Ask American Profile
Good Morning America has a new weatherman. What happened to Tony, the previous weatherman?
—Jeanne Payne, Geneva, Fla.
After seven years of commuting to New York weekly from his hometown of Washington, D.C., meteorologist Tony Perkins left GMA in December 2005 to spend more time with his wife, Rhonda, and their son, Connor. He's now the morning weatherman on D.C.'s Fox-TV affiliate, WTTG.
Are any stars of Green Acres still living?
—Jeff B., Sweetwater, Texas
Most of the cast from TV's zany 1965-71 comedy series, about a starched-shirt New York attorney and his adorable-but-clueless wife trying to make a living as a rural farm couple, are deceased. Eddie Albert (who played Oliver Douglas) died last year; Eva Gabor (wife Lisa), in 1995; Pat Buttram (Mr. Haney), 1994; Alvy Moore (Hank Kimball), 1997; Hank Patterson (Mr. Ziffel), 1975; and Barbara Pepper (Mrs. Ziffel), 1969. Tom Lester, 61, who played farm hand Eb, lives in Laurel, Miss., acts occasionally and travels as a motivational speaker. Frank Cady, 90, who played general store owner Mr. Drucker, is retired and living in Oregon.
I recently found an old Sports Illustrated cover from the 1970s that featured the beautiful Cheryl Tiegs. Is she still modeling?
—L. Alexander, Rocky Mount, N.C.
Now 58, "supermodel" Tiegs made the first of her three appearances on Sports Illustrated's famous annual swimsuit covers in 1970, and she "returned to her roots" by posing for the magazine's 40th anniversary swimsuit edition earlier this year. "You would think that one of these days I would hang up my swimsuit!" she says. You can assume she wears something more business-like when promoting her new line of Ageless Woman beauty products, which she says incorporates her own personal skin-care secrets.
What is Billy Ray Cyrus doing now?
—Marge Robbins, Glidden, Wis.
Cyrus has transitioned from his role on the TV drama Doc to a new comedy series on the Disney Channel, Hannah Montana, in which he plays the father to his real-life daughter, Miley. "My objective is just to keep it real and be myself," says Cyrus, who relocated his family to Los Angeles for the show. The singer of the 1992 smash hit "Achy Breaky Heart" also is working on a new album that includes a song called "I Want My Mullet Back" and another, "Country Music," featuring country superstars George Jones and Loretta Lynn.
first appeared: 7/9/2006
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3/16/07 9:07 AM
Tom Lester, the Actor on Green Acres. I was one of his students in
Purcell, Okla. He was a very strict teacher, but a good teacher. He told
the class that one day he was going to Hollywood, of course that brought
the class down with laughter. Well he made it! Later on he returned to
Purcell and said a few words at a Rodeo about his ministry.
My cousin which lives in California read the article and sent it to me. What a refreshing thing to read of your past and his life. It made me feel good that he is in the ministry and sharing. I've often wondered where he
was and if he had married. I'll look for his dvd also. Everyone would laugh and say sure when I told them that he was one of my teachers.
I graduated in 1966. Thanks Mr. Lester Sincerely, Debbie Morphew
Is there an Address that you can write to? Thank you!
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