Pam Dawber Biography

American actress Pam Dawber rose to fame in the late 70s for her work on the popular series Mork & Mindy. She found some success with her later film career but never quite managed to reach the same level of notoriety as her days portraying Mindy.

Pam Dawber was born October 18, 1951 in Detroit, Michigan. She was subsequently raised in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She obtained her initial education from North Farmington High School and later Oakland Community College.

Before she ever stepped in front of a television camera, Dawber pursued a career as a model. Working with Wilhelmina, Dawber found some success in the fashion world.

Eventually deciding to transition into acting, she made her onscreen debut in 1978 with the Robert Altman film A Wedding. Famous for his ensemble casts, Altman enlisted Carol Burnett, Mia Farrow, and Lillian Gish to star.

Not having to wait long before her big break, Dawber landed a role in a new television series in that same year. She was to play Mindy McConnell opposite Robin Williams’ Mork in Mork & Mindy. The show ran successfully from 1978 to 1982, and it launched Dawber into the entertainment limelight.

After the show came to an end, Dawber began making appearances in film. The first of these endeavors was 1982’s Remembrance of Love with Kirk Douglas and Eric Douglas. She continued making films until 1986 with notable films including Through Naked Eyes, Last of the Great Survivors, and Wild Horses.

But from 1986 to 1988, it was television that once again offered Dawber a successful vehicle. This time around it was the series My Sister Sam.

Back to her tried and true form, Dawber returned to film when her television series came to an end. Although she appeared in many pictures, none reached a great level of critical acclaim or exposure.

She is noted during this stretch for her voice work on the animated series 101 Dalmatians: The Series with fellow voice artists Tara Strong, April Winchell, and Michael McKean.

Most recently, Dawber appeared in I’ll Remember April starring Pat Morita, Trevor Morgan, and Haley Joel Osment. She also had a starring role in Don’t Look Behind You with Patrick Duffy.

In addition to her acting skills, Dawber possesses a soprano voice with a four-octave range. She used that talent to appear in the Gilbert & Sullivan production The Pirates of Penzance.

In her personal life, Dawber is an active advocate and spokeswoman for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

She married fellow actor Mark Harmon on March 21, 1987. They have two children together, and they are currently still married.

Dawber had many close friends in the acting world, but her best friend was My Sister Sam costar Rebecca Schaeffer. Schaeffer was murdered, however, in 1989. It proved an exceedingly difficult and devastating experience for Dawber.