Kathie Lee Gifford

Kathie Lee Gifford - Tv Host, Birthday and Facts

Violet FieldHome › FrenchKathie Lee GiffordAugust 16, 1953455 views

2 based on 1 rates
Kathie Lee Gifford Biography Stories 

Kathie Lee Gifford's Personal Details

Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter, comedian, and actress

InformationDetail
BirthdayAugust 16, 1953
NationalityFrench, American
FamousActresses, Comedians, Voice Actors, Media Personalities, Journalists, TV Anchors, Composers, Singers, Tv Host
City/StateParis
SpousesFrank Gifford
SiblingsDavid Paul Epstein
Known asKathryn Lee Gifford
ChildrensCassidy Gifford
Universities
  • Oral Roberts University
Birth PlaceParis, France
Born CountryUnited States
Height165
GenderFemale
FatherAaron Epstein
MotherJoan Cuttell
Sun SignLeo
Born inParis, France
Famous asTV Host, Actress
Socials

// Famous Tv Host

Sara Jean Underwood

Sara Jean Underwood

Sara Jean Underwood is a popular American model, actress and TV host. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and other facts about her life.

Ty Pennington

Ty Pennington

Ty Pennington is an American television host, artist, author, former model, and actor. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements, and fun facts about him.

Maine Mendoza

Maine Mendoza

Maine Mendoza is a Filipino actress and TV host. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Kathie Lee Gifford's photo

Who is Kathie Lee Gifford?

Kathryn "Kathie" Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter, comedian, and actress. She began her career as a Christian entertainer and sang in Baptist churches. She later became popular for her talk show ‘Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee,’ which ran for 15 years. She has featured in numerous TV programs and movies during her career spanning 40 years, and has written several musicals, like the Broadway show ‘Scandalous,’ which featured Carolee Carmello in the lead role and earned her a Tony nomination for Best Actress. She also starred on Broadway in ‘Putting It Together’ and ‘Annie’. An Emmy Award winner, the multifaceted lady is a New York Times best-selling author as well. She wrote three bestselling books including ‘Just When I Thought I'd Dropped My Last Egg’, ‘I Can't Believe I Said That’, and the popular children's book ‘Party Animals’. Her book ‘Good Gifts, A Year in The Heart of a Home’, raised over $1 million for the Salvation Army. Apart from her acting and writing projects, she launched GIFFT, a line of wine, with the Scheid Family Vineyards in Monterey, California.

// Famous Actresses

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson is an American child actress with huge fan following. Find more about her family & personal life, relationships, facts and more.

Riele Downs

Riele Downs

Riele Downs is a Canadian-American actress & Musical.ly star. Let’s take a look at her family and personal life including age, birthday, net worth, boyfriends and fun facts.

Kaylee Quinn

Kaylee Quinn

Kaylee Quinn is an American dancer, model, and actress. Let’s have a look at her family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, relationships, and fun facts.

Childhood & Early Life

When Gifford was born on August 16, 1953, she was named Kathryn Lee Epstein by her mother, Joan, a former naval secretary turned radio singer, and father Aaron Epstein, a musician and former US Navy Chief Petty Officer. Gifford's paternal grandfather was a Russian Jew from Saint Petersburg and her paternal grandmother was of Native American ancestry. Her mother was a relative of writer Rudyard Kipling.

Gifford and her two siblings, David and Michelle, grew up in France and other European countries where their father was stationed. In 1957, they returned to the US, and settled in Bowie, Maryland, where her father worked as a newspaper distributor and insurance agent. Her parents later became proprietors of a resort hotel.

After seeing the film ‘The Restless Ones’ at age 12, she became a born-again Christian.

She went to Bowie High School. During high school, she sang in a folk group, ‘Pennsylvania Next Right’, and performed at school assemblies.

After completing high school in 1971, she attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she studied drama and music. However, she dropped out of the university during her junior year.

