Amy Roloff
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{short description|American television personality (born 1962)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Amy Roloff
| image = Amy_Roloff_(cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Roloff in 2007
| birth_name = Amy Jo Knight
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|9|17}}
| birth_place = Michigan, U.S.
| occupation = Television personality, author, motivational speaker
| years_active = 2005–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Matthew Roloff|1987|2016|end={{abbr|div.|filed for divorce}}}}{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/06/entertainment/matt-amy-roloff-little-people-big-world-split-feat/ |title='Little People, Big World' stars Matt and Amy Roloff filing for divorce |publisher=CNN |author=Grinberg, Emanuella |date=June 5, 2015 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610035640/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/06/entertainment/matt-amy-roloff-little-people-big-world-split-feat |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |url-status=live}}
{{marriage|Chris Marek|2021}}
| children = 4
}}
Amy Jo Knight Roloff Marek (born September 17, 1962) is an American television personality, author, baker, and motivational speaker. Roloff is best known for her reality television role on TLC's Little People, Big World.{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/little-people-big-world-star-185211402.html |title=Little People, Big World Star Amy Roloff's Mom Dies at 86 |date=September 30, 2019 |publisher=Yahoo! |language=en-US |access-date=December 6, 2019}} The show featured the daily life of the Roloff family, where the two parents have dwarfism.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/02/arts/television/documenting-a-family-that-comes-in-2-sizes.html |title=Documenting a Family That Comes in 2 Sizes |last=Lee |first=Felicia R. |date=March 2, 2006 |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 27, 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
Early life
Roloff was born Amy Jo Knight on September 17, 1962{{Cite web |url=http://www.oregonwinepress.com/roloff-the-record |title=Roloff the Record |website=oregonwinepress.com |date=September 2016 |language=en |access-date=December 7, 2019}} to Gordon Knight,{{Cite web |url=https://www.earnthenecklace.com/amy-roloff-wiki/ |title=Amy Roloff's Wiki: Facts to Know about the "Little People, Big World" Star & Mompreneur |first=Caroline |last=John |date=June 21, 2018 |website=Earn The Necklace |language=en |access-date=November 27, 2019}} who worked for Ford,{{Cite web |url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/jackson/2014/03/little_people_big_world_star_a_2.html |title='Little People, Big World' star Amy Roloff delivers message of perseverance during Adrian College speech |last=Jennings |first=Zeke |date=March 13, 2014 |website=mlive |language=en |access-date=December 6, 2019}} and Patricia Knight (died 2019).{{Cite web |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a29862412/amy-roloff-instagram-mom-engaged-chris-marek/ |title=Amy Roloff Shares a Heartbreaking Instagram About Her Mom and Fiancé Chris Marek |last=Barrientos |first=Selena |date=November 24, 2019 |website=Good Housekeeping |language=en-US |access-date=November 27, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://people.com/tv/amy-roloff-speaks-out-after-mother-death/ |title=Little People, Big World's Amy Roloff Speaks Out After Her Mother's Death: 'Life Is a Gift' |website=People |language=en |access-date=November 27, 2019}} Her parents had three other children: Cyndi (died 2015),{{Cite web |url=https://popculture.com/reality-tv/2019/04/05/little-people-big-world-amy-roloff-pays-tribute-late-sister-trip-boyfriend-chris-marek/ |title='Little People, Big World' Star Amy Roloff Pays Tribute to Late Sister on Trip With Boyfriend Chris Marek |publisher=Reality TV |language=en |access-date=November 27, 2019}} Katherine, and Roger.{{Cite web |url=https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/who-are-amy-roloffs-parents-lpbw-star-just-lost-her-mom-patricia/ |title='LPBW' Star Amy Roloff Was Close With Her Parents Before Mom's Death |date=October 1, 2019 |website=In Touch Weekly |language=en-US |access-date=November 27, 2019}} She was born with a genetic condition called achondroplasia that causes short stature.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DktmDwAAQBAJ&q=amy+roloff+keynote&pg=PT56 |title=Women, Minorities, and Other Extraordinary People: The New Path for Workforce Diversity |first=Barbara B. |last=Adams |date=September 18, 2018 |publisher=Greenleaf Book Group |isbn=978-1-62634-508-9 |language=en}}
Roloff attended Franklin High School in Livonia, Michigan.{{Cite web |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/amy-roloff-hometown |title=Amy Roloff Celebrated Her Dad's 90th in Michigan Five Months Before His Birthday |website=Distractify |date=May 7, 2019 |language=en |access-date=November 27, 2019}} She earned a degree in business from Central Michigan University.
