Randi Oakes
- Actress
Pretty, sunny, and appealing blonde looker Randi Oakes was born Betty
Lee Oakes on August 19, 1951 in Sumner, Iowa. Her father owned a farm
in Randalia, Iowa. Oakes was encouraged by her parents to leave her
small town and pursue a modeling career in New York, after she won the
Miss Iowa Model of the Year contest. Randi started her acting career
with guest appearances on episodes of such TV shows as
McCloud (1970),
Delvecchio (1976),
Rosetti and Ryan (1977) and
Battlestar Galactica (1978).
She gave an especially lively and engaging performance as the sweetly
ditsy, "Sally", in the enjoyable tongue-in-cheek drug deal flick,
Acapulco Gold (1976). Oakes
achieved her greatest enduring popularity with her regular role as
"Officer Bonnie Clark" on the hit TV show,
CHiPs (1977). Randi met her future
husband, Gregory Harrison, when
they both appeared as contestants on the 1979 TV game-show special,
Battle of the Network Stars VII (1979).
They got married on December 21, 1980. Oakes and Harrison have four
children: daughters Emma, Lily, and Kate and son Quinn Edgar Harrison
(adopted). Randi lives in southern Oregon with her husband and family.