Melora American actress and singer Diane Hardin is well-known for her parts as Jan Levinson in NBC’s sitcom “The Office” and as Trudy Monk in the comedy-drama TV series “Monk.” She made her acting debut in the 1977 TV series “Thunder” and has since acted in over 70 motion pictures and television shows. In 2014, Hardin was nominated for an Emmy Award for her recurring performance in the highly regarded television series “Transparent.” She was exposed to the entertainment industry at a young age and naturally had an interest in performing thanks to her parents, actors Jerry Hardin and actress Diane Hardin, who also served as her acting instructor. After completing her studies, she started a full-fledged career as an actor and went on to have great success in her chosen field. In addition to her singing prowess, Hardin has put out multiple albums to date, such as “The Meloradrama” and “All the Way to Mars.” Her outstanding vocal and acting performances have won her millions of admirers worldwide. She is married, has kids, and spends her leisure time teaching her kids to dance.
Early Life & Childhood
Melora June 29, 1967, saw the birth of Diane Hardin in Houston, Texas, USA. Her parents were Jerry Hardin, an actor, and Diane Hardin, an acting coach and manager. Shawn Hardin is the name of her brother. She relocated to San Francisco, California, when she was four years old.
As a young child, Melora made her acting debut in the TV series “Thunder” in 1977. Following this, she appeared in guest spots on the drama shows Quincy, M.E. and The Love Boat.
She debuted in a movie as Carmel in the comedy-crime picture “The North Avenue Irregulars” in 1979. The actress was chosen for the regular part of Micki Carroll in the soap opera “Secrets of Midland Heights” the following year. Teens’ love life were the focus of this soap opera, which catered mostly to a teenage audience.
She first attended Ulysses S. Grant High School after graduating from Patrick Henry Junior High School. She then received her degree from Sarah Lawrence College.
Career of Melora Hardin
In 1983, Melora Hardin portrayed Tess Benjamin on NBC’s “The Family Tree.” The next year, she made an appearance in a “Mama Malone” episode. She debuted as Joy Villafranco in the cast of “The Best Times” in 1985. The program addressed topics like drug usage and premarital sex.
The actress portrayed Katie in the 1986 action movie “Iron Eagle,” which was a Canadian-American production. She also made an appearance in the comedy film “Soul Man” in the same year, as Whitney Dunbar.
She played Frances “Baby” Kellerman in the comedy-drama series “Dirty Dancing” from 1988 to 1989. In the dramatic film “Lambada” (1990), Hardin portrayed Sandy Thomas alongside Adolfo Quinones, J. Eddie Peck, Dennis Burkley, Ricky Paull Goldin, and Keene Curtis.
In 1991, she portrayed a nightclub singer in the superhero film “The Rocketeer.” Hardin also performed the song “Begin the Beguine” in the film, showcasing her singing abilities.
She had several guest appearances in television shows in the early 1990s, including “Friends” and “Quantum Leap.” In the 1997 American political thriller “Absolute Power,” which was produced, directed, and starred Clint Eastwood, the gifted actress played Christy Sullivan.
Melora Hardin sang “Boy of My Dreams” and had a significant part in the 1997 television movie “Tower of Terror.” She starred in the films “Erasable You” and “Seven Girlfriends” in the late 1990s.
In 2000, she was given the chance to portray Barbara Arno in the comedy-drama series “Cover Me.” She made a guest appearance in the 2003 episode “The Curse” of the television series “NCIS” as Former Petty Officer Erin Toner.
From 2004 until 2009, she portrayed Trudy Monk in the television series “Monk.” This comedy-drama detective mystery TV show explored the personal lives of the main characters in a dramatic and hilarious manner, even though it was primarily a police procedural series.
Hardin started starring as Jan Levinson in the sitcom “The Office” in 2005. She portrayed Robby Ray’s romantic interest in “Hannah Montana: The Movie” four years later. In 2009, she produced and directed the drama film “You.”
In 2010, the actress appeared on NBC’s courtroom drama series “Outlaw” in a recurring role as Claire Sax. Following a small part in the romance film “I Melt with You,” she started starring in the television series “Wedding Band,” which tells the tale of four friends who, in spite of their personal struggles, spend their free time playing in a wedding band.
Melora Hardin played Tammy in “Transparent” from 2014 to 2015. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category of “Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series” for her role in the TV show. She also worked on the direct-to-video film “An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight” and the movie “Self/less” at this time.
She starred as Grace in the 2018 motion picture “Cruel Hearts.” She is now playing Jacqueline Carlyle in the television series “The Bold Type.”
Large-scale Works
Melora Hardin was chosen for a key role in “The Bold Type” in 2017. The biography of former Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles served as the inspiration for this American comedy-drama series. It centers on three friends who work at the international women’s magazine Scarlet: Kat, Sutton, and Jane. Scarlet’s editor-in-chief, Jacqueline Carlyle, is portrayed by Hardin, who received praise for the role.
In 2010, Hardin made her NHL debut as a vocalist for the Anaheim Ducks and Phoenix Coyotes, singing the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Personal & Family Life
Gildart Jackson, an actor and playwright, and Melora Hardin were wed in 1997. After meeting at a party, the two got together right away and began dating. The pair currently has Piper and Rory as their daughters.
Cleo Elizabeth Hardin is the niece of Melora. She is the sister-in-law of producer and actress Kara Meyers, who has starred in films such as “The Perfect Party,” “The Debtors,” and “The Venice Project.”
Net worth of Melora Hardin
The estimated net worth of Melora Hardin is about $12 million.