Mel Harris (born July 12, 1956) is an American actress best known for her role as Hope Murdoch Steadman in the ABC drama series Thirtysomething (1987–1991), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination in 1990.
Early life and education Harris was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the daughter to Mary Michael "Mike", a high-school science teacher, and Warren Harris, football coach at Bethlehem High School and Princeton University. Harris grew up in North Brunswick, New JerseyGold, Todd. "Yuppie Babies, Beaus and Tales of Woe on Thirtysomething Plunk a Responsive Chord for Mel Harris", People (magazine), October 26, 1987. Accessed January 30, 2013. "She learned that the hard way. Born in Bethlehem, Pa., and raised in North Brunswick, N.J., Harris says that her parents' home was loveless long before their divorce in 1969." and graduated from New Brunswick High School in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1974.
Career In 1985, shortly before her 1986 acting debut, Harris appeared as a regular contestant on the Dick Clark-hosted syndicated game show The $100,000 Pyramid, credited as Mel Kennerlyher third husband's surname. She returned to the game show in 1991, as a celebrity on the John Davidson-hosted show, with a clip of her win in 1985 shown in a flashback.
Television Harris made her television debut in 1986, with a small role as a character's girlfriend in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. After appearances in a single episode each of three other series over 1986–1987, Harris had her first starring role, as Hope Murdoch Steadman in the ABC drama series Thirtysomething (1987–1991). The series received critical acclaim during its run, with Harris nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 1990. She directed one episode during the final season.
In 1989, Harris played real-life victim Madge Oberholtzer in the miniseries Cross of Fire. In the 1990s, Harris had many leading roles in made-for-TV movies and miniseries, include The Burden of Proof (1992), Ultimate Betrayal (1994) and The Women of Spring Break (1995). From 1996 to 1998, she starred with Jere Burns in the NBC sitcom Something So Right. The series was cancelled after two seasons.
Harris has appeared in a number of television series in 2000s, including Touched by an Angel, Stargate SG-1, The West Wing, JAG, House, and Criminal Minds. In 2007, she was a regular cast member in the MyNetworkTV limited-run serial Saints & Sinners. At that time, she began working as a writer. She was executive producer and creator of 2012 ABC drama pilot Scruples based on the 1978 novel by Judith Krantz. After a six-year hiatus, Harris returned to television in 2013, appearing in the two episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2016, Harris starred in the first season of Hulu drama series Shut Eye, and from 2017 to 2018 had a recurring role in the Bravo comedy series Imposters.
In January 2020, ABC ordered a sequel for Thirtysomething, with Harris set to return alongside original co-stars Ken Olin, Patricia Wettig, and Timothy Busfield. In June 2020, ABC decided not to move forward with the sequel.
Film Harris made her film debut playing a female leading role in the 1987 action film Wanted: Dead or Alive starring Rutger Hauer. During the time that she was appearing on Thirtysomething, she also starred in the horror film Cameron's Closet (1988) and action comedy K-9 (1989). That same year, Harper's Bazaar named her one of "America's 10 Most Beautiful Women".
She co-starred in the 1992 psychological horror-thriller film Raising Cain, and the following year played the leading role in the thriller film Suture. Other film credits include The Pagemaster (1994), Hangman's Curse (2003), and The Lodger (2009).
