# Jenny O'Hara

Jenny O'Hara (born February 24, 1942) is an American film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for Dixie in My Sister Sam (1986–1988), Janet Heffernan in The King of Queens (2001–2007), and Nita in Big Love (2006–2009).

## Early life

O'Hara was born in Sonora, California. Her father, John B. O'Hara, was a salesman, and her mother, Edith (Hopkins) O'Hara, was a journalist and drama teacher, who founded and continued to run the 13th Street Repertory Company in New York City for many years before her death at age 103 in 2020. Jenny, her singer/actress younger sister Jill O'Hara, and her singer/guitarist brother Jack O'Hara, grew up amid their mother's pursuit of a theatrical career. John and Edith O'Hara eventually divorced. Jenny O'Hara debuted on stage at age 5 at the Bushkill Playhouse in the Poconos.

## Career

In 1964 O'Hara appeared on Broadway in the dramatic play Dylan. In 1969 she appeared in the musical The Fig Leaves Are Falling. Her other Broadway credits include Promises, Promises, The Iceman Cometh, and The Odd Couple.
In 1970, O'Hara succeeded her younger sister, Jill (who had been nominated for a Tony Award) in the musical Promises, Promises. She graduated to television, both in series and made-for-TV features, including starring roles in: Brinks: The Great Robbery, The Return of the World's Greatest Detective, Blind Ambition and Blinded by the Light with Kristy McNichol.
She later worked in movies such as Career Opportunities, A Mother's Prayer, Mystic River, Matchstick Men, Extract and Devil; was part of the ensemble cast for the first season of The Facts of Life and the entire run of My Sister Sam; and had guest roles on television series such as Kojak, Charlie's Angels, Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected (also known in the United Kingdom as Twist in the Tale), Barnaby Jones, Barney Miller, Law & Order, The X-Files, Beverly Hills, 90210, NYPD Blue, ER, CHiPs, House M.D., Boston Legal, Reba, Six Feet Under, and Big Love. She has also made appearances over the years on various TV game shows.
On TV, O'Hara portrayed Ruth Manly on Black Beauty, Lottie Murphy in Costello,$^{:211}$ Rebecca in Highcliffe Manor,$^{:460}$ Janet Heffernan in The King of Queens,$^{:565-566}$ Muriel Spiegleman in Live In,$^{:614}$ Dixie Randazzo in My Sister Sam,$^{:735}$ and Lucy Dexter on Secrets of Midland Heights.$^{:944–945}$ She also had roles in the 2009 film, Extract, and the 2010 horror film, Devil.
O'Hara directed the off-Broadway play The Women Are No Different, which was about abuse of wives. In 1973, she owned and operated Jacob O'Hara Inc., a plant business in New York. She auctioned off plants and provided advice to people about caring for their plants.

