# Melora Hardin

Melora Diane Hardin Jackson (born June 29, 1967) is an American actress and singer best known for her roles as Jan Levinson on NBC's The Office (2005–2013), Trudy Monk on USA Network's Monk (2004–2009), and Tammy Cashman on Amazon Prime Video's Transparent (2014–2019), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She starred as magazine editor-in-chief Jacqueline Carlyle on the Freeform comedy-drama The Bold Type, which aired from 2017 to 2021.

## Early life

Hardin was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of acting manager, coach, and retired actress Diane (née Hill) and actor Jerry Hardin. She is the sister of former Flock CEO Shawn Hardin. She moved to San Francisco, California, at age 5 and later attended 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 (1977–1978), and has appeared in over 70 movies and television programs since, including episode 39 of The Love Boat in 1978, two episodes of the medical drama Quincy, M. E. (as Amanda in the 1979 episode "Never a Child" and as Abagail "Abby" Garvin in the infamous 1982 anti-punk rock episode "Next Stop, Nowhere"), 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. Hardin appeared as Whitney Dunbar, opposite C. Thomas Howell, in the 1986 film, Soul Man. 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 dance movie Lambada as Sandy. She appeared in Absolute Power (1997) 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 (1985) 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 Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family, and she played the recurring role of Trudy Monk, the title character's deceased wife, on the USA Network series Monk (2004-2009). She appeared on the series NCIS as former Petty Officer Erin Toner in the episode "The Curse". 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 primetime soap opera Dynasty. Hardin played Jan Levinson in The Office (2005–2013), a former corporate manager and love interest of Michael Scott.
Hardin appeared in the 2006 film Thank You for Smoking, and appears in Hannah Montana: The Movie 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. Also in 2009, Hardin was cast as Principal Jane Masterson in the popular comedy film 17 Again. 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 An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight.
Hardin sang the U.S. national anthem at the Anaheim Ducks’ season-opening hockey game on October 13, 2010, and for the Phoenix Coyotes three days later.
In September 2021, she was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 30 of Dancing with the Stars. Her professional dance partner, Artem Chigvintsev, and she made it to the semifinals and ultimately finished in sixth place.