Career
= Television=
Roloff and her family began taping Little People, Big World in 2006. She has also been featured on The View,{{Cite web |url=http://www.cm-life.com/article/2018/09/amyroloff-speech-alumni |title=Amy Roloff, alumna, star of 'Little People, Big World' to speak at Plachta Auditorium Sept. 27 |website=cm-life.com |access-date=December 7, 2019}} Jay Leno,{{Citation |title=The Tonight Show with Jay Leno |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-tonight-show-with-jay-leno/season-18/episode-25-randy-jackson-matt-and-amy-roloff-monica |access-date=November 27, 2019}} Oprah,{{Cite news |url=http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/little-people-in-a-big-world |title=Little People in a Big World |work=Oprah.com |access-date=November 27, 2019 |language=en-us}} Good Morning America, Celebrity Buzz, Celebrity Chopped,{{Cite web |url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/chopped/episodes/reality-tv-stars |title=Reality TV Stars |website=Food Network |language=en |access-date=November 27, 2019}} and the Rachel Ray Show.{{Citation |title=Inside Rachael's Prep Kitchen with Amy Roloff |date=November 1, 2012 |url=http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/video/inside-rachaels-prep-kitchen-with-amy-roloff |language=en-US |access-date=November 27, 2019}}
= Books =
In 2012, a book by Roloff, Short and Simply Family Recipes, was published by WestWinds Press. It contains 75 original family recipes.{{Cite web |url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/19181854-short-and-simple-family-recipes |title=Short and Simple Family Recipes |website=goodreads.com |access-date=November 27, 2019}} She is also the author of an autobiography, A Little Me, and Little People Big Values.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tlcme.com/inside-tlc/Read-Amy-Roloffs-New-Book |title=Read Amy Roloff's New Book |website=TLC.com |language=en |access-date=November 27, 2019}}
= Amy Roloff's Little Kitchen =
In 2016, Roloff opened an online bakery named Amy Roloff's Little Kitchen. Some of her products include seasonal baked goods.{{Cite web |title=About Amy – Amy Roloff |url=https://www.amyjroloff.com/about-amy/ |access-date=June 2, 2021 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=May 29, 2018 |title=Amy Roloff's Little Kitchen: Find out More About Her Online Baked Goods Business |url=https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/amy-roloff-little-kitchen-157433/ |access-date=June 2, 2021 |website=In Touch Weekly |language=en-US}}
= Charity =
In 2009, Roloff founded the Amy Roloff Charity Foundation.{{Cite web |url=http://amyroloffcharityfoundation.org/ |title=Amy Roloff Charity Foundation |website=Amy Roloff Charity Foundation |language=en-US |access-date=November 27, 2019}} She uses her fame to help youth at risk and people with disabilities. Roloff has also donated to the Dwarf Athletic Association of America and a foster care organization, and supported low-income senior housing and homeless shelters.{{Cite web |url=https://www.portlandsocietypage.com/tag/rebecca-halpin-ross-and-amy-roloff-12-zach-roloff-tori-patton-13-huy-nguyn/ |title=Rebecca Halpin Ross and Amy Roloff 12 Zach Roloff & Tori Patton 13 Huy Nguyn {{!}} Portland Society Page |website=www.portlandsocietypage.com |access-date=November 27, 2019}}
= Motivational speaking =
Amy Roloff also works as a motivational speaker.{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegram.com/article/20150327/NEWS/303279835 |title=Speaking in Dudley, Reality star Amy Roloff urges women to focus on 'you' |first=Brian |last=Lee |website=telegram.com |language=en |access-date=December 6, 2019}} She was the keynote speaker at Lakes Health Conference in 2010,{{Cite web |url=https://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1640671.html |title=Roloff to serve as Lakes Health Conference keynote speaker |website=The Daily Reporter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904033157/http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com:80/story/1640671.html |archive-date=September 4, 2010 |access-date=}} Empowering Women in Business Conference (EWIB) in 2015,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nichols.edu/news/2015-02-02-amy-roloff-to-speak-at-the-empowering-women-in-business-conferen |title=Amy Roloff to Speak at the Empowering Women in Business Conference |website=Nichols College |language=en-us |access-date=December 6, 2019}} Adrian College's Dr. James Borland Convocational Series in 2019, and Women's Power Lunch.{{Cite web |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/amy-roloff-keynotes-women-s-power-lunch/article_d8f0aed3-0506-587b-b92c-5a32d4efce96.html |title=Amy Roloff keynotes Women's Power Lunch |website=Sioux City Journal |date=April 25, 2012 |language=en |access-date=December 6, 2019}} She participates in the Get Motivated business seminar speaking series.{{Cite web |url=https://wjla.com/features/good-morning-washington/amy-roloff-and-april-osteen-simons-share-motivational-message |title=Amy Roloff and April Osteen Simons share motivational message |date=August 25, 2016 |publisher=WJLA |access-date=December 6, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.hodgeon7th.com/blog/hodge/take-charge-of-your-career-at-the-get-motivated-seminar-on-august-25 |title=Hodge on 7th |access-date=December 6, 2019}}
