A native Chicagoan, veteran character actress Arlene Golonka was born Arline Golonka. She seemed destined for acting from the start, having been named after silver screen actress Arline Judge, and her childhood was dominated by singing and acting classes. She headed to New York at the age of 19 and began a career on Broadway and in films made in ...
The word "golonka" is Polish for "pigs' foot" or "hamhock".
2
Appeared on the 1965 comedy album "You Don't Have To Be Jewish", which became a hit. Was unavailable to record its follow-up, "When You're In Love The Whole World Is Jewish", but recommended her (non-Jewish) roommate - Valerie Harper, thus beginning Harper's career of playing Jewish characters, most notably Rhoda Morgenstern of Mary Tyler Moore (1970) and Rhoda (1974).
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
The King of Queens
2005
TV Series
Annette
A Family Affair
2001
Leah Rosen
Have a Periwinkle Day
1998
Short
Leather Jacket Love Story
1997
Mom
Skeletons
1997
TV Movie
Melanie Jove
Cops n Roberts
1995
The Boys Are Back
1995
TV Series
Doris
Fudge
1995
TV Series
Mrs. Yarby
Capitol Critters
1995
TV Series
Matlock
1991-1993
TV Series
Jackie Westmore / Jackie Flemming
Amore!
1993
Acting Coach
In the Heat of the Night
1992
TV Series
Sally Nash
Drexell's Class
1991
TV Series
Mary Finnegan
1st & Ten: The Championship
1989-1990
TV Series
Edna
Murder, She Wrote
1986-1990
TV Series
Gloria Winslow / Sally Conover
The End of Innocence
1990
Claire
Growing Pains
1988-1990
TV Series
Nancy / Kitty
The Gumshoe Kid
1990
Gracie Sherman
Dragnet
1990
TV Series
Ronelle Gates
Trained to Kill
1989
Martha Cooper
Dr. Alien
1989
Mom
The New Yogi Bear Show
1988
TV Series
Additional Voices
We Got It Made
1988
TV Series
Mrs. Hanlon
Survival Game
1987
Barbara Hawkins
Valerie's Family: The Hogans
1987
TV Series
Darlene Franklin
The Bronx Zoo
1987
TV Series
Mrs. Gianelli
Detective School Dropouts
1986
New Love, American Style
1986
TV Series
Foxtrap
1986
Emily
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians
1985
TV Series
Additional Voices
The Hoboken Chicken Emergency
1984
TV Movie
An All Consuming Passion
1984
Video
Billie
Benson
1983
TV Series
Betty Braxton
Simon & Simon
1983
TV Series
Joyce Allreed
The Best of Times
1983
TV Series
Peggy Falcone
My Tutor
1983
Mrs. Chrystal
Gimme a Break!
1982-1983
TV Series
Maxine
CBS Afternoon Playhouse
1982
TV Series
Hilda
The Love Boat
1979-1982
TV Series
Doris Weldon / Suzy Butterfield
Fantasy Island
1979-1982
TV Series
Elaine Price / Ava Foster / Gretchen Wassermann
Separate Ways
1981
Annie Donahue
Trapper John, M.D.
1981
TV Series
Sadie
Secrets of Midland Heights
1981
TV Series
Nancy Grey
Insight
1968-1981
TV Series
Fran / Model / Mary Burke / ...
Longshot
1981
Evelyn Gripp
The Last Married Couple in America
1980
Sally Cooper
Wally Brown
1979
TV Series
Ruthie Burdett
The In-Laws
1979
Jean Ricardo
$weepstake$
1979
TV Series
Joe & Valerie
1979
TV Series
Stella Sweetzer
Taxi
1978
TV Series
Sheila Martin
One Day at a Time
1978
TV Series
Joyce Emerson
Police Story
1978
TV Series
Hostage's Mother
The Rockford Files
1978
TV Series
Jeannie Rosenthal
Carter Country
1977
TV Series
Eloise
The San Pedro Beach Bums
1977
TV Series
Captain Baer
Airport '77
1977
Mrs. Jane Stern
Most Wanted
1977
TV Series
Sheila
Alice
1977
TV Series
Shirley Bartlett
The Streets of San Francisco
1975-1976
TV Series
Rhoda / Barbara Tyler
Jeremiah of Jacob's Neck
1976
TV Movie
Anne Rankin
Bert D'Angelo/Superstar
1976
TV Series
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
1976
TV Series
Veronica McNeely
The Cop and the Kid
1976
TV Series
Eileen
Maude
1974-1975
TV Series
Maybelle / Norma
The Family Holvak
1975
TV Series
Ruby
Barnaby Jones
1973-1975
TV Series
Nora Frazier / Sue Paige
The Wide World of Mystery
1975
TV Series
The Secret Night Caller
1975
TV Movie
Charlotte
Police Woman
1974
TV Series
Carolee English
The Manhunter
1974
TV Series
The Girl with Something Extra
1974
TV Series
Mary Tyler Moore
1971-1974
TV Series
Alice / Betty Bowerchuck
The Elevator
1974
TV Movie
Wendy Thompson
Chase
1974
TV Series
Joy
Love, American Style
1971-1974
TV Series
Judith (segment "Love and the Phobia") / Debbie (segment "Love and the Lucky Couple") / Gloria (segment "Love and the Ledge")