Jenna Elfman

Early life

Elfman's paternal uncle is Tony Butala, lead singer of the American vocal trio The Lettermen since 1958. She is of Croatian ancestry on her father's side and was raised Roman Catholic.

Elfman attended high school at St. Genevieve High School in the San Fernando Valley for a year, before eventually graduating at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; she then attended college at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She studied at the Westside School of Ballet, receiving a full scholarship.

Career

1990–1996: Early works

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 movies. In 1998, she starred alongside Richard Dreyfuss 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 EDtv. 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 Ben Stiller and Edward Norton (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 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. 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. 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, 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 played Justin Timberlake's character's sister in the romantic comedy film, Friends with Benefits. In 2012, Elfman and her husband Bodhi started their podcast, 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 NBC 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 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.

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 Will Trent and the AMC thriller Dark Winds. In 2025, she made her return to sitcoms with the recurring role in the ABC comedy series, Shifting Gears.

Personal life

In February 1991, she met actor Bodhi Pine Elfman (née Saboff) during an audition for a Sprite commercial. Four years later, they were married on February 18, 1995. Bodhi is of Jewish descent, and Jenna was raised Catholic. When they met, he was a practicing Scientologist. She became a Scientologist as well after her husband introduced her to its teachings. They have two children.

Scientology

Elfman is a member of the Church of Scientology. 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 prominent acting teacher and long-time Scientologist Milton Katselas, but cut ties with him in 2004 when Katselas had fallen into disfavor with Scientology. In 2001, Elfman opened a Scientology mission in San Francisco.

In 2005, she appeared at the grand opening of Citizens Commission on Human Rights' museum, Psychiatry: An Industry of Death. She and husband Bodhi are listed on the CCHR website as members of the board of advisors.

On May 24, 2006, she 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), an organization formed with the purpose of bringing artists together with the common cause of raising awareness of human rights around the world.

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.

Fundraising activities

Elfman participated in fundraising 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

Television

Music videos

Accolades

References

References

1. (2021-09-20). "Celebrity birthdays for the week of Sept. 26-Oct. 2".
2. (November 15, 2017). "'Fear the Walking Dead' Recruits Jenna Elfman as Season 4 Regular".
3. 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) origin, "It's Croatian. My great-grandparents are from Croatia. My dad visited Croatia and I'd love to go too someday. He met some relatives who have survived some really incredible, traumatic experiences. He was just so blown away by their stamina – their spiritual stamina – to keep going and to survive and create that life no matter what ... It's really commendable."
4. "Jenna Elfman". [[Yahoo! Movies]].
5. "Campus Facts: Notable CSUN Alumni".
6. (September 18, 1996). "'TOWNIES' WANNA BE 'FRIENDS'".
7. Richmond, Ray. (September 22, 1997). "Dharma and Greg".
8. James, Caryn. (September 24, 1997). "TELEVISION REVIEW; She's Wild, He's Square: It's Made in Heaven". The New York Times.
9. (September 28, 1997). "The Couple of the Fall Moment".
10. "Jenna Elfman".
11. (February 27, 1998). "Krippendorf's Tribe – Rotten Tomatoes".
12. Stone, Rolling. (December 7, 2000). "EdTV".
13. (March 26, 1999). "EDtv – Rotten Tomatoes".
14. Mitchell, Elvis. (April 14, 2000). "FILM REVIEW; Religion and Hormones, Surrounded by a Triangle". The New York Times.
15. "Keeping the Faith".
16. (April 14, 2000). "Keeping the Faith – Rotten Tomatoes".
17. (February 15, 2017). "How Warren Beatty's Town & Country became one of Hollywood's most notorious flops".
18. (April 27, 2001). "Town & Country – Rotten Tomatoes".
19. (September 15, 2002). "Elfman portrays psychotic woman in 'Obsessed'".
20. (November 14, 2003). "Looney Tunes: Back in Action – Rotten Tomatoes".
21. (May 22, 2017). "Touched – Rotten Tomatoes".
22. (January 23, 2006). "ELFMAN CAN'T SAVE 'ALEX' THE NOT-SO-GREAT".
23. (February 8, 2013). "Rockin' Libsyn Podcasts: Kicking and Screaming by Jenna and Bodhi Elfman".
24. Andreeva, Nellie. (May 7, 2012). "2ND UPDATE: '1600 Penn', 'Animal Practice', 'New Normal', 'Revolution' & 'Save Me' Picked Up To Series At NBC".
25. (May 12, 2017). "Which Network TV Shows Have Been Canceled?". [[The New York Times]].
26. "'Fear the Walking Dead' casts Jenna Elfman as new series regular".
27. Hansen, Renee. (March 10, 2023). "Fear the Walking Dead Jenna Elfman says goodbye to June, Laura, Naomi".
28. Pollock, Sarabeth. (July 5, 2020). "Review: Jenna Elfman in The Twilight Zone 'A Human Face'".
29. Campione, Katie. (April 10, 2024). "'Dark Winds': Jenna Elfman & Bruce Greenwood Among Extensive Season 3 Guest Cast".
30. Andreeva, Nellie. (December 12, 2024). "Jenna Elfman Joins ABC's 'Shifting Gears' In Return To Multi-Camera Comedy".
31. (November 25, 1997). "Jenna Elfman's Winning Formula: Hard Work That's Fun". [[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]].
32. (July 23, 2007). "Jenna Elfman Gives Birth to a Son in LA: Jenna Elfman and Husband Welcome First Child, a Son Named Story Elias, Her Publicist Says".
33. Reitman, Janet. (February 8, 2011). "Inside Scientology".
34. (2001). "Interview of the month with actress Jenna Elfman". [[Celebrity Centre.
35. (2020). "Celebrity Interview : Jenna Elfman". [[Celebrity Centre.
36. Oppenheimer, Mark. (July 15, 2007). "The Actualizer". The Village Voice.
37. (December 17, 2005). "New L.A. Museum Targets Psychiatry as an Industry of Death". [[CCHR International]].
38. "Citizens Commission on Human Rights Board of Advisors". [[CCHR International]].
39. (March 27, 2008). "Jenna hosts NY Rescue Workers Detoxification Project Charity Event". JennaElfman.com.
40. "Grammy Award-Winning Singers Alicia Keys and Patti LaBelle, Actress Jenna Elfman Top the List of Entertainers to Participate in Online Celebrity Auction".
41. (January 28, 2007). "Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel and Other Celebs Offer Kiss Stamps for Charity – January 28, 2007".
42. Oldenburg, Ann. (January 22, 2010). "George Clooney explains 'Hope for Haiti' celebrity phone bank". [[USA Today]].
43. "Jenna Elfman Interview".
44. "Jenna Elfman Charity Biography".
45. (February 8, 2012). "Red Dress fashion show draws attention to heart disease".
46. (April 17, 2014). "Dizzy Feet Foundation Board Members".
47. (May 5, 2014). "Jenna Elfman reveals past as Depeche Mode video star: 'They told me to dance badly!'".
48. "Jenna Elfman".
49. "2nd Annual TV Awards (1997–1998) – Online Film & Television Association".
50. "3rd Annual TV Awards (1998–1999) – Online Film & Television Association".
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52. Associated Press. (July 30, 2007). "Publicist: Jenna Elfman Gives Birth to First Child, a Son Named Story Elias". [[Fox News]].