# Jessica Lundy

Jessica R. Lundy (born March 20, 1966) is an American actress. She began her career appearing in films Bright Lights, Big City (1988), Caddyshack II (1988) and Madhouse (1990), before regular roles in the short-lived police drama Over My Dead Body (1990–91) and six-episode revival of The Carol Burnett Show (1991). She starred as Gloria Utz in the NBC sitcom Hope & Gloria from 1995 to 1996, and the comedy films The Stupids (1996) and RocketMan (1997). From 2015 to 2019, Lundy starred as Amanda Wainwright in the CBS crime drama series, The Inspectors.

## Early life and education

Lundy was born in San Diego, California, the daughter of Jean (née McDonald) and Joel Lundy, a surgical oncologist. She grew up in Avon, Connecticut. Lundy has a younger sister, Judy.
Lundy attended the Circle in the Square Theatre School. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1987 at the Tisch School of the Arts of New York University, where she majored in drama and performing arts. Lundy moved to Los Angeles in 1990.

## Career

Lundy made her film debut with Bright Lights, Big City (1988). That same year, she appeared in Caddyshack II (1988). Lundy also appeared opposite John Larroquette in the 1990 film Madhouse. Lundy auditioned for the role of Elaine Benes on Seinfeld. From 1990 to 1991, Lundy appeared opposite Edward Woodward in the short-lived CBS police drama series Over My Dead Body. In 1991, she was regular cast member in the six-episode revival of The Carol Burnett Show. She appeared as Joel Fleishman's fiancée/ex-fiancée Elaine Shulman on the drama series Northern Exposure in 1990 and 1992. She also appeared in The Golden Girls and Seinfeld and had a recurring role on Baby Talk.
Lundy has also performed in theater. In 1994, Lundy portrayed Rita Altabel in an Off-Broadway production of Uncommon Women and Others. From 1993 to 1994 she starred in the short-lived NBC sitcom The Second Half. From 1995 to 1996, Lundy played the title role of Gloria in the NBC sitcom Hope and Gloria. The show was canceled after two seasons and 35 episodes.
In 1996, Lundy starred opposite Tom Arnold in the comedy film The Stupids based on The Stupids, characters from a series of books written by Harry Allard and illustrated by James Marshall. It received negative reviews and was box-office bomb, though the film's director, John Landis, considers this one of his favorites. The following year she had two female lead roles: in the Italian comedy film The Good Bad Guy and science fiction comedy RocketMan produced by Walt Disney Pictures. In 1998, she had supporting role in the drama film, Denial. The following years, Lundy played supporting roles on both film and television, notable guest-starring on Dharma & Greg, Monk, The Game, Criminal Minds, Two and a Half Men and Major Crimes.
From 2015 to 2019, Lundy portrayed Inspector Amanda Wainwright in the CBS educational series, The Inspectors. In 2016, she won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming for her performance on The Inspectors.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988 | Bright Lights, Big City | Theresa | |
| 1988 | Vampire's Kiss | Sharon | |
| 1988 | Caddyshack II | Kate Hartounian | |
| 1989 | B.L. Stryker | Michelle | Episode: "Blind Chess" |
| 1990 | Madhouse | Bernice | |
| 1990–1991 | Over My Dead Body | Nikki Page | 11 episodes |
