- published: 20 Dec 2010
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Mary Lucy Denise "Marilu" Henner (born April 6, 1952) is an American actress, producer, radio host, and author. She is best known for her role as Elaine O'Connor Nardo on the sitcom Taxi from 1978 to 1983.
Henner was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Loretta Callis (born Nikoleta Kalogeropoulos), who died of arthritis at age 58 and Joseph Henner (whose surname was originally Pudlowski), who died of a heart attack at age 52. Her maternal grandparents were Greek and her paternal grandparents were Polish. Henner was raised on the northwest side of Chicago in the Logan Square neighborhood. She is the third of six children. Her mother was president of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts and ran the Henner Dance School for 20 years. Henner took her first dance class at age two then went on to teaching dance at her family's studio when she was 14 and choreographed shows at local high schools and colleges until leaving the Chicago area during her third year of college.
Andrew Geoffrey "Andy" Kaufman (January 17, 1949 – May 16, 1984) was an American entertainer, actor, and performance artist. While often referred to as a comedian, Kaufman did not consider himself to be one. He disdained telling jokes and engaging in comedy as it was traditionally understood, referring to himself instead as a "song-and-dance man". Pranks and elaborate ruses were major elements of his career. His body of work maintains a cult following and he continues to be respected for his original material, performance style, and unflinching commitment to character.
Kaufman was born on January 17, 1949 in New York City, the first son of Janice (née Bernstein) and Stanley Kaufman. He grew up in a middle-class Jewish family in Great Neck, Long Island, New York, and began performing at age 9. He attended the now defunct two-year Grahm Junior College in Boston; after graduating in 1971, he began performing stand-up comedy at various small clubs along the East Coast.