Though she was known best for drawing laughs as whiny, excitable characters throughout her raucous film and TV career, actress/comedienne Wendie Jo Sperber showed a brave, compassionate and humane side in the last years of her life. The Los Angeles-born performer developed a driving passion for acting in her teen years. She went on to attend the Summer Drama Workshop at California State University, Northridge. Producer 'Allan Carr . Her cancer went into remission at one point but returned with a vengeance in 2002 and spread throughout her body. Instead of retreating, Wendie instead reached out and founded weSPARK Cancer Support Center in Sherman Oaks, California, in which free services, including support groups, information on the latest research and classes, provided invaluable aid to cancer patients, their families and friends. Her selfless determination throughout her illness to help others did not go unnoticed, earning several honors. Eight years later, on November 29, 2005, Wendie lost her battle. She was survived by her parents and two children from a former marriage.
Son, Preston, born 1986.
Daughter, Pearl, born 1990.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997.
Founder of weSPARK cancer support group (www.weSPARK.org).
Parents: Burton and Charlene Sperber.
Upon her death, former TV co-star Tom Hanks deliver a moving tribute to Wendie: "The memory of Wendie Jo is that of a walking inspiration. She met the challenges of her illness with love, cheer, joy, altruism through weSPARK, and an unstoppable supply of Goodness. We are going to miss her as surely as we are all better for knowing her."
In 1998 Sperber also helped the United States Post Service unveil and promote a breast cancer stamp.
As late as September, 2005, she sponsored and hosted the "Wendie Jo Sperbers 7th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic and 4th Annual Mah Jongg Tournament" in Santa Barbara.
She was named 1999 Woman of the Year by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women, received The Namaste Spirit Award 2003 from the Namaste Interfaith Center, the 2004 Mordecai Kaplan Award for Distinguished Service by the University of Judaism, and was honored by the Jennifer Diamond Foundation.
She appeared in four films directed by Robert Zemeckis : I Wanna Hold Your Hand , Used Cars , Back to the Future and Back to the Future Part III . Marc McClure also appeared in all four films.
I spent many years with low self-esteem, but the cancer has given me the,gift of seeing how many people love me.
