Judith Light
Light first found fame on television after being recast (the previous actresses in the part were Kathryn Breech and Julia Duffy) in the role of Karen Wolek on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. This role was quite lucrative for Light, and spawned one of the show's most-remembered storylines; Light's character became a prostitute after she became bored with her life as a housewife. On trial, Karen saved her friend Viki from being convicted of killing her pimp by admitting that she had been a prostitute to the entire town, including her faithful husband. Light won Daytime Emmy Awards in 1980 and 1981.
This star power allowed her to snag a lead role on the ABC sitcom Who's the Boss? The role turned out to be Light's most easily-identifiable. She played the role of the assertive advertising executive Angela Bower from 1984 to 1992 and can still be seen in this role in syndication on channels such as Nick at Nite.
She has become a gay rights activist after helping former Who's the Boss? star Danny Pintauro cope with his sexuality. Light has done work for many LGBT charities and spoke at the 1993 March on Washington. She is also a prominent AIDS activist. Light played Ryan White's mother in a 1989 TV-movie on his life (one of many acclaimed movies-for-television she has made).
Light is married to actor Robert Desiderio. They met when they were both on One Life to Live.
Light was also the former spokesperson for Proactiv anti-acne solution.
