Soleil Moon Frye Explained

Soleil Moon Frye
Birth Date:1976 8, mf=yes
Birth Place:Glendora, California, U.S.
Education:San Fernando Valley Professional School
Alma Mater:The New School
Years Active:1982 - present
Children:4
Father:Virgil Frye

Soleil Moon Frye (; born August 6, 1976[1]) is an American actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. She began her career as a child actress at the age of two. When she was seven, Frye won the role of Penelope "Punky" Brewster in the NBC sitcom Punky Brewster. The series debuted in September 1984 and earned consistently low ratings, but the Punky character was a hit with young children. After NBC cancelled the series, it was picked up for the syndication market where it aired for an additional two seasons before ending in 1988. Frye reprised the role in a 2021 revival of the series, which was cancelled after one season.

After the original Punky Brewster series ended, Frye continued her career in guest spots on television and supporting roles in films. She attended The New School during the late 1990s and directed her first film, Wild Horses, in 1998. In 2000, she joined the cast in The WB sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch as Roxie King, Sabrina Spellman's roommate and close friend. Frye remained with the series until its end in April 2003. She has since continued her acting career working mainly as a voice actor where she is best known for voicing Zoey Howzer in the Proud Family franchise.

In 1998, Frye married producer Jason Goldberg with whom she has four children. She has since opened an eco-friendly specialty clothing boutique for children, The Little Seed, in Los Angeles. She also hosts a blog and web series that focus on child rearing and women's issues. In 2011, Frye released her first book, Happy Chaos: From Punky to Parenting and My Perfectly Imperfect Adventures in Between.Frye was host of the Home Made Simple show on the Oprah Winfrey Network from 2013 to 2014.[2]

Early life

Frye was born in Glendora, California. Her father was actor Virgil Frye (1930–2012), and her mother is talent agent and caterer Sondra Peluce (née Londy). She has two half-brothers, Sean Frye and Meeno Peluce, both former child actors.[3] Frye's parents divorced when she was two.[4] She was raised in her mother's Jewish faith.[5]

Frye was educated at a private school in Los Feliz and attended San Fernando Valley Professional School in Burbank.

Career

Acting

Frye made her acting debut in the 1982 television movie Missing Children: A Mother's Story. In 1983, she had a supporting role in Who Will Love My Children?, another television movie starring Ann-Margret. The following year, she portrayed Elizabeth (Bette) Kovacs in the biographical television movie Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter, and appeared in another television movie, Invitation to Hell, directed by Wes Craven.

At the audition, Frye beat out over 3,000 girls (including her future Sabrina, the Teenage Witch co-star Melissa Joan Hart) to win the titular role on the NBC sitcom Punky Brewster. The series, which was conceived by NBC's then-head of programming Brandon Tartikoff, premiered in September 1984. Scheduled opposite CBS's highly rated 60 Minutes, the series struggled in the ratings, but the character of Punky was popular among children. Frye routinely appeared at parades, participated in an anti-drug walks with then-First Lady Nancy Reagan, and was the honorary chairman for the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Frye also voiced and reprised the role in the animated series It's Punky Brewster, which began airing during Punky Brewster's first season. Despite the series' low ratings, Brandon Tartikoff decided to renew the show for a second season because it was the highest rated show watched by children 2 to 11 years old.[6] [7] Punky Brewsters second season, which dealt with more serious subject matters such as CPR and first-aid training, drug use and the Just Say No campaign, and the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster,[8] did not improve ratings, and NBC cancelled the series in April 1986.[9] The series was quickly picked up by Columbia Pictures Television and began airing in first-run syndication. Punky Brewster aired for an additional two seasons, ending on May 27, 1988.[10]

Immediately upon Punky Brewsters end, Frye landed the lead role in the ABC sitcom pilot Cadets, which aired as a summer special on September 25, 1988. The pilot, however, was not picked up.[11] In 1989, Frye hosted the syndicated weekly talk/variety show Girl Talk. Based on the board game of the same name, Frye shared hosting duties with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Rod Brogan.[12] [13] The series was cancelled after one season. In 1990, she appeared in the Rodney Dangerfield sitcom pilot ...Where's Rodney?, but this was not picked up as a series, either.

During the 1990s, Frye guest-starred on several television series, including The Wonder Years, Saved by the Bell, and Friends, and voiced characters for the animated series Tiny Toon Adventures, The Ren & Stimpy Show, and The Cartoon Cartoon Show (namely, the Johnny Bravo pilot episode). In addition to her television work, Frye has appeared in the films The Liars' Club (1993) and (1995) and in stage productions of Orestes, I Murdered My Mother and The Housekeeper.

