A wide ‘Net: From Marcia to Dirk, no celebrity is too obscure for the Web

Kirk Baird

Monday, July 8, 2002 | 9:10 a.m.

Maureen McCormick, forever known as TV's Marcia Brady, recorded a country-rock album. Check out ttinet.com/mccormick/.

Actor Dirk Benedict, perhaps best known as Starbuck on "Battlestar Galactica," has written a book. See kamikazecowboy.com.

And Doc from "Love Boat," Bernie Koppell, is available for speaking engagements, according to his official website, berniekopell.com.

It seems that stars never dim on the Internet.

"(Our) site started out as a place for people who have supported Ann's career over the last 40 years to visit and get their important e-mail through to her," said Andrew Murcia, of Murcia Management, who maintains actress Ann Jillian's website, annjillian.com.

Jillian became known to millions of Americans as wisecracking sexpot waitress Cassie Cranston on the '80s sitcom "It's a Living." And her battle with breast cancer was chronicled in the 1988 TV movie "The Ann Jillian Story," for which she won a Golden Globe award.

These days, however, she can be seen 24 hours a day, seven days a week on her website. The actress's homepage features photos, a biography, audio clips from CDs she has recorded (that part of the site is still "under construction"), as well as information and testimonials about her motivational speaking.

Since annjillian.com was launched in February 2000, approximately 97,000 visitors have accessed Jillian's webpage.

"(Primarily) admirers of Ann Jillian for the most part visit the site, as well as entertainment buyers of Ann's singing engagements, concert music and lecture buyers for personal appearances of Ann at their events," Murcia said.

It's much the same reason anyone would seek out sites devoted to "B.J. and the Bear" star Greg Evigan evigan.com or Erin Murphy http://starwebsites.com/ erinmurphy who was one of two identical twins to play Tabitha on "Bewitched."

And remember Richard Hatch?

No, not the naked "Survivor" winner, but the actor who played Apollo on "Battlestar Galactica." On his webpage -- richardhatch.com -- you can read all about Hatch's tireless efforts to resurrect the TV series. (The site richhatch.com is dedicated to the "Survivor" winner.)

There is also lindablair.com, which affords the actress an opportunity to discuss her views on animal rights (she's in favor of them), and kenberry.com, which affords the former "F Troop" and "Mayberry R.F.D." actor an opportunity to hawk personally autographed pictures.

Not all celebrity sites are "official," obviously. Such fan sites as http://members.tripod.com/gary]burghoff/, are devoted to a particular celebrity with little or no involvement from the star.

David Long started his Burghoff website in January 1999.

The site is, of course, dedicated to the career of actor Gary Burghoff who played "Radar" on "M*A*S*H." The site includes a Burghoff biography, pictures, sound clips from his movies and TV shows and information on his recent theater work. Or learn more about Burghoff outside of his acting work. For example, he's an accomplished wildlife painter.

"(It's) primarily for fans of the TV show 'M*A*S*H' (both current and former fans) who visit the site," Long said. "As with any group of fans, they're often interested in learning more about one of the stars, like Gary Burghoff, including what other work he has done, what his life has been like and why he left the show."

While the Burghoff site is comprehensive both professionally and personally, it's not officially endorsed by the man himself.

"Gary does not have much input with the site, though when I spoke with him once he said he had seen the site and liked it," Long said. "He did ask me to pass along a message of appreciation to the fans, which I posted on the site."

Sadly, the streak of dot.com failures also struck the homepages of many celebrities. For example, coreyfeldman.com, lindalavin.com, yvonnecraig.com (TV's Batgirl) are no longer with us.

Even Charo, who recently found a new Las Vegas home at the Sahara, has lost her Web presence. The public showed it doesn't need jerrymathers.homepage.com or grace-jones.com.

But for every stellastevens- .com, there is an adamwest.com, benvereen.com or abarbeau.com (for actress Adrienne Barbeau), websites that continue to thrive.

There is even an official website for every original member of "Star Trek."

Clarence Donath, a computer programmer from Rhode Island, is a lifelong "Star Trek" fan who took the opportunity to create a tribute site to the late DeForest Kelley, who played Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy on the sci-fi series.

The site was constructed in late 1998 and went online Jan. 1, 1999. Because Kelley was in declining health at the time, he had no input into his official page. "But I have received some excellent input from Kris Smith, a close friend of the Kelleys," Donath assured.

Donath said the site was created "primarily to keep the name out of the hands of those who would try to exploit the name for profit, while at the same time providing material taken from his fine work."

George Takei, aka Sulu on "Star Trek," had similar reasons for starting a website as well.

After learning the domain name georgetakei.com was available, the actor bought the rights. Takei then hired a Web designer and launched his official website in the summer of 1999.

Takei said the site is a way for him to communicate with friends and fans.

For example, after his mother died, Takei posted news of her death on georgetakei.com.

"There was no way I could have notified everybody individually," he said via an e-mail interview. "As a result of that posting, I received hundreds of e-mail condolences from friends and fans."

Takei said his site is also a convenient means for directors and producers to access an up-to-date biography and photographs of the actor.

And, he said he also maintains complete control of the site.

"I guess the biggest contribution I make is a monthly column, which I actually write myself," Takei said. "I try to post that month's column at the beginning of the month, but I tend to miss my own self-imposed deadline -- I haven't yet posted my July column."