Background
Howard was born and raised in the town of Marshall, Texas, where she was recognized for acting talent.
Howard was born and raised in the town of Marshall, Texas, where she was recognized for acting talent.
Upon graduating from Marshall High School, she attended the University of Texas for two years where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority before leaving for Los Angeles to become an acting student at the Los Angeles Repertory Company.
She is known for portraying the character Donna Culver Krebbs on the primetime soap opera Dallas (1979-1987), and as a co-star of the series Petrocelli (1974-1976). Howard had several guest appearances on major television shows during the 1960s and early 1970s: The Flying Nun (1967), I Dream of Jeannie (1968), Star Trek (1968) on which she carried the distinction of playing the first female Klingon on the original series (and the only one to ever speak), Bonanza (1969), and Mission: Impossible (1972). In 1973, she appeared as Evan Sands on Lorne Greene"s American Broadcasting Company crime drama Griff in the episode "Who Framed Billy the Kid?", with Nick Nolte as Billy Randolph, a football player accused of murder.
In 1974, she was cast as the co-star of the National Broadcasting Company series Petrocelli.
Her performance was subsequently nominated for both the Golden Globe and Emmy awards. Despite critical acclaim for Howard, the series was canceled in 1976.
In 1978, she played a key role as Professor Kingsfield"s daughter Susan in series one, episode ten of The Paper Chase. Then came her 1979 appearance on Dallas as Donna Culver.
The producers of the show liked her performance so much, her guest spot was expanded to an eight-year stint.
She has the distinction of being the only Dallas cast member to have written for the series, as well ("Sitting Ducks" and "The Ten Percent Solution"). In 1987, the show decided to not renew her contract. She has blamed this decision on her opposition to what she saw as proabortion storylines involving her character.
After leaving television, Howard has become an increasingly active supporter of conservative causes, especially the gun rights.
Howard has also served as a commissioner of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is currently a commissioner of the Texas Commission on the Arts. She became involved in the National Rifle Association after meeting Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre at the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans.
She is also screenwriter and member of the Writers Guild of America. She is an active member of the leadership of both the National Rifle Association (National Rifle Association) and the Texas Republican Party.