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Jenna Elfman (born Jennifer Mary Butala, September 30, 1971) is an American actress. She is best known for her leading role as Dharma on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg (1997–2002), for which she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999, and three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. After making her film debut in Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), she appeared in Krippendorf's Tribe (1998), Dr. Dolittle (1998), (1999), Keeping the Faith (2000), Town & Country (2001), (2003), Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004), and Big Stone Gap (2014).

Elfman has also played leading roles in other television comedies, including (2006), Accidentally on Purpose (2009–2010), 1600 Penn (2012–2013), Growing Up Fisher (2014), and (2017). She had a recurring role in the FX legal drama Damages in 2012, and has been a series regular on the AMC horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead (2018–2023).


Early life
Jenna Elfman was born Jennifer Mary Butala on September 30, 1971 in Northridge, California.Elfman, Jenna. (November 21, 2003). "Elfman happily shows her 'Looney' side", Interviewed by Angela Dawson, Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on April 23, 2010. Jenna Elfman says of her maiden name Butala, "It's Croatian. My great-grandparents are from Croatia. Her father Richard was of Croatian ancestry and was an executive for Hughes Aircraft, while her mother Susan was a homemaker. Elfman was raised . Her paternal uncle is , who was the lead singer of the American vocal trio . She attended St. Genevieve High School in the San Fernando Valley for a year, before eventually graduating from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. She has also attended California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and Westside School of Ballet.


Career

1990–1996: Early works
Elfman began her professional career as a dancer, appearing in music videos for ("Halo", 1990), Anthrax ("Black Lodge", 1993), and ("Somebody's Crying", 1995), and touring with the rock band on their 1994 tour as a "Legs Girl". After appearing in television commercials, Elfman co-starred in the made-for-television movie Double Deception (1993) and guest-starred on , , and Murder One. In 1996, she was cast as a lead character alongside and in the short-lived ABC sitcom . The series was cancelled after one season and 15 episodes. The following year, she made her big screen debut appearing in the black comedy film, Grosse Pointe Blank.


1997–2002: Breakthrough
In 1997, Elfman was cast in the ABC comedy series Dharma & Greg playing the leading role of Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery. She received positive reviews from critics for her breakthrough performance. She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999 for the show's second season, as well as three Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Elfman also received TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy nomination in 1998, as well as three Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy nominations. The show ran for five seasons until its cancellation in 2002.

During her time on Dharma & Greg, Elfman starred in a number of films. In 1998, she starred alongside in the comedy film Krippendorf's Tribe. The film received generally negative reviews from critics. In 1999, she starred opposite Matthew McConaughey in the satirical comedy film . The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, with some criticizing its similarity to The Truman Show (1998), but was a box office flop, grossing only $35.2 million compared to its $80 million production budget. The following year, she starred in the romantic comedy film Keeping the Faith opposite and (who also directed). The film received generally positive reviews and grossed $60 million. Elfman received Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy nomination for her performance. In 2001, she appeared in the romantic comedy film Town & Country, a $105 million production budget box office bomb. The film was filmed in 1998, and after 12 release date changes, the film finally made it into theaters on April 27, 2001, nearly three years after filming began. It received negative reviews from critics. Elfman has also done voice-over work in the animated films Dr. Dolittle (1998) and (2000).


2003–present
Dharma & Greg, Elfman played against the type role as a psychotic woman in the made-for-television thriller film, Obsessed (2002). She received positive review from for her performance. In 2003, she starred in the live-action/animated comedy film, . The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics and was a box-office bomb, grossing $68.5 million worldwide on an $80 million budget. In 2005, she starred and produced the romantic drama film Touched.

In 2006, Elfman returned to television with the leading role in the CBS sitcom, . The series was cancelled after one season. She guest-starred on Two and a Half Men, My Name Is Earl and Brothers & Sisters. In 2009, she appeared in the comedy films The Six Wives of Henry Lefay and Love Hurts. In 2011, she had a supporting role in the romantic comedy film Friends with Benefits, and in 2012 she and her husband Bodhi launched a podcast called Kicking and Screaming by Jenna and Bodhi Elfman.

Elfman starred in another short-lived CBS sitcom, Accidentally on Purpose during the 2009–10 season. In 2012, she took a recurring role in the FX legal thriller series, Damages. In 2013, Elfman starred in the comedy series, 1600 Penn and later in Growing Up Fisher, which were each cancelled after a single season. She starred in the romantic comedy film, Big Stone Gap (2014) opposite , and appeared in the drama film Barry about 's life at Columbia University in 1981. In 2017, she starred in another one-season sitcom, on ABC. Like 1600 Penn and Growing Up Fisher, the series was cancelled after its first season.

In 2018, Elfman was cast in the AMC horror drama series, Fear the Walking Dead playing the mysterious nurse June "Naomi / Laura" Dorie. She made her debut in the fourth season and stayed on show to the eighth and final season. The series ended in 2023. In 2020, she starred in an episode of the horror anthology series, The Twilight Zone. She later guest-starred on the ABC crime drama and the AMC thriller . In 2025, she made her return to sitcoms with the recurring role in the ABC comedy series, Shifting Gears.


