Michele Lee
Biography
Michele Lee is an American actress born on June 24, 1942, in Los Angeles, California. She is known for her role as Karen Fairgate MacKenzie on the prime-time soap opera Knots Landing. Lee is also a singer, dancer, author, producer, and director. She has appeared in various films and television shows, including The Love Bug and The Red Skelton Show. Her acting credits include numerous roles in television and film, with a total of 75 known credits. Lee's work spans multiple genres, and she has been recognized for her contributions to the entertainment industry.
Career overview
Michele Lee is an American actress known for her work in television and film. She has appeared in numerous productions, including the prime-time soap opera Knots Landing, where she played the role of Karen Fairgate MacKenzie. Lee's acting credits span several decades, with her early work including appearances on television shows such as The Red Skelton Show and Night Gallery.
Lee has also appeared in various films, including The Love Bug, a 1968 Disney film in which she co-starred with Dean Jones. Her filmography is extensive, with credits in numerous productions across multiple genres. In addition to her acting work, Lee has also been involved in other aspects of the entertainment industry, including production and direction.
Throughout her career, Michele Lee has demonstrated her versatility as an actress, appearing in a wide range of roles and genres. Her work on Knots Landing, in particular, has been notable, earning her a nomination for a 1982 award. Lee's extensive body of work has established her as a respected figure in the entertainment industry, with a career spanning multiple decades and numerous productions.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
90 titles- Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration (2025) as Self
- Morecambe & Wise in America (2018) as Self
- How to Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) (2013) as Caroline
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics (2008) as Self
- The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays (2006) as Lee (segment "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife")
- The Lady in Question Is Charles Busch (2005) as The Allergist's Wife (archive footage)
- CSI: NY (2004) as Jody Sun
- Along Came Polly (2004) as Vivian Feffer
- Miss Match (2003) as Sandy
- Married to the Kellys (2003) as Maggie Wagner
- Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003) as Self
- That Loveable Bug (2003) as Self
- Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (2000) as Cousin Mel (voice)
- Family Guy (1999) as Estelle Lewis (voice)
- Get Bruce! (1999) as Self
- Murder on Shadow Mountain (1999) as Barbara Traynor
- Will & Grace (1998) as Lucille
- Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story (1998)
- Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac (1997) as Karen Fairgate McKenzie
- Color Me Perfect (1996) as Dina Blake
- Color Me Perfect (1996) Writer
- Color Me Perfect (1996) Director
- Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story (1995) as Dottie West
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993) Director
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- When No One Would Listen (1992) as Jessica Cochran
- Broadway Bound (1992) as Blanche
- My Son Johnny (1991) as Mary Anne
- The Fatal Image (1990) as Barbara Brennan
- You Don't Look 40, Charlie Brown! (1990) as Self - Host
- Single Women, Married Men (1989) as Susan Parmel
- Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz (1988) as Michele Lee
- Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987) as Self
- The Making of Captain EO (1986) as Self
- All Star Party for Clint Eastwood (1986) as Self (uncredited)
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- A Letter to Three Wives (1985) as Rita Phipps
- Perry Como's Christmas in New York (1983) as Performer
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- I Love Liberty (1982) as Self
- Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary (1982) as Mrs. Lane
- The Tim Conway Show (1980) as Self
- Knots Landing (1979) as Karen MacKenzie
- Knots Landing (1979) Director
- Fantasy Island (1978) as Carol DeAngelo
- Bud and Lou (1978) as Anne Costello
- The Love Boat (1977) as Denise Fredericks
- The Love Boat (1977) as Roz Rogers
- The Love Boat (1977) as Irene Funston
- The Love Boat (1977) as Dorothy Meacham
- Battle of the Network Stars (1976)
- The Gong Show (1976)
- Dark Victory (1976) as Dolores Marsh
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self - Presenter
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self - Host
- Rickles (1975)
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Only with Married Men (1974) as Jill Garrett
- The Michele Lee Show (1974)
- Of Thee I Sing (1972) as Diana Devereaux
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971)
- The First Nine Months Are the Hardest (1971) as Self
- Night Gallery (1970) as Joanna Lowell
- Love, American Style (1969) as Kathy
- Love, American Style (1969) as Jayne
- Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969) as Rowena Dancy
- The Comic (1969) as Mary Gibson
- Roberta (1969) as Stephanie
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self
- The Love Bug (1968) as Carole Bennett
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest / Various Characters
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967) as Rosemary
- Hullabaloo (1965) as Self
- The Danny Kaye Show (1963) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959)
- Kraft Music Hall (1958) as Self
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Host
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee / Performer
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Co-Host / Performer / Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter / Performer
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Performer
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Carole Bennett
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Peaches Laverne
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Stephanie
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Michele Lee best known for?
Michele Lee is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009), CSI: NY (2004), Along Came Polly (2004), Birthday Girl (2001).
When and where was Michele Lee born?
Michele Lee was born on June 24, 1942 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
How many credits does Michele Lee have?
Michele Lee has accumulated over 90 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2025.
What is Michele Lee's background in cinema and television?
Michele Lee is an American actress born on June 24, 1942, in Los Angeles, California. She is known for her role as Karen Fairgate MacKenzie on the prime-time soap opera Knots Landing. Lee is also a singer, dancer, author, producer, and director. She has appeared in various films and television shows, including The Love...