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Janine Turner (born Janine Loraine Gauntt; December 6, 1962) is an American actress best known for her roles as Maggie O'Connell in the television series Northern Exposure, as Jessie Deighan in the feature film Cliffhanger, and as Katie McCoy in Friday Night Lights. She is an author, public speaker and founder and co-chair of Constituting America 2010.
By 1986, Turner had become frustrated by the quality of the roles she was getting. As she told the Chicago Tribune five years later, "I was always working, but I wanted to do more serious roles and knew that I had the talent. I had to get away from Hollywood." Disregarding her agent's advice, Turner moved to New York in order to hone her craft, studying in Manhattan with Marcia Haufrecht of the Actors Studio.
I gained a new respect and appreciation for acting in New York. And I decided that I didn't want to lock myself into roles that portrayed women negatively. I turned a lot of (TV and film) opportunities down because of that. Everyone thought I was crazy. I was really going for broke. I only had eight dollars left and had become very depressed right before I got the part in Northern Exposure.
]] Cast as Maggie O'Connell in 1990, Turner's work on Northern Exposure earned her an Emmy nomination in 1993 and three consecutive Golden Globe nominations from 1992 to 1994. Accolades aside, the role itself was a positive experience for Turner, following the "damsel in distress" roles that had all but driven her from Hollywood in the first place. "I've found my ideal character in Maggie," she told the Tribune. "She's smarter and stronger than all the men she meets." Turner's own move from Hollywood to New York was mirrored by Maggie's, from her affluent Grosse Pointe community to the remote fictional backwater of Cicely, Alaska. Turner said about Maggie that "She went against the grain and challenged herself by moving to Alaska."
After her breakthrough in Northern Exposure, Turner appeared in the action film Cliffhanger opposite Sylvester Stallone. She next appeared as June Cleaver in a Leave It to Beaver film adaptation of television's original Leave It to Beaver, then in , and Dr. T & the Women with Richard Gere. She also appeared in No Regrets and numerous movies of the week.
In 2004, Turner wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning Trip in a Summer Dress, a film about a strong-willed mother and her children. In 2006, she appeared in a low-budget movie filmed in Dallas, The Night of the White Pants, with Tom Wilkinson. In 2007, she co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in Christoga, a Christian Yoga DVD, Turner also co-wrote and produced an album, Mockingbird Hill, in which both she and her daughter Juliette sang.
In 2008, Turner began a 12-episode run on the NBC television series Friday Night Lights. She portrayed Katie McCoy, mother of a talented high school football quarterback.
In 2015, Turner portrayed the wife of Anthony Hopkins' character in Solace.
In 2010 Turner founded and is the co-president of the organization Constituting America with co-president Cathy Gillespie, aimed at educating American adults and students about the non-partisan relevancy of the U.S. Constitution.
On May 21, 2011, Turner began hosting a live two-hour talk show, The Janine Turner Show, on talk radio station KLIF (AM) in Dallas, and in Houston, KPRC (AM), followed by iHeart Radio until 2013. It was awarded "Best Radio Show in Dallas".
Turner is the author of four books, Holding Her Head High: Inspiration from 12 Single Mothers Who Championed Their Children and Changed History, A Little Bit Vulnerable: On Hollywood, God, Sobriety, & Politics, Wisdom For Each Day: Inherited From My Great Grandfather, and Artificial Intelligentsia Vs. Primal Sense. Holding Her Head High focuses on single mothers through history, such as Rachel Lavein Fawcett, the abandoned single mother of Alexander Hamilton.
Turner has described herself as "socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I'm almost more libertarianism." Turner has written 85 essays on the 85 Federalist Papers, and many op-ed pieces for the Washington Examiner, The Washington Times, and FoxNews.com. Turner has written a petition, "The Truth Act" – and corresponding white paper, "Long and Little Known: How Incoherent Statutes Harm Liberty & the Rule of Law".
