Melora Hardin
{{short description|American actress (born 1967)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Melora Hardin 2009.jpg
| caption = Melora Hardin in 2009
| birth_name = Melora Diane Hardin
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|06|29}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| alma_mater = Sarah Lawrence College (BFA)
| occupation = Actress, singer
| yearsactive = 1976–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Gildart Jackson|1997}}
| father = Jerry Hardin
| children = 2
| website = {{url|http://www.melora.com/}}
}}
Melora Diane Hardin Jackson (born June 29, 1967{{cite magazine|url= http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/melora-hardin/bio/165785|title=Melora Hardin Biography|magazine=TV Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003234139/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/melora-hardin/bio/165785|archive-date=October 3, 2016|url-status=dead}}) is an American actress and singer best known for her roles as Jan Levinson on NBC's The Office (2005–2013), Trudy Monk on USA Network's Monk (2004–2009), and Tammy Cashman on Amazon Prime Video's Transparent (2014–2019), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She starred as magazine editor-in-chief Jacqueline Carlyle on the Freeform comedy-drama The Bold Type, which aired from 2017 to 2021.
Early life
Hardin was born in Houston, Texas,{{cite news |last1=Dansby |first1=Andrew |title=Melora Hardin just can't seem to slow down |url=https://m.chron.com/entertainment/movies/article/Melora-Hardin-just-can-t-seem-to-slow-down-1608355.php |newspaper=Houston Chronicle|location=Texas |publisher=Hearst |access-date=August 29, 2019}} the daughter of acting manager, coach, and retired actress Diane (née Hill) and actor Jerry Hardin.{{cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Nat |title=Five Things You Didn't know about Melora Hardin |url=https://www.tvovermind.com/five-things-didnt-know-melora-hardin/ |website=tvovermind.com |date=June 30, 2017 |access-date=August 29, 2019}} She is the sister of former Flock CEO Shawn Hardin. She moved to San Francisco, California, at age 5 and later attended middle and high school in the San Fernando Valley at Patrick Henry Junior High School and Ulysses S. Grant High School, respectively. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College.{{cite web |last1=Schreffler |first1=Laura |title=Transparent Star Melora Hardin Shares Her Haute Secrets to LA |url=https://hauteliving.com/2016/08/transparent-star-melora-hardin-shares-her-haute-secrets-to-la/618656/ |website=hauteliving.com |date=August 11, 2016 |publisher=Haute Living |access-date=August 29, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Gans |first1=Andrew |title=DIVA TALK: Chatting with Chicago's Melora Hardin, the Final Gypsy and News of Chenoweth, Kaye |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/diva-talk-chatting-with-chicagos-melora-hardin-the-final-gypsy-and-news-of-chenoweth-kaye-com-156991 |website=playbill.com |date=January 16, 2009 |publisher=Playbill, Inc. |access-date=August 29, 2019}}
Career
=1976–1999=
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 episode 39 of The Love Boat in 1978, two episodes of the medical drama Quincy, M. E. (as Amanda in the 1979 episode "Never a Child" and as Abagail "Abby" Garvin in the infamous 1982 anti-punk rock episode "Next Stop, Nowhere"), 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. Hardin appeared as Whitney Dunbar, opposite C. Thomas Howell, in the 1986 film, Soul Man. 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 dance movie Lambada as Sandy. She appeared in Absolute Power (1997) as Christy Sullivan and played Ross's dirty-talking love interest in the season 1 Friends episode "The One with the Stoned Guy".
She was also originally cast in Back to the Future (1985) as Jennifer Parker alongside Eric Stoltz, who starred as Marty McFly. Stoltz was fired shortly after filming began and was replaced with Michael J. Fox. Hardin was deemed too tall to star alongside Fox, and she was later replaced by Claudia Wells.{{cite news|first=Nathan|last=Mattise|url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/12/melora-hardin-back-to-future/|title=Marty McFly's Original Girlfriend Goes Back to the Future|publisher=Wired|date=December 8, 2011|access-date=December 19, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hobotrashcan.com/2007/11/15/one-on-one-with-melora-hardin/ |title=One on One with Melora Hardin |last=Murphy |first=Joel |publisher=hobotrashcan.com |date=November 2007 |access-date=August 11, 2015}}
=2000–present=
Hardin starred in the 2000–2001 series Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family, and she played the recurring role of Trudy Monk, the title character's deceased wife, on the USA Network series Monk (2004-2009). She appeared on the series NCIS as former Petty Officer Erin Toner in the episode "The Curse".{{cite web|title=NCIS|date=October 28, 2003|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0658027/|publisher=IMDb.com|access-date=November 29, 2012}} 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 primetime soap opera Dynasty.{{cite web|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/arts/television/01heff.html|title=Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: If You've Got It, Flaunt It: ABC Trumpets an 80's Hit |last=Heffernan|first=Virginia|date=January 1, 2005|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 26, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.der-denver-clan.de/de/dynasty_behind.207.html|title=Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: Credits|publisher=Der-denver-clan.de|access-date=February 27, 2009}} Hardin played Jan Levinson in The Office (2005–2013), a former corporate manager and love interest of Michael Scott.
Hardin appeared in the 2006 film Thank You for Smoking, and appears in Hannah Montana: The Movie as the love interest of Billy Ray Cyrus's character. The film premiered on April 10, 2009.[http://www.news4jax.com/entertainmenttonight/16370198/detail.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528221246/http://www.news4jax.com/entertainmenttonight/16370198/detail.html|date=May 28, 2008}} She played the role of Fantine in the Hollywood Bowl's concert of Les Misérables in Summer 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/115323.html |title=Stokes Mitchell, McVey, O'Donnell, Michele and More Set for Les Miz at the Bowl |publisher=Playbill.com |access-date=November 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202090837/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/115323.html |archive-date=February 2, 2009 }} Hardin 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/123303.html |title="Office" Star Hardin to Make Broadway Debut in Chicago |publisher=Playbill.com |access-date=November 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107174705/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/123303.html |archive-date=January 7, 2009 }} Also in 2009, Hardin was cast as Principal Jane Masterson in the popular comedy film 17 Again. Hardin was cast as a major character in Outlaw, playing a powerful senior partner of an elite law firm, and the main love interest to the series' protagonist, played by Jimmy Smits.{{cite web|last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |url=https://deadline.com/2010/07/melora-hardin-joins-new-nbc-drama-outlaw-returns-to-the-office-for-a-story-arc-56173/|title=Melora Hardin Joins NBC's New 'Outlaw'|date=July 23, 2010 |publisher=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=November 29, 2012}} Hardin played the role of Isabelle Palmer's mother Nancy in An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight.
Hardin sang the U.S. national anthem at the Anaheim Ducks’ season-opening hockey game on October 13, 2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/feed/2010-10/ducks-and-the-future |title=Pronger trade key to Ducks' rebuilding |publisher=Sporting News |access-date=November 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723185218/http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/feed/2010-10/ducks-and-the-future |archive-date=July 23, 2013 }} and for the Phoenix Coyotes three days later.{{cite web|url=http://phoenix.fanster.com/2010/10/13/michael-scotts-sing-national-anthem-coyotes-home-opener|title=Michael Scott's ex to sing National Anthem at Coyotes' home opener|publisher=Phoenix.fanster.com|date=October 13, 2010 |access-date=November 29, 2012}}
In September 2021, she was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 30 of Dancing with the Stars.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-09-08|title='Dancing With the Stars' 2021: Meet the season 30 celebrity cast|url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/dancing-stars-2021-meet-season-30-celebrity-cast-79752719|access-date=2021-09-11|website=Good Morning America|language=en}} Her professional dance partner, Artem Chigvintsev, and she made it to the semifinals and ultimately finished in sixth place.{{Cite web|date=November 15, 2021|first=Gabrielle|last=Duncan|title=DWTS: Who Went Home in Monday's Semifinal Double Elimination?|url=https://people.com/tv/dwts-suni-lee-and-melora-hardin-eliminated-in-semifinal-round-ahead-of-season-30-finale/|access-date=2021-11-23|website=people.com|language=en}}
Personal life
Hardin has been married to actor Gildart Jackson since 1997.{{cite web|title=Gildart Jackson|work=Hollywood.com|url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/gildart-jackson-57760821/|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821085854/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/gildart-jackson-57760821/|archive-date=August 21, 2017|url-status=dead}} They have two daughters.{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Gildart|title=Father, Writer, Actor, Father|date=July 19, 2009|work=The Huffington Post|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gildart-jackson/father-writer-actor-fathe_b_217666.html|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201125235108/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/father-writer-actor-fathe_b_217666|url-status=live}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Film ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1978
|Something Queer is Happening at the Library |Jill |Short film |
| 1979
|{{sortname|The|North Avenue Irregulars}} |Carmel | |
| 1985
|Janette | |
| rowspan="2" |1986
|Katie | |
| Soul Man
|Whitney Dunbar | |
| rowspan="2" |1989
|Cathy | |
| {{sortname|The|Jeweler's Shop}}
|Monica | |
| 1990
|Sandy Thomas | |
| 1991
|South Seas singer | |
| 1993
|Robin Banks | |
| 1994
|{{sortname|The|Pornographer|nolink=1}} |Sasha Leon Hoffner | |
| 1995
|Jill Hallman | |
| 1996
|{{sortname|The|Undercover Kid|nolink=1}} |Clyde | |
| 1997
|Christy Sullivan | |
| 1998
|Erasable You |Calamity | |
| 1999
|Laura | |
| 2000
|Certain Guys |Mary Beth | |
| 2002
|{{sortname|The|Hot Chick}} |Carol | |
| 2004
|El padrino |Jane | |
| 2005
|Interviewer | |
| rowspan="5" |2007
|Marcia Carpenter | |
| {{sortname|The|Dukes|The Dukes (film)}}
|Diane | |
| Boxboarders!
