Harris, Mel 1956- (Mel Kennerly)

PERSONAL

Full name, Mary Ellen Harris; born July 12, 1956, in Bethlehem, PA; daughter of Warren (a university football coach) and Mary Michael "Mike" (a high school science teacher) Harris; married David Silbergeld, 1978 (divorced, 1979); married Brian Kilclinic, June 14, 1980 (divorced, 1982); married David Hume Kennerly (a photojournalist), 1983 (divorced, 1988); married Cotter Smith (an actor), 1988 (divorced, 1996); married Michael Toomey (an investment banker), May 26, 2001 (separated); children: (third marriage) Byron; (fourth marriage) Madeline Michael. Education: Attended Columbia University; studied acting with Lee Strasberg, Betty Cashman, and Milton Katselas. Avocational Interests: Swimming, biking, training for triathlons, practicing yoga, travel.

Addresses:

Manager—Joannie Burstein, Burstein Co., 15304 Sunset Blvd., Suite 208, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.

Career:

Actress. Also worked as a model.

Awards, Honors:

Golden Globe Award nomination, best actress in a television drama series, 1990, for thirtysomething; Theatre World Award, 1992, for Empty Hearts.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Hope Murdoch Steadman, thirtysomething, ABC, 1987-91.

Carly Davis Farrell, Something So Right, NBC, 1996-97, then ABC, 1997-98.

Sylvia Capshaw, Saints & Sinners, MY TV, 2007.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Fay Salerno, Harry's Hong Kong (also known as China Hand), ABC, 1987.

Eleanor Goldberg Rusher (some sources cite Eleanor Gilbert Rusher), My Brother's Wife (also known as Just Good Friends and The Middle Ages), ABC, 1989.

Jill Tyler, Child of Rage, CBS, 1992.

Allison Wilcox, Desperate Journey: The Allison Wilcox Story, ABC, 1993.

Kathy Arnold, With Hostile Intent (also known as With Hostile Intent: Sisters in Black and Blue), CBS, 1993.

Dianna Taylor, The Spider and the Fly, USA Network, 1994.

Jordan Kirkland, Broken Lullaby (also known as Harlequin: Broken Lullaby and Le mystere borodine), CBS, 1994.

Susan Rodgers, Ultimate Betrayal, CBS, 1994.

Claire Downowski, Women of Spring Break (also known as Welcome to Paradise), CBS, 1995.

Dr. Laurel O'Connor, Sharon's Secret (also known as Into the Fire), USA Network, 1995.

Ellen Bradford, The Secretary (also known as Criminal Instinct), CBS, 1995.

Laura Hyler, What Kind of Mother Are You?, NBC, 1996.

Liz Hemmitt, A Case for Life, ABC, 1996.

Sarah McLeish, Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest, CBS, 1997.

Annie Epson, Out of Time, Showtime, 2000.

Karen Lowry, The Retrievers, Animal Planet, 2001.

Cordella Calloway, Firetrap, HBO, 2001.

Diana Downs, Another Pretty Face, PAX, 2002.

Beth Fleming, Out of the Woods, Hallmark Channel, 2005.

Herself, Naked Brothers Band Movie, Nickelodeon, 2005.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Madge Oberholtzer, Cross of Fire, NBC, 1989.

Kate Rule, Grass Roots, NBC, 1992.

Sonia Klonsky, The Burden of Proof (also known as Scott Turow's "The Burden of Proof"), ABC, 1992.

The 100 Most Memorable TV Moments, TV Land, 2004.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Host, Hush Little Baby: The Challenge of Child Care, Lifetime, 1989.

The 15th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1989.

The 2nd Annual Valvoline National Driving Test, CBS, 1990.

Presenter, The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards, Disney Channel, 1993, 1994.

Intimate Portrait: Victoria Principal, Lifetime, 1998.

Inside "thirtysomething," Bravo, 2001.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Sylvia Capshaw, Saints & Sinners, MY TV, 2007.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

"Cementing Relationships," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1980.

Jane Whittier, "Trouble in the Stars," The Wizard, CBS, 1986.

Girlfriend, "A Very Happy Ending," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, NBC, 1986.

"Working without a Net," Heart of the City, ABC, 1986.

Jessica, "First Love," Rags to Riches, NBC, 1987.

"Automobiles," American Treasury, CBS, 1989.

"Books," American Treasury, CBS, 1989.

"The S.S. Savannah," American Treasury, CBS, 1989.

Dr. Christina Markham, "Paradise," The Outer Limits (also known as The New Outer Limits), Showtime and syndicated, 1996.

The Pet Shop, Animal Planet, 1997.

Helen Lindley, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," Dawson's Creek, The WB, 1999.

Dr. Ivy Castelli, "Love and Dermatology," Madigan Men, ABC, 2000.

Kelly Rockhill, "The Lord Moves in Mysterious Ways," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2001.

Biddy Hightower, "Recovery Time," Strong Medicine, Lifetime, 2002.

Oma Desala, "Meridian," Stargate SG-1 (also known as La porte des etoiles), Showtime, 2002.

Mrs. Jensen, "Illusions," North Shore, Fox, 2004.

Oma Desala, "Reckoning: Parts 1 & 2," Stargate SG-1 (also known as La porte des etoiles), Sci-Fi Channel, 2005.

Oma Desala, "Threads," Stargate SG-1 (also known as La porte des etoiles), Sci-Fi Channel, 2005.

Ricky Rafferty, "Drought Conditions," The West Wing, NBC, 2005.

Tally Hughes, "Ubusy?," Jake in Progress, ABC, 2005.

Dora Cresswell, "Straits of Malacca," JAG, CBS, 2005.

Dora Cresswell, "Death at the Mosque," JAG, CBS, 2005.

U.S. ambassador to Spain, "The General," E-Ring, NBC, 2006.

Grace Anderson, "Superstar," Cold Case, CBS, 2006.

Barbara Bardach, "Safe," House, M.D. (also known as House), Fox, 2006.

Julie Rollins, "And Here's to You, Mrs. Azrael," CSI: NY, CBS, 2006.

Congresswoman Steyer, "Sex, Birth, Death," Criminal Minds, CBS, 2006.

Beth Murphy, "Maternal Instinct," Close to Home, CBS, 2007.

Constance Hughes, "Open and Shut," Cane, CBS, 2007.

Appeared (credited as Mel Kennerly) in The $100,000 Pyramid game show, syndicated.

Television Director; Episodic:

"Out the Door," thirtysomething, ABC, 1991.

Film Appearances:

Terry, Wanted: Dead or Alive, New World, 1987.

Dr. Nora Haley, Cameron's Closet, SVS, 1988.

Tracy, K-9, Universal, 1989.

Sarah, Raising Cain, Universal, 1992.

Catherine June "Kate" Sullivan, Desperate Motive (also known as Distant Cousins), New Line Cinema, 1993.

Dr. Renee Descartes, Suture, Samuel Goldwyn Company, 1993.

Susan Allen, Wind Dancer, KOAN/Majestic Entertainment, 1994.

Voice of Claire Tyler, The Pagemaster (animated), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1994.

Jennifer Blake, Sonic Impact, New City Releasing, 1999.

Faye Baxter, Dynamite (also known as Family under Siege), PorchLight Entertainment, 2002.

Sarah Springfield, Hangman's Curse (also known as The Veritas Project: Hangman's Curse), Twentieth Century-Fox, 2003.

Dr. Harrison, Purple Heart, 2005, Indican Pictures, 2008.

Charlie, Arc, Shoreline Entertainment, 2006.

Stage Appearances:

Carol Shartel, Empty Hearts, Circle Repertory Company, New York City, 1992.

American Appetites, 2000.

Also appeared in productions of Barefoot in the Park, Guys and Dolls, Hatful of Rain, The Music Man, and The Time of Your Life.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

Frank Peretti: From Page to Screen, Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2004.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

People Weekly, October 26, 1987, p. 55; April 21, 1997, p. 74; July 30, 2001, p. 48.