Career

At the age of 17, Kathie Lee Gifford won the state Junior Miss pageant and visited Mobile in Alabama to represent Maryland in the competition. There she met Anita Bryant, a co-host of the pageant, and a Christian singer. In the early 1970s, she agreed to work as a live-in secretary and babysitter for Anita Bryant at her home in Miami.

In 1972, she sang on Oral Roberts' television show that was broadcast from Burbank, California. She also traveled throughout the Bible Belt, attending revival meetings.

In 1976, her spiritual book ‘The Quiet Riot’ was published. She also released three gospel albums between 1976 and 1978, and appeared on religious television shows like ‘The 700 Club’ with her first husband Paul Johnson, her Bible study group leader and owner of a Christian music publishing company.

While visiting a friend on the set of the NBC soap opera ‘Days of Our Lives’, she was selected to play Nurse Callahan, which she did for nine months.

In 1977-78, she was featured as a singer on ‘Name That Tune’. This exposure opened up a number of career opportunities, including a role in the TV sitcom ‘Hee Haw Honeys’.

In 1981, when a producer of ‘Good Morning America’, an American morning television show, heard her host an A.M. radio show, she invited Gifford to the show to do some reporting. Gifford also occasionally substituted for Joan Lunden on GMA in New York. After divorcing her first husband in 1983, she moved to New York City and began to appear on the televised show.

In June 1985, she replaced Ann Abernathy as co-host of ‘The Morning Show’ on WABC-TV with Regis Philbin. The program was re-introduced in 1988 as ‘Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee,’ which made her well-known across the country. They became an instant hit for their chemistry. However, she left the show in July 2000 to concentrate on her musical career.

She became a spokesperson for Ultra Slim-Fast diet shakes, and was also the face of Carnival Cruise Lines, Home Furnishings Council and Revlon in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

She also produced her own fitness video, ‘Kathie Lee's Feel Fit and Fabulous Workout’, and wrote an autobiography ‘I Can't Believe I Said That’ in 1992.

In the late 1990s, she worked in musical theatre, and also wrote and produced ‘Under The Bridge’, based on the children's book ‘The Family Under The Bridge’.

She released a number of albums, including ‘The Heart of a Woman’ and ‘Born for You’ in 2000, and ‘Party Animals’ in 2002. She also made guest appearances in many films and television series.

In 2005, she became a special correspondent on ‘The Insider’, an entertainment magazine television show. In 2006, she played the role of Miss Hannigan in a concert performance of ‘Annie’ at Madison Square Garden. In 2007, she premiered ‘Saving Aimee’, a stage musical about Aimee McPherson, with actress Carolee Carmello in the lead role. The show ran on Broadway.

In April 2008, she joined Hoda Kotb on NBC’s morning show ‘Today’ as a co-anchor. She is also a contributing NBC News correspondent. As of 2014, ‘Today’ with Gifford and Kotb had averaged 2.148 million total viewers, an increase of 26 percent over the 2008 ratings.

Major Works

Kathie Lee Gifford is best known for her appearance in the TV talk show ‘Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee’ which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin. The show, which ran for over a decade, was a highly successful one and helped establish Gifford as a household name in America.

Awards & Achievements

Kathie Lee Gifford won a Daytime Emmy in 2010 for her contribution to the TV show ‘Today.’

Personal Life

In 1976, Kathie Lee Gifford married Paul Johnson. She later admitted that it was a show-biz marriage; it lasted for six years.

After her divorce from Johnson in 1983, she met sports commentator Frank Gifford during an episode of ‘Good Morning America’. They were married from 1986 till his death in 2015. Their son Cody Newton Gifford was born on March 22, 1990 and daughter Cassidy Erin Gifford was born on August 2, 1993.

She is a celebrity ambassador for the non-profit organization Childhelp. She makes appearances at fund raising events for child abuse prevention.

She raised money for, and also financially supported two shelters in New York City for babies born with HIV or a congenital crack cocaine addiction. These shelters were named after her children, Cody and Cassidy.