## Personal life

O'Hara was married to August Dorr Watkins, an interior designer and former actor, from 1968 until their 1974 divorce. Since 1986, she has been married to British-born American actor Nick Ullett. They have two adult daughters.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | The Last Married Couple in America | Dancing Lady at First Party | |
| 1980 | Heart Beat | Betty Bendix | |
| 1991 | Career Opportunities | Dotty Dodge | |
| 1994 | Angie | Kathy | |
| 1997 | Wishmaster | Wendy Derleth | |
| 1999 | Love Happens | Gwen | |
| 2003 | Mystic River | Esther Harris | |
| 2003 | My Name is Yu Ming | Extra | Short |
| 2003 | Matchstick Men | Mrs. Schaffer | |
| 2004 | Mommy | Mommy | Short |
| 2005 | Forty Shades of Blue | Celia | |
| 2006 | Right at Your Door | Lexi's Mom | |
| 2006 | Two Weeks | Julia | |
| 2007 | The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey | Mrs. Hickey | |
| 2009 | Extract | Joel's Secretary | |
| 2010 | How to Make Love to a Woman | Mrs. Conners | |
| 2010 | Devil | Jane Kowski, Old Woman, The Devil | |
| 2010 | Heavy Lifting | Alice | Short |
| 2011 | ''Hit List | Phil's Mother | |
| 2012 | As High as the Sky | Aunt Barbara (voice) | |
| 2012 | Sassy Pants | Grandma Pruitt | |
| 2012 | The Sacred | Ms. Jenson | |
| 2014 | BFFs | Suzie | |
| 2014 | In the Privacy of Your Own Home | Peg | Short |
| 2015 | Martha | Martha | Short |
| 2015 | A Kind of Magic | Great Grandmother | |
| 2017 | Who Decides | Women | Short film |
| 2018 | 30 Nights | Dorothy | |
| 2018 | Duck Butter | Nathalie | |
| 2018 | Poor Greg Downing | Patricia | |
| 2022 | We Are Gathered Here Today | Faye Stone | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1975 | The Wide World of Mystery | Shelley | Episode: "Rock-a-Die Baby" |
| 1975 | The Streets of San Francisco | Angela Atkinson | Episode: "Dead Air" |
| 1975 | The Rockford Files | Operator | Episode: "The Reincarnation of Angie" |
| 1976 | Brink's: The Great Robbery | Maggie Hefner | Television film |
| 1976 | The Return of the World's Greatest Detective | Dr. Joan Watson | Television film |
| 1976 | Charlie's Angels | Bloody Mary Barrows | Episode: "Hellride" |
| 1976 | Police Story | Joyce Triplett | 2 episodes |
| 1976–1979 | Barnaby Jones | Dororthy Warner / Katherine Tyler / Angie Harding / Joanie Enders | 5 episodes |
| 1977 | Westside Medical | Georgia | Episode: "King Solomon's Kid" |
| 1977 | Good Against Evil | The Woman | Television film |
| 1977 | Kojak | Ann Murray | Episode: "Laid Off" |
| 1977 | The Hunted Lady | Carol Arizzio | Television film |
| 1977–1984 | Tales of the Unexpected | Mary Ann / Pearson's Wife | 2 episodes |
| 1978 | Black Beauty | Ruth Manly | Television mini-series |
| 1978 | A Fire in the Sky | Ann Webster | Television film |
| 1978–1979 | Barney Miller | Sgt. Holly Scofield / Teresa Schnable | 2 episodes |
| 1978–1980 | Family | Miss Chase / Miss Montebello | 2 episodes |
| 1979 | Highcliffe Manor | Rebecca | 6 episodes |
| 1979 | David Cassidy: Man Undercover | Vickie | Episode: "Teammates" |
| 1979 | Starsky & Hutch | Marianne Owens | Episode: "Ballad for a Blue Lady" |
| 1979 | Blind Ambition | Liz Garfield | Television mini-series Part 1, 2, 3, & 4 |
| 1979 | The Facts of Life | Miss Emily Mahoney | 4 episodes |
| 1979 | Letters from Frank | Patty Miller | Television film |
| 1979 | The Edge of Night | Lilac | Episode: "#1.6144" Uncredited |
| 1979–1981 | CHiPs | Lina Beck / Cora Gilford | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | Mrs. Columbo | Karen Winston | Episode: "Love, on Instant Replay" |
| 1980 | The Women's Room | Mrs. Martinelli | Television film |
| 1980 | The Last Song | Deb Pierce | Television film |
| 1980 | Blinded by the Light | Rose | Television film |
| 1980–1981 | Secrets of Midland Heights | Lucy Dexter | 9 episodes |
| 1981 | Simon & Simon | Ann McDaniels | Episode: "Trapdoors" |
| 1981 | McClain's Law | Christine Simmons | Episode: "Let the Victims Beware" |
| 1982 | Bret Maverick | Samantha Dunne | Episode: "The Mayflower's Women Historical Society" |
| 1982 | Quincy, M.E. | Jane Snyder | Episode: "Deadly Protection" |
| 1983 | Another Woman's Child | Peggy | Television film |
| 1983 | Remington Steele | Amy Fogelson / Agnes Fowley | Episode: "Steele in the News" |
| 1983 | The Mississippi | Miranda Adams | Episode: "The Trial of Ben Walker" |
| 1983 | For Love and Honor | Mrs. Hagedorn | Episode: "N.O.K. Hagedorn" |
| 1983–1984 | Trapper John, M.D. | Emily McCall / Christina Kulyn | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | St. Elsewhere | Sue Follett | Episode: "Drama Center" |
| 1984 | V: The Final Battle | Jenny | Television mini-series |
| | Tales of the Unexpected | Ruth Pearson | Episode "The Dirty Detail" |
| 1985 | Our Family Honor | Jo | Episode: "Lone Justice" |
| 1986 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Millicent McDonald | Episode: "Dead Men Leave No Trails" |
| 1986–1988 | My Sister Sam | Dixie Randazzo | 44 episodes |
| 1988 | The Secret Life of Kathy McCormick | Lisa | Television film |
| 1988 | Winnie | Miriam | Television film |
| 1988 | Murphy Brown | Lisa | Episode: "Baby Love" |
| 1989 | Live-In | Muriel Spiegelman | 9 episodes |
| 1990 | The Young Riders | Sally Tompkins / Shining Eyes | Episode: "Pride and Prejudice" |
