Melora Hardin


Melora Hardin is an American actress and singer, known for her roles as Jan Levinson on NBC's The Office and Trudy Monk on USA's Monk. More recently, Hardin appeared in a recurring role on Amazon's Transparent, for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. Hardin currently stars as magazine editor-in-chief Jacqueline Carlyle on the Freeform comedy-drama The Bold Type, which premiered in July 2017.

Early life

Hardin was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of acting manager/coach and retired actress Diane and actor Jerry Hardin. She is the sister of former Flock CEO Shawn Hardin. She was raised in San Francisco, California, after her family moved there when she was five years old. She went to middle and high school in the San Fernando Valley at Patrick Henry Junior High School and Ulysses S. Grant High School, respectively. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College.

Career

1976–1999

Hardin started her acting career as the young star of the television series Thunder, and has appeared in over 70 movies and television programs since, including episode 39 of The Love Boat in 1978, two 1981 Little House on the Prairie episodes as well as playing Michele Pierson in the 1983 television movie Little House: Look Back to Yesterday. She starred as Baby in the short-lived 1988 television series Dirty Dancing and two 1992 episodes of Quantum Leap. She co-starred in the 1990 dance movie Lambada as Sandy. She appeared in Absolute Power as Christy Sullivan and played Ross's dirty-talking love interest in the season 1 Friends episode "The One with the Stoned Guy".
She was also originally cast in Back to the Future as Jennifer Parker alongside Eric Stoltz, who starred as Marty McFly. Stoltz was fired shortly after filming began and was replaced with Michael J. Fox. Hardin was deemed too tall to star alongside Fox, and she was later replaced by Claudia Wells.

2000–present

Hardin starred in the 2000–2001 series ', and she played the recurring role of Trudy Monk, the title character's deceased wife, on the USA Network series Monk. She appeared on the series NCIS as former Petty Officer Erin Toner in the episode "The Curse". In 2005, Hardin portrayed Linda Evans in ', a fictionalized television movie based on the creation and production of the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty. Hardin played Jan Levinson in The Office, a former corporate manager and love interest of Michael Scott.
Hardin appeared in the 2006 film Thank You for Smoking, and appears in ' as the love interest of Billy Ray Cyrus's character. The film premiered on April 10, 2009. She played the role of Fantine in the Hollywood Bowl's concert of Les Misérables in Summer 2008. Hardin appeared in several episodes of the popular web show Elevator on YouTube.
Hardin made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the revival of Chicago: The Musical on December 29, 2008. She stayed with the show until February 12, 2009. Hardin was cast as a major character in Outlaw, playing a powerful senior partner of an elite law firm, and the main love interest to the series' protagonist, played by Jimmy Smits. Hardin played the role of Isabelle Palmer's mother Nancy in '.

