- Melora Hardin
-
Melora Hardin 
Hardin at the premiere of 27 Dresses, January 2008Born Melora Diane Hardin
June 29, 1967
Houston, Texas, U.S.Occupation Actress Years active 1977–Present Spouse Gildart Jackson (1997–present) (2 children) Website http://www.melora.com/ Melora Diane Hardin (born June 29, 1967) is an American actress, best known for her roles as Jan Levinson on NBC's The Office and Trudy Monk on USA's Monk.
Contents
Early life
Hardin was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of acting manager/coach and retired actress Diane (née Hill) and actor Jerry Hardin.[1] She is the sister of Flock CEO Shawn Hardin.[2] She was raised in San Francisco, California, after her family moved there when she was 4 years old. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College.
Career
1970s-1990s
Hardin started her acting career as the young star of the television series Thunder (1977–1978), and has appeared in over 70 movies and television programs since, including two 1981 Little House on the Prairie episodes (as Belinda Stevens in "The Reincarnation of Nellie", Parts 1 and 2) as well as playing Michele Pierson in the 1983 television movie Little House: Look Back to Yesterday. She starred as Baby in the short-lived 1988 television series Dirty Dancing (based on the 1987 film of the same name) and two 1992 episodes of Quantum Leap (as Abigail in "Trilogy," Parts 2 and 3). She co-starred in the 1990 dancing movie Lambada as Sandy. She appeared in Absolute Power (1997) as Christy Sullivan and played Ross's dirty talking love interest in season 1 episode 15 of Friends. She was also originally cast in Back to the Future as Jennifer Parker, but was re-cast after Eric Stoltz (the original Marty McFly) was let go. Hardin was deemed too tall to star alongside Michael J. Fox.
2000s-present
Hardin starred in the 2000-2001 series Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family, and since 2004 she has played the recurring role of Trudy Monk, the title character's deceased wife, on the USA Network series Monk. She appeared on the series NCIS as former Petty Officer Erin Toner in the episode "The Curse".[3] In 2005, Hardin portrayed Linda Evans in Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, a fictionalized television movie based on the creation and behind the scenes production of the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty.[4][5] Hardin played former corporate manager Jan Levenson on The Office since the show's debut in 2005 until 2011.
Hardin later appeared in the 2006 film Thank You for Smoking, and appears in Hannah Montana: The Movie as Robby Ray's (Billy Ray Cyrus') love interest. The film premiered on April 10, 2009.[6]
She played the role of Fantine in the Hollywood Bowl's concert of Les Misérables in Summer 2008.[7]
Hardin also appeared in several episodes of the popular web show, Elevator, on YouTube.
Hardin made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the revival of Chicago: The Musical on December 29, 2008. She stayed with the show until February 12, 2009.[8]
Hardin was cast as a major character in the NBC drama Outlaw, playing a powerful senior partner of an elite law firm, and the main love interest to the series' protagonist, played by Jimmy Smits.[9]
Singing career
Hardin sang the National Anthem at the season opening hockey game of the Anaheim Ducks on October 13, 2010.[10]
Hardin also sang the Star Spangled Banner at the season opening hockey game of the NHL Phoenix Coyotes on October 16, 2010 [11]
Hardin's singing hasn't been limited to sporting events. She played a nightclub singer in Disney's The Rocketeer (1991), where she can be heard singing "Begin the Beguine".
Hardin also sang the National Anthem at the Dover International Speedway for the AAA 400 on October 2, 2011.
Filmography
Hardin attending the premiere of her movie "YOU", Westwood, CA on May 13, 2009
Film and television Year Film Role Notes 1977 The Cliffwood Avenue Kids Melora TV movie 1977 - 1978 Thunder Cindy Prescott 12 Episodes 1978 The Love Boat Courtney Chenault-Teenage Daughter Episode: Double Wedding/Ventriloquists, The/Julie Falls Hard 1979 The North Avenue Irregulars Carmel 1979, 1982 Quincy, M.E. Amanda/Abigail 'Abby' Garvin 2 Episodes 1980 Diff'rent Strokes Emily Morehouse Episode: Skin Deep or True Blue ABC Afterschool Specials Amy Warner Episode: What Are Friends For? Haywire Brooke Hayward, age 11 TV movie 1980 - 1981 Secrets of Midland Heights Micki Carroll 10 Episodes 1981 Little House on the Prairie Belinda Stevens 2 Episodes 1983 Magnum, P.I. Nancy Perkins Gillis Episode: Luther Gillis: File #521 The Family Tree Tess Benjamin Little House: Look Back to Yesterday Michele Pierson TV movie 1984 Mama Malone Kathleen Episode: The Education of Frankie 1985 Papa Was a Preacher Janette The Best Times Joy Villafranco 1986 Soul Man Whitney Iron Eagle Katie Hotel Beth