From 2000 to 2003, Frye played the character of Roxie King in the last few seasons of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, with her longtime friend and series producer Melissa Joan Hart.[14] During the run of Sabrina, she voiced Zoey Howzer in the Disney Channel series The Proud Family and the series' 2005 television movie. She reprised the role in the revival series .[15]

In 2005, she voiced Jade, a Bratz character in the direct-to-video release Bratz Rock Angelz. She also voiced the character for the television series, and the video games Bratz Rock Angelz (2005), Bratz: Forever Diamondz (2006), and Bratz: The Movie (2007) and the follow-up movies until Bratz: Fashion 4 Passion - Diamondz. From 2010 to February 2013, Frye voiced Aseefa in the animated series Planet Sheen.

She appears in the Punky Brewster reboot that began airing on Peacock on February 25, 2021.

Directing

In 1996, Frye moved to New York to attend The New School and later directed her first film, Wild Horses (1998).[16]

Frye directed her second film, Sonny Boy, in 2004. The documentary chronicles a two-week trip Frye took with her father, Virgil, who had Alzheimer's disease. Sonny Boy was an official selection at the 27th Starz Denver International Film Festival[17] and won Best Documentary at the San Diego Film Festival.[18]

In 2021, Frye directed Kid 90, a documentary film using an archive of footage she shot in the 1990s, for which Leonardo DiCaprio was executive producer.[19] The film was released on March 12, 2021, by Hulu.[20]

Other ventures

In 2007, Frye, along with two friends, opened The Little Seed, an eco-friendly children's specialty boutique in Los Angeles.[21] The boutique closed in August 2012, and is now an Internet-based business.[22]

In March 2010, Frye and her friend and former co-star Melissa Joan Hart launched the "Better Together" campaign for Gain.[23]

In September 2011, Frye released her first book, Happy Chaos: From Punky to Parenting and My Perfectly Imperfect Adventures in Between.[24] In October 2013, she released a party-planning book, Let's Get This Party Started. She also hosted a web series, Her Say, from 2011 to 2012, and currently hosts a blog on her official website, moonfrye.com, both of which deal with women's issues and parenting.[25]

In 2014, Frye co-founded P.S. XO, a company that sells party decoration kits.[26] The name was then changed to MoonFrye, and expanded to include DIY kits for families and an app of the same name. They later merged with the company Seedling, which specializes in "activity kits".

Personal life

As a teen, Frye suffered from gigantomastia. She underwent a breast reduction three months before her 16th birthday.[4]

In the 1990s, Frye was romantically involved with hip-hop artist Danny Boy O'Connor, with whom she remains friends.[27]

On Kid 90, after she went through her breast reduction surgery, Frye is shown sharing a kiss with Jonathan Brandis. There is no record of them dating at that time, and in a recent interview, the actress remembers him as one of her "real friend[s]".[28]

On October 25, 1998, Frye married television producer Jason Goldberg in a Jewish ceremony (Frye's mother is Jewish, as is Goldberg).[29] Frye and Goldberg have four children: daughters born in August 2005[30] and March 2008[31] and sons born in February 2014[32] and May 2016.[33] Goldberg and Frye renewed their marriage vows in a ceremony in 2008. However in 2020, after 22 years of marriage, the couple separated.[34] In December 2020, Frye filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized in April 2022.[35]

In 2022, Frye was dating childhood friend Shifty Shellshock of Crazy Town.[36]

Filmography

Film

Film performances
YearTitleRoleNotes
1987You Ruined My LifeMinerva
1993The Liars' ClubGigi
1994The St. Tammany MiracleJuliaAlternative title: Heavenly Hoops
Marcie
1995Twisted LoveSharon Stewart
1996Mind GamesBecky Hanson
1998Wild HorsesWriter, director
1999Motel BlueAgent Kyle Rivers
2000The Girls' RoomCaseyAlternative title: Best of Enemies
2001Alex in WonderAlissaAlternative title: Sex and a Girl
2004Sonny BoyDirector
2005Bratz: Rock AngelzJade (voice)Direct-to-DVD release
2006Bratz: Passion 4 Fashion - DiamondzJade (voice)Direct-to-DVD release
Bratz: Genie MagicJade (voice)Direct-to-DVD release
2013Bratz Go to Paris: The MovieJade (voice)Direct-to-DVD release
2021Kid 90HerselfDirector, producer; documentary
The CleanerKristi
2022Imaginary FriendsBly

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982Missing Children: A Mother's StoryMary ElizabethTV movie
1983CHiPsLittle MaxEpisode "Firepower"
Who Will Love My Children?Linda FrayTV movie
Little ShotsSamanthaTV movie
1984Ernie Kovacs: Between the LaughterElizabeth Kovacs #2TV movie
Invitation to HellChrissy WinslowTV movie
1984−88Punky BrewsterPenelope "Punky" Brewster88 episodes
1985Diff'rent StrokesTerry HarrisEpisode: "Sam's New Pal"
MacGruder and LoudKathyEpisode: "The Very Scary Man"
Back to Next SaturdayPunky BrewsterSpecial
It's Punky BrewsterPenelope "Punky" Brewster (Voice)26 episodes
1986Alvin Goes Back to SchoolPunky BrewsterSpecial
1987The Law & Harry McGrawCharleneEpisode: "She's Not Wild About Harry"
1988CadetsTyler McKayUnsold pilot
1989Girl TalkHerselfTV pilot/show
1990Where's Rodney?SonyaTV movie
The Wonder YearsMimi DetweilerEpisode: "Growing Up"
1992Saved by the BellRobinEpisode: "Screech's Spaghetti Sauce"
Tiny Toon AdventuresAmanda Duff (voice)2 episodes
ABC Weekend SpecialTinaEpisode: "Choose Your Own Adventure: The Case of the Silk King"
1993The Ren & Stimpy ShowSusan Fout (voice)Episode: "Stimpy's Fan Club"
1994Summertime SwitchPeggy, the head cheerleaderTV movie
Heaven Help UsLouisaEpisode: "First Comes Love"
1995PiranhaLauraTV movie
1996The Cartoon Cartoon ShowMary (Voice)Episode: "Johnny Bravo and the Amazon Women"
1997The Killing SecretEmily De CapprioTV movie
1998I've Been Waiting for YouKyra ThompsonTV movie
1999WorkingJen MillerEpisode: "The Prodigy"
FriendsKatieEpisode: "The One with the Girl Who Hits Joey"
Grown UpsRobinEpisode: "Pilot"
2000−03Sabrina the Teenage WitchRoxie King66 episodes
2001−05The Proud FamilyZoey Howzer (voice)47 episodes
2005The Proud Family MovieZoey HowzerTV movie
The X'sAnnasthesia, Seven Y (voices)3 episodes
2005–06BratzJade Voice role, 23 episodes
2009Robot ChickenVoice roles3 episodes
2010Planet SheenAseefa (voice)13 episodes
2013–14Home Made SimpleHerselfHost
2017–18Hollywood DarlingsHerself2 episodes
2019Staging ChristmasLori TV movie
2021Punky BrewsterPenelope "Punky" Brewster10 episodes
2022-presentZoey Howzer (voice)17 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005Bratz: Rock AngelzJadevoice role
2006Bratz: Forever DiamondzJadevoice role
2007Bratz: The MovieJadevoice role

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryTitle of workResult
1985Young Artist AwardBest Young Actress in a Television Comedy SeriesPunky Brewster
1986Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series
1988Best Young Female Superstar in Televisionrowspan=3
Best Animation Voice Over GroupIt's Punky Brewster (Shared with Casey Ellison, Ami Foster, Teddy Field III, and Cherie Johnson)
1989Best Young Actress Guest Starring in a Syndicated Family Comedy, Drama or SpecialMickey's 60th Birthday
Best Young Actress - Voice Over RoleIt's Punky Brewsterrowspan=2
2004San Diego Film FestivalBest DocumentarySonny Boy

