Mary Lucy Denise Henner (born April 6, 1952) is an American actress, producer, radio host, and author. She began her career appearing in the original production of musical Grease in 1971, before making her screen debut in the 1977 comedy-drama film Between the Lines.
In 1977, Henner was cast in her breakthrough role as Elaine O'Connor Nardo in the ABC/NBC sitcom Taxi, a role she played to 1983 and received five Golden Globe Award nominations. She later has had co-starring roles in films such as Hammett (1982), The Man Who Loved Women (1983), Cannonball Run II (1984), Johnny Dangerously (1984), Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985), L.A. Story (1991), and Noises Off (1992). She returned to television with starring role in the CBS sitcom Evening Shade (1990-94), and later had leading roles in many made-for-television movies.
Henner was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Loretta Callis (born Nikoleta Kalogeropoulos), who died of arthritis at age 58 and Joseph Henner (whose surname was originally Pudlowski), who died of a heart attack at age 52. Her maternal grandparents were Greek and her paternal grandparents were Polish. Henner was raised on the northwest side of Chicago in the Logan Square neighborhood. She is the third of six children. Her mother was president of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts and ran the Henner Dance School for 20 years. Henner took her first dance class at age two then went on to teaching dance at her family's studio when she was 14 and choreographed shows at local high schools and colleges until leaving the Chicago area during her third year of college.