Episode: Heroes 1988 - 1989 Dirty Dancing Frances 'Baby' Kellerman 11 Episodes 1989 Big Man on Campus Cathy The Jeweller's Shop Monica Tour of Duty Christine Pierson 2 Episodes 1990 Lambada Sandy Thomas Shangri-La Plaza Amy TV movie 1991 The Rocketeer South Seas Singer 1992 Mann & Machine Louise Trotsky Episode: Torch Song Quantum Leap Abigail Fuller 2 Episodes Miles from Nowhere Teresa TV movie 1993 Reckless Kelly Robin Banks Moon Over Miami Emily Booker Episode: My Old Flame 1994 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Molly Flynn Episode: Operation Blackout Murder, She Wrote Cindy Warrick Episode: Roadkill Matlock Lisa Swift Episode: The Scandal Golden Gate Susan Carlino TV movie The Pornographer Sasha Leon Hoffner 1994, 1996 Renegade Laura McMillan/Kelly Anderson 2 Episodes 1995 Friends Celia Episode: The One with the Stoned Guy Touched by an Angel Lizbeth Episode: The Big Bang 1995, 1999 Diagnosis: Murder Savannah Bellows/POX Publicist Melanie Cooper 2 Episodes 1996 The Undercover Kid Clyde Chameleon Jill Hallman Caroline in the City Beth Episode: Caroline and the Bridesmaids 1997 Absolute Power Christy Sullivan Tower of Terror Claire Poulet TV movie Things That Go Bump Chloe Garrett TV movie Orleans Gina Vitelli 2 Episodes 1997 - 1998 The Tom Show Lorraine 2 Episodes 1998 The Pretender Wendy Dawson Episode: Homefront Timecop Edith Thomas Episode: Lost Voyage Erasable You Calamity 1999 Seven Girlfriends Laura Payne Danielle Harris Episode: Gossip Checks in and a Cat Checks Out 2000 Certain Guys Mary Beth 2000 - 2001 Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family Barbara Arno 25 Episodes 2001 Once and Again Samantha Aldrich 1 episode: Moving On 2002 The Hot Chick Carol Judging Amy Rosalie Leavitt 1 episode: Roses and Truth 2003 NCIS Erin Toner 1 episode: The Curse The Division Cheryl Lynn Brinkmeyer 1 episode: Rush to Judgment 2004 Boston Legal Sharon Brant 1 episode: Head Cases El padrino Jane The Hollywood Mom's Mystery Summer Rossner TV movie 2004 - 2009 Monk Trudy Monk 10 episodes 2005 Thank You for Smoking Interviewer CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sports Book Manager 1 episode: Big Middle Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure Linda Evans TV movie 2005 - 2011 The Office Jan Levenson 37 episodes 2006 Gilmore Girls Carolyn Bates 1 episode: Partings Without a Trace Pamela Seaver 1 episode: Rage The Office: The Accountants Jan Levenson-Gould 1 episode: The Books Don't Balance 2007 The Comebacks Barb Fields The Violin Gertrude Bloch Boxboarders! Ruth Keene The Dukes Diane Drive Thru Marcia Carpenter 2008 Mom, Dad and Her Emma Maureen 2009 The Tub The Woman Hannah Montana: The Movie Lorelai 17 Again Principal Jane Masterson You Miranda 2010 Lights Out Teresa Leary TV movie Knucklehead Mary O'Connor 2011 The Misadventures of Ben Banks Mary Andrews Post-production Produced and directed
Film and television Year Film 2009 You References
- ^ "OFFICE AFFAIR". PressDisplay.com. 2007-02-22. http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ Yahoo hires another top media exec | Tech News on ZDNet
- ^ "NCIS on IMDB". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0658027/.
- ^ Heffernan, Virginia (January 1, 2005). "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: If You've Got It, Flaunt It: ABC Trumpets an 80's Hit". The New York Times. NYTimes.com. http://tv.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/arts/television/01heff.html. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
- ^ "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: Credits". Der-denver-clan.de. http://www.der-denver-clan.de/de/dynasty_behind.207.html. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
- ^ Production On Hannah Montana: The Movie Is Underway - Entertainment Tonight News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
- ^ Playbill News: Stokes Mitchell, McVey, O'Donnell, Michele and More Set for Les Miz at the Bowl
- ^ Office Star Hardin to Make Broadway Debut in Chicago
- ^ http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/melora-hardin-joins-new-nbc-drama-outlaw-returns-to-the-office-for-a-story-arc/
- ^ http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/feed/2010-10/ducks-and-the-future
- ^ http://phoenix.fanster.com/2010/10/13/michael-scotts-sing-national-anthem-coyotes-home-opener/
External links
- Official site
- Melora Hardin on MySpace
- One on One with Melora Hardin
- Melora Hardin at the Internet Movie Database
- Melora Hardin at AllRovi
- Melora Hardin at the TCM Movie Database
Categories:- 1967 births
- Hardin family
- Actors from Houston, Texas
- Actors from California
- American child actors
- American film actors
- American television actors
- People from San Francisco, California
- Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- Living people
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