Jenna Elfman
Jenna Elfman | |
---|---|
Born | Jennifer Mary Butala September 30, 1971 Los Angeles, California, United States |
Occupation(s) | Actress, producer |
Years active | 1997–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Website | www |
Jennifer Mary Elfman (born Jennifer Mary Butala; September 30, 1971) is an American television and film actress. She is best known for her role as Dharma on the 1997–2002 American television sitcom Dharma & Greg.
Early life
Elfman was born Jennifer Mary Butala in Los Angeles, California, the youngest of three children, to Sue (Grace) Butala, a homemaker, and Richard Butala, a Hughes Aircraft executive.[1] Her father's younger brother, Elfman's uncle, is Tony Butala, lead singer since 1958 of the American vocal trio The Lettermen. She is of Croatian ancestry on her father's side[2] and was raised Roman Catholic.[3]
Elfman attended high school at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and then attended college at California State University, Northridge (CSUN).[4]
Career
Elfman began her professional career as a dancer, appearing in the music videos for Depeche Mode ("Halo" in 1990), Anthrax (1993's song "Black Lodge"), Chris Isaak (1995's "Somebody's Crying") and toured with the rock band ZZ Top on their 1994 tour as a "Legs Girl". After appearing in television commercials, Elfman was cast in the short-lived 1996 American sitcom entitled Townies on ABC . In 1997 Elfman was cast in Dharma & Greg on ABC, as Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery. The show ran for five seasons until its cancellation in 2002.
In 2012, Elfman and her husband Bodhi started their podcast, Kicking and Screaming by Jenna and Bodhi Elfman.[5]
In 2013, Elfman appeared in two NBC comedy series (1600 Penn, and Growing Up Fisher) which were cancelled after a single season.[6]
In 2016, Elfman was cast in the ABC comedy series Imaginary Mary. Like 1600 Penn and Growing Up Fisher, the series was cancelled after its first season.[7]
Personal life
Elfman met her husband, actor Bodhi Elfman, at a Sprite commercial audition in February 1991. They married on February 18, 1995.
On July 23, 2007, Elfman and her husband's first child, a son, Story Elias, was born in Los Angeles.[8] On March 2, 2010, their son, Easton Quinn Monroe, was born.[9]
Scientology
Elfman is a member of the Church of Scientology.[10]
In 2005, Elfman appeared at the Scientology-backed Citizens Commission on Human Rights' "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death"[11] museum grand opening and she and husband Bodhi are listed on the organization's website as members of the board of advisers from the arts, entertainment and media community.[12]
On May 24, 2006, she was the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Hero Award event in participation with the Scientology-affiliated groups Youth 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, Elfman and Charlie Sheen co-hosted the Scientology-affiliated New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project Charity Event at Geisha House in Hollywood.[13]
Fundraising Activities
Elfman has participated in a number of fundraising activities, including: donating an hour of her time for auction;[14] donating a print of her lips;[15] participating in a telethon fundraiser;[16] hosting a comedy show;[17] and, asking for charity donations instead of birthday presents.[18]
Elfman has also participated in awareness-raising initiatives including: modelling for a fashion show;[19] reading to schoolchildren as part of the National Education Association Read Across America program; and, hosting a party at her house to raise awareness for a number of causes headed by the Environmental Working Group.
