Mel Harris (born July 12, 1956) is an American actress. She played Sylvia Capshaw on the MyNetworkTV limited-run serial Saints & Sinners.
Harris is perhaps best known for her role as Hope Murdoch Steadman on the popular 1980s television show, thirtysomething (1987-1991). During that time, in 1989, Harper's Bazaar named her one of "America's 10 Most Beautiful Women". From 1996-1998, she starred with Jere Burns in the NBC sitcom Something So Right.
In addition, Harris has appeared in a number of television programs including The West Wing, Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest, Dawson's Creek, Touched by an Angel and House. She played real-life victim Madge Oberholtzer in the TV mini-series Cross of Fire (1989) and starred in the Scott Turow legal thriller The Burden of Proof in 1992. She had a recurring role on Stargate SG-1 as Oma Desala. She appeared as a contestant on the $100,000 Pyramid game show before she found success as an actress.
Harris guest-starred on Close to Home episode "Maternal Instinct" that aired April 6, 2007 on CBS. She played Beth Murphy, mother of Eric Murphy, who was convicted of killing his father (Beth's husband) and attempting to kill her as well.
Harris was born Mary Ellen Harris in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Mary Michael "Mike", a high school science teacher, and Warren Harris, a university football coach. Harris attended high school in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Harris has been married five times: to David Silbergeld (1978-79), Brian Kilclinic (1980-82), photographer David Hume Kennerly (1983-88) (by whom she has a son), actor Cotter Smith (1988-96) (by whom she has a daughter) and investment banker Michael Toomey. Harris and Toomey were married May 26, 2001, but she filed for divorce on October 3, 2006.
