This was really a
lot tougher than I thought. But after thinking about it for a while and doing some research, I was able to narrow it down.
Although I've only seen Fall Guy in repeats, she's someone who was popular within my lifetime (unlike many of my "retro" favorites from the 50's, 60's and 70's), someone who was a big TV star during the 80's when there were still only 3 major networks, and someone I got to meet as a little kid. I remember her as being really sweet.
Of course it would have to be Heather Thomas.