Cynthia Cristina Ferrare (born 1950[a]) is an American fashion model, actress, author and talk-show host. She had lead roles in several films in the late-1960s and early-1970s, including the 1968 comedy The Impossible Years and the 1972 Western film J. W. Coop, as well as portraying the titular character in Juan López Moctezuma's horror film Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (also 1972).
In the 1980s, Ferrare transitioned from acting to hosting several television series, including The Home Show, Home & Family, and Big Bowl of Love on the Oprah Winfrey Network. She has also authored several non-fiction cooking and self-help books.
Early life
Ferrare was born in 1950 in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Renata and Tavio Ferrare, a butcher.[3] Her family is of Italian descent.[4] She was 14 years old when her family moved to Los Angeles, California, where her beauty landed her a contract with Nina Blanchard's modeling agency. When she was 16, she signed with 20th Century Fox film studios.[5]
From November 1996 – August 1998, Ferrare co-hosted Home & Family on The Family Channel; the show ended on August 14, 1998, just one day before the channel became Fox Family Channel, which included a major restructuring of the network's programing. She later co-hosted a revived version of the show from 2012-2016 with Mark Steines on its new network Hallmark Channel.
Ferrare's departure was abrupt and the audience was not given any explanation nor any notice prior to her departure. On June 21, 2016, Hallmark Channel confirmed that Ferrare would no longer co-host the show with Steines; former co-host of The ViewDebbie Matenopoulos was named as her replacement. In a statement via Facebook, Ferrare addressed her exit: "It's really very simple, Home and Family will have a season 5 which I am so happy for and the Network decided that they want a new co-host and that will be Debbie. She will do a great job!"[12]
Designing
She and her mother created the Cristina Ferrare Collection, producing jewelry that, in 2002, was sold in seven Neiman Marcus stores and was "beginning to pop up in specialty shops throughout the country."[13]
Big Bowl of Love
Ferrare premiered in her new show Big Bowl of Love on Oprah Winfrey's network (OWN) on January 3, 2011 with Iron ChefCat Cora as the show's first guest.[14][15]Big Bowl of Love follows Ferrare cooking recipes alongside her friends, family, and other guests.[16]
Personal life
According to Ferrare, in her book Realistically Ever After, she married a man in 1969 and annulled it six weeks later. In 1973, she married automobile executive John DeLorean. He had earlier adopted a son Zachary while single, and she also adopted him. Later, they had a daughter, Kathryn. After DeLorean lost his fortune and was accused, then exonerated, of cocaine trafficking charges, Ferrare divorced him in 1985.[17] Two weeks later, on April 21, 1985, she married entertainment industry executive Anthony Thomopoulos.[8]
Ferrare, Cristina (1984). Cristina Ferrare Style: How to Have It in Every Part of Your Life. New York City, New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN978-0-671-46849-1.
Ferrare, Cristina (1998). Cristina Ferrare's Family Entertaining. New York City, New York: Golden Books. ISBN978-0-307-44014-3.
Ferrare, Cristina (1999). Okay, So I Don't Have a Headache: What I Learned (and What All Women Need to Know) about PMS, Hormones, Stress, Diet, Menopause--and Sex. New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN978-1-582-38029-2.
Ferrare, Cristina (2004). Realistically Ever After: Finding Happiness When He's Not Prince Charming, You're Not Snow White, and Life's Not a Fairy Tale. New York City, New York: Rodale. ISBN978-1-579-54947-3.
Ferrare, Cristina (2011). Cristina Ferrare's Big Bowl of Love: Delight Family and Friends with More Than 150 Simple, Fabulous Recipes. New York City, New York: Sterling Epicure. ISBN978-1-402-78644-0.
Ferrare, Cristina (2018). Food for Thought: Recipes for Ultimate Mind and Body Health. New York City, New York: Post Hill Press. ISBN978-1-642-93057-3.
Notes
^Sources vary as to Ferrare's birthdate; Turner Classic Movies notes in her biographical entry that she was born February 8, 1950,[1] as does her entry on the film website Rotten Tomatoes,[2] though some list a birthdate of February 18, 1950.[citation needed]