Known primarily for her eccentric persona, including brightly-colored, odd hairstyles and a thick Queens accent, Lauper made her mark in the entertainment industry with her debut album, "She's So Unusual" (1984), which produced four Top 5 hit singles, including her signature song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and the poignant ballad "Time After Time". Her follow-up albums, while critically praised, generally failed to repeat her early success. Lauper assumed a behind the camera role, co-directing the video "I Drove All Night" from her third album, "A Night to Remember" (1989). She has since directed her own videos which are noted for their arresting collage-like images generated through cross-cuts and dissolves.

In 1985, Lauper began her association with films by writing, producing and performing the title track for the Stephen Spielberg-produced "Goonies". Her screen debut was opposite Jeff Goldblum as (what else?) an eccentric psychic in the ill-fated comedy "Vibes" (1988). She was seen to much better effect as Michael J. Fox's wise secretary in "Life With Mikey" (1993) and in guest appearances on the popular sitcom "Mad About You" (NBC, 1994 and 1995 ) which earned her an Emmy Award. A reworked, reggae-tinged version of her first hit, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" called "Hey, Now" was featured in the drag comedy "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" (1995).

Also Credited As:Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper
Born:June 20, 1953 in Astoria, New York
Job Titles:Singer, Actor, Director, Wrestling promoter
Family
Brother: Fred Lauper.
Father: Fred Lauper.
Mother: Catrine Dominique Lauper. appeared in many of Lauper's early videos including "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "True Colors"
Sister: Elen Lauper. ran for mayor of Phoenix, Arizona on the Socialist Workers Party ticket
Son: Declyn Wallace Lauper Thornton. born on November 19, 1997
Significant Others
Companion: David Wolff. appeared in several videos; no longer together
Education
Richmond Hills High School, Richmond Hills, New York
Milestones
1983 First album released, "She's So Unusual"; sold 4.5 million copies; produced four top 5 singles
1985 Suffered from abdominal illness that curtailed her performing career
1985 Wrote and performed title song for film, "Goonies"
1986 Released second album, "True Colors"; number 1 album on pop charts
1988 Feature film debut, "Vibes"
1989 Co-directed first music video, "I Drove All Night" (song featured on her album, "A Night to Remember")
1993 Appeared in "Life With Mikey"
1993 TV acting debut in the NBC sitcom "Mad About You"; appeared as Marianne, the ex-wife of Ira (John Pankow)
1995 Reprised her role as Marianne on "Mad About You"; earned Emmy as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
1999 Again appeared as Marianne in two episodes of "Mad About You", including the series' finale
1999 Co-starred as Christopher Walken's disgruntled girlfriend in "The Opportunists"; released theatrically in 2000
2001 Starred in the stage musical "Largo" presented at Vassar College by New York Stage and Film (July)
Appeared with groups Flyer and Blue Angels in late 1970s

Gallery: