Personal info and family—
Birth: June 4, 1944 as Holly Michelle Gilliam in Long Beach, California
Marriages:
John Phillips (1962-1968)
Dennis Hopper (1970) [8 days only]
Robert Burch (19878-1980)
Grainger Hines
Steven Zax (2000-present)
Children:
Chynna Phillips (w/John)
Micheal Austin Hines (w/Grainger Hines)
Aron Wison (adopted)
Pre-M&P Career—
After finishing high school, Michelle set out to pursue a modeling career in New York City. It was there that she met John Phillips and joined him and Marshall Brickman in forming the group known as The New Journeymen. Denny Doherty would later replace Brickman in the group, and the three would continue to sing together until deciding to change their sound and add the talents of Cass Elliot to become The Mamas and the Papas.
Post-M&P Career—
Unlike the other three members of the group, Michelle chose not to follow a singing career (though she did produce one album). Instead, she turned to acting which had always been an interest of hers. Her work has been varied and prolific as the lists below demonstrate. Over the years, she has appeared in several films on both silver and small screens. She has had recurring roles on a variety of television series, most famously Knot’s Landing.
MUSIC
Solo album:
Victim of Romance [1977] Tracks
Non-album singles:
“Aloha Louie” “No Love Today” [1976] on Mother, Jugs, & Speed (soundtrack)
Other album credits:
Michelle contributed to the albums/songs of the following singers:
Denny Doherty on Waiting for a Song [1974] (vocals, also with Cass Elliot)
Lonnie Donegan on Puttin’ on the Style [1977] (vocals)
Belinda Carlisle on Heaven on Earth [1988] (vocals)
John Phillips on Pay, Pack, & Follow [2001](vocals, recorded 1970s)
FILM
The Last Movie as Banker’s daughter (with Dennis Hopper) [1971]
Dillinger as Billie Frechette (Golden Globe nominated) [1973]
Miracle as Trixie [1975]
Shampoo
Valentino as Natasha Rambova [1977]
Bloodline as Vivian Nichols [1979]
The Man with Bogart’s Face as Gena [1980]
Savage Harvest as Maggie [1981]
American Anthem as Linda Tevere [1986]
Let It Ride as Mrs. Davis [1989]
Keep on Running [1990]
Scissors as Ann Carter [1991]
Joshua Tree (a.k.a. Army of One) as Esther Severence [1993]
Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel as DeeDee Westbrooke [2000]
The Price of Air as Mrs. Rye [2000]
March as June [2001]
Jane White is Sick and Twisted as June [2002]
Harry + Max as Mother [2004]
Kids in America as Singer [2005]
Unbeatable Harold as Erma [2006]
Svik (Betrayal) as Eva Karlsen of 1993 [2009]
TELEVISION
Television series (recurring character):
Knot’s Landing as Anne Matheson [1987, 1990-1993] – 73 eps
Malibu Shores as Suki Walker [1996] – 10 eps
Beverly Hills, 90210 as Abby Malone [1997, 1998] – 9 eps
Arthur Hailey’s Hotel as Elizabeth Bradshaw Cabot [1986] – 7 eps
Spicy City as the voice of Raven [1997] – 5 eps
Second Chances as Joanna [1993] – 4 eps
The Magnificent Seven [1998, 1999] – 3 eps
7th Heaven as Lilly [2001, 2004] – 3 eps
Popular as Hellacious Acres [2000] – 2 eps
That’s Life as Maureen [2001,2002] – 2 eps
Television series (notable guest appearances):
Vega$ [1980]
Matt Houston [1982]
The Fall Guy [1983]
Search for Tomorrow [1983]
Fantasy Island [1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984]
The Love Boat [1981,1982, 1984]
Automan [1984]
Finder of Lost Loves [1984]
Murder, She Wrote [1984]
TJ Hooker [1985]
Alfred Hitchcock Presents [1988]
Star Trek: The Next Generation [1988]
Burke’s Law [1994]
Herman’s Head [1994]
Lois & Clark [1995]
Heaven Help Us [1995]
Too Something [1996]
Pauly [1997]
The Love Boat: The Next Wave [1998]
Diagnosis Murder [1994, 1999]
Providence [1999]
Rude Awakening [1999]
Twice in a Lifetime [2000]
All About Us [2001]
Spin City [2001]
Abby [2003]
Television (films/miniseries):
The Death Squad [1974]
The California Kid [1974]
Aspen [1977]
The Users [1978]
The French Atlantic Affair [1979]
Moonlight [1982]
Murder Me, Murder You [1983]
Secrets of a Married Man [1984]
Covenant [1985]
Hammer House of Murder and Suspense: Paint Me a Murder [1986]
Stark: Mirror Image [1986]
Assault and Matrimony [1987]
Mike Hammer: Murder Take All [1989]
Trenchcoat in Paradise [1989]
Appearances [1990]
Rubdown [1993]
919 Fifth Avenue [1995]
No One Would Tell [1996]
Pretty Poison [1996]
Sweetwater [1999]
Knot’s Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac [1997]
Stop at Nothing [2001]
THEATER
The Vagina Monologues [2001]
BOOKS
California Dreamin’: The True Story of the Mamas and the Papas [1986]