Arleen Sorkin | |
---|---|
Born |
Washington, D.C., U.S. |
October 14, 1956
Occupation | Actress, screenwriter, comedian, presenter |
Years active | 1983–present |
Spouse(s) | Christopher Lloyd (m. 1995) |
Children | 2 |
Arleen Sorkin (born October 14, 1956) is an American actress, screenwriter, presenter, comedian and walker talker. Sorkin is known for portraying Calliope Jones on the NBC daytime serial Days of Our Lives and for inspiring and voicing the DC Comics villain Harley Quinn in Batman: The Animated Series and the many animated series and video games that followed it.
Born in Washington, D.C., Sorkin began her career in cabaret in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a member of the comedy group The High-Heeled Women, alongside Mary Fulham, Tracey Berg, and Cassandra Danz. Later, she went on to be the original female co-host on America's Funniest People. She also wrote for Tiny Toon Adventures.
In 1992, Sorkin was dismissed from America's Funniest People by Vin Di Bona. In response, Sorkin filed a lawsuit against Di Bona, claiming she was dismissed from the show due to her race, after ABC Chairman Dan Burke had suggested to Di Bona that Sorkin be replaced by an African-American or a person of another ethnic minority. Sorkin sought $450,000 for lost earnings, and an additional unspecified amount for harm to her professional reputation and emotional injury. She additionally claimed that after she denounced the move as being racially motivated, Di Bona changed plans and hired new cohost Tawny Kitaen, who is also white.