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Daphne Zuniga
Daphne Zuniga Photo Op GalaxyCon Raleigh 2019.jpg
Zuniga at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2019
Born
Daphne Eurydice Zuniga

(1962-10-28) October 28, 1962 (age 62)
San Francisco, California, US
Alma mater University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation Actress
Years active 1980–present
Spouse(s)
David Mleczko
(m. 2019)

Daphne Eurydice Zuniga (born October 28, 1962) is an American actress known for her roles in movies and television shows. She became famous for playing Princess Vespa in the funny science-fiction movie Spaceballs (1987).

Many people also know her as Jo Reynolds from the popular 1990s TV show Melrose Place. She later played Victoria Davis in the teen drama One Tree Hill. Besides acting, Zuniga is also a dedicated environmentalist who works to protect the planet.

Early Life and Education

Daphne Zuniga was born in San Francisco, California. Her mother, Agnes, is a minister, and her father, Joaquin, was a philosophy professor from Guatemala. She has a sister named Jennifer.

From a young age, Daphne knew she wanted to be an actress. As a teenager, she joined a special acting program at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

When her parents divorced, she moved with her mother and sister to Vermont. After finishing high school in 1980, she moved back to California to study acting at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). During this time, she became good friends and shared an apartment with another future star, actress Meg Ryan.

Acting Career

Early Movies

Zuniga's career began in the early 1980s. One of her first major roles was in the romantic comedy The Sure Thing (1985), where she starred with John Cusack. She also acted alongside the legendary comedian Lucille Ball in the TV movie Stone Pillow (1985).

In 1987, she landed one of her most famous roles as Princess Vespa in the Mel Brooks comedy Spaceballs. The movie, which made fun of science-fiction films like Star Wars, became a huge hit and is still loved by fans today.

She also starred in the science-fiction horror movie The Fly II (1989) and the comedies Modern Girls (1986) and Gross Anatomy (1989).

Television Stardom

Daphne Zuniga at FedCon P5190014 (27629874507)
Zuniga at FedCon in Germany, 2018.

In 1992, Zuniga joined the cast of the TV drama Melrose Place. She played the photographer Jo Reynolds for four years. The show was very popular and made her a well-known television star.

From 2008 to 2012, she had a recurring role as the fashionable and often difficult mother, Victoria Davis, on the teen drama One Tree Hill. She also starred in the family TV series Beautiful People from 2005 to 2006.

Zuniga has appeared in many TV movies, especially for the Hallmark Channel, including A Family Thanksgiving (2010) and On Strike for Christmas (2010).

Recent Work and Future Projects

Zuniga continues to act in movies and television. In 2018, she directed her first movie, which was released in 2019 as Deadly Assistant. She has also appeared in TV shows like NCIS and Fantasy Island. In 2022, she had a role in the series Dynasty.

Since 2024, she has co-hosted a podcast called Still The Place with her former Melrose Place co-stars. It was also announced that a new Melrose Place series is being made, and Zuniga will be part of the cast.

Fans of Spaceballs were excited to learn that Zuniga is set to return as Princess Vespa in a sequel. The movie is planned for release in 2027.

Environmental Work

Zuniga cares deeply about the environment. She says her love for nature started during family camping trips to national parks like Yosemite. She believes it is important to protect the planet.

She has worked with many environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Waterkeeper Alliance. She was also a founding member of the Earth Communications Office. In 2009, the mayor of Los Angeles appointed her to a board dedicated to improving the Los Angeles River.

Personal Life

Zuniga's younger sister, Jennifer, is also an actress. To handle the stress of her career, Zuniga practices Buddhist meditation.

In 2004, she experienced mercury poisoning from eating too much fish, especially sushi. Her symptoms included memory problems and headaches. After this health scare, she stopped eating fish and other meat.

