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In 1986, young actress Rebecca Schaefer landed her dream job.

Beating out thousands of Hollywood hopefuls, Rebecca was offered the second to lead in a new Hollywood sitcom, which was the air weekly on the CBS television network in a primetime slot.

To the outside world, Rebecca was a complete unknown, thrust into sudden stardom, but even though she was barely an adult, she had packed a lot into her 18 years of life so far.

Born November 6, 1967, to father Benson, a psychologist and mother Dana, a writer and teacher, Rebecca Schaefer was a much-loved, only child.

She grew up in Eugene, Oregon, enjoying a comfortable childhood. Her formative years were filled with forces, poetry, books, the outdoors, and the unconditional love of her parents.

When Rebecca was age 13, her family moved 100 miles north to Lorohurst, an affluent suburb of Vinci Chomes and winding treeline streets in Portland, Oregon.

There, Rebecca enrolled in the elite Lincoln High School. The same school Simpson's creator, Matt Graning, had attended a decade earlier.

She excelled at school where she joined the talented and gifted program, and was elected a student officer.

By age 14, Rebecca was often complemented for her wholesome girl next door natural beauty.

She strove to do well at school and was deeply committed to her Jewish faith.

Rebecca considered pursuing a career as a rabbi when she was older. She also contemplated careers as either a doctor or a lawyer.

But it was a chance conversation with her hometown hairdresser, who tended to her thick mop of dark curls that landed her first break.

Seeing the potential in Rebecca's perfect features, the hairdresser facilitated a meeting with another of his clients, local talent agent, Nannette Troutman.

Nannette wasted no time in signing Rebecca Ron as a client of the Troutman Agency.

And soon, Rebecca Shafers' sweet smile radiated from department store catalogs and TV commercials, convincing parents to spend up big on back to school items.

Although she had taken part in an occasional school play, Rebecca hadn't given any consideration to her career in acting.

But her agent found her some extra work on some local TV shows.

Suddenly, a whole new world was opening up to her, and the idea of becoming a doctor, lawyer or rabbi was losing its alooa when compared to the glamorous world of modeling and performing.

In 1984, 16-year-old Rebecca landed a summer internship at a late model management, which meant traveling to the other side of the country to spend three months in New York City.

She welcomed all the challenges the big apple threw at her, and soon felt at home.

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