Born Mary Lucy Denise Pudlowski on April 6, 1952 in Chicago, Illinois to a Greek mother and Polish father, five-time Golden Globe nominated actress Marilu Henner is the daughter of Loretta Pudolowski, the president of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts. At the age of two, her mother taught her how to dance, and by the age of 14, she was teaching other kids how to dance as well. She began studying with the Illinois Ballet Company and later went to perform in theater. In 1971, Henner originated the role of Marty in the pre-Broadway Chicago University production of Grease. Shortly after her successful work in the production, she moved on to other Broadway plays such as Over Here!, Pal Joey, Chicago and The Take of the Allergist's Wife.

Henner gained the attention of viewers nationwide when she portrayed Elain Nardo in the television series, Taxi and Ava Evans Newton in the comedy series, Evening Shade. She also appeared as the lead female character in the 1984 film Johnny Dangerously, and Man on the Moon in 1999. In 2005, she became the host of America's Ballroom Challenge and later hosted FitTV and the Discovery Channel's Shape Up Your Life, a fitness program based on her health books. Henner has written a total of six books about how to manage one's health. These include "The 30-Day Total Health Makeover," "Marilu's Total Health Makeover," "Healthy Life Kitchen," "Healthy Holidays," "I Refuse to Raise a Brat" and "Healthy Kids."

In 2007, Marilu Henner was cast as one of 14 contestants in NBC's seventh season of The Apprentice: Celebrity Edition, where she is to vie for the prize of $250,000 for the charity of her choice.

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(Photo courtesy of NBC)