American actress Lesley Ann Warren is well known for her parts in the television series “Desperate Housewives” and the movies “Victor/Victoria” and “Pure Country.” Warren had her Broadway debut in the musical “110 in the Shade” in 1963, her TV debut in “Cinderella” in 1965, and her film debut in “The Happiest Millionaire” in 1967. Warren won the Golden Globe for Best Actress for the TV miniseries “79 Park Avenue.” She had an early interest in the entertainment industry because she was a singer’s daughter. She received encouragement from her parents while she pursued her ballet training at the School of American Ballet and later at the Actors Studio. She began her career in dance before moving on to acting, where she had a successful career that lasted more than five decades. She is currently in her seventies but shows no signs of slowing down. She continues to appear in movies and TV shows, with her most recent being in “American Pets” in 2018. She has received nominations during her career for a number of honors, including the Emmy Award and the Academy Award.
Early Childhood & Life
Lesley Warren was born in New York City on August 16, 1946, to vocalist Margot and real estate agent William Warren.
She received her education at the High School of Music & Art and the Professional Children’s School. Following her training at the Actors Studio, she attended the School of American Ballet. She was the youngest candidate ever to be accepted by the acting school when she was 17 years old.
Career of Lesley Ann Warren
Lesley Warren, a ballet dancer by training, started her career in that field. She was fortunate to have the chance to change her attention to acting. The musical “110 in the Shade,” was based on N. Richard Nash’s 1954 play “The Rainmaker,” was where she made her Broadway debut. She performed in the musical “Drat! The Cat!” in 1965, and her performance was praised.
She made her small-screen debut in 1965 in the title role in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s television movie “Cinderella.” Her acting career’s first significant achievement was that.
She played Bonda Jo Weaver, a guest character, in four episodes of the television show “Dr. Kildare” in 1966. She made her acting debut in 1967 as Cordy in the musical movie “The Happiest Tycoon,” which was based on the real-life story of millionaire Anthony J. Drexel Biddle.
She portrayed Alice Bower in the 1968 Walt Disney production “The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band,” which was based on the life of Laura Bower Van Nuys. Director Michael O’Herlihy oversaw it.
She was chosen to play Dana Lambert, the principal character in the television series “Mission: Impossible,” conceived and produced by Bruce Geller, in 1970. She was, however, dismissed after a year because it was felt that she was unqualified for the position. But this had little effect on her career because she was a leading lady in several TV movies, series, and miniseries during the 1970s.
In the 1973 musical “Scarlett,” which was based on Margaret Mitchell’s novel “Gone with the Wind,” Warren portrayed Scarlett O’Hara. It featured the romance between Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler. Although the producer hoped to present it on Broadway, it was never realized because the musical garnered negative reviews.
She played Linda in the 1975 television series “S.W.A.T.”, which was among her most popular performances of the decade. The Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) activities in a city were the subject of this criminal drama series. Her performance in the 1976 TV comedy series “Snip” received favorable reviews.
She portrayed Sally in David Hemmings’ suspense thriller “Race for the Yankee Zephyr” from 1981. An original story by author Everett De Roche served as the basis for it. She received tremendous praise for her portrayal of Norma Cassidy, the gangster’s companion, in the musical comedy “Victor/Victoria” in 1982.
In the 1990 television miniseries “Family of Spies,” also known as “Family of Spies: The Walker Spy Ring,” she played Barbara Walker. It was based on the life of US Navy officer John A. Walker Jr., a Soviet spy for 17 years, and was directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal.
She was cast in a significant supporting role as a nymphomaniac in the 1994 movie “Color of Night.” She was criticized for her performance, and the movie bombed at the box office.
From 2005 through 2011, Warren starred in the television show “Desperate Housewives.” She portrayed Sophie Bremmer, a recurring character, in this comedy-mystery TV show that ran for eight seasons on ABC.
She starred in Barry W. Blaustein’s comedic-drama movie “Peep World” in 2010. The critics, however, were unimpressed with the movie.
In the 2013 biopic of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, “Jobs,” Lesley Warren played Clara Jobs. Beginning with his undergraduate years and ending with the invention and launch of the iPod in 2001, the movie focused on Steve Jobs’ life. A screening of the movie took place during the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
Her most recent TV projects include “Gigi Does It” and “Community.” She played Cornelia in three episodes of “Blunt Talk” in 2016. She portrayed Dina in the TV show “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” from 2016 to 2017.
She most recently appeared in the films “I Am Michael,” “The Sphere and the Labyrinth,” “Between Us,” “It Snows All the Time,” “Life Support,” and “American Pets” in 2015.
Bigger Works of Lesley Ann Warren
Critics praised Lesley Warren for her performance in one of her early pieces, “Drat! The Cat.” It was about a girl who, fed up with obstacles in her path to a job, turns into a “cat burglar” and robs the houses of affluent people.
One of Warren’s best performances was as Norma Cassidy in the British-American musical comedy movie “Victor/Victoria.” She was able to establish her acting talent thanks to this part.
Individual Life of Lesley Ann Warren
In 1967, Lesley Warren wed producer Jon Peters. 1968 saw the birth of their son Christopher Peters, who went on to become an actor and producer. In 1974, Warren and Peters divorced.
She wed advertising executive Ronald Taft in 2000.
Lesley Ann Warren’s Net Worth
American singer and actress Lesley Ann Warren has a $6 million net worth. Known for her roles in movies including “The Happiest Millionaire,” “Songwriter,” “The Limey,” and “Victor/Victoria,” the latter of which earned her an Academy Award nod for Best Supporting Actress, Lesley Ann Warren is a well-known actress. She also received praise for her performances in the television shows “79 Park Avenue” and “Mission: Impossible.” Several television movies, such as “Betrayal,” “Apology,” “Baja Oklahoma,” and “Family of Spies,” are among Warren’s other credits.