Jenna Elfman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jenna Elfman
Elfman at the 2023 WonderCon
Born	(1971-09-30) September 30, 1971 (age 53) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, producer
Years active	1990–present
Spouse(s)	Bodhi Elfman ​ (m. 1995)​
Children	2
Relatives	Tony Butala (paternal uncle) Danny Elfman (uncle-in-law)

Jenna Elfman (born September 30, 1971) is an American actress. She is famous for her main role as Dharma in the TV show Dharma & Greg (1997–2002). For this role, she won a Golden Globe Award in 1999. She was also nominated three times for an Primetime Emmy Award.

Jenna Elfman has appeared in many movies like Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), Dr. Dolittle (1998), and Keeping the Faith (2000). She has also starred in other TV comedies such as Accidentally on Purpose (2009–2010). From 2018 to 2023, she was a regular on the horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead.

About Jenna Elfman's Early Life

Jenna Elfman's birth name was Butala. Her uncle, Tony Butala, has been the lead singer of the music group The Lettermen since 1958. Jenna has Croatian family roots from her father's side. She grew up in the Roman Catholic faith.

She went to St. Genevieve High School for a year. Later, she graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. She also attended California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Jenna studied ballet at the Westside School of Ballet, where she received a full scholarship.

Jenna Elfman's Acting Career

Starting Out: 1990–1996

Jenna Elfman began her career as a dancer. She appeared in music videos for bands like Depeche Mode and Anthrax. She also toured with the rock band ZZ Top in 1994.

After dancing, she started acting in TV commercials. She then appeared in a TV movie called Double Deception (1993). She also had guest roles on popular TV shows like Roseanne and NYPD Blue. In 1996, she got a main role in the ABC sitcom Townies. This show was canceled after one season. The next year, she made her first movie appearance in Grosse Pointe Blank.

Becoming Famous: 1997–2002

In 1997, Jenna Elfman was cast in the ABC comedy series Dharma & Greg. She played the main character, Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery. Critics praised her performance.

She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999. She also received three Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for her role. The show was very popular and ran for five seasons, ending in 2002.

While working on Dharma & Greg, Elfman also starred in several movies. In 1998, she was in the comedy film Krippendorf's Tribe. In 1999, she starred with Matthew McConaughey in EDtv. This movie received mixed reviews and did not make much money at the box office.

In 2000, she starred in the romantic comedy Keeping the Faith with Ben Stiller and Edward Norton. This film was well-received and earned $60 million. She also did voice work for animated films like Dr. Dolittle (1998).

Later Roles: 2003–Present

After Dharma & Greg, Elfman played a different kind of role in the TV thriller Obsessed (2002). She received good reviews for her performance. In 2003, she starred in the live-action and animated movie Looney Tunes: Back in Action.

In 2006, Elfman returned to TV with a main role in the CBS sitcom Courting Alex. This series was canceled after one season. She also made guest appearances on shows like Two and a Half Men and My Name Is Earl.

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 movie Friends with Benefits.

Jenna Elfman starred in other TV comedies that ran for one season, including Accidentally on Purpose (2009–2010), 1600 Penn (2012–2013), and Growing Up Fisher (2014). In 2012, she had a recurring role in the legal drama Damages.

In 2018, Elfman joined the cast of the AMC horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead. She played the character June "Naomi / Laura" Dorie. She was on the show from its fourth season until its final eighth season in 2023. In 2020, she appeared in an episode of The Twilight Zone. More recently, she has guest-starred on Will Trent and Dark Winds. In 2025, she returned to sitcoms with a role in the ABC comedy series Shifting Gears.

Personal Life

Elfman at The Heart Truth in 2012

Jenna Elfman met actor Bodhi Elfman in February 1991 during an audition. They got married four years later on February 18, 1995. Bodhi is of Jewish background, and Jenna was raised Catholic. When they met, Bodhi was a Scientologist. Jenna also became a Scientologist after learning about its teachings from her husband. They have two children together.

Involvement with Scientology

Jenna Elfman is a member of the Church of Scientology. She has been involved with the church since the early 1990s. By 2001, she had reached a level called "State of Clear" within Scientology.

She has participated in various activities related to Scientology. In 2005, she attended the opening of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights' museum. She and her husband are listed as advisors on the CCHR website. In 2006, she was a speaker at a Human Rights Hero Award event. This event was connected to groups like Youth for Human Rights International and Artists for Human Rights. In 2008, she co-hosted a charity event for the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project.

Charity Work

Jenna Elfman has been involved in many fundraising activities. She has donated her time for auctions and asked for charity donations instead of birthday presents. She has also hosted comedy shows to raise money.

She has also worked on awareness campaigns. She modeled for a fashion show and read to children for the National Education Association's Read Across America program. She is also on the board of directors for the Dizzy Feet Foundation, which supports dance education.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Nominations

Jenna Elfman has received several awards and nominations throughout her career.

See also

In Spanish: Jenna Elfman para niños