Jenna Elfman

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), EDtv (1999), Keeping the Faith (2000), Town & Country (2001), Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004), and Big Stone Gap (2014).

Elfman has also played leading roles in other television comedies, including Courting Alex (2006), Accidentally on Purpose (2009–2010), 1600 Penn (2012–2013), Growing Up Fisher (2014), and Imaginary Mary (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).^[1]

Early life

Jenna Elfman was born Jennifer Mary Butala on September 30, 1971 in Northridge, California.^[2][3][4][5] Her father Richard was of Croatian ancestry and was an executive for Hughes Aircraft, while her mother Susan was a homemaker. Elfman was raised Roman Catholic.^[3][6][7] Her paternal uncle is Tony Butala, who was the lead singer of the American vocal trio The Lettermen.^[8] 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.^[9][10][11]

Career

1990–1996: Early works

Elfman began her professional career as a dancer, appearing in music videos for Depeche Mode ("Halo", 1990), Anthrax ("Black Lodge", 1993), and Chris Isaak ("Somebody's Crying", 1995), and touring with the rock band ZZ Top 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 Roseanne, NYPD Blue, Almost Perfect and Murder One. In 1996, she was cast as a lead character alongside Molly Ringwald and Lauren Graham in the short-lived ABC sitcom Townies. The series was cancelled after one season and 15 episodes.^[12] 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.^[13][14][15] 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.^[16] 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 Richard Dreyfuss in the comedy film Krippendorf's Tribe. The film received generally negative reviews from critics.^[17] In 1999, she starred opposite Matthew McConaughey in the satirical comedy film EDtv.^[18] 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.^[19] The following year, she starred in the romantic comedy film Keeping the Faith opposite Ben Stiller and Edward Norton (who also directed).^[20][21] The film received generally positive reviews and grossed $60 million.^[22] 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.^[23] It received negative reviews from critics.^[24] Elfman has also done voice-over work in the animated films Dr. Dolittle (1998) and CyberWorld (2000).

2003–present

After 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 Chicago Tribune for her performance.^[25] In 2003, she starred in the live-action/animated comedy film, Looney Tunes: Back in Action. 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.^[26] In 2005, she starred and produced the romantic drama film Touched.^[27]

In 2006, Elfman returned to television with the leading role in the CBS sitcom, Courting Alex. 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.^[28]

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 NBC comedy series, 1600 Penn and later in Growing Up Fisher, which were each cancelled after a single season.^[29] She starred in the romantic comedy film, Big Stone Gap (2014) opposite Ashley Judd, and appeared in the drama film Barry about Barack Obama's life at Columbia University in 1981. In 2017, she starred in another one-season sitcom, Imaginary Mary on ABC. Like 1600 Penn and Growing Up Fisher, the series was cancelled after its first season.^[30]

In 2018, Elfman was cast in the AMC horror drama series, Fear the Walking Dead playing the mysterious nurse June "Naomi / Laura" Dorie.^[31] She made her debut in the fourth season and stayed on show to the eighth and final season.^[32] The series ended in 2023. In 2020, she starred in an episode of the horror anthology series, The Twilight Zone.^[33] She later guest-starred on the ABC crime drama Will Trent and the AMC thriller Dark Winds.^[34] In 2025, she made her return to sitcoms with the recurring role in the ABC comedy series, Shifting Gears.^[35]

Personal life

In February 1991, Jenna Elfman met the actor Bodhi Pine Elfman (né Saboff) during an audition for a Sprite commercial.^[36] They were married on February 18, 1995. Jenna was raised Catholic, and Bodhi is of Jewish descent.^[6][37] The couple have two children.^[38]

Scientology

Elfman was introduced to the Church of Scientology by her husband, and she is now a practicing member.^[38] By 2001 she had attained the State of Clear, and by 2020 she was on the OT VII level.^[39][40] Since the early 1990s Elfman had studied acting with the prominent acting teacher and long-time Scientologist Milton Katselas, but cut ties with him in 2004 after he fell out of favor with Scientology.^[41] In 2001, Elfman opened a Scientology mission in San Francisco.^[40]

In 2005, she appeared at the grand opening of Psychiatry: An Industry of Death, a museum sponsored by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights.^[42] 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 Charlie Sheen co-hosted the Scientology-affiliated New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project charity event at Geisha House in Hollywood.^[43]

Philanthropy

Elfman has participated in philanthropic activities, including donating an hour of her time for auction,^[44] donating a print of her lips,^[45] participating in a telethon fundraiser,^[46] hosting a comedy show,^[47] and asking for charity donations instead of birthday presents.^[48]

Elfman participated in awareness-raising initiatives, including modeling for a fashion show,^[49] 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 advisory board of American Dance Movement (formerly Dizzy Feet Foundation).^[50]

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Accolades