Personal life
Roloff, then Amy Knight, met Matt Roloff at a Little People of America convention in 1987. The two married on September 12, 1987. They had four children: fraternal twins Jeremy and Zachary (born 1990), Molly (1993), and Jacob (1997). The couple publicly expressed interest in a divorce in March 2014.{{Cite web |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/05/amy-roloffs-kids-family-husband-boyfriend/ |title=Amy Roloff's Kids & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |last=Goronja |first=Ariel |date=May 7, 2019 |website=Heavy.com |language=en |access-date=November 27, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/people-big-worlds-amy-roloff-separation-death/story?id=23065714 |title=Amy Roloff on Her Separation: 'It's Like a Death' |website=ABC News |language=en |access-date=November 27, 2019}} On June 5, 2015, the couple officially announced a divorce.{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-little-people-big-world-separate-roloff-split-tlc-20140312-story.html |title='Little People, Big World' stars Matt and Amy Roloff separate |date=March 12, 2014 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |access-date=November 27, 2019}} The divorce was finalized in May 2016.{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/people-big-world-star-amy-roloff-hopes-reconcile/story?id=22900531 |title='Little People, Big World' Star Hopes to Reconcile With Husband |website=ABC News |language=en |access-date=November 27, 2019}}
Amy and Matt owned a {{convert|100|acre|ha|adj=on|abbr=on}} farm near Helvetia, Oregon.{{Cite web |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/tv/2018/03/oregons_roloff_family_returns_1.html |title=Oregon's Roloff family returns in 'Little People, Big World': 'This is insane' |last=Turnquist |first=Kristi |date=March 14, 2018 |website=The Oregonian |language=en |access-date=November 27, 2019}} The farm opens to the public during October, featuring attractions such as a pumpkin patch.{{Cite web |url=https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/roloff-sues-county-over-trespass-claim/article_a6b2f58f-eab7-5197-8100-15cb4e428d78.html |title=Roloff sues county over trespass claim |website=Capital Press |date=December 16, 2010 |language=en |access-date=December 7, 2019}} In 2009, a woman who visited the farm sued the Roloffs, claiming to have fallen due to their negligence of safety procedures. The couple denied wrongdoing and the case was settled out of court in 2013.{{Cite web |url=https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2015/08/amy-roloff-matt-roloff-farm-lawsuit-suffered-serious-injuries-little-people-big-world-farm-one-million/ |title=Farm Of Horrors! Woman Claims She Suffered Serious Injuries On 'Little People, Big World' Property – Sues Stars Amy & Matt Roloff For $1 MILLION {{!}} Radar Online |date=August 14, 2015 |website=RadarOnline |language=en-US |access-date=December 7, 2019}} Due to the divorce, Matt bought the farm from Amy, and she purchased a new home in Oregon.{{Cite web |url=https://radaronline.com/photos/little-people-amy-roloff-buys-new-home-leaving-farm-chris-marek-engaged/ |title='Little People' Star Amy Roloff Buys $588K Oregon Home |date=November 6, 2019 |website=RadarOnline |language=en-US |access-date=November 27, 2019}}
The couple also owned Roloff Farms Salsa, a pumpkin salsa company.{{Cite web |url=https://2paragraphs.com/2015/08/where-is-little-people-big-world-roloff-farms-pumpkin-salsa/ |title=Where Is 'Little People, Big World' Roloff Farms Pumpkin Salsa? |date=August 4, 2015 |website=Entertainment, Celebrity, TV, Culture |language=en-US |access-date=December 7, 2019}}
On September 19, 2019, Amy became engaged to then-boyfriend Chris Marek.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2019/09/20/little-people-big-world-amy-roloff-engaged-boyfriend-chris-marek/2389101001/ |title='Little People, Big World' star Amy Roloff is engaged to boyfriend Chris Marek |last=Moniuszko |first=Sara M. |website=USA Today |language=en-US |access-date=November 27, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/little-people-big-world-star-amy-roloff-is-engaged-im-so-surprised/vp-AAHAZhB |title='Little People, Big World' Star Amy Roloff Is Engaged: 'I'm So Surprised' |publisher=MSN |access-date=November 27, 2019}} They were married on August 28, 2021 at Roloff Farms.{{Cite web |title=Little People, Big World's Amy Roloff and Chris Marek Are Married: See the Photos! |url=https://people.com/tv/amy-roloff-chris-marek-married-little-people-big-world-photos/ |access-date=August 29, 2021 |website=People |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roloff, Amy}}{{Little People, Big World}}{{Authority control}}
Category:American actors with disabilities