Melora Hardin | |
|---|---|
 Melora Hardin in 2009 | |
| Born | Melora Diane Hardin (1967-06-29)June 29, 1967 (age 57) |
| Alma mater | Sarah Lawrence College (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | Jerry Hardin |
| Website | www |
Melora Diane Hardin Jackson (born June 29, 1967[1]) is an American actress and singer best known for her roles asJan Levinson onNBC'sThe Office (2005–2013),Trudy Monk onUSA Network'sMonk (2004–2009), and Tammy Cashman onAmazon Prime Video'sTransparent (2014–2019), for which she received aPrimetime Emmy Award nomination. She starred as magazine editor-in-chief Jacqueline Carlyle on theFreeform comedy-dramaThe Bold Type, which aired from 2017 to 2021.
Hardin was born inHouston,Texas,[2] the daughter of acting manager, coach, and retired actress Diane (née Hill) and actorJerry Hardin.[3] She is the sister of formerFlockCEO Shawn Hardin. She moved toSan Francisco,California, at age 5 and later attended middle and high school in theSan Fernando Valley at Patrick Henry Junior High School andUlysses S. Grant High School, respectively. She graduated fromSarah Lawrence College.[4][5]
Hardin started her acting career as the young star of the television seriesThunder (1977–1978), and has appeared in over 70 movies and television programs since, including episode 39 ofThe Love Boat in 1978, two episodes of themedical dramaQuincy, 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 1981Little 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 1983television movieLittle 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 seriesDirty Dancing (based on the1987 film of the same name) and two 1992 episodes ofQuantum Leap (as Abigail in "Trilogy", Parts 2 and 3). She co-starred in the 1990 dance movieLambada as Sandy. She appeared inAbsolute Power (1997) as Christy Sullivan and playedRoss's dirty-talking love interest in the season 1Friends episode "The One with the Stoned Guy".
She was also originally cast inBack to the Future (1985) asJennifer Parker alongsideEric Stoltz, who starred asMarty McFly. Stoltz was fired shortly after filming began and was replaced withMichael J. Fox. Hardin was deemed too tall to star alongside Fox, and she was later replaced byClaudia Wells.[6][7]
Hardin starred in the 2000–2001 seriesCover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family, and she played the recurring role ofTrudy Monk, thetitle character's deceased wife, on theUSA Network seriesMonk (2004-2009). She appeared on the seriesNCIS as former Petty Officer Erin Toner in the episode "The Curse".[8] In 2005, Hardin portrayedLinda Evans inDynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, a fictionalized television movie based on the creation andbehind the scenes production of the 1980s primetimesoap operaDynasty.[9][10] Hardin playedJan Levinson inThe Office (2005–2013), a former corporate manager and love interest ofMichael Scott.
Hardin appeared in the 2006 filmThank You for Smoking, and appears inHannah Montana: The Movie as the love interest ofBilly Ray Cyrus'scharacter. The film premiered on April 10, 2009.[11] She played the role ofFantine in theHollywood Bowl's concert ofLes Misérables in Summer 2008.[12] Hardin appeared in several episodes of the popular web showElevator onYouTube.
Hardin made herBroadway debut asRoxie Hart in the revival ofChicago: The Musical on December 29, 2008. She stayed with the show until February 12, 2009.[13] Also in 2009, Hardin was cast as Principal Jane Masterson in the popular comedy film17 Again. Hardin was cast as a major character inOutlaw, playing a powerful senior partner of an elite law firm, and the main love interest to the series' protagonist, played byJimmy Smits.[14] Hardin played the role ofIsabelle Palmer's mother Nancy inAn American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight.