## Personal life

Hardin has been married to actor Gildart Jackson since 1997. They have two daughters.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1978 | Something Queer is Happening at the Library | Jill | Short film |
| 1979 | The North Avenue Irregulars | Carmel | |
| 1985 | Papa Was a Preacher | Janette | |
| 1986 | Iron Eagle | Katie | |
| 1986 | Soul Man | Whitney Dunbar | |
| 1989 | Big Man on Campus | Cathy | |
| 1989 | The Jeweler's Shop | Monica | |
| 1990 | Lambada | Sandy Thomas | |
| 1991 | The Rocketeer | South Seas singer | |
| 1993 | Reckless Kelly | Robin Banks | |
| 1994 | The Pornographer | Sasha Leon Hoffner | |
| 1995 | Chameleon | Jill Hallman | |
| 1996 | The Undercover Kid | Clyde | |
| 1997 | Absolute Power | Christy Sullivan | |
| 1998 | Erasable You | Calamity | |
| 1999 | Seven Girlfriends | Laura | |
| 2000 | Certain Guys | Mary Beth | |
| 2002 | The Hot Chick | Carol | |
| 2004 | El padrino | Jane | |
| 2005 | Thank You For Smoking | Interviewer | |
| 2007 | Drive Thru | Marcia Carpenter | |
| 2007 | The Dukes | Diane | |
| 2007 | Boxboarders! | Ruth Keene | |
| 2007 | The Comebacks | Barb Fields | |
| 2007 | The Violin | Gertrude Bloch | Short film |
| 2008 | 27 Dresses | Maureen | |
| 2009 | 17 Again | Principal Jane Masterson | |
| 2009 | Hannah Montana: The Movie | Lorelai | |
| 2009 | You | Miranda | Also director and producer |
| 2010 | Knucklehead | Mary | |
| 2011 | I Melt with You | Jane | |
| 2012 | Zombie Hamlet | Pam | |
| 2012 | Beauty and the Least: The Misadventures of Ben Banks | Mary Andrews | |
| 2012 | Taking the Edge Off | | Short film |
| 2014 | An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight | Nancy Palmer | Direct-to-video |
| 2015 | Self/less | Judy O'Neill | |
| 2017 | Anything | Rita | |
| 2017 | Golden Vanity | Mabel Montgomery-Mayflower | |
| 2018 | Cruel Hearts | Grace | |
| 2021 | Caged | Officer Sacks | |
| 2023 | Clock | Dr. Elizabeth Simmons | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1976 | Police Story | Sheila | Episodes: "The Jar: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1977 | Thunder | Cindy Prescott | Main role (12 episodes) |
| 1977 | The Cliffwood Avenue Kids | Melora | TV series |
| 1978 | The Love Boat | Courtney Chenault | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Quincy, M.E. | Amanda | Episode: "Never a Child" |
| 1980 | Diff'rent Strokes | Emily Morehouse | Episode: "Skin Deep or True Blue" |
| 1980 | ABC Afterschool Special | Amy Warner | Episode: "What Are Friends For?" |
| 1980 | Haywire | Brooke Hayward, age 11 | TV film |
| 1980–1981 | Secrets of Midland Heights | Micki Carroll | Regular role (10 episodes) |
| 1981 | Little House on the Prairie | Belinda Stevens | Episodes: "The Reincarnation of Nellie: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1982 | Quincy, M.E. | Abigail "Abby" Garvin | Episode: "Next Stop, Nowhere" |
| 1983 | The Family Tree | Tess Benjamin | TV series |
| 1983 | Little House: Look Back to Yesterday | Michele Pierson | TV movie |
| 1983 | Magnum, P.I. | Nancy Perkins Gillis | Episode: "Luther Gillis: File #521" |
| 1984 | Mama Malone | Kathleen | Episode: "The Education of Frankie" |
| 1985 | The Best Times | Joy Villafranco | Regular role (6 episodes) |
| 1986 | Hotel | Beth | Episode: "Heroes" |
| 1988–1989 | Dirty Dancing | Frances "Baby" Kellerman | Main role (11 episodes) |
| 1989 | Tour of Duty | Christine Pierson | Episodes: "Sins of the Father", "Sealed with a Kiss" |
| 1990 | Shangri-La Plaza | Amy | TV film |
| 1991 | Equal Justice | Doris Walsh | Episode: "Who Speaks for the Children?" |
| 1992 | Miles from Nowhere | Teresa | TV film |
| 1992 | Mann & Machine | Louise Trotsky | Episode: "Torch Song" |
| 1992 | Quantum Leap | Abigail Fuller | Episodes: "For Your Love", "The Last Door" |
| 1993 | Moon Over Miami | Emily Booker | Episode: "My Old Flame" |
| 1994 | Murder, She Wrote | Cindy Warrick | Episode: "Roadkill" |
| 1994 | Golden Gate | Susan Carlino | TV film |
| 1994 | Renegade | Laura McMillan | Episode: "Carrick O'Quinn" |
| 1994 | Matlock | Lisa Swift | Episode: "The Scandal" |
| 1994 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Molly Flynn | Episode: "Operation Blackout" |
| 1995 | Friends | Celia | Episode: "The One with the Stoned Guy" |
| 1995 | Touched by an Angel | Lizbeth Chamberlain | Episode: "The Big Bang" |
