Connie Needham Net Worth

What is Connie Needham's net worth?

Connie Needham is an American actress and dance instructor who has a net worth of $500 thousand. Connie Needham, born Connie Marie Bowen on December 5, 1959, in Anaheim, California, is an American actress who became a household name in the late 1970s through her role as Elizabeth Bradford on the popular television series "Eight Is Enough." Before landing this breakthrough role, she used the screen name Connie Newton.

Eight Is Enough

Her portrayal of Elizabeth Bradford spanned the entire run of "Eight Is Enough" from 1977 to 1981, appearing in all 112 episodes of the comedy-drama series. As the aspiring dancer in the family, Elizabeth was a memorable character who notably got the whole story going in the pilot episode after being arrested, creating immediate drama for the Bradford family. She later reprised her role in two television movies: "Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion" (1987) and "An Eight Is Enough Wedding" (1989).

The series was based on the life of newspaper columnist Tom Braden, who wrote a book by the same title about raising his eight children. The show centered on the Bradford family of Sacramento, California, with Tom Bradford (played by Dick Van Patten) as the patriarch and columnist for the fictional Sacramento Register. Initially, Diana Hyland played Joan Bradford, the mother of the eight children, but she died of breast cancer after filming only four episodes. From the second season onward, the show included Betty Buckley as Abby Bradford, Tom's new wife and the children's stepmother.

Connie shared the screen with notable co-stars including Dick Van Patten as her father, Adam Rich as her youngest brother Nicholas, Lani O'Grady as eldest sister Mary, Laurie Walters as sister Joanie, and several other talented actors who made up the beloved Bradford family. The show followed the sometimes comic, sometimes dramatic adventures of this large family as they navigated life together, making it a heartwarming family drama that captivated audiences throughout its run.

Beyond Eight Is Enough

Following her success on "Eight Is Enough," Needham continued her acting career with appearances on several television shows. Notably, she portrayed two different characters on the television series "Fame" – Kathy Murphy, a dancer dealing with multiple sclerosis in the Emmy Award-winning episode "To Soar and Never Falter" (1982), and Kelly Hayden in three episodes the following year. Her other television credits include guest appearances on "Police Squad!", "CHiPs," "The Love Boat," "L.A. Law," and "Ellen" (1994), which was her last television appearance.

Getty

Personal Life

During the filming of "Eight Is Enough," Connie met and fell in love with David Needham, a set designer on the show and son of renowned Hollywood stuntman and director/producer Hal Needham. The couple married on April 7, 1979, during a hiatus between seasons 3 and 4, after which she changed her screen credit from Connie Newton to Connie Needham. Connie and David were married for 26 years before divorcing in 2005. They have two daughters, Kimberly and Taylor.

Health Challenges

In July 2009, Needham was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She has since fully recovered and has become an advocate for the Women's Cancer Research Foundation, working actively to raise awareness.

Life Today

Today, Connie Needham works as a dance instructor in Orange County, California, returning to her early passion for dance. Throughout her career transition from acting to dance instruction, she has maintained a relatively low public profile while focusing on her health, family, and new professional endeavors.

Who's Richer?

Connie
Needham

Compare!

Adam
Rich