Jenna Elfman | |
|---|---|
 Elfman at the 2023WonderCon | |
| Born | (1971-09-30)September 30, 1971 (age 54) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Occupations | Actress, producer |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives |
|
| Website | jennaelfman |
Jenna Elfman (néeButala, born September 30, 1971)[1][2] is an American actress. She is best known for her leading role as Dharma on theABC sitcomDharma & Greg (1997–2002), for which she received theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999, and three nominations for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. After making her film debut inGrosse Pointe Blank (1997), she has appeared inKrippendorf's Tribe (1998),Dr. Dolittle (1998),EDtv (1999),Keeping the Faith (2000),Town & Country (2001),Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003),Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004), andBig Stone Gap (2014).
Elfman has also played leading roles on other television comedies, includingCourting Alex (2006),Accidentally on Purpose (2009–2010),1600 Penn (2012–2013),Growing Up Fisher (2014), andImaginary Mary (2017). She also had a recurring role on theFX legal dramaDamages in 2012, and has been a series regular on theAMC horror drama seriesFear the Walking Dead (2018–2023).[3]
Elfman's paternal uncle isTony Butala, lead singer of the American vocal trioThe Lettermen since 1958. She is ofCroatian ancestry on her father's side[2] and was raisedRoman Catholic.[4][5]
Elfman attended high school atSt. Genevieve High School in the San Fernando Valley for a year, before eventually graduating at theLos Angeles County High School for the Arts; she then attended college atCalifornia State University, Northridge (CSUN).[6] She studied at the Westside School of Ballet, receiving a full scholarship.[citation needed]
Elfman began her professional career as a dancer, appearing in music videos forDepeche Mode ("Halo", 1990),Anthrax ("Black Lodge", 1993), andChris Isaak ("Somebody's Crying", 1995), and touring with the rock bandZZ Top on their 1994 tour as a "Legs Girl". After appearing in television commercials, Elfman co-starred in the made-for-television movieDouble Deception (1993) and guest-starred onRoseanne,NYPD Blue,Almost Perfect andMurder One. In 1996, she was cast as a lead character alongsideMolly Ringwald andLauren Graham in the short-livedABC sitcomTownies. The series was cancelled after one season and 15 episodes.[7] The following year, she made her big screen debut appearing in the black comedy film,Grosse Pointe Blank.
In 1997, Elfman was cast in the ABC comedy seriesDharma & Greg playing the leading role of Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery. She received positive reviews from critics for her breakthrough performance.[8][9][10] She won theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999 for the show's second season, as well as threePrimetime Emmy Awards nominations for theOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.[11] Elfman also receivedTCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy nomination in 1998, as well as threeSatellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy nominations. The show ran for five seasons until its cancellation in 2002.
During her time onDharma & Greg, Elfman starred in a number of movies. In 1998, she starred alongsideRichard Dreyfuss in the comedy filmKrippendorf's Tribe. The film received generally negative reviews from critics.[12] In 1999, she starred oppositeMatthew McConaughey in the satirical comedy filmEDtv.[13] The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, with some criticizing its similarity toThe Truman Show (1998), but was a box office flop, grossing only $35.2 million compared to its $80 million production budget.[14] The following year, she starred in the romantic comedy filmKeeping the Faith oppositeBen Stiller andEdward Norton (who also directed).[15][16] The film received generally positive reviews and grossed $60 million.[17] Elfman receivedSatellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy nomination for her performance. In 2001, she appeared in the romantic comedy filmTown & Country, a $105 million production budget box office bomb. The film was filmed in 1998, and after 12 release date changes, the film finally made it into theaters on April 27, 2001, nearly three years after filming began.[18] It received negative reviews from critics.[19] Elfman has also done voice-over work in the animated filmsDr. Dolittle (1998) andCyberWorld (2000).