Hardin sang the U.S.national anthem at theAnaheim Ducks’ season-opening hockey game on October 13, 2010,[15] and for thePhoenix Coyotes three days later.[16]
In September 2021, she was announced as one of the celebrities competing onseason 30 ofDancing with the Stars.[17] Her professional dance partner,Artem Chigvintsev, and she made it to the semifinals and ultimately finished in sixth place.[18]
Hardin has been married to actorGildart Jackson since 1997.[19] They have two daughters.[20]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Something Queer is Happening at the Library | Jill | Short film |
| 1979 | The North Avenue Irregulars | Carmel | |
| 1985 | Papa Was a Preacher | Janette | |
| 1986 | Iron Eagle | Katie | |
| Soul Man | Whitney Dunbar | ||
| 1989 | Big Man on Campus | Cathy | |
| The Jeweler's Shop | Monica | ||
| 1990 | Lambada | Sandy Thomas | |
| 1991 | The Rocketeer | South Seas singer | |
| 1993 | Reckless Kelly | Robin Banks | |
| 1994 | The Pornographer | Sasha Leon Hoffner | |
| 1995 | Chameleon | Jill Hallman | |
| 1996 | The Undercover Kid | Clyde | |
| 1997 | Absolute Power | Christy Sullivan | |
| 1998 | Erasable You | Calamity | |
| 1999 | Seven Girlfriends | Laura | |
| 2000 | Certain Guys | Mary Beth | |
| 2002 | The Hot Chick | Carol | |
| 2004 | El padrino | Jane | |
| 2005 | Thank You For Smoking | Interviewer | |
| 2007 | Drive Thru | Marcia Carpenter | |
| The Dukes | Diane | ||
| Boxboarders! | Ruth Keene | ||
| The Comebacks | Barb Fields | ||
| The Violin | Gertrude Bloch | Short film | |
| 2008 | 27 Dresses | Maureen | |
| 2009 | 17 Again | Principal Jane Masterson | |
| Hannah Montana: The Movie | Lorelai | ||
| You | Miranda | Also director and producer | |
| 2010 | Knucklehead | Mary | |
| 2011 | I Melt with You | Jane | |
| 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 | Self/less | Judy O'Neill | |
| 2017 | Anything | Rita | |
| Golden Vanity | Mabel Montgomery-Mayflower | ||
| 2018 | Cruel Hearts | Grace | |
| 2021 | Caged | Officer Sacks | |
| 2023 | Clock | Dr. Elizabeth Simmons |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Police Story | Sheila | Episodes: "The Jar: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1977 | Thunder | Cindy Prescott | Main role (12 episodes) |
| The Cliffwood Avenue Kids | Melora | TV series | |
| 1978 | The Love Boat | Courtney Chenault | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Quincy, M.E. | Amanda | Episode: "Never a Child" |
| 1980 | Diff'rent Strokes | 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 | Secrets of Midland Heights | Micki Carroll | Regular role (10 episodes) |
| 1981 | Little House on the Prairie | Belinda Stevens | Episodes: "The Reincarnation of Nellie: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1982 | Quincy, M.E. | Abigail "Abby" Garvin | Episode: "Next Stop, Nowhere" |
| 1983 | The Family Tree | 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 | Mama Malone | Kathleen | Episode: "The Education of Frankie" |
| 1985 | The Best Times | Joy Villafranco | Regular role (6 episodes) |
| 1986 | Hotel | Beth | Episode: "Heroes" |
| 1988–1989 | Dirty Dancing | Frances "Baby" Kellerman | Main role (11 episodes) |
| 1989 | Tour of Duty | Christine Pierson | Episodes: "Sins of the Father", "Sealed with a Kiss" |
| 1990 | Shangri-La Plaza | Amy | TV film |
| 1991 | Equal Justice | Doris Walsh | Episode: "Who Speaks for the Children?" |
| 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 | Moon Over Miami | Emily Booker | Episode: "My Old Flame" |
| 1994 | Murder, She Wrote | 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" | |
| 1995 | Friends | 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" | |