|Ruth Keene | |
| The Comebacks
|Barb Fields | |
| {{sortname|The|Violin|nolink=1}}
|Gertrude Bloch |Short film |
| 2008
|Maureen | |
| rowspan="3" |2009
|Principal Jane Masterson | |
| Hannah Montana: The Movie
|Lorelai | |
| You
|Miranda |Also director and producer |
| 2010
|Mary | |
| 2011
|Jane | |
| rowspan="3" |2012
|Zombie Hamlet |Pam | |
| Beauty and the Least: The Misadventures of Ben Banks
|Mary Andrews | |
| Taking the Edge Off
| |Short film |
| 2014
|An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight |Nancy Palmer |Direct-to-video |
| 2015
|Judy O'Neill | |
| rowspan="2" | 2017
|Anything |Rita | |
| Golden Vanity
|Mabel Montgomery-Mayflower | |
| 2018
|Cruel Hearts |Grace | |
| 2021
|Officer Sacks | |
| 2023
|Dr. Elizabeth Simmons | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1976
|Sheila |Episodes: "The Jar: Parts 1 & 2" |
| rowspan="2" |1977
|Cindy Prescott |Main role (12 episodes) |
| {{sortname|The|Cliffwood Avenue Kids|nolink=1}}
|Melora |TV series |
| 1978
|{{sortname|The|Love Boat}} |Courtney Chenault |1 episode |
| 1979
|Amanda |Episode: "Never a Child" |
| rowspan="3" |1980
|Emily Morehouse |Episode: "Skin Deep or True Blue" |
| ABC Afterschool Special
|Amy Warner |Episode: "What Are Friends For?" |
| Haywire
|Brooke Hayward, age 11 |TV film |
| 1980–1981
|Micki Carroll |Regular role (10 episodes) |
| 1981
|Belinda Stevens |Episodes: "The Reincarnation of Nellie: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1982
|Abigail "Abby" Garvin |Episode: "Next Stop, Nowhere" |
| rowspan="3" |1983
|{{sortname|The|Family Tree|dab=TV series}} |Tess Benjamin |TV series |
| Little House: Look Back to Yesterday
|Michele Pierson |TV movie |
| Magnum, P.I.
|Nancy Perkins Gillis |Episode: "Luther Gillis: File #521" |
| 1984
|Kathleen |Episode: "The Education of Frankie" |
| 1985
|{{sortname|The|Best Times|nolink=1}} |Joy Villafranco |Regular role (6 episodes) |
| 1986
|Beth |Episode: "Heroes" |
| 1988–1989
|Frances "Baby" Kellerman |Main role (11 episodes) |
| 1989
|Christine Pierson |Episodes: "Sins of the Father", "Sealed with a Kiss" |
| 1990
|Amy |TV film |
| 1991
|Doris Walsh |Episode: "Who Speaks for the Children?" |
| rowspan="3" |1992
|Miles from Nowhere |Teresa |TV film |
| Mann & Machine
|Louise Trotsky |Episode: "Torch Song" |
| Quantum Leap
|Abigail Fuller |Episodes: "For Your Love", "The Last Door" |
| 1993
|Emily Booker |Episode: "My Old Flame" |
| rowspan="5" |1994
|Cindy Warrick |Episode: "Roadkill" |
| Golden Gate
|Susan Carlino |TV film |
| Renegade
|Laura McMillan |Episode: "Carrick O'Quinn" |
| Matlock
|Lisa Swift |Episode: "The Scandal" |
| Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
|Molly Flynn |Episode: "Operation Blackout" |
| rowspan="3" |1995
|Celia |Episode: "The One with the Stoned Guy" |
| Touched by an Angel
|Lizbeth Chamberlain |Episode: "The Big Bang" |
| Diagnosis: Murder
|Savannah Bellows |Episode: "The New Healers" |
| rowspan="2" |1996
|Kelly Anderson |Episode: "Paradise Lost" |
| Caroline in the City
|Beth |Episode: "Caroline and the Bridesmaids" |
| rowspan="3" |1997
|Things That Go Bump |Chloe Garrett |TV film |
| Orleans
|Gina Vitelli |Episodes: "Luther's Temptation", "When the Saints Go Marching In" |
| Tower of Terror
|Claire Poulet |TV film |
| 1997–1998
|{{sortname|The|Tom Show}} |Lorraine |Episodes: "Tom's First Date", "The Centerfold" |
| rowspan="2" |1998
|Edith Thomas |Episode: "Lost Voyage" |
| {{sortname|The|Pretender|The Pretender (TV series)}}
|Wendy Dawson |Episode: "Homefront" |
| rowspan="2" |1999
|Danielle Harris |Episode: "Gossip Checks In and a Cat Checks Out" |
| Diagnosis: Murder
|Melanie Cooper |Episode: "Trash TV: Part 1" |
