Janel Moloney

Career

Television

Her early work included television guest roles on ER, Sports Night, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., and Murder, She Wrote. Starting in 1999, Moloney had a main role on The West Wing as Donna Moss, beginning as an assistant to Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) before pursuing further ambitions in the next election. Moloney was originally credited only as a guest star, but she appeared in every episode of the first season. From the second season onward, Moloney was listed in the main credits. She has received two Emmy Award nominations, one in 2002 and one in 2004, for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama.

Moloney appeared in the television film Bang Bang You're Dead with Thomas Cavanagh and Randy Harrison, which was first broadcast on October 13, 2002, on Showtime. She played the part of Amber Frey in the made-for-TV movie Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution, broadcast May 25, 2005 on CBS. In 2007, Moloney played Dana Chase, who has a relationship with Tommy Caffee (Jason Clarke) in six episodes of the second season of Brotherhood.

In 2008, Moloney appeared in one episode ("It's a Wonderful Lie") of House M.D. In 2008, she guest-starred in an episode of 30 Rock. Moloney appeared in the 3rd installment of the Lstudio.com web series Puppy Love.

In 2009, she appeared in the American series Life on Mars as Professor Pat Olsen in the episode "Revenge of the Broken Jaw". She also appeared in the episode "Faithfully" of Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Allison Wyler.

Moloney had a recurring role in the first season of HBO drama The Leftovers, and was bumped up to a main role for the following two seasons (2014-2017).

Theatre

In 2007, Moloney made her Off-Broadway stage debut as Theresa in the Playwrights Horizons production 100 Saints You Should Know, written by Kate Fodor and directed by Ethan McSweeny. She appeared in the Off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore in September through October 2, 2011.

Film

Moloney starred in the 2010 feature film Armless, as Anna. She made a brief appearance as Earlene in the 1995 Walter Hill directed western Wild Bill, and appears in the 2013 film Concussion.

Personal life

Moloney has two sons, Julian and Fernando, with composer Marcelo Zarvos, whom she married in 2010. She launched a newsletter on Substack in 2025.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

References

1. 978-1-63671-068-6.
2. (October 3, 2002). "Almanac: On This Date; Today's Birthdays". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
3. (October 3, 2022). "Today in History: October 3; Today's Birthdays". Telegraph Herald.
4. [http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/v181326 "'The West Wing' Overview"] {{webarchive. link. (2012-07-23 allrovi.com, accessed November 28, 2011)
5. [http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search?person=Janel+Moloney&program=West+Wing&start_year=2002&end_year=2005&network=All&web_category=All&winner=All "Emmy Awards and Nominations"]. [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]. Accessed November 28, 2011
6. [http://www.emmyawardsonline.com/emmy-nominees/emmy-nominee-janel-moloney.html "2004 Emmy Nominated"] {{Webarchive. link. (2015-09-24 [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]. Accessed November 28, 2011)
7. Erickson, Hal.[http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/v271458 "'Bang, Bang, You're Dead' Cast and Crew"] {{webarchive. link. (2012-07-22 allrovi.com, accessed November 28, 2011)
8. Kelleher, Terry, Lipton, Mike, and Sanz, Cynthia.[http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20147664,00.html "Review: 'Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution' "] people.com, May 30, 2005
9. Mitovich, Matt. (2007-05-04). "It's Showtime for West Winger, Princess Leia".
10. Frette, Bruce.[https://www.tvguide.com/cheers-jeers/Cheers-White-House-8676.aspx "Cheers: From the White House to House'"]. ''TV Guide'', January 30, 2008
11. Brantley, Ben.[http://theater.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/theater/reviews/19saints.html "Theater Review: '100 Saints You Should Know'"] ''The New York Times'', September 19, 2007
12. Broadway.com Staff.[http://www.broadway.com/shows/love-loss-and-what-i-wore/buzz/157503/janel-moloney-adriane-lenox-and-joyce-van-patten-join-love-loss-and-what-i-wore/ "Janel Moloney, Adriane Lenox and Joyce Van Patten Join 'Love, Loss and What I Wore'"] broadway.com, August 31, 2011
13. Nelson, Rob.[https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117941954?refcatid=31 "'Armless' Film Review"] ''Variety'', January 24, 2010
14. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110222073931/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018615?refCatId=26 "Births and Hitched"], ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', May 3, 2010. Archived from [https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018615.html?categoryId=26&cs=1 the original]
15. "'The West Wing' Cast: Where Are They Now?".
16. Moloney, Janel. (2025-03-04). "Welcome to us!".