Jenna Elfman - Biography

Last Editor: wren7maps				Jenna Elfman Biography -   Name : Jenna Elfman Birth Date : September 30, 1971 Birth Place : Los Angeles, California, USA Birth Name : Jennifer Mary Butala Height : 5' 10 Education : Los Angeles High School (majored in Arts) California State University in Northridge (dropped out) Nationality : American Occupation : Actress Spouse : Bodhi Elfman (actor; born on July 19, 1969; married in 1995) Claim to fame : as Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery on TV Series Dharma & Greg

Jenna Elfman Trivia -

Studied acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas. Is a classically-trained ballet dancer. Graduated from Los Angeles High School for the Arts, class of 1989. She was senior class representative (dance dept), on Student Arts Council. Niece of singer Tony Butala, who founded and performs with the vocal group The Lettermen. She started taking classical ballet at the age of five, but by nine, she suffered a serious ankle injury, and at age 12, the tendon came off the bone. She later gave up ballet at the age of 16. Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2004 Razzie Award nominating ballot. She was suggested in the Worst Supporting Actress category for her performance in the film Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003); however, she failed to receive a nomination. Is of Croatian heritage. Daughter-in-law of Richard Elfman and Marie-Pascale Elfman. Was among the guests at Tom Cruise's and Katie Holmes' wedding ceremony in Italy. At age 35, she gave birth to her first child. Son, Story Elias, was born July 23, 2007 in Los Angeles, weighing 7 lbs, 2 oz. Niece of Danny Elfman and Bridget Fonda. Susan Sullivan, who played the mother-in-law of her character, Dharma, in the series "Dharma & Greg" (1997), also played the mother of her character Lizzie, in the series "Brothers & Sisters" (2006). Turned down a role in Minority Report (2002).

Jenna Elfman Detailed Biography -

Jenna Elfman was raised in Los Angeles and thought she wanted to become a nun. She was very noisy in class and that is when she discovered she wanted to be an entertainer. She was trained in classical dance since she was in first grade and that helped her become a ZZ Top's Legs Girl in 1994. After she got back from touring she was discovered while dancing at the Sunset Boulevard House of Blues by ABC. She was first in a series called Townies and the day after that show was canceled both ABC and FOX wanted her for their networks. She chose to stay with ABC and started the show Dharma & Greg. In addition to her work on "Dharma & Greg," Elfman will be seen this coming year starring in the feature film comedy, "Krippendorf's Tribe," with Richard Dreyfuss and Lily Tomlin. In the film about an anthropologist who convinces his family to portray a primitive tribe, Elfman plays a bright and ambitious professor who believes the fraud. Elfman earned raves for her scene-stealing performance in the ABC series, "Townies." She was also seen in the feature film, "Grosse Point Blank," starring John Cusack and Minnie Driver. She has guest-starred on such television programs as "Roseanne," "Murder One," "NYPD Blue" and "Almost Perfect." In 1996, she played a drug counselor in the critically acclaimed made-for-television movie, "Her Last Chance," with Patti LuPone and Kellie Martin. A native of Los Angeles, Elfman began her career in commercials, landing roles in dozens of national television ads for a variety of well-known companies. She later expanded her horizons by studying with renowned acting teacher Milton Katselas, from whom she still takes classes. Among her many other talents, Jenna is a classically trained ballerina. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband.