Like some of her Harlette predecessors, Katey Sagal (Catherine Louise Sagal) was born into a "show biz" family. Her father was the renowned director and producer, Boris Sagal (who died tragically in ahelicopter accident during the shooting of his movie "World War III"). Her mother Sarah Zwilling was a singer and was also the first female assistant director in Hollywood. All of Katey's siblings, except for her brother David (a lawyer) followed in the family footsteps and became actors. Her twin sisters Jean and Liz are best known for their television series "Double Trouble" and her brother Joey has appeared in many films.

Katey (also credited as "Katie" early in her career) displayed her aptitude for performing at a very young age. When she was five, she was already singing up a storm and when she was a girl scout she would sing and play her guitar. At the age of fifteen she started playing piano.

She had dreams of becoming a rock star, but her father wasn't very fond of that idea. Recognizing his daughter's love of performing, he encouraged her to pursue acting as an alternative. He even cast Katey in bit parts in two of his movies, so that she could obtain her Screen Actor's Guild card and have health insurance coverage.

When she was sixteen (1971-1972), she studied theatre and acting for a year at the California Institute of Arts (with other such notables as Pee Wee Herman/Paul Reubens and David Hasselhoff), before leaving to concentrate on her musical career.

At the age of 18, she went on the road for a year in a musical production of Shakespeare's "Two Gentleman of Verona". When she returned home, she discovered that her mother was gravely ill, and at the age of 19, her mother passed away of heart disease; living Katey to help raise her younger siblings.

During this time, Katey worked as a singing waitress at The Great American Food and Beverage Company and started a band with some of her co-workers called "The Group With No Name". One night, while waiting the table of Gene Simmons, she struck up on conversation about her band. As coincidence would have it, Gene Simmons had gone to school with one of the band members.

This conversation led to an introduction with record executive Neill Bogard, and a recording contract with Casablanca Records. The group released an album in 1976 entitled, "Moon Over Brooklyn" which was not successful. However, Katey was asked by Gene Simmons to provide back-up vocals on his solo album, which was released in 1978.

Also in 1978, Bette Midler had just finished filming "The Rose" and was preparing to start her first international tour. Bette asked the current Harlettes (Charlotte Crossley, Ula Hedwig, and Sharon Reed) to accompany her, but they declined.

Bette then advertised in the "The Hollywood Reporter," and an open audition began, to find three new Harlettes for the tour. Approximately 250 woman (and even a couple of female impersonators) tried out for the parts. After Aaron Russo and others narrowed the group down to their top six choices, Bette Midler made the final selections. Katey Sagal was one of the women chosen as a new Harlette, along with Linda Hart and Frannie Eisenberg.

Katey worked as one of the Harlettes off and on from 1978 to 1983. She did not accompany Bette on the 1979 "Divine Madness" tour,

but did rejoin the group again in 1982/83 for the "De Tour". She has only recorded in studio with Bette Midler one time; on the No Frills album track "Soda And A Souvenir".

Since leaving the Harlettes, Katey has enjoyed a very successful career as a singer/songwriter and actress. Besides providing background vocals for Gene Simmons and Bette Midler, she has also worked as a back-up singer for Bob Dylan, Etta James, Tanya Tucker, Molly Hatchet, Olivia Newton-John, and others.

In 1985, Katey starred in the musical "The Beautiful Lady", at the Music Centre in Los Angeles and she won the Drama Logue award for Best Actress for this performance. She also caught the eye of a CBS casting agent who asked her to audition for a part in the new Mary Tyler-Moore sitcom, "Mary". (Photo from left to right: Katey, Linda, and Ula)

She landed the part of Jo Tucker, Mary's chain-smoking, sardonic co-worker. Though the series was short-lived, it proved to be a turning point for Katey on two levels. Her friendship with Mary Tyler-Moore helped her to conquer a drug and alcohol addition that she'd been battling since her father's tragic death in 1981. The role also brought her attention from Ron Levitt, who was seeking to cast thepart of a housewife for a new Fox television series.

Katey auditioned for the housewife role, Peg Bundy, and soon became a household name as the lead actress in the popular television series "Married With Children". During the shows successful 10 year run, Katey was nominated for four Golden Globes (1990, 1991, 1992, & 1993) and was awarded the American Comedy Award in 1990 and 1992.

Katey has appeared in many films and television movies, and her voice can be heard on the soundtrack albums "Plain Clothes" and "Loose Cannons". She released her own solo album in 1994 entitled "Well..."(which is now out of print and considered a rare collector's item).

Her most recent projects include recording the voice of Leela in the animated TV series "Futurama", and a co-starring role in the show "8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter". For a more complete listing of Katey's credits, visit the Internet Movie Database at "http://www.imdb.com".