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Erica Gimpel as Coco Hernandez in the television series "Fame". Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083412/characters/nm0319826/ (May be subject to copyright) |
That’s what Erica Gimpel did in 1982 when she took on the role of Coco Hernandez in the TV series “Fame”. It was a role that had been pioneered by Irena Cara in the 1980 movie of the same name.
I saw Erica Gimpel the other night on the latest episode of the re-boot of “Quantum Leap”, and she still looked pretty much the same.
It brought back memories of her dancing up a storm, hanging out with Bruno Martelli and Danny Amatullo, and vexing dance instructor Lydia Grant.
The movie
I did not see the movie “Fame” until a couple years ago when I recorded it off an ‘80’s movie channel. It’s funny. You know how when they make a TV show out of a series, it’s hard to get the picture of the original actors out of your mind? That is, if the actors change.
I did not see the movie “Fame” until a couple years ago when I recorded it off an ‘80’s movie channel. It’s funny. You know how when they make a TV show out of a series, it’s hard to get the picture of the original actors out of your mind? That is, if the actors change.
Well the same thing happened to me in reverse in “Fame”. I had watched the TV show in the 1980s, and those actors were still in my head when I watched the movie. In the case of Coco Hernandez, I will always see her as played by Erica Gimpel, even though Irena Cara played her first.
What makes “Fame” even more interesting is that several actors played the same characters in the movie then on TV, particularly Alberta Hague as Mr. Sharofsky, and Lee Curreri as Bruno Martelli.
Another really interesting difference between the movie and TV show is the movie actually encapsulates all four years of the students’ journey through New York City’s High School for Performing Arts. It actually divides the movie up into Year 1, Year 2, and so on, right up to graduation.
Quite frankly, the show is quite different from the movie.
The TV show
One of the major changes is the expansion of the role of dance instructor Lydia Grant, played by Debbie Allen. She had just a few scenes in the movie, something I immediately picked up on. I kept wondering where Ms. Grant was.
One of the major changes is the expansion of the role of dance instructor Lydia Grant, played by Debbie Allen. She had just a few scenes in the movie, something I immediately picked up on. I kept wondering where Ms. Grant was.
Her role grew so much, she became part of the opening credits, and one of the faces of the show.
She was stern and hard, but fair. She had no time for nonsense, put up with little of it, and was quite demanding.
Grant may have been the hardest on Coco Hernandez, because she was one of the most talented students.
Erica Gimpel played Coco to perfection as a passionate, ambitious dance student.
There was a scene I thought involved Coco, but further research reveals it did not.
The students are talking about hard work, and one of them says, “ Men sweat, women perspire, dancers glow.”
It sounds like something Coco would say but she does not.
I remember the line well, because Meriel Kingston, brought it up in class the next day. We were in Grade 9 at the time, and she too was a dancer.
Erica Gimpel played Coco Hernandez for three seasons before leaving the show, returning as a guest star in seasons four and six.
“Fame” was Erica Gimpel’s first role ever on TV or film, but it was the springboard to a solid career that continues to this day.
The rest of the decade and beyond
Erica Gimpel would have a recurring role in the miniseries “North and South” in 1985 and reprise her role in the sequel “North and South Book II” in 1986. She also had guest starring roles in “Spenser: For Hire” and “The Cosby Show”.
Erica Gimpel would have a recurring role in the miniseries “North and South” in 1985 and reprise her role in the sequel “North and South Book II” in 1986. She also had guest starring roles in “Spenser: For Hire” and “The Cosby Show”.
She would go on in the next few decades to have guest starring roles in “Law and Order”, “Touched by an Angel”, “Babylon 5”, “The District”, “Roswell”, “JAG”, “The Division”, “Everwood”, “House”, “Numb3rs”, “Criminal Minds”, “Boston Legal”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Prime Suspect”, “The Young and the Restless”, “Rizzoli and Isles”, “Nikita”, “Criminal Minds”, “Chicago Med”, NCIS New Orleans”, “911”, and much more.
She had a recurring role in the first three seasons of “Profiler” as Angel Brown, the best friend of the main character; a recurring role as social worker Adele Newman in “ER” over several seasons; and a recurring role in the first two seasons of “Veronica Mars”.
Gimpel was also in movies such as “King of New York”, “Flirt”, “Freaky Friday”, and more.
Parting thoughts
“Fame “ will always have a special place in my heart because the TV show was very creative and inspired me to be creative as well.
“Fame “ will always have a special place in my heart because the TV show was very creative and inspired me to be creative as well.
At the centre of the show was Coco Hernandez, who really was the straw that stirred the drink for the whole cast. She injected energy, passion, and determination into the role.
Yet, it was just the start of a career that continues to this day.
Even when I saw her on “Quantum Leap” all these years later, she is still Coco Hernandez to me.
It’s what made her famous.
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