Mel Harris
Harris in December 2016
Born	(1956-07-12)July 12, 1956 (age 68)[1] Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	New Brunswick High School
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1977–present
Spouses	David Silbergeld ​ ​ (m. 1978; div. 1979)​ Brian Kilcommons ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1982)​ David Hume Kennerly ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1988)​ Cotter Smith ​ ​ (m. 1988; div. 1996)​ Michael Toomey ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2006)​ Bob Brush ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	2

Mel Harris (born July 12, 1956) is an American actress best known for her role as Hope Murdoch Steadman in theABC drama seriesThirtysomething (1987–1991), for which she received aGolden Globe nomination in 1990.

Harris was born inBethlehem, Pennsylvania, the daughter to Mary Michael "Mike", a high-school science teacher, and Warren Harris, football coach atBethlehem High School andPrinceton University.^{[citation needed]} Harris grew up inNorth Brunswick, New Jersey^[2] and graduated fromNew Brunswick High School in 1974.^[3]

In 1985, shortly before her 1986 acting debut, Harris appeared as a regular contestant on theDick Clark-hosted syndicated game showThe $100,000 Pyramid, credited as Mel Kennerly – her third husband's surname. She returned to the game show in 1991, as a celebrity on theJohn Davidson-hosted show, with a clip of her win in 1985 shown in a flashback.^[4]

Harris made her television debut in 1986, with a small role as a character's girlfriend in an episode ofAlfred Hitchcock Presents. After appearances in a single episode each of three other series over 1986–1987, Harris had her first starring role, as Hope Murdoch Steadman in theABC drama seriesThirtysomething (1987–1991). The series received critical acclaim during its run, with Harris nominated for aGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 1990.^[5] She directed one episode during the final season.

In 1989, Harris played real-life victimMadge Oberholtzer in theminiseriesCross of Fire. In the 1990s, Harris had many leading roles inmade-for-TV movies and miniseries, includeThe Burden of Proof (1992),Ultimate Betrayal (1994) andThe Women of Spring Break (1995). From 1996 to 1998, she starred withJere Burns in theNBC sitcomSomething So Right. The series was cancelled after two seasons.

Harris has appeared in a number of television series in 2000s, includingTouched by an Angel,Stargate SG-1,The West Wing,JAG,House, andCriminal Minds. In 2007, she was a regular cast member in theMyNetworkTV limited-run serialSaints & Sinners. At that time, she began working as a writer. She was executive producer and creator of 2012 ABC drama pilotScruples based on the1978 novel byJudith Krantz.^[6][7] After a six-year hiatus, Harris returned to television in 2013, appearing in the two episodes ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2016, Harris starred in the first season ofHulu drama seriesShut Eye, and from 2017 to 2018 had a recurring role in the Bravo comedy seriesImposters.

In January 2020, ABC ordered a sequel forThirtysomething, with Harris set to return alongside original co-starsKen Olin,Patricia Wettig, andTimothy Busfield.^[8] In June 2020, ABC decided not to move forward with the sequel.^[9]

Harris made her film debut playing a female leading role in the 1987 action filmWanted: Dead or Alive starringRutger Hauer. During the time that she was appearing onThirtysomething, she also starred in the horror filmCameron's Closet (1988) and action comedyK-9 (1989). That same year,Harper's Bazaar named her one of "America's 10 Most Beautiful Women".^[10]

She co-starred in the 1992 psychological horror-thriller filmRaising Cain, and the following year played the leading role in the thriller filmSuture. Other film credits includeThe Pagemaster (1994),Hangman's Curse (2003), andThe Lodger (2009).

Harris has been married six times.^[11] She was married to David Silbergeld from 1978 to 1979; Brian Kilcommons from 1980 to 1982; photographerDavid Hume Kennerly from 1983 to 1988 (with whom she had son); actorCotter Smith from 1988 to 1996 with whom she has a daughter; and Michael Toomey from 2001 to 2006. She has been married to screenwriter and producer Bob Brush since 2009.^[11][12]

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• Living people
• American film actresses
• American television actresses
• New Brunswick High School alumni
• People from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
• People from North Brunswick, New Jersey
• 1956 births

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