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, 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).

Early life Jenna Elfman was born Jennifer Mary Butala on September 30, 1971 in Northridge, California. 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. Her paternal uncle is Tony Butala, who was the lead singer of the American vocal trio The Lettermen. 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 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. 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 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 Elfman in 2000After 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 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 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, Jenna Elfman met the actor Bodhi Pine Elfman (né Saboff) during an audition for a Sprite commercial. They were married on February 18, 1995. Jenna was raised Catholic, and Bodhi is of Jewish descent. The couple have two children. 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 Milton Katselas, 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. 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.

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 advisory board of American Dance Movement (formerly Dizzy Feet Foundation).

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1997 Grosse Pointe Blank Tanya 1998 Dr. Dolittle Owl Voice Can't Hardly Wait The Angel Uncredited Krippendorf's Tribe Prof. Veronica Micelli 1999 EDtv Shari Venus Venus 2000 Lorelei Voice CyberWorld Phig Keeping the Faith Anna Riley 2001 Town & Country Auburn 2003 Looney Tunes: Back in Action Kate Houghton 2004 Clifford's Really Big Movie Dorothy Voice 2005 Touched Angela Martin Executive producer What's Hip, Doc? Supermodel Voice – uncompleted short 2008 Struck Pregnant date Short film 2009 The Six Wives of Henry Lefay Ophelia Love Hurts Darlene 2011 Friends with Benefits Annie 2014 Big Stone Gap Miss Iva Lou Wade 2016 Barry Kathy Baughman

Television Year Title Role Notes 1992 Murder, She Wrote Ballet Dancer in background Uncredited; Episode: "Dance Diabolique" 1993 Double Deception Lisa Majorski Television film 1994 The George Carlin Show Psychedelic girl As Jenna Butala; Episode: "George Does A Bad Thing" 1995 Lily Episode: "Bottoms, Up" Roseanne Garland Episode: "The Getaway, Almost" 1996 Her Last Chance Leslie Television film Townies Shannon Canotis Main role; 15 episodes Murder One Angela Scalese Episode: "Chapter Seventeen" Almost Perfect Becky Toll Episode: "Being Fired Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry" NYPD Blue Patty Snow Episode: "The Nutty Confessor" 1997 The Single Guy Jordan Episode: "Just Friends?" 1997–2002 Dharma & Greg Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery Main role; 119 episodes 2002 Obsessed Ellena Roberts Television film 2004–2011 Two and a Half Men Frankie / Dharma Montgomery 3 episodes 2006 Courting Alex Alex Rose Main role; 13 episodes 2007 Brothers & Sisters Lizzie Jones-Baker Episode: "Game Night" 2008 My Name Is Earl Kimmi Himmler Episode: "We've Got Spirit" 2009–2010 Accidentally on Purpose Billie Chase Main role; 18 episodes 2012 Shameless Jill Episode: "Fiona Interrupted" Damages Naomi Walling 7 episodes 2012–2013 1600 Penn Emily Nash Gilchrist Main role; 13 episodes 2013 Royal Pains Lacy Episode: "Open Invitation" 2014 Growing Up Fisher Joyce Fisher Main role; 13 episodes So You Think You Can Dance Herself Guest judge 2015 The Perfect Stanleys Ellen Television film 2017 Imaginary Mary Alice Main role; 9 episodes 2018–2023 Fear the Walking Dead June "Naomi / Laura" Dorie Main role; 75 episodes 2018–2021 Talking Dead Herself 6 episodes 2020 The Twilight Zone Barbara Episode: "A Human Face" 2024 Will Trent Edie Reynolds Episode: "Cpt. Duke Wagner" 2025 Shifting Gears Eve Drake 10 episodes Dark Winds Agent Sylvia Washington 8 episodes

Music videos Year Song Artist 1990 "Halo" Depeche Mode

Accolades