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. ==Filmography==