Christa Miller

A model-turned-actor who proved a talented comedienne, Christa Miller is the niece of actress Susan Saint James and guested several times on her aunt's sitcom "Kate & Allie" (CBS, 1984-89). After a string of small television and film appearances, the actress booked a pair of guest spots on "Seinfeld" (NBC, 1989-1998), which helped earn her the lead female role of the tomboyish Kate on "The Drew Carey Show" (ABC, 1995-2004). In 1999 she married TV writer-producer Bill Lawrence, and left "Carey" to recur on "Scrubs" (NBC, 2001-08; ABC, 2009-2010) as the self-described she-devil Jordan Sullivan, the cruel ex-wife of Dr. Perry Cox (John McGinley). Busting out of her previous reputation as a wisecracking cutie, Miller revealed she was a fearless and formidable comedic talent and breathed gloriously bitchy life into Jordan. After the show's end, Lawrence created "Cougar Town" (ABC, 2009- 12; TBS, 2013-15) and cast Miller as Ellie, the best friend of Jules (Courteney Cox) and spiritual sister to Jordan. Miller continued to steal scenes as the alpha bitch of the "Cul-de-sac Crew" and also became the official music supervisor of the series. Although she was always a likable and talented actress, Christa Miller was at her best when she was playing highly intelligent, ferociously funny women.