Laughter by the case – Kari Lizer gives `Matlock’ series a comic touch

By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
January 5, 1988

Last spring, actor Andy Griffith said he hoped Kari Lizer would become a regular on his “Matlock” series. His wish came true when the actress won the part of law clerk Cassie Phillips at the end of last season.

Lizer made her “Matlock” debut playing a rock star last season. Then she introduced her Cassie character. Originally Cassie was a law student, but the producers made her a law clerk because it was easier to keep her involved in Matlock’s cases if she didn’t have her nose buried in law texts all the time.

“What I’m doing is mostly comedy on a dramatic show,” said the 23-year-old actress, who appears on NBC’s “Matlock” at 7 p.m. Tuesdays on WMAQ-Channel 5.

Comedy is Lizer’s first love, she said, and her goal is to develop a film career doing comedies. Before “Matlock,” she experienced her share of unemployment. Now, Lizer said, she feels grateful to be working and to be involved with show-business veterans who think enough of her to ask for her input.

“I did have apprehensions about doing a series because you hear about the weekly grind, but unfortunately I wasn’t in a position to argue,” she recalled, chuckling. “When they said, `Do you want to do a series?’ I said, `Well, sure, if you’ll let me.’

“I lucked out because I’m allowed to be so creative. Andy actually asked for my input. They let me make decisions about what my character would do. That’s quite unusual.”

Lizer started her acting career 12 years ago in academic and community theater in Cerritos, Calif. Her favorite role was playing Lucy in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” a musical based on the Peanuts comic strip.

Her all-American good looks quickly led to a succession of lucrative commercials, including a series of spots for Kentucky Fried Chicken and Sizzler restaurants. Everyone told her she would get even more work when she turned 18. She found the opposite to be true.

“Everything just stopped,” she said. “I didn’t work for a long time. And then I got a call from the producers of `Private School’ after they saw a series of Sizzler commercials that I did.”

Laughing, she added: “Of course, I had to do an audition. They didn’t say, `Hey, you were so good in your commercial you can be in our movie.’ Anyhow, I got the role of a fast-food clerk. I just can’t seem to get away from those food roles.”

Soon after, she won a role in another teen flick, “Gotcha.” By then, however, she was tired of reading for roles as cheerleaders, ingenues and bimbos. She wanted to do comedy.

“I didn’t work for a long time because of that,” she said. “Then I realized I wouldn’t be able to do what I wanted without the proper training. My decision to study was self-survival, because I was the world’s worst cheerleader and I knew that’s what they would want me for unless I really developed my acting.

“I always wanted to play character roles, and that’s something people aren’t likely to encourage if you’re blond and fairly attractive. It got to a point where I’d audition without makeup and my hair straight so people would take me seriously. It’s really sad when you have to do that.”
Lizer went to New York and studied with acting coach Warren Robertson. Though she could have modeled to pay for her acting lessons, she chose to wait on tables instead.

“I think I’d rather die than model,” she said, laughing. “I never wanted to do it. Going on commercial auditions was close enough to modeling for me. At every one, there’d be all these beautiful models trying out for the same role as me. Some of them could even talk. I’d be afraid the agencies would tell me to go home, that I was in the wrong place. I can’t handle it.

“That sort of job would be too much anxiety, having to worry about not eating this ’cause you’ll gain on ounce. That’s not very glamorous-sounding to me. I couldn’t compete in that type of work.”

Her acting lessons paid off. She returned to Hollywood with renewed confidence and won comedic roles on programs such as “Growing Pains.” The “Matlock” part came next.

“I was so excited when I found out I’d be working with Andy Griffith, but I also think I made myself nervous thinking about it,” Lizer said. “But he was really incredible, supportive and funny.”

After starting in show business at 11, and remembering the time when she didn’t have acting jobs, Lizer has been careful with the money she earns. Recently, however, she made her first major purchase in years: a new Jeep to replace her rundown Volkswagen.

Lizer said her mother is a little starstruck with her success, but her two brothers and sister don’t seem impressed.

“They still beat on me and stuff,” Lizer said, laughing. “Hollywood means nothing to them. When I go home, I still have to do dishes and take out the garbage.”