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AfterDharma & Greg, Elfman played against the type role as a psychotic woman in the made-for-television thriller film,Obsessed (2002). She received positive review fromChicago Tribune for her performance.[20] In 2003, she starred in the live-action/animated comedy film,Looney Tunes: Back in Action. The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics and was a box-office bomb, grossing $68.5 million worldwide on an $80 million budget.[21] In 2005, she starred and produced the romantic drama film,Touched.[22]
In 2006, Elfman returned to television with the leading role in the CBS sitcom,Courting Alex.[23] The series was cancelled after one season. She guest-starred onTwo and a Half Men,My Name Is Earl andBrothers & Sisters. In 2009, she appeared in the comedy filmsThe Six Wives of Henry Lefay andLove Hurts. In 2011, she playedJustin Timberlake's character's sister in the romantic comedy film,Friends with Benefits. In 2012, Elfman and her husband Bodhi started their podcast,Kicking and Screaming by Jenna and Bodhi Elfman.[24]
Elfman starred in another short-lived CBS sitcom,Accidentally on Purpose during the 2009–10 season. In 2012, she took a recurring role in the FX legal thriller series,Damages. In 2013, Elfman starred in theNBC comedy series,1600 Penn and later inGrowing Up Fisher, which were each cancelled after a single season.[25] She starred in the romantic comedy film,Big Stone Gap (2014) oppositeAshley Judd, and appeared in the drama filmBarry aboutBarack Obama's life at Columbia University in 1981. In 2017, she starred in another one-season sitcom,Imaginary Mary onABC. Like1600 Penn andGrowing Up Fisher, the series was cancelled after its first season.[26]
In 2018, Elfman was cast in the AMC horror drama series,Fear the Walking Dead playing the mysterious nurse June "Naomi / Laura" Dorie.[27] She made her debut in thefourth season and stayed on show to theeighth and final season.[28] The series ended in 2023. In 2020, she starred in an episode of the horror anthology series,The Twilight Zone.[29] She later guest-starred on the ABC crime dramaWill Trent and the AMC thrillerDark Winds.[30] In 2025, she made her return to sitcoms with the recurring role in the ABC comedy series,Shifting Gears.[31]
In February 1991, she met actorBodhi Pine Elfman (née Saboff) during an audition for aSprite commercial.[32] Four years later, they were married on February 18, 1995. Bodhi is ofJewish descent, and Jenna was raised Catholic.[4][33] When they met, he was a practicingScientologist. She became a Scientologist as well after her husband introduced her to its teachings. They have two children.[34]
Elfman is a member of theChurch of Scientology.[34] By 2001 she had attained theState of Clear, and by 2020 she was on theOT VII level.[35][36] Since the early 1990s Elfman had studied acting with prominent acting teacher and long-time ScientologistMilton Katselas, but cut ties with him in 2004 when Katselas had fallen into disfavor with Scientology.[37] In 2001, Elfman opened aScientology mission in San Francisco.[36]
In 2005, she appeared at the grand opening ofCitizens Commission on Human Rights' museum,Psychiatry: An Industry of Death.[38] She and husband Bodhi are listed on the CCHR website as members of the board of advisors.[39]
On May 24, 2006, she was the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Hero Award event in participation with the Scientology-affiliated groupsYouth for Human Rights International and Artists for Human Rights (AFHR), an organization formed with the purpose of bringing artists together with the common cause of raising awareness of human rights around the world.
On March 27, 2008, she and actorCharlie Sheen co-hosted the Scientology-affiliatedNew York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project charity event at Geisha House in Hollywood.[40]
Elfman participated in fundraising activities, including donating an hour of her time for auction,[41] donating a print of her lips,[42] participating in a telethon fundraiser,[43] hosting a comedy show,[44] and asking for charity donations instead of birthday presents.[45]
Elfman participated in awareness-raising initiatives, including modeling for a fashion show,[46] reading to schoolchildren as part of theNational Education Association Read Across America program, and hosting a party in her home to raise awareness for causes headed by theEnvironmental Working Group.
