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Melora Hardin

Highest Rated: 96% Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023)

Lowest Rated: 9% The Comebacks (2007)

Birthday: Jun 29, 1967

Birthplace: Houston, Texas, USA

Melora Hardin acted for 30 years before her recurring role as Jan on NBC's cult hit, "The Office" (2004-13) finally cemented her name and face for posterity. The songbird and classically trained dancer carved out an impressive career for herself as a working character actress on dozens of shows throughout the 1980s, 1990s and into the next millennium before regular appearances on "Monk" (USA, 2002-09) and "The Office" brought this charismatic talent into the spotlight -a position she used to help launch a new career behind the camera.Hardin was born on June 29, 1967, in Houston, TX and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Her father, Jerry Hardin, was a prolific character actor who appeared in over 100 films and TV shows; her mother, Diane Hardin, was the acting coach behind young stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Hilary Swank, Kellie Martin, and River Ph nix. Young Melora didn't need any encouragement to go into show business, however, as she seemed born to entertain. Inspired by Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand, Hardin was singing and writing songs from the start, even before she began taking ballet lessons at the age of five. She begged her parents to let her audition for acting roles, and when she was eight, scored a toothpaste ad on her very first outing. Her first television role, in a Little Rascals-inspired show called "Cliffwood Avenue Kids" (NBC, 1977) came at the age of 10, followed by a string of appearances on seventies guest star staples like "The Love Boat" (ABC 1977-1986) and "Diff'rent Strokes"(NBC, 1978-1985).At age 13, Hardin spent a summer studying with the Joffrey Ballet Company in New York, and throughout her teens kept up a busy schedule that included rigorous dance training - as well as landing the occasional recurring TV roles on "Little House on the Prairie" (NBC, 1974-1983) and big screen gigs with "Papa Was a Preacher" (1985) and "Soul Man" (1986). In a role that might have made her a break-out star sooner, Hardin was set to play McFly's love interest in "Back to the Future" (1985), but was recast when a diminutive Michael J. Fox, who was shorter than Hardin, was given the lead. Nonplussed by that setback, the devoted dancer got her first major headlining moment in 1988, playing Baby in the short-lived TV adaptation of "Dirty Dancing" (CBS, 1988-89).Hardin took some time off to return to the East Coast, studying at Sarah Lawrence College, before heading to Europe for months of solitary world travel that would be sure to inform her future as a well-rounded actress. In 1991, the avid song-and-dance gal landed the dream role of a vintage-era nightclub singer in "The Rocketeer," contributing several songs to the film's soundtrack. Throughout the nineties, she maintained an impressive schedule as a working actress - steady appearances on shows like "Quantum Leap" (NBC, 1989-1993) and "Caroline in the City" (NBC, 1995-99) and several juicy, memorable character moments like getting Ross to talk dirty on "Friends" (NBC, 1994-2004).With her intelligence and easy sophistication starting to play more of a factor in what was offered to her, Hardin seemed to evolve into different types of roles when she hit her thirties. In 2000, she began appearing on the gritty USA drama, "Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family" (USA, 2000-01). Several other smart, adult women characters followed on "Boston Legal" (ABC, 2004-08) and "Judging Amy" (CBS, 1999-2005). In 2004, she began to be seen on the critical fave comedy "Monk," playing wife to the obsessive compulsive investigator (Tony Shalhoub) before she was called to return to the set of a pilot she had filmed earlier called "The Office."In 2006, Hardin joined the cast of the highly-touted comedy based on the famed British series of the same name. For the first time, audiences were able to appreciate the depth of her versatility on a weekly basis. Her portrayal of no-nonsense boss and occasional sex object, Jan Levinson, was a hit with viewers - many who debated on fan message boards whether she and her subordinate manager, Michael Scott (Steve Carell) should "hook up." In fact that coupling became so beloved, they gave "Office" sweethearts Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) a run for their money as favorite "Office" twosome. They could surely have won for most dysfunctional. Being part of an award-winning cast opened new doors for Hardin, who appeared in the Golden Globe winning film "Thank You for Smoking" (2006) and made her film directorial debut with "You" (2009). In addition to impressive work on film and TV, Hardin released two CDs of original, theatrical-tinged vocal stylings - Meloradrama and Purr. She also performed at the Globe Theater in San Diego. In 2007, she directed the play "Strip Search," which enjoyed successful runs at the White Fire Theater and the Acme Comedy Theater, both in Los Angeles. Hardin co-starred in the romantic comedy "27 Dresses" (2008) and a pair of teen films, the Zac Efron comedy "17 Again" (2009) and Miley Cyrus' "Hannah Montana: The Movie" (2009), before appearing in wrestling comedy "Knucklehead" (2010) and thriller "I Melt With You" (2011). Following the end of "The Office," Hardin starred in cable comedy-drama "Wedding Band" (TBS 2012-13) and began a recurring role in dysfunctional-family comedy-drama "Transparent" (Amazon 2014- ). After co-starring in Tarsem Singh's science-fiction drama "Self/less" (2015), Hardin joined the cast of magazine-set comedy-drama "The Bold Type" (Freeform 2017- ).

