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 playing Dharma on the ABC TV show Dharma & Greg (1997–2002). For this role, she won a Golden Globe Award in 1999. She was also nominated three times for a Primetime Emmy Award.

Jenna Elfman has also been in many movies. Her first film was Grosse Pointe Blank (1997). Other movies include Dr. Dolittle (1998), EDtv (1999), Keeping the Faith (2000), and Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003). She has also starred in other TV comedies like Courting Alex (2006) and Accidentally on Purpose (2009–2010). Since 2018, she has been a main character on the horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead.

Where Did Jenna Elfman Grow Up?

Jenna Elfman was born Jennifer Mary Butala in Los Angeles, California. She was the youngest of three children. Her mom, Sue Butala, was a homemaker. Her dad, Richard Butala, worked as an executive at Hughes Aircraft. Her uncle, Tony Butala, has been the lead singer of the group The Lettermen since 1958. Jenna's family has Croatian roots on her father's side. She was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.

Jenna went to St. Genevieve High School for a year. She then graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. After high school, she attended California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She started training in ballet when she was five years old. She even received a full scholarship to the Westside School of Ballet. However, she later stopped dancing due to a tendon injury.

Jenna Elfman's Acting Journey

Starting Out: Dancing and Early TV Roles (1990–1996)

Jenna Elfman in 2000

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

Becoming a Star: Dharma & Greg and Movies (1997–2002)

In 1997, Jenna Elfman landed her big breakthrough role. She was cast as Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery in the ABC comedy series Dharma & Greg. Critics really liked her performance.

She won a Golden Globe Award in 1999 for the show's second season. She also received three Emmy Award nominations. 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 didn't do well at the box office.

The next year, 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 acting for animated films like Dr. Dolittle (1998) and CyberWorld (2000).

Later Roles and Continued Success (2003–Present)

Jenna Elfman posing during a break from filming The Six Wives of Henry Lefay in New Milford, Connecticut in 2007

After Dharma & Greg, Elfman played a different kind of role in the TV thriller Obsessed (2002). Critics praised her performance. In 2003, she starred in the live-action and animated movie Looney Tunes: Back in Action. This film also didn't do well at the box office. In 2005, she starred in and produced the romantic drama film Touched.

In 2006, Elfman returned to TV with a main role in the CBS sitcom Courting Alex, which lasted 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. In 2012, Jenna and her husband, Bodhi, started their own podcast called Kicking and Screaming by Jenna and Bodhi Elfman.

She starred in another CBS sitcom, Accidentally on Purpose, from 2009 to 2010. In 2012, she had a recurring role in the legal thriller series Damages. Elfman also starred in the NBC comedy series 1600 Penn (2012–2013) and Growing Up Fisher (2014), both of which were canceled after one season. She appeared in the romantic comedy film Big Stone Gap (2014) and the drama film Barry (2016). In 2017, she starred in another one-season sitcom, Imaginary Mary on ABC.

From 2018 to 2023, Elfman was a main cast member on the AMC horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead. She played the character June "Naomi / Laura" Dorie. In 2020, she appeared in an episode of The Twilight Zone. More recently, she guest-starred on Will Trent and Dark Winds. In 2025, she is set to return to sitcoms with a role in the ABC comedy series Shifting Gears.

Jenna Elfman's Personal Life

Jenna Elfman at The Heart Truth in 2012

In February 1991, Jenna met actor Bodhi Pine Elfman during an audition for a commercial. They got married four years later on February 18, 1995. Bodhi is of Jewish descent, and Jenna was raised Catholic. When they met, Bodhi was a practicing Scientologist. Jenna later became a member of the Church of Scientology after learning about its beliefs from her husband.

Involvement in Charity and Human Rights

Jenna Elfman is a member of the Church of Scientology. She has been involved in various activities related to the church's social programs. In 2001, she helped open a Scientology center in San Francisco.

In 2005, she attended the opening of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights' museum. She and her husband, Bodhi, are listed as advisors for this group.

On May 24, 2006, she was a main speaker at an event for the Human Rights Hero Award. This event was part of activities by groups connected to Scientology, like Youth for Human Rights International and Artists for Human Rights (AFHR). AFHR aims to bring artists together to raise awareness about human rights globally.

On March 27, 2008, she co-hosted a charity event with actor Charlie Sheen. This event supported the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project, which is also connected to Scientology.

Other Charitable Work

Jenna Elfman has taken part in many fundraising activities. She has donated her time for auctions and given a print of her lips for charity. She has also participated in telethons and hosted comedy shows to raise money. Sometimes, she asks for charity donations instead of birthday presents.

She also helps raise awareness for different causes. She has modeled for fashion shows and read to schoolchildren for the National Education Association's Read Across America program. She has also hosted parties at her home to support causes led by the Environmental Working Group. Jenna Elfman is also on the board of directors for the Dizzy Feet Foundation, which supports dance education.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jenna Elfman para niños