Personal life Harris has been married six times. She was married to David Silbergeld from 1978 to 1979; Brian Kilcommons from 1980 to 1982; photographer David Hume Kennerly from 1983 to 1988 (with whom she has a son); actor Cotter Smith from 1988 to 1996 (with whom she has a daughter); and Michael Toomey from 2001 to 2006. She has been married to screenwriter and producer Bob Brush since 2009.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1986Wanted: Dead or AliveTerry1988Cameron's ClosetNora Haley 1989K-9Tracy1992Raising CainSarah1993Distant CousinsKatherine June Sullivan1993SutureDr. Renee Descartes1993Wind DancerSusan Allen1994 The PagemasterClaire Tyler2000Sonic ImpactCo-Pilot Jennifer Blake2001FiretrapCordelia Calloway2003Hangman's CurseSarah Springfield2004DynamiteFaye Baxter2005 The Naked Brothers Band: The MovieMel HarrisCameo appearance 2005Purple HeartDr. Harrison2006ArcCharlie2009 The LodgerMargaret2009Imagine ThatMaggie JohnsonUncredited2020King of KnivesKathy
Television Year Title Role Notes1986Alfred Hitchcock PresentsGirlfriendEpisode: "A Very Happy Ending"1986Heart of the CityAnneEpisode: "Working Without a Net"1986 The WizardJane WhittierEpisode: "Trouble in the Stars"1987Rags to RichesJessicaEpisode: "First Love"1989Cross of FireMadge Oberholtzer'Television film 1989My Brother's WifeEleanor Goldberg-RusherTelevision film 1987–1991ThirtysomethingHope Murdoch SteadmanSeries regular, 85 episodesNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (1990)Nominated — Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series (1990)1992 The Burden of ProofSonia KlonskyMiniseries 1992 Grass RootsKate RuleTelevision film 1992Child of RageJill TylerTelevision film 1993With Hostile IntentKathy ArnoldTelevision film 1993 Desperate Journey: The Allison Wilcox StoryAllison WilcoxTelevision film 1994Ultimate BetrayalSusan RodgersTelevision film 1994 The Spider and the FlyDianna TaylorTelevision film 1994Broken LullabyJordan KirklandTelevision film 1995 The Women of Spring BreakClaireTelevision film 1995 The SecretaryEllen BradfordTelevision film 1995Sharon's SecretLaurel O'ConnorTelevision film 1995Raising CainesJulie CaineSeries regular, 6 episodes1996 A Case for LifeLizTelevision film 1996 The Outer LimitsDr. Christina MarkhamEpisode: "Paradise"1996 What Kind of Mother Are You?Mrs. Laura HylerTelevision film 1997Murder, She Wrote: South by SouthwestSarah McLeish / Judy TaylorTelevision film 1996–1998Something So RightCarly DavisLead Role, 38 episodes1999Dawson's CreekHelen LindleyEpisode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"2000Out of TimeAnnie EpsonTelevision film 2000Madigan MenDr. Ivy CastelliEpisode: "Love and Dermatology"2001Touched by an Angel Kelly RockhillEpisode: "The Lord Moves in Mysterious Ways"2001 The RetrieversKaren LowryTelevision film 2002Strong MedicineBiddy HightowerEpisode: "Recovery Time"2002Another Pretty FaceDiana DownsTelevision film 2004North ShoreMrs. JensenEpisode: "Illusions"2002–2005Stargate SG-1 Oma DesalaEpisodes: "Meridian", "Reckoning: Part 1" and "Threads"2005 The West WingRicky RaffertyEpisode: "Drought Conditions"2005Jake in ProgressTally HughesEpisode: "Ubusy?"2005JAGDora CresswellEpisodes: "Straits of Malacca" and "Death at the Mosque"2005Out of the WoodsBeth FlemingTelevision film 2006E-RingU.S.Ambassador to SpainEpisode: "The General"2006Cold CaseGrace AndersonEpisode: "Superstar"2006HouseBarbara BardachEpisode: "Safe"2006CSI: NYJulie RollinsEpisode: "And Here's to You, Mrs. Azrael"2006Criminal MindsCongresswoman SteyerEpisode: "Sex, Birth, Death"2007Close to HomeBeth MurphyEpisode: "Maternal Instinct"2007CaneConstance HughesEpisode: "Open and Shut"2007Saints & SinnersSylvia CapshawSeries regular, 61 episodes2013–2014Law & Order: Special Victims UnitEileen SwitzerEpisodes: "Rapist Anonymous" and "Amaro's One-Eighty"2015Crazy Ex-GirlfriendShawnaEpisode: "My Mom, Greg's Mom and Josh's Sweet Dance Moves!"2016Shut EyeNadine Davies9 episodes2017–2018ImpostersMargaret Jonson5 episodes
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