Personal life
In February 1991, Jenna Elfman met the actor (née Saboff) during an audition for a Sprite commercial. They were married on February 18, 1995. Jenna was raised Catholic, and Bodhi is of descent. The couple have two children.

Scientology
Elfman was introduced to the Church of Scientology by her husband, and she is now a practicing member. By 2001 she had attained the State of Clear, and by 2020 she was on the OT VII level. Since the early 1990s Elfman had studied acting with the prominent acting teacher and long-time Scientologist , but cut ties with him in 2004 after he fell out of favor with Scientology. In 2001, Elfman opened a Scientology mission in San Francisco.

In 2005, she appeared at the grand opening of , a museum sponsored by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights. On May 24, 2006, Elfman 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). On March 27, 2008, she and actor co-hosted the Scientology-affiliated New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project charity event at Geisha House in Hollywood.


Philanthropy
Elfman has participated in philanthropic activities, including donating an hour of her time for auction, donating a print of her lips, participating in a telethon fundraiser, hosting a comedy show, and asking for charity donations instead of birthday presents.

Elfman participated in awareness-raising initiatives, including modeling for a fashion show, reading to schoolchildren as part of the National Education Association Read Across America program, and hosting a party in her home to raise awareness for causes headed by the Environmental Working Group.

Elfman is on the board of directors of the Dizzy Feet Foundation.


Filmography

Film
1997Grosse Pointe BlankTanya
1998Dr. DolittleOwlVoice
Can't Hardly WaitThe AngelUncredited
Krippendorf's TribeProf. Veronica Micelli
1999Shari
VenusVenus
2000LoreleiVoice
Phig
Keeping the FaithAnna Riley
2001Town & CountryAuburn
2003Kate Houghton
2004Clifford's Really Big MovieDorothyVoice
2005TouchedAngela MartinExecutive producer
What's Hip, Doc?SupermodelVoice – uncompleted short
2008StruckPregnant dateShort film
2009The Six Wives of Henry LefayOphelia
Love HurtsDarlene
2011Friends with BenefitsAnnie
2014Big Stone GapMiss Iva Lou Wade
2016BarryKathy Baughman


Television
1992Murder, She WroteBallet Dancer in backgroundUncredited; Episode: "Dance Diabolique"
1993Double DeceptionLisa MajorskiTelevision film
1994The George Carlin ShowPsychedelic girlAs Jenna Butala; Episode: "George Does A Bad Thing"
1995LilyEpisode: "Bottoms, Up"
GarlandEpisode: "The Getaway, Almost"
1996Her Last ChanceLeslieTelevision film
Shannon CanotisMain role; 15 episodes
Murder OneAngela ScaleseEpisode: "Chapter Seventeen"
Becky TollEpisode: "Being Fired Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry"
Patty SnowEpisode: "The Nutty Confessor"
1997The Single GuyJordanEpisode: "Just Friends?"
1997–2002Dharma & GregDharma Freedom Finkelstein MontgomeryMain role; 119 episodes
2002ObsessedEllena RobertsTelevision film
2004–2011Two and a Half MenFrankie / Dharma Montgomery3 episodes
2006Alex RoseMain role; 13 episodes
2007Brothers & SistersLizzie Jones-BakerEpisode: "Game Night"
2008My Name Is EarlKimmi HimmlerEpisode: "We've Got Spirit"
2009–2010Accidentally on PurposeBillie ChaseMain role; 18 episodes
2012ShamelessJillEpisode: "Fiona Interrupted"
DamagesNaomi Walling7 episodes
2012–20131600 PennEmily Nash GilchristMain role; 13 episodes
2013LacyEpisode: "Open Invitation"
2014Growing Up FisherJoyce FisherMain role; 13 episodes
So You Think You Can DanceHerselfGuest judge
2015The Perfect StanleysEllenTelevision film
2017AliceMain role; 9 episodes
2018–2023Fear the Walking DeadJune "Naomi / Laura" DorieMain role; 75 episodes
2018–2021Herself6 episodes
2020The Twilight ZoneBarbaraEpisode: "A Human Face"
2024Edie ReynoldsEpisode: "Cpt. Duke Wagner"
2025Shifting GearsEve Drake10 episodes
Agent Sylvia Washington8 episodes


Music videos
1990"Halo"


Accolades
American Comedy Awards1999Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or SyndicationDharma & Gregrowspan=3
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards2001Favorite Actress — Comedy/RomanceKeeping the Faith
1998Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Musical or ComedyDharma & Greg
1999
2000
Golden Apple Awards1998Female Discovery of the Year
Online Film & Television AssociationBest Actress in a Comedy SeriesDharma & Gregrowspan=10
1999
Primetime Emmy Awards1998Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
1999
2000
Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical
2001
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or MusicalKeeping the Faith
2002Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyDharma & Greg
1998Individual Achievement in Comedy
TV Guide Awards1999Favorite Actress in a Comedyrowspan=2
2000
2001rowspan=3
Viewers for Quality Television Awards1998Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series
1999


External links

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