Jenilee Harrison


Jenilee A. Harrison is an American actress possibly best known for her role as the replacement for blonde roommate Chrissy Snow on the hit sitcom Three's Company, between 1980 and 1982. She went on to play Jamie Ewing Barnes in Dallas from 1984 to 1986.

Career

Early years

Before breaking into show business, Harrison was a cheerleader from 1978–1980 for the Los Angeles Rams.
In 1980, Harrison graduated with an education degree from USC. In the same year, she won the title Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. It was while studying at USC that Jenilee first met acting coach Joyce Selznick. Selznick gave her a lot of handy tips on how to polish her acting skills.

''Three's Company''

Harrison joined the cast of ABC's Three's Company in 1980. She entered the show as a replacement for Suzanne Somers who played the sitcom's "ditzy blonde" Chrissy Snow. Somers left the show just after the show's fifth season had begun. Harrison was cast as Somers' replacement. Harrison's character, Cindy Snow, was created to be Chrissy Snow's cousin. Unlike Chrissy, Cindy was not a "dumb blonde"; instead, she was an extremely clumsy farm girl. The character of Cindy was similar enough to Chrissy, however, that producers could use scripts already written with the Chrissy character in mind. Harrison debuted on Three's Company in the episode entitled "Chrissy's Cousin". She enters as Jack and Janet's new roommate after Chrissy's departure. Cindy proves she is a klutz right away by knocking Jack down. Her constant "accidents" added to the show's gags of characters being clumsy. Though she had replaced Somers, Harrison was not given opening-credits billing, and instead Somers still obtained opening billing. Harrison was end-credits billed, as a guest star.
For the sixth season of Three's Company, a new blonde roommate named Terri Alden, a smart nurse, took Cindy's place in the apartment. Harrison was retained on the show and this time was given opening-cast billing. She now had a lesser role, however, appearing less frequently in the series, with the character living near the apartment at UCLA. By the end of the season Cindy Snow disappeared from the series, her last appearance being in "Janet Wigs Out".

Later career

Beginning in 1984, Harrison portrayed the recurring character Jamie Ewing Barnes in the drama Dallas. She played the role until 1986. Her character was actually killed off twice, first when she starts the car belonging to her brother, Jack Ewing, in the episode "Blast from the Past" and it explodes, killing her. After the entire ninth season was explained away as a dream, Harrison returned for her character to die again. Early in 1987, Jamie was killed in a mountain-climbing accident.
In 1984, Harrison played a reluctant prostitute in the movie Tank alongside James Garner and C. Thomas Howell.
In 1985, she appeared on Super Password with Dick Gautier, appearing again in 1986, this time with Marty Cohen, Michael Young, and Bruce Baum, and Dallas star Ken Kercheval in 1987 with Bert Convy. Also, in 1985, she made a brief appearance as a waitress in Loverboy's music video "Lovin' Every Minute Of It".
Harrison also guest-starred on That '70s Show in 1999. In 1991, she starred in the movie Panga opposite Christopher Lee.
Between 1996 and 2005 Harrison began appearing in a couple of "As Seen on TV" infomercials like the AB Flex, the Sobakawa Pillow and the Ultimate Chopper with Chef Tony.

Personal life

In the early 1980s, Harrison dated L.A. Rams guard Dennis Harrah and Major League Baseball player Reggie Jackson.
In 1993, Harrison married Dr. Bruce Oppenheim, a prominent Los Angeles-area chiropractor, who is the ex-husband of actress Cybill Shepherd. She has two stepchildren from her husband's previous marriage to Shepherd: Molly Ariel Shepherd-Oppenheim and Cyrus Zachariah Shepherd-Oppenheim.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978CHiPsCheerleaderEpisode: "High Flyer"
1979240-RobertCollege Girl / JillEpisodes: "Stuntman" and "The Applicant"
1980–82Three's CompanyCindy SnowMain cast
1981The Love BoatConnie WilkerEpisodes: "The Three R's"
1981Fantasy IslandGinger DonovanEpisode: "Slam Dunk"
1981Battle of the Network Stars XHerself - ABC TeamTV special
1982Fantasy IslandJenny RyanEpisode: "Natchez Bound"
1983The Love BoatErica DupontEpisode: "Here Comes the Bride - Maybe"
1983MalibuCindyTV movie
1983Bring 'Em Back AliveStaceyEpisode: "The Shadow Women of Chung Tai"
1984Fantasy IslandBarbara JessupEpisode: "Games People Play"
1984The Love BoatSheilaEpisode: "The Babymakers"
1984The New Mike HammerShelley SteeleEpisode: "Shots in the Dark"
1984TankSarah
1984–86DallasJamie EwingMain cast
1985Battle of the Network Stars XVIIIHerself - CBS TeamTV special
1986Simon & SimonJennifer TuckerEpisode: "Just Because I'm Paranoid"
1987Sarah YorkTV movie
1987HotelBrenda ThompkinsEpisode: "Class of '72"
1987The New Mike HammerMaggieEpisode: "Lady Killer"
1987Murder, She WroteSerenaEpisode: "The Way to Dusty Death"
1988She's the SheriffGraceEpisode: "Hair"
1991They Came from Outer SpaceDr. H.J. PretzelEpisode: "Play Doctor"
1991Curse III: Blood SacrificeElizabeth ArmstrongAlternative title: Panga
1991Prime TargetKathy Bloodstone
1992Illicit BehaviorCharlene Lernoux
1995Fists of IronJulie Weaver
1999AbSlideTV movie
1999That '70s ShowCarolEpisode: "Red's Birthday"
2000The RedemptionSarah Snyder
2002The PowerHillaryTV movie