Olsen, Mary-Kate and Ashley, are two American sisters who became the head of an international entertainment and commercial empire. The Olsen brand name is aimed at preteen and teen-age girls. It includes clothing and accessories, perfume and cosmetics, dolls, books, music, videos, and furniture. Sales from the many Olsen products made the sisters millionaires while they were still in their teens. The Olsens have also won popularity as actresses.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Fuller Olsen were born on June 13, 1986, in Sherman Oaks, California. They began their careers in show business at the age of 9 months when the girls alternated in the role of baby Michelle Tanner in the television comedy series “Full House” (1987-1995). In 1992, they appeared in the TV movie To Grandmother’s House We Go. That year, they also released their first singing album, Brother for Sale.
In 1993, the Olsens became the young executive producers of an entertainment production company called Dualstar. The company later supervised the Olsen merchandise lines. The girls made their first starring appearance in a movie for theater release in It Takes Two (1995). They also starred in their second TV comedy series, “Two of a Kind” (1998-1999).
The twins introduced their clothing line in 2001 and started a magazine called Mary-Kate and Ashley. That year, they also returned to television in the comedy series “So Little Time.” In 2004, the twins starred in another motion picture called New York Minute. In 2007, Mary-Kate began a continuing role on the cable television series “Weeds.”
The Olsen twins are featured in a number of books for young readers, including the series Two of a Kind and The New Adventures of Ashley and Mary-Kate. They also wrote an autobiography, Our Story (2000).
