Sure, she was a stereotype -- perky, wholesome, goody-goody, adorable, all those adjectives -- but she was loved by TV audiences. As student teacher Miss Johnson, Karen was every school boy's dream. Her big brown eyes, bouncing dark hair and built-in cuteness made her irresitable.
Karen was so young looking -- she was 22 when the series began -- you wouldn't have known if she were a teacher or a student at the fictional Walt Whitman High School in LA. A student teacher the first season who was hired the second season, Miss Johnson became an extremely popular teacher with her students.
One male student told her, "We need more groovy teachers like you." But the mini-skirt-wearing teacher didn't always receive the blessings of the boys' parents. One disapproving mother snapped at her, "What do you teach, Miss Johnson? Sex education?"
ABC's promo said that Walt Whitman High was a school "where teachers really understand their students and students are eager to learn." Although executives pressed for the show to be a traditional comedy with a laugh track, "Room 222" was unlike any other TV show based on school.
Walt Whitman High had racially diverse characters who explored the issues of the day -- drugs, race, the Vietnam War, sexism -- that were so seldom discussed on TV at the time. The show's writers actually hung out at Los Angeles High School to capture the authenticity of high school kids.
The series was honored by the Paley Center for Media in 2010 for its accurate portrayal of contemporary teen life.
"I think the show has gotten the short shrift over the years. Hopefully, that is starting to change," Karen said at the Paley Center event. "The camaraderie and the chemistry between the four [teachers] and the students, that just seemed to happen."
Karen was nominated for two Emmys -- winning in 1970 -- and for one Golden Globe for "Room 222."
A northern California native with Italian and Portugese heritage, Karen always had a reputation as a fresh-faced, nice girl. She was a straight A student and a member of Future Teachers of America in high school. She competed in the Miss Teenage America pageant, prompting Ed Sullivan to proclaim, "I want that girl on my show," when he saw her performing her dancing talent act.
After "Room 222," Karen starred as Gidget in the film "Gidget Grows Up" and "Coffee, Tea or Me?" She guest-starred in "Starsky and Hutch," "Murder She Wrote," and numerous episodes of "The Love Boat" and "Love American Style." She was also a familiar face on "Hollywood Squares."
Karen became a regular on Dinah Shore's "Dinah's Place" talk show in the 1970s. She had two more shots at a regular TV series, "Karen," in 1975, and "Our Time" 10 years later. Both programs were canceled after one season.
In the past 10 years Karen has mostly worked on the stage, starring in "Romantic Comedy" on Broadway and in the Los Angeles production of "Steel Magnolias."
Karen hated to be called "cute," but even as she aged and attempted to diversify her acting roles, she found it difficult to break away from her image.
No. 22
Classic TV Beauties 1970s Countdown
KAREN VALENTINE as Alice Johnson in "Room 222"
