Raised by mother in Los Angeles after parents' 1962 divorce

Moved East with mother

Returned to California

Was considering majoring in drama in college but left after a semester, wanting to get practical experience right away; put under contract by Universal

Made TV debut with guest appearances on "Columbo", "The Love Boat" and "The Nancy Drew Mysteries"

TV series debut as Lt. Barbara Duran in the ABC sitcom, "Operation Petticoat"

Film acting debut, John Carpenter's "Halloween"; her performance as Laurie Strode established her reputation as a 'Scream Queen'

First TV variety special appearance, "Circus of the Stars"

First TV-movie, "She's in the Army Now"

First received top billing in a TV-movie, "Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story"

Reprised role of Laurie Strode in "Halloween II"

Breakthrough feature comedy role, John Landis' "Trading Places" starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd; first collaboration with Aykroyd; established her reputation as a screen sexpot

Unsuccessfully tried out for the title role of Wendy Wasserstein's "The Heidi Chronicles" on the NYC stage; lost role to Joan Allen (date approximate)

Played Hannah Miller on the ABC sitcom, "Anything But Love," co-starring opposite Richard Lewis

Re-paired with Aykroyd for "My Girl"; played Shelly, a hippie hired to apply makeup to cadavers

Co-hosted (along with Dennis Miller and Jerry Seinfeld) the 43rd annual Emmy Awards ceremony

Made TV directing debut with the episode "Call of the Mild" of the series, "Anything But Love" (episode aired January 8, 1992)

Publishing debut with the children's book, "When I Was Little: A Four-Year Old's Memoir of Her Youth"

Reprised the role of Shelly, now married to Aykroyd's character, for "My Girl 2"

Co-starred opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in James Cameron's "True Lies"; most high-profile role to date

Starred as Heidi Holland in the TNT Screenworks presentation of Wendy Wasserstein's "The Heidi Chronicles"

Profiled for an installment of "Biography" on A&E

Did a guest shot on two episodes of ABC's "The Drew Carey Show" as Soux, a free-spirited hairdresser

Took a year off from performing to spend time with her daughter

Again reprised her most famous role of Laurie in the sequel "Halloween H2O"

Received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (September)

Co-starred in the comedy "Drowning Mona"

Named spokesperson for VoiceStream mobile phones; appeared in print and TV commercials

Once again played Laurie Strode in "Halloween Resurrected"

Dropped by VoiceStream T-mobile phones and replaced by Catherine Zeta Jones

Starred as the mother in the family feature "Freaky Friday"; earned a golden globe nomination for best actress in a musical or comedy

Starred opposite Tim Allen in the comedy "Christmas with the Kranks"