In 1996, the human rights group National Labor Committee reported that sweatshop labor was used in the factory that produced Gifford’s clothing line for Wal-Mart. Initially she denied the knowledge of Wal-Mart's production process. She also defended herself by ensuring that the profit from her clothing line went to Cassidy's Place, a home she had set up for the benefit of underprivileged children.

In August 2017, she joined the Animal Medical Center's (AMC) Board of Trustees and will serve for a three-year term.

// Famous Media Personalities

Wanda Nara

Wanda Nara

Wanda Nara is an Argentine model, reality personality, and football agent, more famous as the wife of Argentine football player Mauro Icardi.

Melinda Farrell

Melinda Farrell

Melinda Farrell is an internationally renowned sports anchor and freelance sports reporter. This biography profiles her childhood, life, career, achievements, and some facts.

Art Bell

Art Bell

Art Bell was an American broadcaster and author, known as ‘The King of Late Night Radio.’ Check out this biography to know more about his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Kathie Lee Gifford biography timelines

  • // 16th Aug 1953
    When Gifford was born on August 16, 1953, she was named Kathryn Lee Epstein by her mother, Joan, a former naval secretary turned radio singer, and father Aaron Epstein, a musician and former US Navy Chief Petty Officer. Gifford's paternal grandfather was a Russian Jew from Saint Petersburg and her paternal grandmother was of Native American ancestry. Her mother was a relative of writer Rudyard Kipling.
  • // 1957
    Gifford and her two siblings, David and Michelle, grew up in France and other European countries where their father was stationed. In 1957, they returned to the US, and settled in Bowie, Maryland, where her father worked as a newspaper distributor and insurance agent. Her parents later became proprietors of a resort hotel.
  • // 1971
    After completing high school in 1971, she attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she studied drama and music. However, she dropped out of the university during her junior year.
  • // 1972
    In 1972, she sang on Oral Roberts' television show that was broadcast from Burbank, California. She also traveled throughout the Bible Belt, attending revival meetings.
  • // 1976
    In 1976, her spiritual book ‘The Quiet Riot’ was published. She also released three gospel albums between 1976 and 1978, and appeared on religious television shows like ‘The 700 Club’ with her first husband Paul Johnson, her Bible study group leader and owner of a Christian music publishing company.
  • // 1976
    In 1976, Kathie Lee Gifford married Paul Johnson. She later admitted that it was a show-biz marriage; it lasted for six years.
  • // 1977
    In 1977-78, she was featured as a singer on ‘Name That Tune’. This exposure opened up a number of career opportunities, including a role in the TV sitcom ‘Hee Haw Honeys’.
  • // 1981
    In 1981, when a producer of ‘Good Morning America’, an American morning television show, heard her host an A.M. radio show, she invited Gifford to the show to do some reporting. Gifford also occasionally substituted for Joan Lunden on GMA in New York. After divorcing her first husband in 1983, she moved to New York City and began to appear on the televised show.
  • // 1983
    After her divorce from Johnson in 1983, she met sports commentator Frank Gifford during an episode of ‘Good Morning America’. They were married from 1986 till his death in 2015. Their son Cody Newton Gifford was born on March 22, 1990 and daughter Cassidy Erin Gifford was born on August 2, 1993.
  • // 1985
    In June 1985, she replaced Ann Abernathy as co-host of ‘The Morning Show’ on WABC-TV with Regis Philbin. The program was re-introduced in 1988 as ‘Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee,’ which made her well-known across the country. They became an instant hit for their chemistry. However, she left the show in July 2000 to concentrate on her musical career.
  • // 1992
    She also produced her own fitness video, ‘Kathie Lee's Feel Fit and Fabulous Workout’, and wrote an autobiography ‘I Can't Believe I Said That’ in 1992.
  • // 1996
    In 1996, the human rights group National Labor Committee reported that sweatshop labor was used in the factory that produced Gifford’s clothing line for Wal-Mart. Initially she denied the knowledge of Wal-Mart's production process. She also defended herself by ensuring that the profit from her clothing line went to Cassidy's Place, a home she had set up for the benefit of underprivileged children.
  • // 2000
    She released a number of albums, including ‘The Heart of a Woman’ and ‘Born for You’ in 2000, and ‘Party Animals’ in 2002. She also made guest appearances in many films and television series.
  • // 2005
    In 2005, she became a special correspondent on ‘The Insider’, an entertainment magazine television show. In 2006, she played the role of Miss Hannigan in a concert performance of ‘Annie’ at Madison Square Garden. In 2007, she premiered ‘Saving Aimee’, a stage musical about Aimee McPherson, with actress Carolee Carmello in the lead role. The show ran on Broadway.
  • // 2008
    In April 2008, she joined Hoda Kotb on NBC’s morning show ‘Today’ as a co-anchor. She is also a contributing NBC News correspondent. As of 2014, ‘Today’ with Gifford and Kotb had averaged 2.148 million total viewers, an increase of 26 percent over the 2008 ratings.
  • // 2010
    Kathie Lee Gifford won a Daytime Emmy in 2010 for her contribution to the TV show ‘Today.’
  • // 2017
    In August 2017, she joined the Animal Medical Center's (AMC) Board of Trustees and will serve for a three-year term.

