Background
Kitaen was born in San Diego, California, in 1961, the daughter of Linda (née Taylor), a housewife and a former beauty pageant participant, and Terry Kitaen, an employee of a neon sign company.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Tawny Kitaen
Edit ProfileCareer
Julie began using the name "Tawny" at the age of 12, on her own initiative. Kitaen began her acting career in 1983 with a minor role in the television movie Malibu. In 1984, she starred as the title character of the erotic-adventure movie The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak (or Gwendoline).
She also co-starred in the movie Bachelor Party as the bride-to-be of a young Tom Hanks, and was the star of the 1986 horror movie Witchboard.
Kitaen appeared in several videos in the 1980s for the band Whitesnake, including the hits "Here I Go Again", and "Is This Love". She had recurring parts on multiple television series such as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and co-hosted America"s Funniest People from 1992–1994.
Kitaen was one of the cast of the sixth edition of the Video Hits One reality television show, The Surreal Life, which began airing in March 2006. In addition, in late 2007, she appeared on Rock of Love Season 1.
Kitaen also appeared in the second season of the Video Hits One reality television show Celebrity Rehab with Doctor Drew, which began in October 2008.
Kitaen also appeared in Seinfeld once as Jerry"s girlfriend in the episode "The Nose Job". In 2002, Kitaen was charged with domestic violence for an incident involving her then-husband, professional baseball player Chuck Finley. Three days later, Finley filed for divorce.
After a plea bargain, Kitaen agreed to "enter a spousal battery counseling program and avoid contact with Finley." The couple were married for five years and have two daughters, Wynter and Raine.
In November 2006, prosecutors charged Kitaen with possessing 15 grams of cocaine in her San Juan Capistrano home in Orange County. In December 2006, she entered a six-month rehabilitation program in exchange for the dismissal of a felony drug possession charge.
On September 26, 2009, Kitaen was arrested for driving under the influence in Newport Beach, California.