| 2000–2001
|Barbara Arno |Main role (24 episodes) |
| 2001
|Samantha Aldrich |Episode: "Moving On" |
| rowspan="2" |2002
|Patsy Ramsey (voice) |Episode: "Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows" |
| Judging Amy
|Rosalie Leavitt |Episode: "Roses and Truth" |
| rowspan="2" |2003
|{{sortname|The|Division}} |Cheryl Lynn Brinkmeyer |Episode: "Rush to Judgment" |
| NCIS
|Former Petty Officer Erin Toner |Episode: "The Curse" |
| rowspan="2" |2004
|{{sortname|The|Hollywood Mom's Mystery|nolink=1}} |Summer Rossner |TV film |
| Boston Legal
|Sharon Brant |Episode: "Head Cases" |
| 2004–2009
|Monk |Recurring role (10 episodes) |
| rowspan="2" |2005
|CSI: Crime Scene Investigation |Sports Book Manager |Episode: "Big Middle" |
| Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure
|TV film |
| 2005–2013
|{{sortname|The|Office|The Office (American TV series)}} |Regular role; 46 episodes |
| rowspan="3" |2006
|Pamela Seaver |Episode: "Rage" |
| Gilmore Girls
|Carolyn Bates |Episode: "Partings" |
| {{sortname|The|Office: The Accountants}}
|Jan Levinson-Gould |Episode: "The Books Don't Balance" |
| rowspan="2" |2008
|Emma |TV film |
| Yo Gabba Gabba!
|Herself |Episode: "Birthday" |
| 2010
|Claire Sax |Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 2011
|Wendy Colton |Episode: "G.O." |
| 2012–2013
|Roxie Rutherford |Main role (10 episodes) |
| 2013
|Shelley Meyers |Episode: "Say Hello to My Little Friend" |
| rowspan="2" |2014
|Nan Reed |Episode: "Some Men Need Killing" |
| Do It Yourself
|Kaye |TV film |
| 2014–2019
|Tammy Cashman |Recurring role (14 episodes) |
| 2015
|Captain Katie Marshall |Episodes: "Everybody Has Their Reasons", "Stalag 14th Virginia" |
| 2016
|The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez |Courtney Monroe |TV film |
| rowspan="2" |2017
|Isabella Stone |2 episodes |
| When We Rise
|Carole Midgen |Episode: "Night III: Parts IV and V" |
| 2017–2021
|Jacqueline Carlyle |Main role |
| 2019,2022
|Patricia Bloom |5 episodes |
| 2020
|Herself |Episode: "The Bold Type vs. RuPaul's Drag Race" |
| 2021
| Herself | Contestant, Season 30 |
| 2022
| Emelia |
| 2023
|Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie |TV movie |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Director ! Year ! Title ! class="unsortable" | Notes | ||
| 2009 | You | |
| 2020 | The Bold Type | Episode: "Snow Day" |
| 2022 | The Bold Type | Episode: "Snow Day" |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Award !Category !Nominated work !Result |
| 1984
| rowspan="3" |Young Artist Awards |Best Young Actress in a Drama Series |{{Nominated}} |
| 1985
|Best Young Supporting Actress in a Daytime or Nighttime Drama |{{Won}} |
| 1987
|Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Starring in a Feature Film – Comedy or Drama |Papa Was a Preacher |{{Nominated}} |
| 2007
| rowspan="3" |Screen Actors Guild Awards | rowspan="3" |Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | rowspan="3" |The Office |{{Won}} |
| 2008
|{{Won}} |
| 2009
|{{Nominated}} |
| 2016
|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series |{{Nominated}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commonscat}}
- {{Official website|http://www.melora.com/}}
- {{twitter|MeloraHardin}}
- {{IMDb name|0002124}}
- {{Tcmdb name|84846}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardin, Melora}}
Category:Actresses from Houston
Category:Actresses from San Francisco
Category:Sarah Lawrence College alumni
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:American child actresses
Category:American women singers
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:American musical theatre actresses