Golden Globe Award
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Young Artist Award
Activism and advocacy
In 2006, Turner was appointed a member of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.
In 2010, Turner launched her public speaking career on the national circuit and became a public inspirational speaker on a plethora of topics, including heart health, sobriety, faith, the Constitution, and politics. She speaks at corporate events, civic events, schools, universities, and churches.
Personal life
Turner has never married. Her daughter, Juliette Turner-Jones, was born in 1997. Turner was once engaged to Alec Baldwin and also dated Troy Aikman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Mark Grace and Sylvester Stallone. As of 2014, Turner was living on a longhorn cattle ranch outside Dallas with her daughter.
Filmography
Film
1982 Young Doctors in Love Soap Cameos 1986 Knights of the City Brooke Tai-Pan Shevaun Tillman 1988 Monkey Shines Linda Aikman 1989 Steel Magnolias Nancy-Beth Marmillion 1990 The Ambulance Cheryl Turner 1993 Cliffhanger Jessie Deighan 1997 The Curse of Inferno Layla Moanes Leave It to Beaver June Cleaver 2000 Dr. T & the Women Dorothy Chambliss 2004 No Regrets Cheryl Trip in a Summer Dress Mama short film; also director, writer, editor, and executive producer 2006 Miracle Dogs Too Paula Wells direct-to-video The Night of the White Pants Barbara Hagan 2009 Birdie & Bogey Amy Maggie's Passage Jenny Sirron 2015 The Ivy League Farmer Ella Gilbert Solace Elizabeth Clancy 2016 Occupy, Texas Mrs. Thomas 2018 Dr. North 2023 Birthright Outlaw Bonnie Beauchamp
Television
1980–1981 Dallas Susan 3 episodes 1981 Mr. Merlin Sheila Episode: "All About Sheila" 1981–1982 Behind the Screen Janie-Claire Willow 13 episodes 1982 The Love Boat Betsy Dunvar Episode: "The Victims/Man in the Iron Shorts" 1982–1983 General Hospital Laura Templeton 44 episodes 1983 The Paper Chase Sondra Episode: "Birthday Party" Happy Days Debbie Episode: "Where the Guys Are" Boone Maggie Episode: "Words and Music" 1984 The Master Gina/Teri Episode: "The Good, the Bad and the Priceless" Santa Barbara Hollywood Woman Episode: "#1.8" The New Mike Hammer Christine Episode: "Bonecrunch" 1985 The A-Team Theresa Gianni Episode: "The Big Squeeze" Knight Rider Karen Forester Episode: "KITTnap" 1986–1987 Another World Patricia Kirkland 2 episodes 1989 Quantum Leap Michelle Episode: "Catch a Falling Star" 1990–1995 Northern Exposure Maggie O'Connell 110 episodes 1997 Anna Brewster Television film 1998 Circle of Deceit Terry Silva Television film Beauty Alix Miller Television film 1999 Fatal Error Dr. Samantha Craig Television film A Secret Affair Vanessa Stewart Television film 2000–2002 Strong Medicine Dr. Dana Stowe 50 episodes 2005 Ranger Kay Austin Television film 2007 Primal Doubt Jean Harper Television film 2008 Victoria Grall Episode: "Inconceivable" 2008–2009 Friday Night Lights Katie McCoy 12 episodes 2019 Patsy & Loretta Hilda Hensley Television film 2021 Taking the Reins Bonnie Television film
Awards and nominations
Emmy Award
Bibliography
External links
Categories: 1962 Births, Living People, Actresses From Fort Worth, Texas, Female Models From Nebraska, American Conservative Talk Radio Hosts, American Film Actresses, American Television Actresses, American Soap Opera Actresses, American Political Commentators, American Political Writers, American Libertarians, People From Euless, Texas, Actresses From Lincoln, Nebraska, Texas Republicans, Radio Personalities From Dallas, The Washington Times People, Journalists From Texas, 20th-century American Actresses, 21st-century American Actresses, Christian Yoga
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