Who is Lauren Tewes?
Lauren Tewes is an American actress, best known for her role as Julie McCoy in “the Love Boat,” a TV comedy anthology that aired originally on ABC.
Lauren Tewes Age, Early Life, Family, and Education Background
Cynthia Lauren Tewes was born under the Scorpio Zodiac sign on 26 October 1953, in Braddock, Pennsylvania, USA, which makes her 67 years old in 2020. She is an American by nationality and belongs to white ethnicity, one of four children of Joseph Robert Tewes and Joan Woods; her father is a German immigrant while her mother is of Irish descent. Lauren’s father worked as a wood pattern maker.
Tewes spent the first eight years of her life in the industrial Trafford borough near Pittsburgh, before her family relocated to Whittier, California. Here, Lauren and her three siblings got a modest upbringing.
Lauren attended Ada S. Nelson Elementary School then Pioneer High School, where she spent three years studying drama, and won Best Actress award for three years. Later, Lauren enrolled at Rio Hondo College for an associate of arts degree, majoring in theater arts. While in college, Tewes won The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Theater. She also won a one-year scholarship, and as a sophomore, Lauren transferred to the University of California, Riverside.
Lauren Tewes Professional Career and Rise to Stardom
After her scholarship expired in 1973, Lauren withdrew from the university to join the Pacific Conservatory Theater in Santa Maria as an apprentice. This is where she made her stage debut in “The Most Happy Fella,” and “Arsenic and Old Lace,” before she became a member of Birdcage Theater Company at Knott’s Berry Farm, an amusement complex located on the outskirts of Los Angeles. The move pinned her name beside other famous theater actors, such as Dean Jones and Steve Martin. She starred in two roles as a heroine and a villainess, in the company’s drama productions.
After four months with the company, in 1974, Lauren relocated to Burbank, California to try her luck on screen. While there, Lauren turned to waiting tables to make ends meet, as she continued to attend film and television workshops, and auditions. The same year, Lauren filmed a Lipton Ice Tea commercial, which allowed her to get a talent agent as well as register at the Screen Actors Guild.
Lauren had to wait for some time before her presence was felt in Hollywood. She proceeded to work in the hospitality industry until 1977, when finally Lauren became a famous face after appearing in 20 television commercials.
At the same time she was going through a huge personal loss, as her mother passed on in 1975.
Lauren started her acting career with small parts in Aaron Spelling productions, including “Family” and “Charlie’s Angels.” However, she made her big debut in 1975 with ABC’s “The Wide World of Mystery.” Lauren’s life turned around after she landed her short performance as Sharon Freemont an Assistant Attorney, in Spelling’s “Starsky & Hutch.”
According to producer Aaron Spelling, Lauren was not their first choice for the role of Julie McCoy in “The Love Boat,” as they had already assembled a cast for the cruise adventure series a year before.
Lauren was among the many blondes that turned up for the auditions for the role. The series was first screened on 5 May 1977.
In 1979 Lauren appeared in “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,” then made her feature-film debut in 1981 in “Eyes of a Stranger” alongside Jennifer Jason. However, in 1984, her contract wasn’t renewed, and Pat Klous replaced her as Judy, Julie’s younger sister. Her departure was highly publicized, which brought Lauren’s cocaine addiction and unprofessional behavior into the spotlight. Her acting career came to an abrupt stop, and besides some campy movies such as “Attack of the 5’2’’ Women” and “It Came from Outer Space II,” she didn’t land any significant roles.
In 1985, Lauren was cast in “Anything for Love,” a CBS sitcom which never transformed into a series. She also made a last time appearance in “The Love Boat” the same year.
In the 1990s, Lauren decided to renew her stage career, and this time she also worked as a director. In 1990, Lauren appeared in “Independence” at the Burbank Little Theater, and the same year directed “The Head,” a William S. Leavengood’s dark comedy at the Attic Theater, before it was run in the Matrix Theater.
In the later years, Lauren moved to regional theater, where she performed with the Tacoma Actors Guild, A Contemporary Theater, and the Seattle Repertory Theater.
Lauren appeared in various plays, including “Side Man,” “My Fair Lady,” “A Delicate Balance,” “Prayer for My Enemy,” “The O’Conner Girls,” “Good People,” and “The Prisoner of Second Avenue.”
Lauren has also voiced characters in various video games, including “Pajama Sham3: You Are What You Eat from Your Head to Your Feet,” “Police Quest: SWAT 2,” and “Putt-Putt Travels through Time.”
Lauren attended a culinary school and became a cheese specialist, so when she’s not acting, Tewes works as a sous-chef for a Seattle catering company.
Lauren Tewes Personal Life, Husband, and Children
In 1977, Lauren met ad director John Wassel during the casting of the Hickory Farms dairy commercial.
The two were in a long-distance relationship for three months before John asked for Lauren’s hand in marriage, while at his parents’ place in Ohio. They married in November of the same year. However, their relationship didn’t last long as they divorced in 1982.
While working in “The Love Boat,” Lauren met Paolo Nonnis, a drummer, while she was still married to Wassel. When she divorced her first husband, Lauren disclosed her love for Nonnis, and the two walked down the aisle in 1986. A year later, Lauren gave birth to a premature baby girl, and lost the baby when she was one month old. This apparently brought an end to her marriage with Nonnis.
Lauren met her third husband, co-actor Robert Nadir in 1993, and the two remained in a long-distance relationship for a year. In 1994, Lauren joined Robert in Seattle, and on 1 May 1996, the couple walked down the aisle. They remained married until Nadir’s demise on 25 April 2002 from Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Lauren doesn’t have any children.
In the past, Lauren has struggled with cocaine addiction which led to her being fired from her then cast. However, she was able to beat the addiction and continue with her acting career.
Lauren Tewes Net Worth
Lauren has earned her net worth as an actress as well as a sous chef. According to reputable sources, Lauren Tewes net worth is around $2 million as of mid-2020.