// Famous Singers

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell is an American singer and songwriter. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family, personal life, birthday, etc.

Isaak Presley

Isaak Presley

All about American actor and singer Isaak Presley including his age, birthday, family life, girlfriends, net worth, and some fun facts.

Sophia Montero

Sophia Montero

Sophia Montero is an American singer and YouTuber. Let’s have a look at her family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, relationships, and fun facts.

Zach Herron

Zach Herron

All about American singer and Instagram personality including his age, birthday, girlfriends, net worth, and some fun facts.

Devin Gordon

Devin Gordon

All about American Pop singer and internet celebrity Devin Gordon, including his age, birthday, family life, girlfriends, net worth, and some fun facts.

Omarion

Omarion

Omarion is an American singer, rapper, and actor. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about his life.

Kathie Lee Gifford's FAQ

  • What is Kathie Lee Gifford birthday?

    Kathie Lee Gifford was born at 1953-08-16

  • Where is Kathie Lee Gifford's birth place?

    Kathie Lee Gifford was born in Paris, France

  • What is Kathie Lee Gifford nationalities?

    Kathie Lee Gifford's nationalities is French, American

  • Who is Kathie Lee Gifford spouses?

    Kathie Lee Gifford's spouses is Frank Gifford

  • Who is Kathie Lee Gifford siblings?

    Kathie Lee Gifford's siblings is David Paul Epstein

  • Who is Kathie Lee Gifford childrens?

    Kathie Lee Gifford's childrens is Cassidy Gifford

  • What was Kathie Lee Gifford universities?

    Kathie Lee Gifford studied at Oral Roberts University

  • How tall is Kathie Lee Gifford?

    Kathie Lee Gifford's height is 165

  • Who is Kathie Lee Gifford's father?

    Kathie Lee Gifford's father is Aaron Epstein

  • Who is Kathie Lee Gifford's mother?

    Kathie Lee Gifford's mother is Joan Cuttell

  • What is Kathie Lee Gifford's sun sign?

    Kathie Lee Gifford is Leo

  • How famous is Kathie Lee Gifford?

    Kathie Lee Gifford is famouse as TV Host, Actress

  • What is Kathie Lee Gifford's facebook?

    Kathie Lee Gifford's facebook is https://www.facebook.com/kathieleegiffordspage

  • What is Kathie Lee Gifford's twitter?

    Kathie Lee Gifford's twitter is https://twitter.com/kathielgifford

  • What is Kathie Lee Gifford's instagram?

    Kathie Lee Gifford's instagram is https://www.instagram.com/klgandhoda/