| 1996 | Renegade | Kelly Anderson | Episode: "Paradise Lost" |
| Caroline in the City | Beth | Episode: "Caroline and the Bridesmaids" | |
| 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 | The Tom Show | Lorraine | Episodes: "Tom's First Date", "The Centerfold" |
| 1998 | Timecop | Edith Thomas | Episode: "Lost Voyage" |
| The Pretender | Wendy Dawson | Episode: "Homefront" | |
| 1999 | Payne | Danielle Harris | Episode: "Gossip Checks In and a Cat Checks Out" |
| Diagnosis: Murder | Melanie Cooper | Episode: "Trash TV: Part 1" | |
| 2000–2001 | Cover Me | Barbara Arno | Main role (24 episodes) |
| 2001 | Once and Again | Samantha Aldrich | Episode: "Moving On" |
| 2002 | Family Guy | Patsy Ramsey (voice) | Episode: "Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows" |
| Judging Amy | Rosalie Leavitt | Episode: "Roses and Truth" | |
| 2003 | The Division | Cheryl Lynn Brinkmeyer | Episode: "Rush to Judgment" |
| NCIS | Former Petty Officer Erin Toner | Episode: "The Curse" | |
| 2004 | The Hollywood Mom's Mystery | Summer Rossner | TV film |
| Boston Legal | Sharon Brant | Episode: "Head Cases" | |
| 2004–2009 | Monk | Trudy Monk | Recurring role (10 episodes) |
| 2005 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Sports Book Manager | Episode: "Big Middle" |
| Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure | Linda Evans | TV film | |
| 2005–2013 | The Office | Jan Levinson | Regular role; 46 episodes |
| 2006 | Without a Trace | Pamela Seaver | Episode: "Rage" |
| Gilmore Girls | Carolyn Bates | Episode: "Partings" | |
| The Office: The Accountants | Jan Levinson-Gould | Episode: "The Books Don't Balance" | |
| 2008 | Mom, Dad and Her | Emma | TV film |
| Yo Gabba Gabba! | Herself | Episode: "Birthday" | |
| 2010 | Outlaw | Claire Sax | Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 2011 | CSI: Miami | Wendy Colton | Episode: "G.O." |
| 2012–2013 | Wedding Band | Roxie Rutherford | Main role (10 episodes) |
| 2013 | Scandal | Shelley Meyers | Episode: "Say Hello to My Little Friend" |
| 2014 | Killer Women | Nan Reed | Episode: "Some Men Need Killing" |
| Do It Yourself | Kaye | TV film | |
| 2014–2019 | Transparent | Tammy Cashman | Recurring role (14 episodes) |
| 2015 | Falling Skies | Captain Katie Marshall | Episodes: "Everybody Has Their Reasons", "Stalag 14th Virginia" |
| 2016 | The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez | Courtney Monroe | TV film |
| 2017 | The Blacklist | Isabella Stone | 2 episodes |
| When We Rise | Carole Midgen | Episode: "Night III: Parts IV and V" | |
| 2017–2021 | The Bold Type | Jacqueline Carlyle | Main role |
| 2019,2022 | A Million Little Things | Patricia Bloom | 5 episodes |
| 2020 | Celebrity Family Feud | Herself | Episode: "The Bold Type vs. RuPaul's Drag Race" |
| 2021 | Dancing with the Stars | Herself | Contestant,Season 30 |
| 2022 | Love, Classified | Emelia | Hallmark Channel movie |
| 2023 | Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie | Trudy Monk | TV movie |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | You | |
| 2020 | The Bold Type | Episode: "Snow Day" |
| 2022 | The Bold Type | Episode: "Snow Day" |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actress in a Drama Series | The Family Tree | Nominated |
| 1985 | Best Young Supporting Actress in a Daytime or Nighttime Drama | Two Marriages | Won | |
| 1987 | Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Starring in a Feature Film – Comedy or Drama | Papa Was a Preacher | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | The Office | Won |
| 2008 | Won | |||
| 2009 | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Transparent | Nominated |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
