ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrities who worked at Kings Island

At least a dozen music, movie, TV and radio celebrities – including one Miss America and two from 98 Degrees – have worked at Kings Island on summer breaks from area high schools and universities. Here’s our list compiled by Enquirer media writer John Kiesewetter. Shown: 98 Degrees band members (from left) Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons at the School for Creative & Performing Arts.
At least a dozen music, movie, TV and radio celebrities – including one Miss America and two from 98 Degrees – have worked at Kings Island on summer breaks from area high schools and universities. Here’s our list compiled by Enquirer media writer John Kiesewetter. Shown: 98 Degrees band members (from left) Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons at the School for Creative & Performing Arts.
Enquirer File/Joseph Fuqua II
WOODY HARRELSON: Woody Harrelson (shown at age 17), a 1979 Lebanon High School graduate, worked one summer at Kings Island "around 1979," says his mother Diane Harrelson, but she doesn't remember what exactly he did there.
WOODY HARRELSON: Woody Harrelson (shown at age 17), a 1979 Lebanon High School graduate, worked one summer at Kings Island "around 1979," says his mother Diane Harrelson, but she doesn't remember what exactly he did there.
File
NICK LACHEY: Nick Lachey (shown in his 1992 senior photo from the School for Creative & Performing Arts) often credits his ability to sing harmony with 98 Degrees from summers performing with an a cappella barbershop quartet at Kings Island, while attending SCPA.
NICK LACHEY: Nick Lachey (shown in his 1992 senior photo from the School for Creative & Performing Arts) often credits his ability to sing harmony with 98 Degrees from summers performing with an a cappella barbershop quartet at Kings Island, while attending SCPA.
Provided
CARMEN ELECTRA: Actress-model Carmen Electra began her entertainment career in 1990 as Tara Patrick, dancing in "It's Magic," one of the park's most popular shows ever.
CARMEN ELECTRA: Actress-model Carmen Electra began her entertainment career in 1990 as Tara Patrick, dancing in "It's Magic," one of the park's most popular shows ever.
Enquirer File/Amanda Davidson
LEWIS JOHNSON: NBC Sports and Olympics reporter Lewis Johnson, a Northwest High School graduate, supervised the Beast and Racer crews in the 1980s as a seasonal employee when not running track at the University of Cincinnati.
LEWIS JOHNSON: NBC Sports and Olympics reporter Lewis Johnson, a Northwest High School graduate, supervised the Beast and Racer crews in the 1980s as a seasonal employee when not running track at the University of Cincinnati.
Provided/NBC Sports
ANGIE IRICK: WRRM-FM and WGRR-FM news and traffic reporter Angie Irick started her public speaking career making announcements aboard the Kings Island parking lot trams in the early 1990s. She also worked one summer as a camera person for a “Mega Messa Mania” Nickelodeon stage show.
ANGIE IRICK: WRRM-FM and WGRR-FM news and traffic reporter Angie Irick started her public speaking career making announcements aboard the Kings Island parking lot trams in the early 1990s. She also worked one summer as a camera person for a “Mega Messa Mania” Nickelodeon stage show.
Provided
DAN PATRICK: Long before NBC Sports, his national radio show, ESPN or CNN, Mason High School graduate Dan Patrick’s first jobs included mowing the greens at the Kings Island golf course and portraying an Indian seen by riders on the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad.
DAN PATRICK: Long before NBC Sports, his national radio show, ESPN or CNN, Mason High School graduate Dan Patrick’s first jobs included mowing the greens at the Kings Island golf course and portraying an Indian seen by riders on the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad.
Provided/NBC Sports
VICKI LEWIS: Kings Island visitors could find teen-ager Vicki Lewis (shown with comedian Andy Dick) working at the train ride in 1976, before the Anderson Township actress made it famous on “NewsRadio,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Rugrats,” “Seinfeld” or “Finding Nemo."
VICKI LEWIS: Kings Island visitors could find teen-ager Vicki Lewis (shown with comedian Andy Dick) working at the train ride in 1976, before the Anderson Township actress made it famous on “NewsRadio,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Rugrats,” “Seinfeld” or “Finding Nemo."
Provided
JUSTIN JEFFRE: Long before the formation of 98 Degrees, Justin Jeffre (from left, shown with Drew Lachey, Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees) sang in a Kings Island barbershop quartet from 1991-92 with Nick Lachey, his School for Creative & Performing Arts classmate. They both headed to Los Angeles in 1995, where they later formed 98 Degrees.