| 1995 | Diagnosis: Murder | Savannah Bellows | Episode: "The New Healers" |
| 1996 | Renegade | Kelly Anderson | Episode: "Paradise Lost" |
| 1996 | Caroline in the City | Beth | Episode: "Caroline and the Bridesmaids" |
| 1997 | Things That Go Bump | Chloe Garrett | TV film |
| 1997 | Orleans | Gina Vitelli | Episodes: "Luther's Temptation", "When the Saints Go Marching In" |
| 1997 | Tower of Terror | Claire Poulet | TV film |
| 1997–1998 | The Tom Show | Lorraine | Episodes: "Tom's First Date", "The Centerfold" |
| 1998 | Timecop | Edith Thomas | Episode: "Lost Voyage" |
| 1998 | The Pretender | Wendy Dawson | Episode: "Homefront" |
| 1999 | Payne | Danielle Harris | Episode: "Gossip Checks In and a Cat Checks Out" |
| 1999 | Diagnosis: Murder | Melanie Cooper | Episode: "Trash TV: Part 1" |
| 2000–2001 | Cover Me | Barbara Arno | Main role (24 episodes) |
| 2001 | Once and Again | Samantha Aldrich | Episode: "Moving On" |
| 2002 | Family Guy | Patsy Ramsey (voice) | Episode: "Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows" |
| 2002 | Judging Amy | Rosalie Leavitt | Episode: "Roses and Truth" |
| 2003 | The Division | Cheryl Lynn Brinkmeyer | Episode: "Rush to Judgment" |
| 2003 | NCIS | Former Petty Officer Erin Toner | Episode: "The Curse" |
| 2004 | The Hollywood Mom's Mystery | Summer Rossner | TV film |
| 2004 | Boston Legal | Sharon Brant | Episode: "Head Cases" |
| 2004–2009 | Monk | Trudy Monk | Recurring role (10 episodes) |
| 2005 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Sports Book Manager | Episode: "Big Middle" |
| 2005 | Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure | Linda Evans | TV film |
| 2005–2013 | The Office | Jan Levinson | Regular role; 46 episodes |
| 2006 | Without a Trace | Pamela Seaver | Episode: "Rage" |
| 2006 | Gilmore Girls | Carolyn Bates | Episode: "Partings" |
| 2006 | The Office: The Accountants | Jan Levinson-Gould | Episode: "The Books Don't Balance" |
| 2008 | Mom, Dad and Her | Emma | TV film |
| 2008 | Yo Gabba Gabba! | Herself | Episode: "Birthday" |
| 2010 | Outlaw | Claire Sax | Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 2011 | CSI: Miami | Wendy Colton | Episode: "G.O." |
| 2012–2013 | Wedding Band | Roxie Rutherford | Main role (10 episodes) |
| 2013 | Scandal | Shelley Meyers | Episode: "Say Hello to My Little Friend" |
| 2014 | Killer Women | Nan Reed | Episode: "Some Men Need Killing" |
| 2014 | Do It Yourself | Kaye | TV film |
| 2014–2019 | Transparent | Tammy Cashman | Recurring role (14 episodes) |
| 2015 | Falling Skies | Captain Katie Marshall | Episodes: "Everybody Has Their Reasons", "Stalag 14th Virginia" |
| 2016 | The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez | Courtney Monroe | TV film |
| 2017 | The Blacklist | Isabella Stone | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | When We Rise | Carole Midgen | Episode: "Night III: Parts IV and V" |
| 2017–2021 | The Bold Type | Jacqueline Carlyle | Main role |
| 2019,2022 | A Million Little Things | Patricia Bloom | 5 episodes |
| 2020 | Celebrity Family Feud | Herself | Episode: "The Bold Type vs. RuPaul's Drag Race" |
| 2021 | Dancing with the Stars | Herself | Contestant, Season 30 |
| 2022 | Love, Classified | Emelia | Hallmark Channel movie |
| 2023 | Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie | Trudy Monk | TV movie |
Director :
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2009 | You | |
| 2020 | The Bold Type | Episode: "Snow Day" |
| 2022 | The Bold Type | Episode: "Snow Day" |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1984 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actress in a Drama Series | The Family Tree | Nominated |
| 1985 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Supporting Actress in a Daytime or Nighttime Drama | Two Marriages | Won |
| 1987 | Young Artist Awards | Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Starring in a Feature Film – Comedy or Drama | Papa Was a Preacher | Nominated |
| 2007 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | The Office | Won |
| 2008 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | The Office | Won |
| 2009 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | The Office | Nominated |
| 2016 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Transparent | Nominated |