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Highest rated movies

96% 80% Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie Watchlist
88% 79% The North Avenue Irregulars
Watchlist
79% 70% Clock Watchlist 71% 29% Caged Watchlist 65% 70% Anything Watchlist
57% 67% 17 Again
Watchlist
57% 33% The Dukes
Watchlist
56% 52% Absolute Power
Watchlist
50% 53% Seven Girlfriends
Watchlist
44% 67% Hannah Montana: The Movie
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
96% 80% Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie Trudy Monk (Character) - 2023
No Score Yet No Score Yet Golden Vanity Mabel Montgomery-Mayflower (Character) - 2023
79% 70% Clock Dr. Elizabeth Simmons (Character) - 2023
No Score Yet 70% Love, Classified Emilia Bloom (Character) - 2022
71% 29% Caged Officer Sacks (Character) - 2021
No Score Yet 67% Cruel Hearts Grace (Character) - 2018
65% 70% Anything Rita (Character) $18.1K 2017
18% 46% Self/less Judy (Character) $12.3M 2015
No Score Yet 75% American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight Mrs. Palmer (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet 95% Zombie Hamlet Pam (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 75% Ben Banks Mary Andrews (Character) - 2012
11% 35% Knucklehead Mary (Character) - 2010
No Score Yet 35% You Miranda (Character),
Director,
Producer
- 2009
57% 67% 17 Again Principal Jane Masterson (Character) $64.1M 2009
44% 67% Hannah Montana: The Movie Lorelai (Character) $79.6M 2009
No Score Yet 71% Mom, Dad and Her Emma (Character) - 2008
40% 57% 27 Dresses Maureen (Character) $76.8M 2008
57% 33% The Dukes Diane (Character) $26.2K 2007
9% 33% The Comebacks Mrs. Fields (Character) $13.3M 2007
No Score Yet 37% Drive Thru Marcia Carpenter (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet 67% Boxboarders! Ruth Keene (Character) - 2006
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure Linda Evans (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet 31% The Hollywood Mom's Mystery Summer Rossner (Character) - 2004
21% 59% The Hot Chick Carol (Character) $35.0M 2002
50% 53% Seven Girlfriends Laura (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Erasable You Calamity (Character) - 1998
56% 52% Absolute Power Christy Sullivan (Character) $50.0M 1997
No Score Yet 53% Tower of Terror Claire Poulet (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Undercover Kid Clyde (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Chameleon Jill Hallman (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Pornographer Sasha Leon Hoffner (Character) - 1994
No Score Yet 49% Reckless Kelly Robin Banks (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Miles From Nowhere Teresa (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet 42% Lambada Sandy Thomas (Character) $3.5M 1990
No Score Yet 85% Big Man on Campus Cathy (Character) - 1989
No Score Yet 33% The Jeweller's Shop Monica (Character) - 1988
17% 35% Soul Man Whitney Dunbar (Character) $27.3M 1986
20% 57% Iron Eagle Katie (Character) $21.5M 1986
88% 79% The North Avenue Irregulars Carmel (Character) - 1979

TV

Credit
81% 89% The Office Jan Levinson-Gould (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star)
2005-2011 2013 2024
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dancing With the Stars Contestant 2021
89% 82% The Bold Type Jacqueline (Character) 2017-2021
No Score Yet No Score Yet Celebrity Family Feud Guest 2020
No Score Yet 73% A Million Little Things Patricia (Guest Star) 2019-2020
No Score Yet No Score Yet Home & Family Guest 2018-2019
82% 79% When We Rise Carole Midgen (Guest Star) 2017
91% 79% The Blacklist Unknown (Guest Star) 2017
91% 76% Transparent Tammy Cashman (Guest Star) 2014-2015
79% 70% Falling Skies Katie Marshall (Guest Star) 2015
No Score Yet 18% The Late Late Show With James Corden Guest 2015
29% 36% Killer Women Unknown (Guest Star) 2014
93% 72% Scandal Shelley Meyers (Guest Star) 2013
54% 67% Wedding Band Roxie Rutherford (Character) 2012-2013
No Score Yet 65% CSI: Miami Unknown (Guest Star) 2011
9% No Score Yet Outlaw Unknown (Guest Star) 2010
89% 88% Monk Trudy Monk / Cameron (Guest Star) 2004-2005 2007-2009
No Score Yet No Score Yet Yo Gabba Gabba! Unknown (Guest Star) 2008
No Score Yet No Score Yet Free Radio Unknown (Guest Star) 2008
No Score Yet 88% Gilmore Girls Carolyn Bates (Guest Star) 2006
No Score Yet 75% Without a Trace Unknown (Guest Star) 2006
No Score Yet 81% CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
86% 90% Boston Legal Sharon Brant (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet 84% NCIS Former Petty Officer Erin Toner (Guest Star) 2003
No Score Yet No Score Yet Judging Amy Unknown (Guest Star) 2002
No Score Yet 64% Family Guy Patsy Ramsey (Guest Voice) 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet Once and Again Unknown (Guest Star) 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family Barbara Arno (Character) 2000-2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Diagnosis Murder Unknown (Guest Star) 1995 1999
22% No Score Yet Payne Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet 95% The Pretender Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
0% No Score Yet Timecop Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
14% No Score Yet The Tom Show Unknown (Guest Star) 1997-1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Touched by an Angel Unknown (Guest Star) 1995
78% 93% Friends Celia (Guest Star) 1995
86% 88% Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Unknown (Guest Star) 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet Matlock Unknown (Guest Star) 1994
No Score Yet 89% Murder, She Wrote Cindy Warrick (Guest Star) 1994
No Score Yet 90% Quantum Leap Abagail Fuller (Guest Star) 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tour of Duty Christine Pierson (Guest Star) 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hotel Unknown (Guest Star) 1986
No Score Yet 95% Magnum, P.I. Nancy Perkins Gillis (Guest Star) 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Family Tree Tess Benjamin (Character) 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet Little House on the Prairie Belinda Stevens (Guest Star) 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Diff'rent Strokes Unknown (Guest Star) 1980