Biography: Melora Hardin

Melora Diane Hardin (born June 29, 1967) is an American actress, best known for her role as Jan Levinson on NBC's The Office and Trudy Monk on USA's Monk.

Early life

Hardin was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of acting manager/coach and retired actress Diane (née Hill) and actor Jerry Hardin.^[1] She is the sister of Flock CEO Shawn Hardin.^[2] She was raised in San Francisco, California, after her family moved there when she was 4 years old.

Acting career

Hardin started her acting career as the young star of the television series Thunder (1977-1978), and has appeared in over 70 movies and television programs since, including two 1981 Little House on the Prairie episodes (as Belinda Stevens in "The Reincarnation of Nellie," Parts 1 and 2) 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 (based on the 1987 film of the same name) and two 1992 episodes of Quantum Leap (as Abigail in "Trilogy," Parts 2 and 3). She co-starred in the 1990 dancing movie Lambada as Sandy. She appeared in Absolute Power (1997) as Christy Sullivan and played Ross's dirty talking love interest in episode 115 of Friends.

Hardin starred in the 2000-2001 series Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family, and since 2004 she has 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.^[3] In 2005 Hardin portrayed Linda Evans in Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, a fictionalized television movie based on the creation and behind the scenes production of the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty.^[4][5] Hardin played former corporate manager Jan Levinson on The Office since the show's debut in 2005.

Hardin later appeared in the 2006 film Thank You for Smoking, and appears in Hannah Montana: The Movie as Robby Ray's love interest. The film premiered on April 10, 2009.^[6]

She played the role of Fantine in the Hollywood Bowl's concert of Les Misérables in Summer 2008.^[7]

Melora also played in several episodes of the popular web show, Elevator, on youtube. (Nanny Cam, Melora Hardin Super Fan, The Office Song etc.)

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.^[8]

Filmography

References

1. ^ "OFFICE AFFAIR". PressDisplay.com. 2007-02-22. http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx. Retrieved 2007-12-10. 
2. ^ Yahoo hires another top media exec | Tech News on ZDNet
3. ^ "NCIS on IMDB". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0658027/. 
4. ^ Heffernan, Virginia (January 1, 2005). "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: If You've Got It, Flaunt It: ABC Trumpets an 80's Hit". The New York Times. NYTimes.com. http://tv.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/arts/television/01heff.html. Retrieved February 26, 2009. 
5. ^ "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure: Credits". Der-denver-clan.de. http://www.der-denver-clan.de/de/dynasty_behind.207.html. Retrieved February 27, 2009. 
6. ^ Production On Hannah Montana: The Movie Is Underway - Entertainment Tonight News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
7. ^ Playbill News: Stokes Mitchell, McVey, O'Donnell, Michele and More Set for Les Miz at the Bowl
8. ^ Office Star Hardin to Make Broadway Debut in Chicago

External links

• Official site
• Melora Hardin on MySpace
• One on One with Melora Hardin
• Melora Hardin at the Internet Movie Database
• Melora Hardin at TV.com
• Melora Hardin at Allmovie
• Melora Hardin at the TCM Movie Database

Melora Hardin main page.