Currently a substance abuse counsellor in New York City, Melody Anderson was once a premier fox of the 1980's.She began her career as a model for Ridgid Tools. This plumbing tool manufacturer has been putting out provocative calendars since the 1930's. Their slogan is a cheeky little double entendre: "I love a RIDGID tool". Sadly, I cannot find a picture of her from an old calendar, but I shall persist. Perhaps, she's in this one...
During the 1980's, Melody was everywhere you looked. She had a leading role in Flash Gordon (1980) and played opposite Chuck Norris in Firewalker (1986). She was basically omnipresent on the boob tube - looking at her resume on IMDb, one wonders what 1980's show wasn't she on? St. Elsewhere, The A-Team, T.J. Hooker, C.H.i.P.S., Jake and the Fat Man, Dallas, Archie Bunker's Place, etc., etc.My personal favorite of her TV work is Manimal. Anyone remember this show? It was about a guy that could transform into an animal to solve crime. He basically had the same power as Jayna of the Wonder Twins. It was a beautiful thing to behold.
Although she is best known for Flash Gordon, my favorite movie on Melody Anderson's resume would have to be Dead & Buried (1981). An underrated horror film about reanimated corpses in a small New England town, with some truly frightening scenes.
She stars alongside James Farentino, the guy who played Peter in Jesus of Nazareth (1977). He's a great actor.... too bad he was arrested for stalking Frank Sinatra's daughter, Tina, (he pled guilty) and then busted again for cocaine possession.
In stark contrast to Farentino, Anderson retired from acting in the mid 90's and began an impressive career in susbstance abuse treatment. She has has lectured locally and internationally on her treatment methods. In 1998, she spoke at the International Council on Alcoholism and Addictions in Malta, sharing with doctors and other health care professionals her epidemiological views of addiction. Her point of view holds that addiction stems from biochemical imbalances rather than conscious choice.I'm impressed. Not too shabby for a former plumbing tools poster girl!
