Arlene Golonka Biography – 5 Key Facts You Need To Know

Arlene Golonka Biography – 5 Key Facts You Need To Know

Arlene Golonka belonged to the group of actresses who began their acting careers in the late 1950s. Coming from a family with a keen interest in acting and singing, Golonka needed little or nothing to paddle her own canoe in the industry, especially since her parents were massively supportive of her career choice.

Her acting talent was first felt on stage before she finally appeared in film and television productions. While her engagement on Broadway continued, the actress appeared together with well-known actors and actresses as well as in renowned theaters. Here are five important facts you need to know about the American actress.

Arlene Golonka Biography

Arlene was comfortably raised by her parents after her birth on January 23, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States of America. Her full name is Arlene Leanore Golonka and she is of Polish descent. As a private person, Golonka has not really talked much about her background and personal life, so the names of her parents, information about her relatives, siblings, her childhood, and early life are missing from the picture.

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Arlene Golonka Biography – 5 Key Facts You Need To Know
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As for her education, the acclaimed actress was trained both at the Chicago-based institution Goodman Theatre and at a New York-based drama school, where she was taught alongside renowned actors such as American theater practitioner and actress Uta Hagen, American acting teacher/actor Sanford Meisner and Polish-American theater practitioner, actor, and director Lee Strasberg.

5 Key Facts You Need To Know

1. Arlene Golonka Career

Arlene Golonka’s childhood was all about acting and singing lessons. When she turned nineteen, she decided to pursue a full-time acting career, first playing roles in Broadway productions before finally turning pro in a summer stock company. Golonka played her first major role in the production The Night Circus, which was performed on November 17, 1958, at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, Connecticut.

Her other stage successes include Take Me Along (from late 1959 to late 1960), Come Blow Your Horn (February 1961-October 1962), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (November 1963-January 1964), You Don’t Have to Be Jewish (a comedy album called 1965). Arlene Golonka has also done some productions together with artists like Kirk Douglas, Ben Gazzara, Water Pidgeon, Jackie Gleason, and Robert Morse, which were very impressive.

In the television industry, the actress has a number of credits in her bank account. After moving to Los Angeles in 1967, she began casting for roles in television series. Since then she has had roles in numerous series including All in the Family, M*A*S*H, The San Pedro Beach Bums, She Wrote, One Day at a Time, Sunset Beat, Mayberry R.F.D., Matlock, Cannon, Maude, The Flying Nun, The King of Queens, Get Smart, Car 54, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Rockford Files, The Andy Griffith Show, and others.

Arlene Golonka Biography – 5 Key Facts You Need To Know
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On the big screen, the actress has portrayed various characters in films such as Love At First Bite (1980), Hang ‘Em High (1968), My Tutor (1983), Penelope (1966), A Family Affair (2001), Welcome to Hard Times (1967), The Elevator (1974), The Last Married Couple in America (1980), Airport ’77 (1977) and many others. In addition to acting, she has also acted as a narrator in animated series such as Yogi’s Treasure Hunt, Speed Buggy, The New Scooby-Doo Movies, The New Yogi Bear Show, and Capitol Critters.

2. Teaching Stint

Arlene Golonka has achieved her share of much-needed experience and is currently teaching acting at an undisclosed institution. She was offered the position after retiring from acting in 2005 and there is no doubt that the generation of aspiring actors could use a drop of wisdom from her.

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3. Family Facts

Golonka currently has no marital relationship with any man, but she has three failed marriages behind her. The name of her first husband is Michael Longo, whom she married in 1963 and divorced in 1967.

Her second marriage attempt was with actor Larry Delaney, whom she married in 1969. The two went separate ways in 1977, which led to Arlene marrying for the third time, this time with Christopher Michael Haenel. As in previous relationships, Haenel and Arlene Golonka only spent a few years together before separating. There are records showing that she gave birth to her own children, but none of them have been authenticated.

4. Arlene Golonka Net Worth

The actress earned a large fortune during her active years in the industry with her acting career. While figures on her annual income are currently not readily available for public consumption, her net worth is estimated at $5 million.

5. Height 

Arlene Golonka is not the biggest celebrity you would meet, she stands at a height of  5 feet 4 inches. However, information about her weight and measurements of her body features are not available online.