Background and career
Kari Michaelsen (born Kari Markussen; November 3, 1961) is a former American actress, television personality, and motivational speaker. She is best known for her role as Katie Kanisky on the NBC sitcom Gimme a Break! (1981–1987).
Born in Manhattan, Michaelsen followed her parents into show business. Her father, Arne Markussen, was a singer; and her mother, Roberta Stevenson, was a dancer. She sang on the soundtrack for Sesame Street and was performing in Off-Broadway plays by age 11. In 1975, her family moved to Beverly Hills, and Michaelsen (who changed her name from Markussen) began appearing on television shows such as, Diff'rent Strokes and Eight Is Enough. Michaelsen graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1979 and studied at University of California, Los Angeles. She retired from television work in 2001. Kari has been doing public speaking and hosting educational seminars since 1990. She married David Waldock, a Mercedes-Benz executive, in July 2002. Michaelsen and Waldock divorced in 2009. They have a son named Nickolas. Michaelsen dated pop star Andy Gibb in 1983. Michaelsen is longtime friends with retired actress Kristy McNichol.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
