Small Wonder is an example of a typical sitcom where some actors go on to have long careers, and the show is merely a single credit in an extensive portfolio, while for others is a final role.
The show was not extremely popular, but several actors would have long careers outside of the show, while more than half wouldn’t have much of a job afterward. What is the cast of Small Wonder doing these days?
Small Wonder was a science fiction comedy sitcom from September 7th, 1985, to May 20th, 1989. The show follows a family whose patriarch designs a lifelike robot modeled after a human girl.
The family attempts to pass her off as an adopted daughter while teaching the robot Vicki to be more human. The show was a surprise hit but was not critically embraced.
Dick Christie
Dick Christie is an actor who was born on October 21st, 1948, in Malibu, California. Christie is an actor who has continued to work today and has had a moderately successful career, mainly across television. He has also worked as a writer and director.
In Small Wonder, Richard Christie played the head of the Lawson family, Ted Lawson. Ted was responsible for the creation of the Vicki robot. He was a robotics engineer who created the child-like robot as a domestic servant, who Ted goes on to see as a member of the family.
Dick Christie began his career in the 1979 film The Last Word playing a medic, credited as Dick Christie. He would then appear in a string of minor roles on series such as The Ropers, Eight is Enough, and The Waltons. He would later make a significant series of appearances on the 1983 series Ace Crawford… Private Eye as Lt. Fanning, before landing the role of Ted Lawson in Small Wonder in 1985.
Since then, he has continued to appear on television with the occasional movie, such as Hell or High Water, in 2016. Most recently, he has been a regular on The Bold and the Beautiful since 2013, playing the character of Charlie Webber.
Marla Pennington
Born on March 5th, 1954, in Los Angeles, California, Marla Pennington is an actress known for Soap (1977), Small Wonder (1985), and Magnum, P.I. (1980).
On Small Wonder, Pennington played the mother in the Lawson household, Joan, who would bond right away with the robot Vicki.
Pennington began her career in 1974 with an appearance on the show Lucas Tanner. She would later land a two-year stint at General Hospital from 1987 to 1978. Her most significant role until Small Wonder would be on Soap from 1979 to 1981.
Small Wonder would be Marla Pennington’s final acting role, having retired from acting after the show ended. She spent her time since, raising her family with her husband, Tom Rowan. Pennington and Rowan were married from August 1988 to December 21st, 2021, the date of his death. Together they had two children. Her first marriage was to Howard D. Baker in 1977, but the information about that marriage is limited.
Jerry Supiran
Born March 21st, 1973, in Arcadia, California, Jerry Supiran is a former child actor who appeared in some projects until his retirement after the cancellation of the sitcom Small Wonder.
Jerry Supiran would play the ten-year-old son of Ted and Joan Lawson, who would end up a brother to the Vicki robot.
Supiran would get his start on television in Galactic 1980 over a series of four episodes as Super Scout. He would continue to appear in roles across television shows throughout the 1980s, eventually taking the part of Jamie lawson in Small Wonder, his most significant credit. He would retire shortly after the show came to an end.
Supiran had a rough life after the show, losing his earnings from the show in a toxic relationship. He suffered numerous health problems and was unhoused for a time. Eventually, he would find a new, happier life with his wife, Michelle.
Tiffany Brissette
Born December 26th, 1974, in Paradise, California, Tiffany Brissette is a former child actress whose career did not last long after the cancellation of Small Wonder.
Brissette played Vicki, a childlike robot, on Small Wonder. She would learn to grow more human as the show progressed. She would essentially be considered the lead of the show.
Brissette’s career began in 1982 in the made-for-TV movie A Woman Called Golda. She would appear in a few other roles, but her first significant role would be Small Wonder. It would also be one of her last.
Following Small Wonder, she appeared on a few other shows, most notable Equal Justice from 1990 to 1991. Since then, she has earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a nursing degree.
Emily Schulman
On August 17th, 1977, Emily Schulman was born in Los Angeles, California. She is a former child actor whose career in the industry faded in the mid-1990s.
In Small Wonder, Emily Schulman would play the neighbor Harriet Brindle, a little girl who had a crush on Jamie Lawson.
Schulman seemed to start her career with Small Wonder but would leverage that show to get work in Mr. Belvedere in 1987 and the movie Troop Beverly Hills in 1989. Following Small Wonder, her most significant work would be the TV series Christy, from 1994 to 1995.
Following the end of that show, she would go on to teach acting in Connecticut.
William Bogert
On January 25th, 1936, William Bogert was born in New York City, New York. He was an actor with an extensive body of work. Bogert was one of the most successful actors associated with Small Wonder. He would pass away at 83 in New York City.
William Bogert played Ted lawson’s boss and neighbor in Small Wonder and served as the principal antagonist, stealing Ted’s ideas.
Bogert’s career lists 118 credited roles as an actor spanning 1964 to a posthumous appearance in an in-production film due 2023. His first role was in a 1964 short titled Lyndon Johnson: Confessions of a Republican. He would then make appearances in films in the 1970s, including Death Wish in 1974 and Dog Day Afternoon in 1975.
Much of his work was for television, including The Greatest American Hero, Small Wonder, and Law and Order. He was also in the 1983 Cold War thriller War Games.
He married his wife Erin Ozker in April of 1977, and they remained together until her passing in February 1993.
Edie McClurg
Edie McClurg was born July 23rd, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri. She is a comedic actress who would appear in many iconic 1980s films and still works today.
Edie McClurg played the character of Bonnie Brindle in Small Wonder. She played the mother of Harriet and the wife of Brandon. However, she would be written off the show due to taking on a role in The Hogan Family.
Edie McClurg has been in many high-profile comedy projects in the 1980s and 1990s. Her first role was as a player in Tony Orlando and Dawn in 1974, but she would make her first movie appearance in 1976’s Carrie. She would appear in projects such as The Pee-Wee Herman Show (1981), Eating Raoul (1982), and voice acting for several Scooby-Doo projects. However, she may be best known for Ferris Beuller’s Day Off in 1986, Planes, Trains & Automobiles in 1987, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark in 1988, and Problem Child from 1993 to 1994.
Edie still works to this day, mostly in more minor roles or voice acting jobs.