Hallie Todd Hallie Todd is the actress who portrayed Lal in the third season episode in . She was born as Hallie Eckstein in Los Angeles , California , and was the stepdaughter of actor Guy Raymond from 1972 until Raymond ' s death in . Her parents are actress and producer / writer George Eckstein . Todd ' s first television appearance was a 1980 episode of the drama series " Family " with Karen Austin . She then made her film debut in the 1982 cult hit " Fast Times at Ridgemont High " , which starred Vincent Schiavelli , Scott Thomson , and Ray Walston . The following year , she appeared in the television movie " Who Will Love My Children ? " , directed by John Erman . From 1984 through 1989 , Todd starred as Penny Waters in the Showtime series " Brothers " , which was produced by Paramount Television . actor Tommy Hinkley was also a regular on this show during its fourth season . Todd was nominated for a CableACE Award for her performance on " Brothers " in 1987 . In 1984 , Todd co - starred in Michael Landon ' s drama film " Sam ' s Son " . She worked with Landon again the following year on an episode of " Highway to Heaven " . She guest - starred on both " The Golden Girls " and " Growing Pains " in 1986 ; on the former , she played Blanche Devereaux ' niece , while on the latter , she played a homeless girl in a Christmas episode . In 1989 , Todd appeared in an episode of the mystery drama series " Murder , She Wrote " with Robert Pine and Garry Walberg . The following year , she won a recurring role on the show as Rhoda Markowitz , during which time she worked with such actors as Melinda Culea , Jim Metzler , Ricardo Montalban , Nehemiah Persoff , James Sloyan , and Nana Visitor . Two of her episodes were directed by Vincent McEveety . During the 1990 - 1990 television season , Todd acted alongside Alan Ruck on the comedy series " Going Places " . In 1996 , Todd reunited with her TNG director and castmate Jonathan Frakes when he cast her in an episode of " Diagnosis Murder " . She also appeared in an episode of " Murder One " with Barbara Bosson , John Fleck , Concetta Tomei , and Ned Vaughn . She then starred in the short - lived WB series " Life with Roger " and has since guest - starred on such series as " Sabrina the Teenage Witch " , " Malcolm in the Middle " ( with Kenneth Mars and Kurtwood Smith ) , and " Brandy & Mr . Whisker " ( 2005 ) . Todd is perhaps best known for her role as Jo McGuire , Lizzie ' s mother on the Disney Channel series " Lizzie McGuire " . She played the role from 2001 through 2004 and in the theatrically - released " The Lizzie McGuire Movie " in 2003 . She also contributed to the show ' s soundtrack . Also in 2003 , Todd voiced the main antagonist on an episode of Disney ' s " Kim Possible " , appearing alongside John Kassir and Phil Morris . In 2011 Todd portrayed Nancy in the thriller " The Mooring " on which she also worked as writer and executive producer . Her husband Glenn Withrow served as director and writer on this film and her daughter Ivy Withrow also co - wrote the story . For several years , she has also been working as acting coach at the Hallie Todd Studios . In 2016 , Todd can be seen starring in Universal ' s " American Girl : Lea to the Rescue " . Todd has also been cast in " The Last Champion " , which is currently in pre - production at In House Media Film Partners . She will executive produce and perform in the film , a coming - of - age , inspirational family sports drama . Her husband , Glenn Withrow , is set to direct the project . Withrow and Todd co - wrote the screenplay along with their daughter , Ivy Withrow , who also serves as VP of Development for the company . In House Media Film Partners was born when Todd and Withrow were inspired to create a family production company after Withrow ' s experiences working with Francis Ford Coppola on five films , starting with " The Outsiders " .