Two of the most luminous stars of 80s film and television were spotted on a rare joint outing this week in Los Angeles. The actresses, known for their roles in action films and iconic TV series respectively, appeared in great spirits as they chatted during their walk.
The Dynamic Duo Revealed
It is Leah Ayres, 68, and Brenda Strong, 66! Ayres famously portrayed journalist Janice Kent, the love interest of Jean-Claude Van Damme's character in the 1988 blockbuster Bloodsport. She first gained fame on the soap opera The Edge of Night (1981-1983) and later starred in the Aaron Spelling film Velvet (1984). Her television credits include 9 to 5, The Bradys, Married... with Children, and Who's the Boss? Her final TV appearance was in a 1998 episode of Sliders.
After earning a Master's degree in human development from Pacific Oaks College in 1996, Ayres left Hollywood and retrained as a yoga teacher and Family Constellations facilitator. She and her husband Bruce Kalish, whom she married in 1990, run a practice in Los Angeles focused on uncovering unconscious family dynamics and intergenerational trauma. They have a son, Mackenzie, 23.
Brenda Strong, 66, is beloved worldwide for her role as the late Mary Alice Young on Desperate Housewives (2004-2012), earning two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She also appeared in Twin Peaks (1990), Seinfeld (as Elaine's nemesis Sue Ellen Mischke), and films like Spaceballs (1987) and Starship Troopers (1997). Her early career included winning the Miss Arizona title in 1980 and a role in Billy Crystal's music video You Look Marvelous.
Strong married Tom Henri in 1989, with whom she has son Zakery Henri, and filed for divorce in 2011. In 2015, she married director-actor John Farmanesh-Bocca. Most recently, she appeared in an episode of the Yellowstone spin-off Marshalls.
The two actresses, both proud mothers, enjoyed a leisurely stroll, showcasing their enduring friendship and vibrant spirits.
