Why did Donna Wilkes leave the show after Season 1?
Does anyone know why she left her role as the older daughter in Hello, Larry, after the first season?
She claimed in an interview that she didn't like that Norman Lear's company, who owned the show, basically kept their young actors on a short leash and tried to control them. She also admitted she was a little wild at the time. Lisa Whenchel from Facts Of Life said in an interview that Donna had to be replaced because of a drug problem but that's hearsay.
shareThanks. Wow, interesting. I never knew that. Thank you.
shareNot for anything, but considering Lisa Whelchel auditioned-for - and DIDN'T get - Donna's role, she might've just been talking trash. Just thinking out loud here.
shareI have NO IDEA as to WHETHER Lisa auditioned for THAT ROLE, NEVER HEARD THAT, never heard LISA talk about D.W... BUT..
is the rumor that she went out for the ORIGINAL ROLE THAT DONNA GOT? or the 'replacement role'?
VERY IMPORTANT.. WHY?
1st of all, Donna was born in the late 50's.. Lisa? 1963.. KIM RICHARDS 1964.. So, I can see why Lisa would not be cast-she was too close in age to KIM, and believe it or not, KIM was actually a (some what) WELL KNOWN child actress (not as famous as KIM believes she was -i.e. 'I WAS A VERY VERY FAMOUS CHILD ACTRESS' uhm.. most people have no idea you were a kid actress..).. ANYHOO.. Lisa was not known at that time, so, Kim WOULD have been 1st casted.. and the 'other sister' cast AROUND HER.. (and that would have been the very last time!)
IF, the rumor is, THAT LISA DID NOT get the role VACATED.. by DONNA..WELL, FactofLIFE.. started in AUG1979.. DW 'HAD' the role on H.L. thru 1979, RECAST for the 1980 'season/year'. SO, that does not make sense..
MEANING .. LISA was already gainfully employed.. AND GIVEN THE CHOICE.. FOL-ran thru 1985ish? H.L. ran for 24 more episodes.. IF she did go out for the role, didn't get it.. I WOULD SAY.. that was ONE JOB she was probably very HAPPY not to get..
I have heard that Donna and McLean Stevenson didn't get along and McLean told the show's producers that either Donna goes or he was leaving the show.
That was a rumor about her and McLean not getting along but Donna claims that wasn't true. She said she and McLean got along fine but were indifferent to each other and had no chemistry when working together.
shareI got the impression that Lisa Whelchel auditioned for the original casting -- not the replacement -- of the older sister.
Also:
Kim Richards indeed was a very famous child actress at that time. She was well-known. She was popular. She was very visible, showing up in many TV shows and movies of the day. And lots of guys had a crush on her.
So, she was a very famous child actress in her day.
But, her fame did not sustain itself into her adulthood. So, today's younger generation would not have any idea of who she was.
Also, don't forget, 1976 was quite different than today (2016). So, being "very famous" in that era is a very different definition than being "very famous" today.
Yes, many boys had a crush on Kim Richards after she did the "Witch Mountain" movies. I was one of them.
In the 1970's, we boys had a crush on Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman), Marie Osmond, Olivia Newton-John, Kim Richards, Cheryl Ladd, Farrah Fawcett, and Jacyln Smith.
Yes, I remember the "Witch Mountain" movies! They were a big deal!
And I think Kim Richards did some of those TV after-school specials, also.
Ah, the 1970's. Those were the days.
I believe it was for the replacement of Donna Wilkes. This was something i had read on some fansite that she said this and i can't remember what show it was that she said it.
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