Cher: Actress, Singer, Legend

While many people remember Cher from her hit singles in the 1960s and from the 1970s classic television program the Sonny and Cher variety show, she really hit her stride in the 1980s with several acclaimed and award winning starring roles. During this time period, Cher would become an inspiration for many women and men through her work for various causes and through her choice of rolls.

Cher was born on May 20th, 1946 and began her career in show business in the 1960s, first as a back-up singer and later with husband Sonny Bono. They had success with the song "Baby Don't Go" and are most famous for the song that ended all of their variety shows, "I Got You Babe." In the early 1970s the famous Sonny and Cher Variety Show took off and was a fan favorite for several seasons before ending with their marriage in 1974.

The rest of the 1970s was kind of lackluster for Cher as she found her way as a single woman in the entertainment industry. By the early 1980s she had found a new direction and starred in a successful Broadway show followed by the critically acclaimed movie Silkwood with Meryl Streep. Her 1985 movie Mask remains a force among films centered on disabilities, and her late 1980s turn in Moonstruck garnered an Academy Award for Best Actress putting her in a category with only Barbara Streisand. Both Cher and Streisand are the only Best Actress winners to have number one singles on the radio!

Cher's story is an inspiration to many because of her ability to have pulled herself up by the boot straps after many different stages of her life ended, perhaps differently than even she thought they would. When her marriage to Sonny Bono ended in the 1970s and music did not seem to be a lucrative venue anymore, she focused on her other creative desires and went into a successful acting career in the 1980s. This acting career included bold part choices that ended up paying off both creatively and financially. With this success, Cher ventured back into the musical arena in her early 40s and rapidly became a singing sensation yet again - ever a chameleon. Women everywhere can appreciate having to reinvent themselves at different times in their life and can look to Cher as a brilliant example of this.

Cher has continued to experience great success even after her 1980s accomplishments in acting. The 1990s saw her release yet another hit single, and she is currently performing to her enraptured fans on a regular basis in Las Vegas. With each passing decade, Cher inspires more and more women to reach for their creative dreams and helps older women realize that creative success is possible at any age.