Lori Singer

Early Life

Lori Singer was born on November 6, 1957, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Jacques Singer, a Polish-born conductor, and Leslie Wright, a concert pianist. She has a fraternal twin brother, Gregory, who is a violinist, along with two older brothers, actor Marc and Claude. At the age of four, her family moved to Portland, Oregon, where her father became the lead conductor of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. A musical prodigy, Lori made her debut as a cello soloist with the Oregon Symphony at just thirteen. She attended Lincoln High School and later gained acceptance into the prestigious Juilliard School at the age of fourteen, becoming its youngest graduate.

Career

After graduating from Juilliard, Singer initially pursued a career in music, winning the Bergen Philharmonic Competition in 1980. However, inspired by her brother Marc, she transitioned to acting. She gained fame for her role as Julie Miller in the television series "Fame," which was tailored to showcase her talents as a dancer and cellist. In 1983, she performed at Royal Albert Hall with her castmates, and the following year, she starred in the television movie "Born Beautiful," earning the Newcomer of the Year award at ShoWest. Her breakout role came in 1984 with the film "Footloose," where she played Ariel Moore, winning the ShoWest Breakthrough Performer of the Year Award. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she appeared in various films, including "The Falcon and the Snowman" and "Trouble in Mind," the latter earning her an Independent Spirit Award nomination.

Personal Life

Lori Singer married lawyer Richard David Emery in 1980, but the couple divorced in 1996. Despite her successful career in both music and acting, she has maintained a relatively private personal life, focusing on her artistic endeavors.