Name:Jennifer Mary "Jenna Elfman"
Date of Birth:September 30, 1971
Place of Birth:Mary Butala in Los Angeles
California, U.S
Jennifer Mary "Jenna" Elfman is an American television and film actress. Jenna Elfmanis known for her role as Dharma on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg and as Billie on the short-lived CBS sitcom Accidentally on Purpose.
Early Life
Elfman was born Jennifer Mary Butala in Los Angeles, the daughter of Sue (née Grace), a homemaker, and Richard Wayne Butala, a Hughes Aircraft executive. Jenna Elfman is of Croatian ancestry on her father's side and was raised Roman Catholic.
Career
Jenna appeared as a dancer in the music video for "Halo", a song by Depeche Mode that was included on the band's 1990 video album Strange Too. Jenna Elfman also appeared in the video for Chris Isaak's 1995 single "Somebody's Crying".
The short-lived 1996 sitcom Townies didn't catch on with viewers but did impress critics, particularly the performances of Elfman and co-star Lauren Graham. The next year, Elfman started a five-year run as Dharma in Dharma and Greg. Elfman guest starred in two episodes of Two and a Half Men in 2004 and 2011 and one episode of Brothers and Sisters in 2007. Jenna Elfman made a guest appearance in the sixth episode of season four of My Name Is Earl as a cheer team leader.
Elfman starred in the CBS comedy Accidentally on Purpose. The show was canceled after a single (2009–2010) season.
Jenna Elfman appeared in a supporting role in a feature film, Friends with Benefits,starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, released in 2011. Also in 2011, she returned to Two and a Half Men in Season 9 as a guest star, this time reprising her "Dharma" character together with former co-star Thomas Gibson ("Greg").
Personal Life
Elfman met her husband, actor Bodhi Elfman, at a Sprite commercial audition in February 1991. They married on February 18, 1995, making director Richard Elfman her father-in-law and noted composer Danny Elfman her uncle-in-law.
On July 23, 2007, Elfman and her husband's first child, a son, Story Elias, was born in Los Angeles. On September 16, 2009, when Elfman announced she was expecting her second child, she suggested that the pregnancy would help with her role in Accidentally on Purpose. On March 2, 2010, their son Easton Quinn Monroe was born.
Elfman visited her high school alma mater, the Los Angeles High School for the Arts (LACHSA) in May 2006 to urge students to set career goals and encourage them to persist in their chosen professions.
ScientologyIn 2005 she appeared at the Scientology-owned Citizens Commission on Human Rights' Psychiatry: An Industry of Death museum grand opening and she and husband Bodhi are listed on the organization's website as members of the board of advisors from the arts, entertainment and media community.
On May 24, 2006, she was the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Hero Award event in participation with the Scientology-affiliated groups Youth for Human Rights International and Artists for Human Rights (AFHR), an organization formed with the purpose of bringing artists together with the common cause of raising awareness of human rights around the world. The event took place in Washington, D.C., and was attended by members of Congress and the general public. Awards were presented to individuals who through their actions have brought about greater human rights.
On March 27, 2008, she and Charlie Sheen co-hosted the Scientology-affiliated New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project Charity Event at Geisha House in Hollywood, California.
PhilanthropyIn February 2006, Elfman donated an hour of her time to be auctioned to the highest bidder on eBay as part of the "Lunch With A Leader" fundraiser, the proceeds of which benefit the work of Communities In Schools. Jenna Elfman participated in the auction in both 2007 and 2008 as well.
Elfman donated her lip print for a limited edition U.S. postage stamp created by Zazzle to celebrate Valentine's Day in both 2007 and 2008. Proceeds for the "Kiss Stamps" went to support the programs of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). In February 2011, Jenna filmed a PSA for The Humane Society of the United States to inspire people to donate to help animals.
As a criminal rehabilitation activist, Elfman has traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby for criminal reform. On April 5, 2007, she was presented with the Goodwill Ambassador Award for her work in human rights and criminal rehabilitation at the Women Ambassadors Foundation 12th Annual Conference. On April 9, 2008, she was a guest at the signing of a new bill by U.S. President George W. Bush that aimed to reduce prisoner recidivism, entitled the Second Chance Act of 2007 (H.R. 1593).
In September 2008, Elfman joined the Charity Water month-long "September Campaign," asking for donations in lieu of birthday gifts in order to raise money to build freshwater wells in Ethiopia.
On March 2, 2011, Jenna participated in the National Education Association (NEA) Read Across America program by reading to school children in Compton, California in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday.
Filmography/Television
1997 Grosse Pointe Blank Tanya
1998 Dr. Dolittle Owl Voice
1998 Can't Hardly Wait The Angel Uncredited
1998 Krippendorf's Tribe Prof. Veronica Micelli
1999 EDtv Shari
1999 Venus Venus
2000 Tangerine Bear, TheThe Tangerine Bear Lorelei Voice
2000 Cyberworld Phig Voice
2000 Keeping the Faith Anna Riley
2001 Town & Country Auburn
2003 Looney Tunes: Back in Action Kate
2004 Clifford's Really Big Movie Dorothy Voice
2005 Touched Angela Martin Executive producer
2005 What's Hip, Doc? Supermodel Voice
2008 Struck Pregnant date Short film
2009 Six Wives of Henry Lefay, TheThe Six Wives of Henry Lefay Ophelia
2009 Love Hurts Darlene
2011 Friends with Benefits Annie
Year Title Role Notes
Television 1992 Murder, Elfman Wrote Ballet Dancer in background 1 episode
1994 George Carlin Show, The George Carlin Show Psychedelic girl 1 episode
1995 Monroes, TheThe Monroes Lily 1 episode
1995 Roseanne Garland 1 episode
1996 Townies Shannon Canotis 15 episodes, 5 unaired
1996 Murder One Angela Scalese 1 episode
1996 Almost Perfect Becky Toll 1 episode
1997 Single Guy, TheThe Single Guy Jordan 1 episode
1997–2002 Dharma & Greg Dharma Finklestein Montgomery 119 episodes
2002 Obsessed Ellena Roberts Television movie
2004 Two and a Half Men Frankie 2 episodes
2006 Courting Alex Alex Rose 13 episodes, producer
2007 Brothers & Sisters Lizzie Jones-Baker 1 episode
2008 My Name Is Earl Kimmi Himmler 1 episode
2009–10 Accidentally on Purpose Billie 18 episodes
2011 Two and a Half Men Dharma Montgomery Episode: "Nice to Meet You, Walden Schmidt"
2012 Damages TBA Recurring role
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