: "Heather Can Wait"
1989Freddy's NightmaresRoxanne WodehouseEpisode: "Welcome to Springwood"
1990The BradysMarcia Brady-LoganMain role (6 episodes)
1990Capital NewsStephanie SellarsEpisode: "Finished? Not Dunne"
1991Who's the Boss?Pam HarperEpisode: "Party Politics"
1991P.S. I Luv UNicole BentonEpisode: "The Honeymooners"
1992Baby TalkLois HermanEpisode: "Broadway Baby"
1992Baby TalkLois HermanEpisode: "The Prince and the Pooper"
1992The PlayerSandyFeature film
1992Married... with ChildrenBettyEpisode: "The Gas Station Show"
1992RavenEllenEpisode: "Is Someone Crazy in Here or Is It Me"
1995Walker, Texas RangerTara FlynnEpisode: "Case Closed"
1995Walker, Texas RangerTara FlynnEpisode: "Point After"
1995Walker, Texas RangerTara FlynnEpisode: "Evil in the Night"
1998The Journey of Allen StrangeMs. SymondsEpisode: "Battle"
1998SlidersDarlaEpisode: "Slidecage"

References
  1. Buck, Jerry (April 30, 2000). "Sassy free spirit joins '9 to 5' secretarial pool". Pennsylvania, Indiana. The Indiana Gazette. p. 16. Retrieved February 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0043994/trivia
  3. "(TV listing)". California, San Bernardino. The San Bernardino County Sun. December 15, 1994. p. 57. Retrieved February 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "(TV listing)". South Carolina, Greenwood. The Index-Journal. September 16, 1990. p. 58. Retrieved February 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.