If you grew up in the '80s, you definitely know her face, even if the name Elizabeth Reiko Kubota Whitney doesn’t immediately ring a bell. She was the "it girl" in John Waite’s "Missing You" music video—the one walking through the rainy streets of London, haunting the memory of every pining heart in 1984. It was the #1 video of the year.
But honestly? That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
While most "video vixens" from that era faded into obscurity or stayed stuck in the nostalgia loop, Elizabeth (or Liz, as her friends call her) took a very different path. She didn't just stay in front of the camera. She became a Tony Award-winning powerhouse behind the scenes, a major philanthropist, and a key figure in keeping the arts alive at UCLA.
The Journey from the Screen to the Boardroom
Liz wasn't just some random girl picked off the street for a music video. She was a trained pro. A 1980 graduate of the UCLA College of Fine Arts (the school we now know as TFT), she spent her early years grinding in musical theater.
She wasn't just doing pop videos either. In 1982, she was part of a heavy, acclaimed production at the Mark Taper Forum called August 6th, 1945, which tackled the Hiroshima bombing. That's a far cry from the lighthearted roles people expect from '80s starlets. You might also spot her in old episodes of MacGyver, T.J. Hooker, or even a guest spot as a nurse on Misfits of Science alongside a young Courteney Cox.
Then came 1987. She packed her bags and moved from the West Coast to New York. She landed the female lead in a musical called Butterfly opposite Jack Wagner. She stayed in the theater scene, performing in the Godspell revival at The Lambs Theater. New York basically became her home, and she never really looked back.
The Family Connection and Giving Back
You can't talk about Elizabeth Reiko Kubota Whitney without mentioning her family’s history, because it's deeply tied to her philanthropy. Her parents actually met in a Japanese internment camp in Rohwer, Arkansas, during WWII. That’s a heavy legacy to carry. It's also why she co-produced the short film American starring George Takei, which focused on the internment camps. It was a passion project, pure and simple.
In 2010, tragedy struck when her sister, Jeanne, passed away. Liz decided to turn that grief into something tangible. She established the Jeanne Michiko Kubota Fund at UCLA.
It wasn't just a small donation. This was the first endowed fund of its kind at the school, providing full four-year scholarships—tuition, room, board, the whole nine yards—for theater students who really need the financial help.
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A Broadway Powerhouse
If you look at the playbills for some of the biggest shows in the last decade, you'll see the Whitney name. Liz and her husband, Kenneth Whitney (a private investor), didn't just "invest" in theater; they backed winners.
- Fun Home: This won the Tony for Best New Musical in 2015.
- The Ferryman: Snagged the Tony for Best Play in 2017.
- The Lehman Trilogy: A massive critical darling.
- Network: The Bryan Cranston led hit.
She’s currently on the Executive Board of Trustees for UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and was recently elected to the Board of Trustees for the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund). She’s basically one of the quiet architects of modern Broadway.
The $10 Million Legacy
In 2019, Liz and Ken made headlines with a $10 million commitment to UCLA. This wasn't just for general "stuff." It was specifically to renovate the Ralph Freud Playhouse. By 2024, the plan was to rename the facility the Whitney Family Theater.
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It’s about the next generation. Her daughters followed in her footsteps, too. Ali and Rachel are both UCLA TFT alumnae. Ali Fumiko Whitney is actually carving out a solid acting career herself, recently starring in The Road Dance.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume that because she married a successful investor, she’s just a "socialite" who likes the arts. That’s a total misunderstanding of her background. Elizabeth Reiko Kubota Whitney was a working actress who understood the "no" and the "hustle" long before she was ever a producer.
She knows what it’s like to be a minority in an industry that didn't always have a place for Asian-American leads. That’s why she focuses so much on scholarships and representation. It’s not just about writing checks; it’s about opening doors that were locked when she was starting out.
Actionable Insights from Liz Whitney’s Career
Looking at her trajectory, there are a few real-world takeaways for anyone in the arts:
- Pivot with Purpose: You don't have to be "just" an actor or "just" a producer. Liz moved from being the face in a video to the person making sure the theater has lights and the students have tuition.
- Honor Your Roots: Whether it’s through the Jeanne Michiko Kubota Fund or producing films about the internment camps, her most successful ventures are the ones tied to her personal history.
- Invest in Infrastructure: Giving $10 million to a playhouse ensures that the venue exists for future generations, not just a single show.
Elizabeth Reiko Kubota Whitney is currently living in Scarsdale, New York, but her influence is felt every time a scholarship kid walks onto a stage in Los Angeles or a curtain rises on Broadway. She’s the proof that the "girl in the video" can end up running the whole show.
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To keep up with her latest philanthropic efforts or see the impact of the Whitney Family Theater, you can follow the updates through the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television or the Entertainment Community Fund.