Notes and References

  1. Soleil Moon Frye . . February 11, 2014.
  2. Web site: Watch Home Made Simple - Stream Online | OWN.
  3. Web site: Actress Soleil Moon Frye and half-brother Actor Meeno Peluce attend... . Getty Images . February 28, 2020 . April 19, 1995.
  4. Web site: Now I Can Be Free . Marjorie . Rosen . April 26, 1993. People. February 28, 2020.
  5. Web site: Jews in the News: Harrison Ford, Soleil Moon Frye and Michael Douglas. October 28, 2013.
  6. News: 'Punky Brewster' Star Goes to Camp. July 27, 1985. The Victoria Advocate. 4. December 22, 2012.
  7. News: Her show may be a flop but Soleil Moon Frye is riding high on the wave of popularity. O'Hallaren. Bill. March 2, 1986. New Straits Times. 2, 15. December 22, 2012.
  8. News: 'Punky' Deals With Shuttle Tragedy. Los Angeles Times. February 19, 1986. August 22, 2010. Lee. Margulies.
  9. Web site: 2021-02-09 . Here's Why The Original 'Punky Brewster' Was Canceled . 2022-04-07 . TheThings . en-US.
  10. Web site: 'Punky Brewster' Finale: 25 Years Later, Where Is Soleil Moon Frye Now? . Etkin . Jaimie . May 27, 2013. HuffPost. September 25, 2016.
  11. News: Sunday Highlights. Burlingame. Jon. The Modesto Bee. September 24, 1988. A–10. December 22, 2012.
  12. Book: Stafford, Nikki . Bite Me!: The 10th Buffyversary Guide to the World of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 3. 2007. ECW Press. 978-1-550-22807-6. 33–34.
  13. Book: Television/Radio Age, Volume 37. 37. 1989. Television Editorial Corporation. 11.
  14. Moon Shot . Angulo . Sandra P. . October 27, 2000. Entertainment Weekly. February 28, 2020.
  15. Web site: Swift . Andy . The Proud Family Revival Ordered at Disney+ With Original Cast — First Look . TVLine . February 27, 2020.
  16. Web site: Soleil Moon Frye Biography. askmen.com. November 27, 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081219121541/http://www.askmen.com/celebs/women/actress_100/132_soleil_moon_frye.html. December 19, 2008.
  17. Web site: Work de Soleil: From Shirley Temple to Barbara Kopple. Chaw. Walter. November 4, 2004. filmfreakcentral.net. November 27, 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110525131956/http://www.filmfreakcentral.net/notes/smfryeinterview.htm. May 25, 2011.
  18. Web site: Award Winners. https://web.archive.org/web/20100828232339/http://www.sdff.org/awardwinners.html. dead. 2010-08-28. 2010-08-28. 2019-09-23.
  19. Web site: Soleil Moon Frye to Give Never-Before-Seen Look at '90s Hollywood With 'KID 90' Documentary for Hulu (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. Chris. Gardner. August 25, 2020. February 11, 2021.
  20. Web site: Hulu Documentaries On WeWork & Adam Neumann, Soleil Moon Frye, Sasquatch Get Spring Premiere Dates. Deadline Hollywood. Matthew. Carey. February 10, 2021. February 11, 2021.
  21. Web site: Soleil Moon Frye Opens Eco-Friendly Baby Store. Wihlborg. Ulrica . October 9, 2007. People. November 27, 2008.
  22. Web site: Little Seed to Close at End of August - Will Continue Online . Larchmont Buzz . February 28, 2020 . July 8, 2012.
  23. Web site: Gain Partners with Celebrity Best Friends Melissa Joan Hart and Soleil Moon Frye to Demonstrate that 'Two is Better than One'. March 30, 2010. yahoo.com. May 4, 2010.
  24. News: The Throwback: Catching up with 'Punky Brewster'. September 1, 2011. cnn.com. December 11, 2012.
  25. Web site: 'Mom-Trepreneurs' Turn the Mundane Details of Motherhood Into Lucrative Businesses. Spencer. Lara. Reynolds. Talesha . November 28, 2011. abcnews.go.com. December 11, 2012.
  26. Web site: Unique Arts & Craft Projects, Games, Toys, & Apps for Kids - Seedling.
  27. Web site: Tramel . Jimmie . Danny Boy O'Connor overcomes rough past to salvage his life and Outsiders House . 2022-04-26 . Tulsa World . September 27, 2021 . en.
  28. Soleil Moon Frye Reflects on Suicide of Friend Jonathan Brandis: 'I Carry His Memories With Me'. People. June 17, 2024.
  29. News: Celebrity Jews. Bloom. Nate. J . April 8, 2005. jweekly.com. December 10, 2012.
  30. Punky's Soleil Moon Frye Has a Daughter. People. February 28, 2020.
  31. Soleil Moon Frye Welcomes a Baby Girl. Wihlborg. Ulrica. February 28, 2020. People.
  32. Web site: Soleil Moon Frye, Husband Jason Goldberg Name Newborn Son Lyric Sonny Roads. Webber. Stephanie. February 18, 2014. Us Weekly. February 12, 2014 .
  33. Soleil Moon Frye Welcomes Son Story. People. February 28, 2020.
  34. Soleil Moon Frye and Jason Goldberg Separate After 22 Years of Marriage. Julie. Jordan. Natalie. Stone. December 28, 2020. People. December 29, 2020.
  35. Soleil Moon Frye's Divorce Finalized After 2 Years, Ex Jason Goldberg to Pay Her $36K a Month. Eliza Thompson. Us Weekly. April 26, 2022.
  36. Soleil Moon Frye's Boyfriend Shifty Shellshock Arrested For DUI. OK! Staff. OK! News. July 6, 2022.