| 1990 | L.A. Law | Dr. Sarah Evans | Episode: "Lie Harder" |
| 1990 | Married People | Delia | Episode: "Partners" |
| 1991 | ABC Afterschool Special | Irene Harmon | Episode: "The Less Than Perfect Daughter" |
| 1991 | Empty Nest | Mrs. Kravitz | Episode: "Lonely Are the Brave" |
| 1991–1992 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Pam Scanlon | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Law & Order | Carol Janssen | Episode: "Promises to Keep" |
| 1993 | At Home with the Webbers | Mrs. Nelson | Television film |
| 1995 | A Mother's Prayer | Val | Television film |
| 1995 | The Drew Carey Show | Judge White | Episode: "Drew in Court" |
| 1996 | Terminal | Margaret Desmond | Television film |
| 1996 | A Case for Life | | Television film |
| 1996 | ER | Nurse Rhonda Sterling | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | An Unexpected Family | Harriet Rothman | Television film |
| 1996–1997 | Dangerous Minds | Jean Warner | 4 episodes |
| 1996–1997 | Life's Work | Constance 'Connie' Minardi | 6 episodes |
| 1997 | Smart Guy | Principal Whitfield | Episode: "Trial and Error" |
| 1998 | Costello | Lottie Murphy | 5 episodes |
| 1998 | Pumpkin Man | Mrs. Shadboldt | Television short |
| 1998 | Michael Hayes | Phyllis Burdick | Episode: "Under Color of Law" |
| 1998 | Chicago Hope | Dorothy Carlson | Episode: "Objects Are Closer Than They Appear" |
| 1998 | An Unexpected Life | Harriet Rothman | Television film |
| 1998 | The Color of Courage | Dorothy Renfrew | Television film |
| 1999 | Party of Five | Sylvia Wringler | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | The Practice | Louise Morgan | Episode: "Bay of Pigs" |
| 2000 | Norm | Mrs. Ford | Episode: "Norm vs. the Wedding" |
| 2000 | If These Walls Could Talk 2 | Marge Carpenter | Segment 1961 |
| 2000 | The Truth About Jane | Beth | Television film |
| 2000 | Roswell | Ida Crawford | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Strong Medicine | Nancy | Episode: "Child Care" |
| 2001 | NYPD Blue | Mrs. Follender | Episode: "Hit the Road, Clark" |
| 2001–2007 | The King of Queens | Janet Heffernan | 15 episodes |
| 2002 | Philly | Nora Temple | Episode: "Brotherly Love" |
| 2002 | The Court | Eleanor | Episode: "Snakes in the Grass" |
| 2002 | Nancy Drew | Hannah Green | Television film |
| 2003 | Reba | Grammy Elizabeth Hart | Episode: "And the Grammy Goes To..." |
| 2003 | Judging Amy | Mrs. Costin – Grandmother | Episode: "Tricks of the Trade" |
| 2004 | Nip/Tuck | Rachel Rosenberg | Episode: "Rose and Raven Rosenberg" |
| 2005 | Inconceivable | Lucy | Episode: "Sex, Lies and Sonograms" |
| 2005 | Six Feet Under | Garland Duncan | Episode: "Static" |
| 2005 | Twins | Ms. Rowan | Episode: "Model Student" |
| 2005 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Sandra Walkey | Episode: "Secrets & Flies" |
| 2005 | Ghost Whisperer | Margaret Devine | Episode: "Hope and Mercy" |
| 2005 | Grey's Anatomy | Nadia's Mother | Episode: "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" |
| 2006 | Boston Legal | Judge Kimberly Ohlund | Episode: "Squid Pro Quo" |
| 2006 | Cold Case | Frances Campbell | Episode: "Fireflies" |
| 2006–2009 | Big Love | Nita | 5 episodes |
| 2007 | House | Fran | Episode: Airborne" |
| 2008 | The Closer | Karen Silva | Episode: "Speed Bump" |
| 2008 | NCIS | Alice Brodie | Episode: "Last Man Standing" |
| 2009 | Drop Dead Diva | Carla Shane | Episode: "What If?" |
| 2010 | Childrens Hospital | Georgene Lefkowits | Episode: "The End of the Middle" |
| 2011–2014 | Franklin & Bash | Nanette | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Unfair and Imbalanced | Cleo | Television film |
| 2012 | Rizzoli & Isles | Sister Winifred Callahan | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Emily Owens, M.D. | Julia | Episode: "Emily and... The Leap" |
| 2013–2015 | Newsreaders | Grandma Jordan / Mrs. Van Cleef | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Meme Weavers | Fern | Television film |
| 2014 | Supernatural | Julia Wilkinson | Episode: "Mother's Little Helper" |
| 2014–2017 | The Mindy Project | Dot | 17 episodes |
| 2015 | Mike & Molly | Mickey | Episode: "Molly's Neverending Story" |
| 2015 | The McCarthys | Elaine | Episode: "Hall of Fame" |
| 2015 | Hot in Cleveland | Helen | Episode: "Cleveland Calendar Girls" |
| 2015–2017 | Transparent | Bryna | 12 episodes |
| 2016 | Recovery Road | | Episode: "My Loose Thread" |
| 2016 | Son of Zorn | Roberta | Episode: "The Battle of Thanksgiving" |
| 2017 | The Fosters | Woman at Hospital | Episode: "Dream a Little Dream" |
| 2017 | American Housewife | Mrs. Smith | Episode: "Then and Now" |
| 2017 | Chicago Fire | Ellie | Episode: "Carry Me" |
| 2018 | The Resident | Shirley Harris | Episode: "Identity Crisis" |
| 2018 | 9-1-1 | Nora | Episode: "Full Moon (Creepy AF)" |
| 2019 | Atypical | Elsa's mother | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Perry Mason | June Pitlick | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Never Have I Ever | Dr. Keyes | Episode: "...Lost My Virginity" |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | Bayonetta | Umbran Elder / Additional Voices | English version, voice |
| 2012 | The Secret World | Eleanor Franklin | |
| 2014 | Bayonetta 2 | Umbran Elder | English version, voice |