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Intro

About

She has also appearred on both of the reunion movies on NBC "An Eight Is Enough Wedding" in 1989 and "Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion" in 1987.

Before EiE

Mary Grady ran The Mary Grady Agency, a top Hollywood childrens talent agency, which was founded in 1959, It is one of the most highly respected agencies in Hollywood and the entertainment industry.

In its early years, MGA was considered Hollywood's Original Children's Agency, a tradition that is still very important to the agency now. Even today MGA represents children, teens and young adults into their early thirties. Mary's own children were well known television stars, her son Don Grady who played Robbie Douglas on the 1960's show My Three Sons, and Lani O' Grady who played Dr. Mary Bradford on Eight Is Enough.

It was while visiting her brother on the "My Three Sons" set when Lani was eight that O'Grady began thinking of following in her brother's footsteps. At that time, she wanted to have her own show.

In a 1994 interview with The Los Angeles Times, O'Grady recalled that when the show's star, Fred MacMurray, heard her naturally low voice, he turned around and said, "Who said that?"

She looked up at the towering MacMurray and said, "I did, sir." MacMurray responded by saying, "Boy, you ought to be in the business."

Aware of the emotional toll on child actors, Mary Grady never pushed her daughter into acting. But when Lani was 13, her mother finally gave in to her persistent requests to be sent on an audition.

After reading a two-line bit for "High Chaparral," she won the lead role in the episode. O'Grady never looked back, working constantly as a teenager. Following her sibling's lead, O'Grady landed her first regular TV series role at age 13 on the failed Andy Griffith vehicle, "Headmaster" (1970-71).

Lani completed her primary college course and her secondary course in college deprive capital of cinema, she took courses in drama next.

During EiE

She also appearred with Gary Coleman of "Diff'rent Strokes in the TV movie "The Kid with the Broken Halo." In movies, she was in 1977's "The Hazing" (aka The Campus Corpse) and Massacre at Central High (aka Blackboard Massacre). The only other TV series Lani appearred in was "The Headmaster" playing Judy. Lani also appearred in two episodes of "The Love Boat" as a guest as well as in an episode of "Harry O"

She was married to James Gibson Smith on September 9th, 1980, however the marriage did not last more than seven months.

After EiE

Lani made a few game show appearrances in the late 70's during her years on EiE. The last game show appearrance was from the week of October 1987 when she played for charity with co-stars Adam Rich, Grant Goodeve, and Susan Richardson on an all-star special "Password" hosted by the late Bert Convy.

Although many child stars bitterly complain about the drawbacks of growing up in show business, O'Grady was not one of them.

"I have a real hard time with people who have been successful in this business as young children . . . and [as adults] they are no longer wanted by Hollywood--and, yeah, Hollywood is not a user-friendly place," she said in 1994.

"But rather than accepting responsibility for their life, it's easier to say, 'The business is the reason I'm so messed up today.' I hate that."

Lani Trivia

Her dog was a German Shepherd Collie, and dog of Shepherd mix. She called the dog Woofer as a nick name.

Her favorite vaccation site was Hawaii.

She enjoyed Italian cooking, and was Italian decent, though did not make a big deal out of it.

Her past times were spent reading, and gardening and she liked the theatre.

She was very honest, and yes, she was shy at times, though you wouldn't guess it, she liked the company of about three friends at a time.

Random Fan Sightings

From Gabrielle posted on the EiE Messageboard:
On Friday, 06-Nov-98 19:47:40, she posted:
"In response to the last question about Lani O'Grady. I saw her about three years ago on Sally Jesse Raphael. She spoke at length about her troubles with panic attacks. Apparently, they were crippling and very painful for her growing up. The story, however has a happy ending. She found a wonderful doctor who, with the help of medication, has helped her live a more enjoyable life. I wonder how she is doing now? I would love to hear more. Thanks."

From Rebecca Kroeger by E-Mail in June 1999: A couple of months ago, my mother swore she saw Lani O'Grady play an astronaut on an episode of *Touched by an Angel* (!) You might want to watch for the episode in reruns.

Obituary Introduction Sep 25, 2001

Despite a history of addiction, the actress--whose body was discovered in her mobile home by a neighbor last September--was originally believed to have died from natural causes. Her death came a week shy of her 47th birthday.

But toxicology tests released Wednesday reveal O'Grady died of "multiple drug intoxication," the coroner said. Fatal levels of the prescription painkiller Vicodin and the antidepressant Prozac were found in her bloodstream.

At the time of her death she was recovering from two painful knee operations.