In 2019, Zuniga married businessman David Mleczko. They met on a blind date in 2006.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Vision Quest Margie Epstein
1985 Sure Thing, TheThe Sure Thing Alison Bradbury
1986 Modern Girls Margo
1987 Spaceballs Princess Vespa
1988 Last Rites Angela
1989 Fly II, TheThe Fly II Beth Logan
Staying Together Beverly Young
Gross Anatomy Laurie Rorbach
1992 Mad at the Moon Young Mrs. Miller
1993 Eight Hundred Leagues Down the Amazon Minha
1994 Charlie's Ghost Story Ronda
Cityscrapes: Los Angeles Chantal
1997 Stand-ins Shirley
2000 Artificial Lies Karen Wettering
Enemies of Laughter Judy
2005 Secret Lives Jill Thompson
2006 A-List Tina
2008 Mail Order Bride Diana McQueen
2012 Changing Hearts Christina Riley
2013 Gone Missing Rene
A Remarkable Life Tracy
2014 Monkey in the Middle Olive
2015 Summer Forever Sophie
Occupy Alice Cindy Lowe Short film
2016 Who's Driving Doug Alison
Beyond Paradise Elana
Search Engines Kate
Those Left Behind Shelly
2017 Heartbeats Michelle Andrews
2018 Witness Unprotected Sam
Abigail Falls Anne
2027 Spaceballs 2 Not yet released Queen Vespa In pre-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Quarterback Princess Kim Maida Television film
1984 Family Ties Rachel Miller 2 episodes
1985 Stone Pillow Carrie Lang Television film
1989 Nightmare Classics Irene Marlowe Episode: "The Eyes of the Panther"
1992 Prey of the Chameleon Patricia / Elizabeth Burrows Television film
1992–1996 Melrose Place Jo Reynolds 112 episodes
1993 The Hidden Room Elizabeth Mahern Episode: "The Faithful Follower"
1994 Models Inc. Jo Reynolds Episode: "Pilot"
1995 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Cinderella (voice) Episode: "Cinderella"
Degree of Guilt Teresa 'Terri' Peralta Television film
1996 Pandora's Clock Dr. Roni Sanders
1997 Johnny Bravo Gabrielle (voice) Episode: "My Fair Dork"
Dead Man's Gun Lillian / Tanya Episode: "Black Widow"
Loss of Faith Claire Hainey Television film
1997–1998 Spin City Carrie 2 episodes
1998 Stories from My Childhood Unknown Episode: "Ivan and His Magic Pony"
1999 The Outer Limits Juliette Kagan Episode: "Essence of Life"
1999–2000 Batman Beyond April; Lula (voice) 2 episodes
2000 Stark Raving Mad Dr. Anne Russo Episode: "Therapy"
2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Emma Dishell Episode: "Abomination"
Eve Mrs. King Episode: "Twas the Fight Before Christmas"
Ghost Dog: A Detective Tail Amanda Morton Television film
2004–2005 American Dreams Shelly Pierce 14 episodes
2005–2006 Beautiful People Lynn Kerr 16 episodes
2006 Christmas Do-Over Jill Television film
Obsession, TheThe Obsession Deborah Matthews
2007 Nip/Tuck Carly Summers Episode: "Carly Summers"
TED: The Future We Will Create Herself / Host Television film; also director and executive producer
2008 Novel Adventures Laura French 8 episodes
2008–2009 Spaceballs: The Animated Series Princess Vespa (voice) 12 episodes
2008–2012 One Tree Hill Victoria Davis 40 episodes
2009–2010 Melrose Place Jo Reynolds Episodes: "Windsor" and "Santa Fe"
2010 Family Thanksgiving, AA Family Thanksgiving Claudia Television film; also executive producer
On Strike for Christmas Joy Robertson Television film
2013 Signed, Sealed, Delivered Andrea Shmeckle
2015 Hindsight Libby Episode: "The Cranberries"
2016 When Duty Calls Carol Lawton Television film
My Husband Is Missing Ann Bradshaw
2017 The Wrong Babysitter Susan
2018 A Christmas Arrangement Blair Covington
2019 V.C. Andrews' Heaven Nurse Broadfield Episode: "Gates of Paradise"
Christmas in Paris Kate Fortune Television film
2020 NCIS Navy Commander Stacy Gordon Episode: "Lonely Hearts"
2021 Fantasy Island Margot Episode: "The Big Five Oh"
2022 Dynasty Sonya Jackson 2 episodes
2023 The Masked Singer Herself / Clue Giver Episode: "Masked Singer in Space"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2008 LA Femme Film Festival LA Femme Filmmaker Award: New Establishment Award Herself Won
2011 Environmental Leadership Awards CLCV Environmental Leadership Award Won
2016 Santa Fe Film Festival Creative Spirit Award Search Engines Won
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