Maren Jensen
Maren Jensen | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 23, 1956 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1978-1981 |
Maren Kawehilani Jensen (born September 23, 1956, Arcadia, California) is a former American model and actress, best known for portraying Athena, in the 1970s television series Battlestar Galactica.
Biography
Maren Jensen's middle name "Kawehilani" means "The Morning Mist From Heaven" in Hawaiian.
Maren was born in Glendale, California. Her father was a physician, and her mother was secretary with the Los Angeles Zoo. She is a middle child, with a brother, Dana (who is five years older), and a sister, Kathleen, who is seven years younger than her.
Maren attended Herbert Hoover High School from 1971 to 1974. She was an honors student in high school and received a scholarship to attend UCLA, where she majored in Theater Arts and Law.
While in school, Maren made pizzas, waited on tables, was an usherette and a computer operator before becoming a model/actress.
Maren began a successful modeling career. Soon her exotic Danish-Hawaiian beauty was splashed across the covers of Vogue and Mademoiselle. A mutual friend introduced her to agent Barbara Gale. The contact resulted in two network commercials and an appearance in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries in 1977. In 1978, she starred in Battlestar Galactica. (Maren appeared on the cover of TV Guide in April 1978)
Maren was a longtime companion of singer/songwriter Don Henley. In 1982, Henley released his first solo album ("I Can't Stand Still") and dedicated it to Jensen (with liner notes reading; "This album is for Maren"). She is also credited for "Harmony Vocals" on the song "Johnny Can't Read", and is also credited in the liner notes for composing the piano intro and interlude on the song "A Month of Sundays" on Henley's 1984 album, Building the Perfect Beast (she also appeared in Henley's video for his song "Not Enough Love In the World" in 1985). Henley and Jensen were engaged, but eventually separated in 1986.[1]
Maren developed Chronic fatigue syndrome but has since recovered from the condition.[citation needed] The illness contributed to her leaving the acting profession. Her last role was in Wes Craven's 1981 horror film Deadly Blessing alongside Sharon Stone.
In 2003, at the age of 46, Maren posed for test photos at the Playboy Studio in Los Angeles. She was going to be a part of a pictorial about women in their forties, but the project was eventually cancelled, and the photos were never released publicly. "The pictures are very tasteful, and Maren shows "everything" that Playboy usually shows."[2]
Maren Jensen (Kugelberg?) (she married Johan Kugelberg at some point in time) is involved with Stila Cosmetics (part of the Estee Lauder Corporation) and with "Let's Dance World" TM LLC. (Maren is a very high ranking executive/officer at both companies)
Maren has a daughter and her busy schedule (marriage, career and family) have her spending significant time in both southern California (the Los Angeles metro area) and New York City. (Manhattan and Brooklyn)
Johan Kugelberg (Maren Jensen's Husband) is Swedish. He has lived in New York City for quite some time and has been a prominent member of the New York City media/arts world for many years. He has worked in the music industry, is an author, an artist, a film-maker and curates/runs his own gallery in Manhattan called the "Boo-Hooray"....said gallery works in association with the Steven Kasher Gallery. (Maren Jensen has also been involved with the Boo-Hooray on and off)
Filmography
- The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (one episode, 1978) - Maryann Dalton/Teri Turner
- Battlestar Galactica (19 episodes, 1978–1979) - Athena
- The Love Boat (3 episodes, 1979–1980) - Sharon Patrick
- Fantasy Island (one episode, 1980) - Valerie
- Beyond the Reef (1981) - Diana
- Deadly Blessing (1981) - Martha Schmidt
- Battle of the Network Stars (1978)
Notes
External links
- Maren Jensen at IMDb