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Teri Hatcher is one of the most recognisable faces in Hollywood, but she first found fame as a cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers
Teri Hatcher went on to forge a hugely successful acting career after cheerleading (Image: GETTY)
Former cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers, Teri Hatcher, has become more recognisable than some NFL players.
The TV and film star’s career began by cheering for the 49ers, an experience that even earned her a Super Bowl ring. Born in California in 1964, Hatcher transitioned from studying acting to taking a spot on the the 49ers cheer squad in the 1980s.
She is now a household name with a net worth estimated at £40million ($50m), according to Celebrity Net Worth, making her the world’s wealthiest cheerleader. Hatcher broke into Hollywood in the late 1980s, appearing in shows like The Love Boat and Star Trek, and even shared the screen with Sylvester Stallone in the 1989 comedy Tango and Cash. However, it was her role in an episode of Seinfeld that catapulted her career.
Teri Hatcher backstage at the Emmy Awards Show, September 10,1995 in Pasadena, California (Image: Getty Images)
In 1993, she landed the role of Lois Lane in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which changed her life. This led to her starring alongside Pierce Brosnan in the Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997.
Hatcher even outshone Monica Bellucci to secure the role of Paris Carver in the iconic film. She was subsequently crowned the world’s sexiest woman by FHM readers in the spring of that year, as per Mirror US.
However, her stint as a Bond girl wasn’t even the pinnacle of Hatcher’s illustrious career. She later starred as Susan Mayer in the ABC series Desperate Housewives from 2004 to 2012, a role that earned her a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild award, and an Emmy nomination.
One of her most cherished possessions, however, might be the Super Bowl ring gifted to her by the 49ers owner, whom she met through former quarterback Steve Young during an episode of Lois and Clark. The San Francisco team clinched victory in the renowned game in 1994 after defeating the San Diego Chargers, but Hatcher ended up with her own slice of history as a tribute to her cheerleading efforts with the team years earlier.
Hatchter starred opposite Dean Cain on Lois & Clark (Image: Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
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During a January 2024 interview on The Talk, she revealed that despite the ring looking slightly different from the ones awarded to players that year, she still wears it. “Honestly, the only finger that it still fits on is my wedding finger, and since I’m single,” she said. “I might as well be married to the NFL.”
The world of NFL cheerleading has been gaining traction, largely due to the popular Netflix series ‘America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’. The show provides an intimate look into the lives of those vying for a place on the iconic cheer squad.
Other notable figures who have transitioned from cheerleading to successful careers include Charisma Carpenter, known for her role in iconic TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and model Stacy Keibler.
