All aboard for The Love Boat, the television series that perfectly blended engaging stakes with addictive escapism. Manning the sails for success was a powerful ensemble cast, including the man with the sprawling resume himself, Gavin MacLeod as Captain Merrill Stubing. At his side was Julie McCoy as the important cruise director. Julie was played by Lauren Tewes, whose credits extend beyond the show’s run. So, what did she get up to after the series ended?
Lauren Tewes was born on October 26, 1953 in Braddock, Pennsylvania. Much of her childhood did not betray the line of work she would pursue years later, as she grew up surrounded by manufacturing and industry. But by age eight, she was living in California, where she eventually attended Pioneer High School, which is where she first studied drama and for three consecutive years won the Best Actress award. Attending Rio Hondo College, she won The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Theatre, which resulted in a scholarship that allowed her to transfer to the University of California, Riverside in her sophomore year. Like many rising stars before her, Tewes began on stage until she landed her first television commercial, which was for Lipton Ice Tea. This qualified her for registration with the Screen Actors Guild and Tewes could finally set her sights on big-screen goals.