| 1990 | Northern Exposure | Elaine Shulman | Episode: "Russian Flu" |
| 1991 | Northern Exposure | Elaine Shulman | Episode: "Roots" |
| 1991 | The Fanelli Boys | Lauren Shaw | Episode: "The Wedding: Part 1" Episode: "The Wedding: Part 2" |
| 1991–1992 | Baby Talk | Susan Davis | 7 episodes |
| 1992 | Doogie Howser, M.D. | Sheila Davidson | Episode: "What You See Ain't Necessarily What You Get" |
| 1992 | The Golden Girls | Janet Devereaux | Episode: "Home Again, Rose: Part 1" Episode: "Home Again, Rose: Part 2" |
| 1992 | Single White Female | Talkative Applicant | |
| 1992 | Dream On | Stephanie | Episode: "What Women Want" |
| 1992 | Seinfeld | Naomi | Episode: "The Watch" Episode: "The Bubble Boy" |
| 1992–1994 | Dinosaurs | Various (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 1993 | The Last Shot | Rachel Tullis | TV short |
| 1993 | TriBeCa | Nina | Episode: "The Hopeless Romantic" |
| 1993–1994 | The Second Half | Denise Palmaro | 15 episodes |
| 1994 | I Love Trouble | Flight Attendant #1 | |
| 1995–1996 | Hope and Gloria | Gloria Utz | 35 episodes |
| 1996 | The Outer Limits | Theresa McPhee | Episode: "Vanishing Act" |
| 1996 | The Stupids | Joan Stupid | |
| 1997 | The Good Bad Guy | Carol Graham | |
| 1997 | RocketMan | Julie Ford | |
| 1997 | Party of Five | Nina Rondstadt | 5 episodes |
| 1998 | Denial | Bonnie | |
| 1998 | Cupid | Kate | Episode: "The Linguist" |
| 1998 | Just a Little Harmless Sex | Terrianne | |
| 1998 | October 22 | Liz | |
| 1998 | Dharma & Greg | Patty | Episode: "The House That Dharma Built" |
| 1999 | It's Like, You Know... | Dawn | Episode: "Arthur 2: On the Rocks" |
| 1999 | Wasteland | Felicia | Episode: "Double Date" |
| 2000 | Snoops | Abby | Episode: "Swan Chant" |
| 2001 | Some of My Best Friends | Meryl Doogan | 8 episodes |
| 2002 | What I Like About You | Marcy | Episode: "The Teddy Bear" |
| 2002 | Boomtown | Vivian Colson | Episode: "The Squeeze" |
| 2003 | Titletown | | TV movie |
| 2003 | Without a Trace | Dr. Covington | Episode: "Clare de Lune" |
| 2003 | Lost at Home | Julie Barton | Episode: "Best Friends" |
| 2004 | Monk | Rachel Sweeney | Episode: "Mr. Monk Gets Married" |
| 2004 | Sweden, Ohio | Actor | TV movie |
| 2004 | Century City | Bertha Wood | Episode: "To Know Her" |
| 2004 | Missing | Susan Bordner La Belle | Episode: "Resurrection" |
| 2006 | A Merry Little Christmas | Noelle | |
| 2007 | 'Til Death | Barbara | Episode: "The Hockey Lie" |
| 2007 | Medium | Lisa Wolfe / Sandra O'Bannon | Episode: "The One Behind the Wheel" |
| 2007 | The Game | Penny | Episode: "The Big Chill" |
| 2007 | Saving Grace | Belle Grady | Episode: "Bring It On, Earl" |
| 2007 | Pushing Daisies | Hillary Hundin | Episode: "Bitches" |
| 2008 | 3 Days Gone | Det. Kelsey | Video |
| 2009 | Fudgy Wudgy Fudge Face | Sour Lemon Drop | |
| 2009 | Numb3rs | Carolyn White | Episode: "Where Credit's Due" |
| 2009 | Men of a Certain Age | Brenda Blye | Episode: "The New Guy" |
| 2010 | 90210 | Sandra Mathison | Episode: "How Much Is That Liam in the Window" |
| 2011 | Criminal Minds | Alison Sparks | Episode: "Coda" |
| 2011 | Castle | Myrna Ramsey | Episode: "Eye Of The Beholder" |
| 2012 | Of Two Minds | Madeleine | TV movie |
| 2013 | Two and a Half Men | Allie | Episode: "Another Night With Neil Diamond" |
| 2015-2019 | The Inspectors | Amanda Wainwright | Series lead |
| 2021 | B Positive | Charlene | Episode: "Recessive Gina" |