Linda Kelsey (born on July 28, 1946 in
St. Paul, Minnesota) is an
American television actress.
Kelsey's professional career began with stage appearances in her home of
St. Paul, Minnesota, with her good looks and striking mane of red hair winning her success that ultimately landed her in
Los Angeles in 1972, with appearances in small roles on
television shows like
Emergency! and
The Rookies, and the
television movie The Picture of Dorian Gray (1973). Her first recognition came with an appearance on an episode of
The Mary Tyler Moore Show as a rival to the "Happy Homemaker" character Sue Ann Nivens (played by
Betty White). That led to prominent guest appearance on shows like
M*A*S*H,
The Streets of San Francisco, Barnaby Jones, , the
television movies
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln (1976)
Something for Joey (1977), and
Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977), and the miniseries
Captains and the Kings (1976).