 A contemporary television icon and perennial viewer favorite, Mary Hart is the
co-host for the #1 magazine in syndication, Entertainment Tonight.
Mary Hart joined Entertainment Tonight as a correspondent in 1982, but within weeks
was tapped to co-host the show.
In addition to her ET responsibilities and acclaim this past year,
Mary Hart was
inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable "Hall of Fame" and received the American
Women in Radio and Television's 1998 Silver Satellite Award. She also hosted the
highly rated CBS television special "Ladies' Home Journal Presents 'The Most
Fascinating Women of 1997.'"
Born in South Dakota, Mary Hart graduated from Augustana College where she majored in
English. As a college student, she reigned as Miss South Dakota, finishing as
runner-up in the Miss America Pageant. Mary Hart was inspired to pursue broadcasting
when, as a contestant, she realized how much she enjoyed being interviewed on
television.
After graduation, she became a high school English teacher in Sioux Falls and,
simultaneously, began hosting a local cable show.
Later, upon moving to Cedar Rapids, IA, Mary Hart added a television and radio show
to her credits. Mary Hart's burgeoning television career brought her to Oklahoma City
in 1976, where she spent three years as co-host of "Dannysday," a noontime talk
show on the NBC affiliate. That success led to statewide celebrity status, and
she soon relocated to California to further her career. Performing in national
commercials and hosting the popular "PM Magazine," Mary Hart impressed NBC, which in
1981 tapped her to co-host the daytime talk entry, "The Regis Philbin Show."
Shortly after that series was canceled in 1982, Paramount Domestic Television
hired her for ET, where she continues to personify entertainment journalism.
In addition to her daily anchor role on Entertainment Tonight,
Mary Hart hosted and
executive produced two prime-time television interview specials "Mary Hart
Presents: Love in the Public Eye" and "Mary Hart Presents: Power in the Public
Eye" in 1991.
A physical fitness enthusiast, Hart's first video "Shape Up with Mary Hart,"
quickly attained platinum status after its 1989 release. Named one of that
year's top 10 home videos by People Magazine, it has sold more than a
half-million copies. Her second exercise video, "Mary Hart--Fit and Firm" was
released in 1990 and achieved gold status.
An accomplished singer who has performed variety shows in Las Vegas and Atlantic
City, Mary Hart also recorded a collection a lullabies, "Songs from the Heart" (Madacy
Music Group) in 1994. The album contains a song she penned for her son, "Lullaby
for AJ."
She has also hosted the Tournament of Roses Parade (1984-89) and Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade (1987) for which she has garnered two Emmy Award
nominations.
In 1989, she was awarded a star on Hollywood's renowned "Walk of Fame." That
event coincided with the landmark 2,000th episode of Entertainment Tonight, an
unprecedented feat in television syndication history.
Involved in numerous charitable causes, Mary Hart serves on the board of directors
for the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. She is also a ChildHelp
Ambassador, combating child abuse across America; and has co-hosted the
Children's Miracle Network Telethon for 15 years.
Mary Hart and her husband, businessman Burt Sugarman, live in Los Angeles with their
son, AJ.
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