JUSTIN JEFFRE: Long before the formation of 98 Degrees, Justin Jeffre (from left, shown with Drew Lachey, Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees) sang in a Kings Island barbershop quartet from 1991-92 with Nick Lachey, his School for Creative & Performing Arts classmate. They both headed to Los Angeles in 1995, where they later formed 98 Degrees.
Provided/Getty Images
CHUCK INGRAM: WLW-AM traffic operations director Chuck Ingram was a seasonal employee from 1978-85, moving from the merchandise department into entertainment and supervising the Clown Band.
CHUCK INGRAM: WLW-AM traffic operations director Chuck Ingram was a seasonal employee from 1978-85, moving from the merchandise department into entertainment and supervising the Clown Band.
Provided
SUSAN PERKINS: 1978 Miss America Susan Perkins, a Middletown native, started as a performer in live shows at Kings Island. The 1976 Miami University graduate later worked as a professional singer and San Francisco TV reporter.
SUSAN PERKINS: 1978 Miss America Susan Perkins, a Middletown native, started as a performer in live shows at Kings Island. The 1976 Miami University graduate later worked as a professional singer and San Francisco TV reporter.
Enquirer File
GIGI RICE: Actress Gigi Rice (“Army Wives,” “The John Larroquette Show”), a Columbus native who earned a music theater degree at Ohio State University, is a KI alum, says park publicist Don Helbig.
GIGI RICE: Actress Gigi Rice (“Army Wives,” “The John Larroquette Show”), a Columbus native who earned a music theater degree at Ohio State University, is a KI alum, says park publicist Don Helbig.
Enquirer File
JANEEN COYLE: WGRR-FM morning co-host Janeen Coyle worked on an amusement ride crew in the summer of 1976, while a student at Forest Park High School.
JANEEN COYLE: WGRR-FM morning co-host Janeen Coyle worked on an amusement ride crew in the summer of 1976, while a student at Forest Park High School.
Provided
RICH WALBURG: Former WLW-AM assistant program director, fill-in host and producer Rich Walburg (shown with Gary Wachs in front of the fountains at Kings Island) worked in a variety of areas – admissions, communications, ecology and food service – as a seasonal employee from 1983 through 1991.
RICH WALBURG: Former WLW-AM assistant program director, fill-in host and producer Rich Walburg (shown with Gary Wachs in front of the fountains at Kings Island) worked in a variety of areas – admissions, communications, ecology and food service – as a seasonal employee from 1983 through 1991.
Enquirer File/Amanda Davidson
LISA AKEY: Actress Lisa Akey, who grew up in Cincinnati, was a singer at Kings Island before appearing on “Models Inc.,” “Frasier,” “Party of Five,” “Christy,” “Murder She Wrote,” “Boy Meets World,” “Brimstone,” “Sliders” and other TV shows.
LISA AKEY: Actress Lisa Akey, who grew up in Cincinnati, was a singer at Kings Island before appearing on “Models Inc.,” “Frasier,” “Party of Five,” “Christy,” “Murder She Wrote,” “Boy Meets World,” “Brimstone,” “Sliders” and other TV shows.
Provided/Getty Images
DORIAN HAREWOOD: Before “Full Metal Jacket” and “Roots: The Next Generation,” Dayton native and CCM graduate Dorian Harewood was a singer-dancer in 1972, the park’s first season.
DORIAN HAREWOOD: Before “Full Metal Jacket” and “Roots: The Next Generation,” Dayton native and CCM graduate Dorian Harewood was a singer-dancer in 1972, the park’s first season.
Provided/Getty Images
Dave Abbott, the 1999 “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions winner from Fort Thomas, played tuba in a roving Kings Island Dixieland band for singer Kim Criswell. Both are CCM grads.
Dave Abbott, the 1999 “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions winner from Fort Thomas, played tuba in a roving Kings Island Dixieland band for singer Kim Criswell. Both are CCM grads.
Provided/Carol Kaelson
Before performing in London’s Royal Albert Hall and the West End theatres, singer-actress and 1979 CCM grad Kim Criswell sang with a Kings Island Dixieland band.
Before performing in London’s Royal Albert Hall and the West End theatres, singer-actress and 1979 CCM grad Kim Criswell sang with a Kings Island Dixieland band.
Provided
Deb Haas worked at the German Shop and skating rink in 1984-85 before becoming a TV reporter and doing public relations for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati.
Deb Haas worked at the German Shop and skating rink in 1984-85 before becoming a TV reporter and doing public relations for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati.
Enquirer File