Please enter your email and password to sign in. The weSPARK organization offers a variety of free programs, services and social events to individuals and families whose lives have been affected by cancer. from birthday. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Her publicist first said Sperber was 46, but later said she was 43 based on an Internet resource. humane side in the last years of her life. All rights reserved. Sperber was born in Hollywood, California, to Burton Seymour Sperber and Charlene Marie (ne Hirshon) Sperber, and had three siblings (Ellice, Michelle and Richard). Try again later. Sperber died at home Tuesday after an eight-year battle with breast cancer, publicist Jo-Ann Geffen said Wednesday. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. The California girl was born on September 15, 1958, in Los Angeles . I wanted peer support."[4]. Actress Wendie Jo Sperber, who starred opposite Tom Hanks on TV's "Bosom Buddies" and who in his words became "a walking inspiration" after she contracted cancer, has died. Sperber founded a cancer support center, weSPARK, in 2001 in Sherman Oaks, California--"SPARK" stands for "Support, Prevention, Acceptance, Recovery and Knowledge." The Associated Press in September reported Sperbers age as 47. and the weSPARK is a special place dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients, their families and friends. Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter November 29, 1947. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Resend Activation Email. In 1997, Sperber was diagnosed with breastcancer, which seemed to go into remission following treatment. I spent many years with low self-esteem, but the cancer has given me the gift of seeing how many people love me. It's All about Sperber, Wendie Jo Sperber, Celebrity Deaths That Sadly Slipped By Us. Israel did cast her again in MovingViolations in 1985. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. 40% When she was diagnosed in 1997, she was devastated, yet determined to live. She even appeared on a poignant breast cancer episode of Murphy Brown (1988). She died on November 29, 2005, aged 47, in Los Angeles.[5]. The series was a light hearted comedy that told the story of three sisters who were obese. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A. The source code for the WIKI 2 extension is being checked by specialists of the Mozilla Foundation, Google, and Apple. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? 1947-11-29. "The memory of Wendie Jo is that of a walking inspiration," Hanks said. It will enhance any encyclopedic page you visit with the magic of the WIKI 2 technology. Wendie Jo Sperber. Thanks for your help! cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The TelevisionAcademy.com sites look and perform best when using a modern browser. Weve updated the security on the site. Sperber sought to establish "a home-like setting" for those seeking emotional support and information resources, forging ahead with great support from her community and friends such as Hanks, one of weSPARK's founders. 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Sperber is survived by a son and daughter, her parents, two sisters and a brother. Learn more about managing a memorial . Wendie Jo Sperber (September 15, 1958 - November 29, 2005) was an American actress, known for her performances in the films I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), Bachelor Party (1984), and Back to the Future (1985), as well as the television sitcoms Bosom Buddies (1980-1982) and Private Benjamin (1982-1983). In addition to her work on TV and movies, Sperber also was the founder of weSPARK Cancer Support Center, an independent organization formed in 2001 to advance and help support individuals and their families fighting various forms of cancer through free emotional support, information and social events/activities. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. This browser does not support getting your location. Actress and cancer-care activist Wendie Jo Sperber, who starred opposite Tom Hanks on television ' s " Bosom Buddies, " has died. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Stacy Kouchalakas' in "Private Benjamin" from 1982 to 1983, 'Charlene Gilbert' on "Babes" from 1991 to 1992, 'Mavis Davis' on "Hearts Afire" from 1992 to 1993, and 'Linda McFly' in the "Back To The Future" films starring Michael J. Stacy Kouchalakas, in the American sitcom, Private Benjamin. It was based on a movie of the same name, and was aired on the CBS network. There is a problem with your email/password. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Sperber performed as one of the sisters, Charlene Gilbert., In the 1990s, Sperber was cast in single episodes of series such as Fortune Hunter, Murphy Brown, Will and Grace, and Unhappily Ever After. From 1992 to 1993, she performed as Mavis Davis, in the TV sitcom, Hearts Afire. Sperber performed in several movies too, which included Love Affair, Mr. We are going to miss her as surely as we are all better for knowing her.. In 1994, Sperber was cast in a major supporting part in the CBS television series Hearts Afire. Try again later. She is best remembered for her roles in series such as 'Bosom Buddies,' and 'Private Benjamin,' and movies such as 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand,' and 'Corvette Summer.' Sperber was inclined towards acting, right from her teenage years. Copyright Fandango. [4] She continued to work in television and movies during this period, including episodes of Unhappily Ever After, Home Improvement, Will & Grace, Grounded for Life, and the movies Desperate but Not Serious (1999) and Sorority Boys (2002). Would you like Wikipedia to always look as professional and up-to-date? Sperber's roles grew larger in the wake of Back to the Future, and over the next decade she starred in the series Babes (a comedy about three overweight sisters) but the series was cancelled after one season. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Sperber, Wendie Jo Actress, comedienne and Founder of weSPARK Cancer Support Center, passed away November 29 after a long battle with breast cancer. Wendie Jo Sperber's return to television -- The star talks about her new sitcom ''Babes,'' which tackles Hollywood's obsession with weight. She appeared in Robert Zemeckis' period comedy I Wanna Hold Your Hand, as Rosie Petrofsky. I wanted peer support."[4]. Burton and Charlene Sperber were her parents. She was forty seven years old. based on information from your browser. Sperber died of breast cancer at the age of 47. Character actress Wendie Jo Sperber enjoyed a long, lucrative career in Hollywood--though not a star, she was a very familiar face. Actress Wendie Jo Sperber, who starred opposite Tom Hanks on TVs Bosom Buddies and who in his words became a walking inspiration after she contracted cancer, has died. She plays a stewardess who saves a flight from a terrorist bombing, ironically when the wind pulls her to the bombed part of the plane and she is stuck there. Wendie Jo Sperber Birth Place: Hollywood, California Profession Actor Actor 32 Credits Women Behind Bars 2009 American Dad! Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. My Dinner With Jimi (2003), Birthday: Wendie Jo Sperber was an American actress who performed in several movies and TV series. Wendie Jo Sperber (September 15, 1958 - November 29, 2005) was an American actress, known for her performances in the films I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), Bachelor Party (1984), and Back to the Future (1985), as well as the television sitcoms Bosom Buddies (1980-1982) and Private Benjamin (1982-1983). Sperber approached her cancer diagnosis with the zeal and energy she brought to her years of heavily comedic work. She breathed her last on November 29, 2005. The cause was breast cancer, her publicist, Jo-Ann Geffen, said. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. A native of Hollywood, California, she is best remembered for her roles as 'Amy Cassidy' in "Bosom Buddies" from 1980 to 1982 (with Tom Hanks), 'Pvt. That same year, she appeared as Linda McFly in Zemeckis' highly successful Back to the Future. [4] She continued to work in television and movies during this period, including episodes of UnhappilyEverAfter, HomeImprovement, Will&Grace, GroundedforLife, and the movies DesperatebutNotSerious (1999) and SororityBoys (2002). Learn how and when to remove this template message, Take 22: Behind the Scenes of Sequestered, "Burton S. Sperber Obituary (2011) Los Angeles Times", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wendie_Jo_Sperber&oldid=1144604900, Burials at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery, Articles needing additional references from December 2019, All articles needing additional references, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode "Life's Too Short to Be Delicate", Episode "The Artist and the Con Artist", Episode "The Long and Winding Road (Part 1)", This page was last edited on 14 March 2023, at 16:15. According to one of the last known interviews with Sperber by TerraWellington,[3] the weSPARK organization was her key cause and effort in the last year of her life with her stating "The whole idea of weSPARK's programming was that I didn't want people to walk into a room and have a therapist ask how they feel.