Biography
One of first appearances for this tall (5'7") beauty was as a
regular on the popular show, "Dean Martin Presents the Golddiggers"
in 1969. This would lead to a few minor guest appearances on some
TV series, a pilot for "Wonder Woman, " and a few low-budget
movies. Cathy Lee finally seemed to find her niche by appearing as
a performer in "Circus of the Stars" in 1979. As a former semi-pro
tennis player, this was a showcase for her athletic abilities.
Cathy Lee's big year was 1980; as one of a trio of hosts for
"That's Incredible, " the 4-year stint provided both steady
employment and enough episodes for syndication. This was the first
program in which handicapped people were referred to, by Cathy Lee,
as "handicapable, " emphasizing what they could do, and offered
inspiration to people. At the height of physical perfection, Cathy
Lee appeared in the premiere issue of "One Woman" magazine, a
tastefully done magazine in which she alone was featured by 6
photographers in art studies. However, her life was to take a
downward turn. She was romantically involved for 7 years with Joe
Theismann, quarterback for the Washington Redskins. During a Monday
Night Football game in 1985, he suffered a career-ending injury.
They would eventually split up. Then another tragedy for Cathy Lee:
the always-fit, athletic entertainer suffered from Epstein-Barr
syndrome. By 1992, her breakup with Joe had left her ruined
financially, and Epstein-Barr drained her of energy physically.
However, this was a time of growth spiritually. In her own words,
"Because I suddenly had nothing, I was able to experience the magic
of life in a way that I hadn't experienced it since I was a very
young child." Unable to work in front of the camera for a while,
she took a shot at producing in 1994. With several TV appearances
in the last few years, it seems Cathy Lee's career is back on
track. Cathy Lee recently formed her own production company, and
also wrote a motivational book. Cathy Lee credits her comeback to
the "Bliss Zone" approach.
Biography courtesy of the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com).
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