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Who is Connie Needham?
Connie is an actress, probably best known for her role as Elizabeth Bradford Lawrence in the popular TV series “Eight Is Enough”, in addition to several other roles she had during her active career.
Where is Connie Needham Today?
Connie Needham is currently focusing on raising awareness for early cancer detection and treatment. She’s been out of the spotlight for the most part, but made some public appearances, including a reunion segment for “Eight Is Enough” and attending the Los Angeles premiere of “Hello Dolly!” in 2019. Moreover, she’s a dance instructor at the Jimmie DeFore Dance Center in Costa Mesa, California USA.
Connie Needham Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Connie Marie Bowen was born on 5 December 1959, in Anaheim, California USA; she hasn’t revealed the names of her parents and their professions, moreover, her mysterious nature hasn’t allowed her to share information on any siblings. According to reports, she completed her high school education at Canyon High School.
Career Beginnings and Immediate Success
Connie Needham rose to stardom with her role as Elizabeth Bradford in the American comedy-drama TV series “Eight Is Enough”. The series revolved around the Bradford family’s daily life and the ups and downs of raising eight children. Diana Hyland, who portrayed the mother, fell ill and passed away during the first season, leading to her character’s death being written into the series. In the second season, the show continued with Tom Bradford (Dick Van Patten) as a widower, and he eventually falls in love and marries Sandra Sue “Abby” Abbott, played by Betty Buckley.
Connie Needham’s Elizabeth was one of the Bradford children, sharing the screen with other stars of the show including Adam Rich who died early in 2023 and Susan Richardson, among others. As the series progressed, the characters grew and developed; for example, the oldest son David, started his construction company, and Joanie became a TV producer. Elizabeth’s character evolved, and she switched to her new married name, Needham, at the start of season 4.
“Eight Is Enough” was a popular show, and Connie Needham’s portrayal of Elizabeth contributed to the series’ success. The series had a total of 112 episodes, and was well-received by viewers.
Connie reprised her role as Elizabeth Bradford in two spin-off TV movies. “Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion” (1987) sees the Bradfords coming together to celebrate their father’s birthday, and tackling a workplace crisis. In “An Eight Is Enough Wedding” (1989), eldest son David’s impending marriage to a divorcee sparks discussion among his sisters about the possibility of reuniting with his ex-wife, Janet.
Other Projects
In addition, Needham made several notable appearances in other projects. In 1982, Connie appeared in one episode of “The Love Boat” as Debbie Holton. The main stars of the series included Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, and Fred Grandy and was about a cruise ship and the romantic and comedic adventures of its passengers and crew.
She also starred in “Police Squad!” in the episode “Rendezvous at Big Gulch (Terror in the Neighborhood)”, with Leslie Nielsen, Alan North and Peter Lupus. The series was a parody of police procedural shows.
Later in 1982, Connie had a role in “Fame” as Kathy Murphy, with the main stars including Debbie Allen and Carlo Imperato. The show centered around the lives of students and faculty at a performing arts high school in New York City.
She returned to “Fame” in 1983, this time as Kelly Hayden in three episodes. The series continued to follow the lives of the students and teachers at the School of Performing Arts.
In 1987, she appeared in “L.A. Law” as Denise Franklin in the episode “Brackman Vasektimized”. The main stars included Harry Hamlin, Susan Dey and Jimmy Smits, and it focused on the professional and personal lives of the attorneys working at a prestigious Los Angeles law firm.
Her final appearance was in 1995, in the show “Ellen”, a sitcom following the life and experiences starring Ellen DeGeneres.
Ovarian Cancer and Recovery
Connie Needham’s battle with ovarian cancer began in 2009 when she was diagnosed with Stage 3; her symptoms included bloating and difficulty breathing, which initially she attributed to a lung infection. In 2010, she shared her experience, emphasizing the importance of paying close attention to one’s body, and not assuming symptoms are normal. Her diagnosis was initially shocking, and she described going into a sort of shock where everything seemed to shut down upon hearing the news from her doctor.
She underwent a hysterectomy as part of her treatment.
Connie advocated for early cancer detection, supporting the Women’s Cancer Research Foundation, extending to participating in a Dancing With the Stars-style fundraiser for the Foundation.
Despite the challenges she faced, Connie made a successful recovery, and continued to raise awareness about ovarian cancer. She also spoke about the difficulty of telling her two daughters, Kimberly and Taylor, about her diagnosis, with Taylor handling the news better.
During her cancer battle, Connie received significant support from her boyfriend, who stood by her side throughout her treatment. However, she never revealed his identity to the media.
Net Worth
According to authoritative sources, Connie Needham’s net worth is estimated at $500,000, as of late 2023.
Personal Life, Marriage, Husband, Children
Connie was married to “Eight is Enough” set designer David Needham from 1979 until 2005. They have two daughters, Taylor and Kimberly.