Singing career

Hardin played a nightclub singer in Disney's The Rocketeer, where she can be heard singing "Begin the Beguine". She also played a major role in the TV movie Tower of Terror, where she sings "Boy of My Dreams".
Hardin sang the National Anthem at the season opening hockey games of the Anaheim Ducks on October 13, 2010, and the Phoenix Coyotes on October 16, 2010. She sang the Star Spangled Banner at the Dover International Speedway for the AAA 400 on October 2, 2011. Hardin sang the song "Tiers of Joy" for the soundtrack.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976Police StorySheilaEpisodes: "The Jar: Parts 1 & 2"
1977ThunderCindy PrescottMain role
1977'MeloraTV series
1978'Courtney Chenault1 episode
1979Quincy, M.E.AmandaEpisode: "Never a Child"
1980Diff'rent StrokesEmily MorehouseEpisode: "Skin Deep or True Blue"
1980ABC Afterschool SpecialAmy WarnerEpisode: "What Are Friends For?"
1980HaywireBrooke Hayward, age 11TV film
1980–1981Secrets of Midland HeightsMicki CarrollRegular role
1981Little House on the PrairieBelinda StevensEpisodes: "The Reincarnation of Nellie: Parts 1 & 2"
1982Quincy, M.E.Abigail "Abby" GarvinEpisode: "Next Stop, Nowhere"
1983'Tess BenjaminTV series
1983'Michele PiersonTV movie
1983Magnum, P.I.Nancy Perkins GillisEpisode: "Luther Gillis: File #521"
1984Mama MaloneKathleenEpisode: "The Education of Frankie"
1985'Joy VillafrancoRegular role
1986HotelBethEpisode: "Heroes"
1988–1989Dirty DancingFrances "Baby" KellermanMain role
1989Tour of DutyChristine PiersonEpisodes: "Sins of the Father", "Sealed with a Kiss"
1990Shangri-La PlazaAmyTV film
1991Equal JusticeDoris WalshEpisode: "Who Speaks for the Children?"
1992Miles from NowhereTeresaTV film
1992Mann & MachineLouise TrotskyEpisode: "Torch Song"
1992Quantum LeapAbigail FullerEpisodes: "For Your Love", "The Last Door"
1993Moon Over MiamiEmily BookerEpisode: "My Old Flame"
1994Murder, She WroteCindy WarrickEpisode: "Roadkill"
1994Golden GateSusan CarlinoTV film
1994RenegadeLaura McMillanEpisode: "Carrick O'Quinn"
1994MatlockLisa SwiftEpisode: "The Scandal"
1994'Molly FlynnEpisode: "Operation Blackout"
1995FriendsCeliaEpisode: "The One with the Stoned Guy"
1995Touched by an AngelLizbethEpisode: "The Big Bang"
1995'Savannah BellowsEpisode: "The New Healers"
1996RenegadeKelly AndersonEpisode: "Paradise Lost"
1996Caroline in the CityBethEpisode: "Caroline and the Bridesmaids"
1997Things That Go BumpChloe GarrettTV film
1997OrleansGina VitelliEpisodes: "Luther's Temptation", "When the Saints Go Marching In"
1997Tower of TerrorClaire PouletTV film
1997'LorraineEpisode: "Tom's First Date"
1998'LorraineEpisode: "The Centerfold"
1998TimecopEdith ThomasEpisode: "Lost Voyage"
1998'Wendy DawsonEpisode: "Homefront"
1999PayneDanielle HarrisEpisode: "Gossip Checks In and a Cat Checks Out"
1999'Melanie CooperEpisode: "Trash TV: Part 1"
2000–2001Cover MeBarbara ArnoMain role
2001Once and AgainSamantha AldrichEpisode: "Moving On"
2002Family GuyPatsy Ramsey Episode: "Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows"
2002Judging AmyRosalie LeavittEpisode: "Roses and Truth"
2003'Cheryl Lynn BrinkmeyerEpisode: "Rush to Judgment"
2003NCISFormer Petty Officer Erin TonerEpisode: "The Curse"
2004'Summer RossnerTV film
2004Boston LegalSharon BrantEpisode: "Head Cases"
2004–2009MonkTrudy MonkRecurring role
2005'Linda EvansTV film
2005–2013'Jan LevinsonRegular role; 46 episodes
2006Without a TracePamela SeaverEpisode: "Rage"
2006Gilmore GirlsCarolyn BatesEpisode: "Partings"
2006'Jan Levinson-GouldEpisode: "The Books Don't Balance"
2008Mom, Dad and HerEmmaTV film
2008Yo Gabba Gabba!HerselfEpisode: "Birthday"
2010OutlawClaire SaxRecurring role
2011Wendy ColtonEpisode: "G.O."
2012–2013Wedding BandRoxie RutherfordMain role
2013ScandalShelley MeyersEpisode: "Say Hello to My Little Friend"
2014Killer WomenNan ReedEpisode: "Some Men Need Killing"
2014Do It YourselfKayeTV film
2014–2019TransparentTammy CashmanRecurring role
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
2015Falling SkiesCaptain Katie MarshallEpisodes: "Everybody Has Their Reasons", "Stalag 14th Virginia"
2016The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez Courtney MonroeTV film
2017The BlacklistIsabella Stone2 episodes
2017When We RiseCarole MidgenEpisode: "Night III: Parts IV and V"
2017–presentThe Bold TypeJacqueline CarlyleMain role
2019A Million Little ThingsPatricia Bloom5 episodes
2020Celebrity Family FeudHerselfEpisode: "The Bold Type vs. RuPaul's Drag Race"