Who’s Still Alive From ‘Gimme a Break!’?
If you remember singer and actress Nell Carter, it’s probably because of her years onGimme a Break!, a sitcom that aired on NBC for six seasons from October 29, 1981, to May 12, 1987. Carter played Nell Harper, a live-in housekeeper helping raise the three daughters of widowed police chief Carl Kanisky. The show helped stage actress Carter transition to TV, netting her two Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations over the course of the show’s six-season run.
But Carter wasn’t the show’s only star — in fact, a few cast members would see their profiles rise significantly after the series ended. Nearly four decades after the show’s finale, let’s find out who’s still alive from the beloved series and pay tribute to those we have since lost.
Kari Michaelsen (63)
Katie Kanisky
Everett Collection; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Unbridled Eve)
Kari Michaelsen portrayed Katie, the eldest Kanisky daughter, for seasons 1–5. By the late 1980s, Michaelsen had largely stepped away from acting. In the years after Gimme a Break!, she pursued higher education in business and eventually transitioned into motivational speaking and media work. Michaelsen built a career as a public speaker and media consultant, even serving as a host and brand ambassador, and has been involved with business seminar programs as a motivational speaker.
Lauri Hendler (60)
Julie Kanisky Maxwell
© NBC / Courtesy: Everett Collection
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Lauri Hendler played middle daughter Julie Kanisky (later Julie Kanisky Maxwell) for seasons 1–5. A successful child actress of the early 1980s, Hendler continued to act after the show, though on a more modest scale. She found a niche in voice acting and has lent her voice to video game characters and animated projects. Notably, Hendler has voiced characters in popular video games like the Saints Row series and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Lara Jill Miller (58)
Samantha “Sam” Kanisky
Herb Ball/NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Heaven on Earth
Lara Jill Miller portrayed the youngest daughter, Samantha “Sam” Kanisky, from childhood into her teens. After Gimme a Break! ended, Miller took a break from on-camera acting to pursue her education. She earned a law degree and even passed bar exams in multiple states. Ultimately, she returned to the entertainment world as a voice actress and her voice can be heard in numerous animated series and children’s shows, such as Digimon, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and Disney’s Vampirina.
Joey Lawrence (49)
Joey Donovan
Everett Collection; Leon Bennett/Getty Images
Joey Lawrence joined Gimme a Break! in Season 3 as Joey Donovan, a pint-sized con artist who becomes Nell’s foster son. Lawrence remained with the show through its final season, making Joey an integral part of the later cast. His brother Matthew, who is now 45 years old, also made an appearance on the show’s final season as Matthew Donovan, Joey’s little brother.
A few years after Gimme a Break! ended, Lawrence’s career skyrocketed when he landed a role on the 1990s sitcom Blossom, establishing him as a teen idol. Lawrence’s recent work has included starring in the sitcom Melissa & Joey and a recurring role on Hawaii Five-O. He also co-hosts a nostalgia podcast called Brotherly Love with his famous brothers.
Telma Hopkins (76)
Addy Wilson
Everett Collection; Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for SCAD
Telma Hopkins joined Gimme a Break! in Season 4 as Addy Wilson, Nell’s longtime friend. Already known as a singer from the pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn, Hopkins became a regular for the remainder of the series.
After Gimme a Break! ended, she enjoyed a successful career in television through the 1990s and 2000s, co-starring as Rachel Crawford on Family Matters and later led the cast of Half & Half. Over the years, Hopkins has been a frequent guest star on popular TV shows and even appeared in The Matrix Resurrections in 2021. In recent years, she had a recurring role on the Netflix family sitcom Family Reunion.
Rosie O’Donnell (63)
Maggie O’Brien
Everett Collection; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for ELLE
Comedian Rosie O’Donnell had one of her earliest acting roles on Gimme a Break!‘s final season, joining the cast in 1986 as Maggie O’Brien, Nell’s neighbor in New York. O’Donnell’s career quickly skyrocketed afterward.
In the 1990s, she became a household name as a stand-up comic and film actress, appearing in movies like A League of Their Own and Sleepless in Seattle. She then hosted The Rosie O’Donnell Show, a daytime talk show that was a massive hit and earned multiple Daytime Emmys. O’Donnell later co-hosted The View and took on acting roles in shows like Nip/Tuck and SMILF.
In Memoriam
Nell Carter (Nell Harper)
Nell Carter died on January 23, 2003, at age 54 from complications of heart disease and diabetes. Best known for her Emmy and Tony Award–winning work on stage and screen, Carter rose to fame in the Broadway musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, which earned her a Tony in 1978 and later an Emmy for the televised version.
Her powerhouse singing voice and comedic timing made her a standout, leading directly to her role as Nell Harper on Gimme a Break!, which earned her two Golden Globe nominations and three Emmy nominations. Outside of the sitcom, she appeared in films such as Hair and The Fighting Temptations, as well as numerous guest appearances on television. Carter also recorded music over the years.
NBC/Courtesy: Everett Collection
Dolph Sweet (Chief Carl Kanisky)
Dolph Sweet died on May 8, 1985, at age 64, from stomach cancer. Before becoming Chief Carl Kanisky on Gimme a Break!, Sweet had already built a long career in television and film. A former boxer, teacher and World War II veteran, he entered acting in the 1950s and appeared in over 100 television episodes across various series. He was a familiar face in shows like The Edge of Night, Another World, and guest spots on dramas such as Kojak and Hill Street Blues. In film, he had roles in Reds, The Lords of Flatbush and Heaven Can Wait.
John Hoyt (Grandpa Stanley Kanisky)
NBC/Courtesy: Everett Collection
John Hoyt died on September 15, 1991, at age 85 from cancer. He was a veteran character actor with a career spanning stage, film, and television, appearing in classics like Spartacus, Blackboard Jungle and When Worlds Collide.
Puzzler '80s Comedy Classics
Vol 1, Issue 6
This issue is packed with puzzles and trivia from all your favorite '80s sitcoms.
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