Constance McCashin

Actress Constance McCashin is best known for her portrayal of the character Laura Avery Sumner on the long-running hit television series "Knots Landing." Getting her start in acting during the late '70s and early '80s with television work (including roles on popular programs like "Family" and "You Are the Jury"), it was with the launch of "Knots Landing" in 1979 that McCashin embarked on her best known role. One of the most popular (and longest-running) dramas in television history, the show centered on the ups and downs of four families living in Los Angeles. McCashin's character is best known for how she exited the show, when Sumner died from a brain tumor during the 1987 season. McCashin also appeared in countless episodes of two TV game shows during the '80s, including "Super Password" and "The $20,000 Pyramid," and after "Knots Landing," McCashin sporadically appeared on television (several episodes of "Brooklyn Bridge") and in movies (a remake of "The Out-of-Towners," starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn).