Karen Valentine was born on a chicken farm in northern California, and at the tender age of 16, she made her professional debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, a renowned variety show that showcased talented performers from across the nation.
Her early start in the entertainment industry was marked by a contestant appearance on a live national broadcast of The Miss Teenage America Pageant, where Ed Sullivan himself phoned in during the ceremonies to invite her to appear on his iconic show the following week.
Since then, Karen Valentine has starred in numerous productions on stage and screen, including the critically acclaimed series Room 222, where she played the role of student teacher Alice Johnson and received an Emmy Award for her outstanding performance.
As a regular panelist on the popular game show The Hollywood Squares, she exchanged witty banter with notable personalities such as Paul Lynde, George Gobel, and host Peter Marshall.
Over the years, Karen Valentine has continued to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry, starring in numerous made-for-television movies, series episodes, and variety specials, as well as several feature films.
Her versatility and talent have also led to her becoming a fixture on TV talk shows, where she has been a frequent guest and even guest-hosted for the legendary Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
In addition to her work on television, Karen Valentine has appeared in numerous stage productions on Broadway and off, as well as touring with national companies, solidifying her status as a talented and accomplished performer in the entertainment industry.