Elfman is on the board of directors of the Dizzy Feet Foundation.[47]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Grosse Pointe Blank | Tanya | |
| 1998 | Dr. Dolittle | Owl | Voice |
| Can't Hardly Wait | The Angel | Uncredited | |
| Krippendorf's Tribe | Prof. Veronica Micelli | ||
| 1999 | EDtv | Shari | |
| Venus | Venus | ||
| 2000 | The Tangerine Bear | Lorelei | Voice |
| CyberWorld | Phig | ||
| Keeping the Faith | Anna Riley | ||
| 2001 | Town & Country | Auburn | |
| 2003 | Looney Tunes: Back in Action | Kate Houghton | |
| 2004 | Clifford's Really Big Movie | Dorothy | Voice |
| 2005 | Touched | Angela Martin | Executive producer |
| What's Hip, Doc? | Supermodel | Voice – uncompleted short | |
| 2008 | Struck | Pregnant date | Short film |
| 2009 | The Six Wives of Henry Lefay | Ophelia | |
| Love Hurts | Darlene | ||
| 2011 | Friends with Benefits | Annie | |
| 2014 | Big Stone Gap | Miss Iva Lou Wade | |
| 2016 | Barry | Kathy Baughman |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Murder, She Wrote | Ballet Dancer in background | Uncredited; Episode: "Dance Diabolique" |
| 1993 | Double Deception | Lisa Majorski | Television film |
| 1994 | The George Carlin Show | Psychedelic girl | As Jenna Butala; Episode: "George Does A Bad Thing" |
| 1995 | The Monroes | Lily | Episode: "Bottoms, Up" |
| Roseanne | Garland | Episode: "The Getaway, Almost" | |
| 1996 | Her Last Chance | Leslie | Television film |
| Townies | Shannon Canotis | Main role; 15 episodes | |
| Murder One | Angela Scalese | Episode: "Chapter Seventeen" | |
| Almost Perfect | Becky Toll | Episode: "Being Fired Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry" | |
| NYPD Blue | Patty Snow | Episode: "The Nutty Confessor" | |
| 1997 | The Single Guy | Jordan | Episode: "Just Friends?" |
| 1997–2002 | Dharma & Greg | Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery | Main role; 119 episodes |
| 2002 | Obsessed | Ellena Roberts | Television film |
| 2004–2011 | Two and a Half Men | Frankie / Dharma Montgomery | 3 episodes |
| 2006 | Courting Alex | Alex Rose | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2007 | Brothers & Sisters | Lizzie Jones-Baker | Episode: "Game Night" |
| 2008 | My Name Is Earl | Kimmi Himmler | Episode: "We've Got Spirit" |
| 2009–2010 | Accidentally on Purpose | Billie Chase | Main role; 18 episodes |
| 2012 | Shameless | Jill | Episode: "Fiona Interrupted" |
| Damages | Naomi Walling | 7 episodes | |
| 2012–2013 | 1600 Penn | Emily Nash Gilchrist | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2013 | Royal Pains | Lacy | Episode: "Open Invitation" |
| 2014 | Growing Up Fisher | Joyce Fisher | Main role; 13 episodes |
| So You Think You Can Dance | Herself | Guest judge | |
| 2015 | The Perfect Stanleys | Ellen | Television film |
| 2017 | Imaginary Mary | Alice | Main role; 9 episodes |
| 2018–2023 | Fear the Walking Dead | June "Naomi / Laura" Dorie | Main role; 75 episodes |
| 2018–2021 | Talking Dead | Herself | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | The Twilight Zone | Barbara | Episode: "A Human Face" |
| 2024 | Will Trent | Edie Reynolds | Episode: "Cpt. Duke Wagner" |
| 2025 | Shifting Gears | Eve Drake | 3 episodes |
| Dark Winds | Agent Sylvia Washington | 8 episodes |
| Year | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Halo"[48] | Depeche Mode |
The 35-year-old actress
Elfman was raised in a Roman Catholic home.
{{cite web}}:|first1= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)And those celebrities begat others, including Tom Cruise, who was introduced by his then-wife, Rogers, and Jenna Elfman, introduced by her husband, actor Bodhi Elfman.
