Marla Heasley (born September 4, 1959) is an American film and television actress best known for her role as Tawnia Baker in the 1980s hit TV series: ''

The A-Team ''The A-Team'' is an American Action television, action television series that ran on NBC from January 23, 1983, to March 8, 1987, about a fictional team of former United States Army Special Forces who work as mercenaries while on the run from ...

''.

''The A-Team''

Heasley was cast for the role of Tawnia Baker; a newspaper reporter working with the team. Introduced in season 2 episode 15 "The Battle of Bel-Air", the character was brought in as a replacement for

Melinda Culea Melinda Culea (born May 5, 1955) is an American actress. Early life Culea was born on May 5, 1955, in Western Springs, Illinois. She worked as a model before acting.Dangaard, Colin (1983) "Melinda Culea: The Struggle Goes on", ''Milwaukee Jo ...

(Amy Allen), who was abruptly dropped from the series after insisting on being given more to do. In order to be written out of the series the character was married off in the season 3 two-part episode 2/3 "The Bend in the River". The name of Heasley's character was stipulated by series creator:

Stephen J. Cannell Stephen Joseph Cannell (; February 5, 1941 – September 30, 2010) was an American television producer, writer, novelist, actor, and founder of Cannell Entertainment (formerly Stephen J. Cannell Productions) and The Cannell Studios. After start ...

where he combined his daughter's first name (Tawnia) with his mother's maiden name (Baker). Some time prior to being cast as Tawnia Baker, Heasley made a guest appearance as a bikini clad co-ed called Cherise in a short-term relationship with Templeton "Faceman" Peck in season 2 episode 4 "Bad Time On The Border".

Other roles

Prior to ''The A-Team'', Heasley appeared in the very first four episodes of ''

Star Search ''Star Search'' (later known as ''Ed McMahon's Star Search'') is an American television show that was produced by T.P.E./ Rysher Entertainment from 1983 to 1995, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Al Masini. A relaunch was produced by 29 ...

'' in the Spokesmodel category. Heasley has made guest appearances on many other TV shows such as, ''

T. J. Hooker ''T. J. Hooker'' is an American police drama television program starring William Shatner in the title role as a 15-year veteran police sergeant. The series premiered as a mid-season replacement on March 13, 1982, on ABC and ran on the network unt ...

'', ''

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Wilford Lloyd Baumes that originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1977, to May 24, 1986. In addition, three TV movies aired before the regular series pre ...

'', ''

Riptide A rip tide, or riptide, is a strong offshore current that is caused by the tide pulling water through an inlet along a barrier beach, at a lagoon or inland marina where tide water flows steadily out to sea during ebb tide. It is a strong tidal fl ...

'', ''

Mike Hammer Michael Hammer or Mike Hammer may refer to: * Michael Hammer (politician) (born 1977), Austrian politician * Michael Armand Hammer (1955–2022), American philanthropist and businessman * Michael Martin Hammer (1948–2008), engineer and author * Mi ...

'', '' The Highwayman'', and many more. She played an unnamed Air Force Lieutenant in the ''

Galactica 1980 ''Galactica 1980'' is an American science fiction television series and a spin-off from the original ''Battlestar Galactica'' television series. It was first broadcast on ABC in the United States from January 27 to May 4, 1980, lasting for 1 ...

'' episode " Spaceball". Heasley's feature film roles were ''

The Marrying Man ''The Marrying Man'' (known as ''Too Hot to Handle'' in the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Philippines) is a 1991 American romantic comedy film, directed by Jerry Rees, written by Neil Simon, and starring Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. Ahead ...

'' in 1991, '' Born to Race'' in 1987 and ''

Amore! ''Amore!'' is a 1993 comedy film directed by Lorenzo Doumani and starring Jack Scalia and Kathy Ireland. Its music score was created by Harry Manfredini. Plot Saul Schwartz is a bored New York businessman who decides to change his life to beco ...

'' in 1993.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Heasley, Marla 1959 births Living people American film actresses American television actresses Actresses from Greater Los Angeles Palm Springs High School people 21st-century American women