At 73, Marilu Henner has appeared in over 30 Hallmark Channel productions since the network launched in 2001. Best known to TV fans for playing part-time cabbie Elaine Nardo on NBC’s hit comedy “Taxi” in the late 70s and early 80s, Henner has found a prolific second career with Hallmark, including 20 films in the popular “Aurora Teagarden Mystery” series where she plays the mother of a librarian who be longs to a group of enthusiasts studying true historical crimes.
While Hallmark has cultivated a recognizable roster of its own stars, their programs have also featured an impressive lineup of veteran film and television icons over the years, including Ed Asner, Christopher Lloyd, Shirley MacLaine, Roger Moore, Danny Glover, Burt Reynolds, and Carrie Fisher.
And Marilu Henner.
How did “Taxi” launch Marilu Henner’s career?
“Taxi” was one of Henner’s first on-screen appearances. Given the co-stars who would go on to become huge stars (including Danny DeVito, Judd Hirsch, and Tony Danza), there are plenty of stories to share from the show’s five seasons.
The Danny DeVito audition story
“Want to hear a great Danny DeVito story?” asked Henner, referring to the actor who played Louie, the grumpy cab dispatcher.
“Danny was down to his last unemployment check, his last clean shirt, and he had no money when he read the script for ‘Taxi’ and felt it was a great part. He goes to the audition and is in a room full of studio suits with the script in his hand. He throws it down and says, ‘Who wrote this crap?’ and they said, ‘that’s our Louie.’ He was the only truly irreplaceable character in the show.”
What are Marilu Henner’s favorite Hallmark Christmas movies?
The channel does have its critics, given the often-repetitive nature of their movies and predictable happy boy-always-gets-girl outcome.
“Yeah, it’s the same formula but it works,” said Henner of the Christmas movies. “They’re just kind of feel-good stories that the whole family can watch. There’s always hot chocolate, cookies baking, cutting down their own Christmas tree, and of course a final kiss.”
She especially remembers one film from 2020.
“Love, Lights, Hanukkah!” (2020)
“Of all the Christmas movies I’ve done, ‘Love, Lights, Hanukkah!’ is one of my favorites,” she recalled. “The story is about a girl (played by Mia Kirshner) that I gave up for adoption when I was young. She finds out that she’s not just all Italian but half Jewish after a DNA test and reconnects with me and my family. It’s such a sweet holiday movie.”
“A Kismet Christmas”
In 2022 Henner played Gramma Mia, the keeper of a famous family recipe for kismet cookies. If placed under one’s pillow, the sweet treats allow the sleeper to dream of their true love—kismet being a Turkish word synonymous with destiny.
“My character is very nurturing with a certain wisdom and she’s always cooking, like me,” said Henner. “We filmed in Victoria (Canada) and had some scenes in traditional Dickens-like costumes which was fun.”
Why does Marilu Henner love working with Hallmark?
Henner has appeared in some 20 of the Hallmark Teagarden mysteries where she plays the mother of librarian Aurora Teagarden. Unlike other network or cable crime dramas, the on-screen violence is minimal.
“You’re not going to see dead bodies or pools of blood everywhere, so I can watch it with my young niece,” she explained. Beyond the family-friendly content, Henner appreciates the production experience. “Taxi” may have launched her career, but at 73 she has made her mark on Hallmark.
“First of all, they are really nice people to work with, and I always have a great time with them,” she said. “They pick interesting locations and there’s always something in the characters that I relate to. People come up to me all the time and tell me how much they love Hallmark movies.”