Filmography
Film
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 | Voice | |
Keeping the Faith | Anna Riley | Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Comedy/Romance Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | |
2001 | Town & Country | Auburn | |
2003 | Looney Tunes: Back in Action | Kate | |
2004 | Clifford's Really Big Movie | Dorothy | Voice |
2005 | Touched | Angela Martin | Executive producer |
What's Hip, Doc? | Supermodel | Voice | |
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 |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Murder, She Wrote | Ballet Dancer in background | Uncredited; Episode: "Dance Diabolique" |
1994 | The George Carlin Show | Psychedelic girl | As Jenna Butala; Episode: "George Does A Bad Thing" |
1995 | The Monroes | Lily | Episode: "Bottoms, Up" |
1995 | Roseanne | Garland | Episode: "The Getaway, Almost" |
1996 | Townies | Shannon Canotis | Main cast; 15 episodes |
1996 | Murder One | Angela Scalese | Episode: "Chapter Seventeen" |
1996 | Almost Perfect | Becky Toll | Episode: "Being Fired Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry" |
1996 | 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 cast; 119 episodes Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1999) TV Guide Award for Favorite Actress in a Comedy (1999, 2000) Nominated—American Comedy Award for Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication (1999) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1998, 1999, 2000) Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1998, 2000) Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2000, 2001, 2002) Nominated—TV Guide Award for Favorite Actress in a Comedy (2001) |
2002 | Obsessed | Ellena Roberts | Television film |
2004 | Two and a Half Men | Frankie | 2 episodes |
2006 | Courting Alex | Alex Rose | Main cast; 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 | Main cast; 18 episodes |
2011 | Two and a Half Men | Dharma Montgomery | Episode: "Nice to Meet You, Walden Schmidt" |
2012 | Shameless | Jill | Episode: "Fiona Interrupted" |
2012 | Damages | Naomi Walling | 7 episodes |
2012–2013 | 1600 Penn | Emily Nash Gilchrist | Main cast; 13 episodes |
2013 | Royal Pains | Lacy | Episode: "Open Invitation" |
2014 | Growing Up Fisher | Joyce Fisher | Main cast; 13 episodes |
2014 | So You Think You Can Dance | Herself | Guest judge[20] |
2015 | The Perfect Stanleys | Ellen | Television film |
2017 | Imaginary Mary | Alice | Main cast |
References
- ^ "Jenna Elfman Biography (1971–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ Elfman, Jenna. (November 21, 2003). "Elfman happily shows her 'Looney' side", Interviewed by Angela Dawson, Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on April 23, 2010. Jenna Elfman says of her maiden name (Butala) origin, "It's Croatian. My great-grandparents are from Croatia. My dad visited Croatia and I'd love to go too someday. He met some relatives who have survived some really incredible, traumatic experiences. He was just so blown away by their stamina – their spiritual stamina – to keep going and to survive and create that life no matter what ... It's really commendable."
- ^ "Jenna Elfman". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
Elfman was raised in a Roman Catholic home.
- ^ Campus Facts: Notable CSUN Alumni Archived July 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Rockin' Libsyn Podcasts: Kicking and Screaming by Jenna and Bodhi Elfman". February 8, 2013.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 7, 2012). "2ND UPDATE: '1600 Penn', 'Animal Practice', 'New Normal', 'Revolution' & 'Save Me' Picked Up To Series At NBC". Deadline.com. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ^ Cruz, Gilbert. "Which Network TV Shows Have Been Canceled?". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
- ^ Chiu, Alexis (July 30, 2007). "Jenna Elfman Welcomes a Baby Boy". People. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
- ^ "Jenna Elfman Welcomes Second Son". People. March 5, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
- ^ Reitman, Janet (February 8, 2011). "Inside Scientology". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
- ^ "New L.A. Museum Targets Psychiatry as an Industry of Death". CCHR International. December 17, 2005. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ "Citizens Commission on Human Rights Board of Advisors". CCHR International. April 10, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- ^ "Jenna hosts NY Rescue Workers Detoxification Project Charity Event". JennaElfman.com. March 27, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Grammy Award-Winning Singers Alicia Keys and Patti LaBelle, Actress Jenna Elfman Top the List of Entertainers to Participate in Online Celebrity Auction". .sys-con.com. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ "Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel and Other Celebs Offer Kiss Stamps for Charity – January 28, 2007". Shoppingblog.com. January 28, 2007. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ "George Clooney explains 'Hope for Haiti' celebrity phone bank". USA Today Ann Oldenburg. January 22, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ^ "Jenna Elfman Interview". Laughspin.com. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ "Jenna Elfman Charity Biography". LookToTheStars.org.
- ^ "Red Dress fashion show draws attention to heart disease". CBSNews.com. February 8, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ "So You Think You Can Dance - 2014 Casting Guide with Call Dates". Retrieved June 19, 2014.
External links
- 1971 births
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from Los Angeles
- American film actresses
- American film producers
- American people of Croatian descent
- Former Roman Catholics
- American television actresses
- American television producers
- Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (television) winners
- California State University, Northridge alumni
- Elfman family
- Living people
- American Scientologists
- American podcasters
- Converts to Scientology from Roman Catholicism
- Los Angeles County High School for the Arts alumni