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Kelly Rutherford
Kelly Rutherford headshot.jpg
Kelly Rutherford in 2007
Born (1968-11-06) November 6, 1968 (age 56)
Occupation Actress
Years active 1987–present
Spouse(s)
Carlos Tarajano
(m. 2001; div. 2002)
Daniel Giersch
(m. 2006; div. 2010)
Children 2

Kelly Rutherford (born November 6, 1968) is an American actress. She is known for her television roles as Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore on the NBC daytime soap opera Generations (1989–1991), as Megan Lewis on the Fox primetime soap opera Melrose Place (1996–1999), and as Lily van der Woodsen on The CW series Gossip Girl (2007–2012).

Early life and education

Kelly Rutherford was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on November 6, 1968, the daughter of Ann Edwards. She has a brother, Anthony. She attended Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California. She later studied at HB Studio in New York City, and the Beverly Hills Playhouse in California.

Career

Rutherford began her career on daytime soap operas. She appeared on Loving in 1987, and later was cast as a regular on Generations from 1989 to 1991. In 1992 she joined the cast of the ABC drama Homefront.

From 1993 to 1994, Rutherford was a regular on the Fox series The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. as Dixie Cousins, a saloon singer and con artist who has a brief romantic encounter with Brisco. In later episodes, Dixie becomes Brisco's primary love interest.

She also appeared in the film I Love Trouble. She also starred in the short-lived series The Great Defender as Frankie Collet (1995), and in Kindred: The Embraced as Caitlin Byrne (1996). In 1996, Rutherford joined the cast of Fox primetime soap opera Melrose Place, as Megan Lewis. She starred on the show until 1999.

She also starred as Christine Hamilton in the horror film Scream 3 (2000). From 2003 to 2004, she starred in the ABC drama Threat Matrix as Special Agent Frankie Ellroy Kilmer. In next television season she starred in another short-lived series, E-Ring, on NBC. In 2007, Rutherford began starring as Lily van der Woodsen in the CW series Gossip Girl. The series ended in 2012. Rutherford has also starred in a number of Lifetime movies. In 2016, Rutherford was cast in the ABC thriller Quantico playing the recurring role of Laura Wyatt. From 2018 to 2019, Rutherford played the recurring role of Melissa Daniels in the CW reboot series Dynasty.

Personal life

Rutherford married Venezuelan banker Carlos Tarajano in June 2001. Rutherford filed for divorce in January 2002, after six months of marriage. The wedding was featured shortly thereafter in the February 2002 issue of InStyle magazine.

Rutherford married her second husband, German businessman Daniel Giersch, in August 2006. She gave birth to their first child, son Hermés Gustaf Daniel Giersch, in October 2006.

While pregnant with their second child, Rutherford filed for divorce from Giersch on December 30, 2008. Rutherford gave birth to their second child, daughter Helena, in June 2009.

Giersch's U.S. visa was revoked in April 2012, after Rutherford's lawyer informed the State Department about issues pertaining to Giersch's businesses, which led the department to conclude that they had sufficient evidence to deport him.

Giersch consequently was unable to enter the United States and took up residence in France and Monaco.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Shakedown TV watcher
1989 Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge Salesgirl
1994 Tis a Gift to Be Simple Emily Hanover Short film
1994 I Love Trouble Kim
1994 Amberwaves Lola Barnes
1997 Six Months of Darkness, Six Months of Light Annie Short film
1997 Big Fall, TheThe Big Fall Veronica Direct-to-video film
1997 Dilemma Woman in bar Uncredited
1997 Cyclops, Baby Randy
1998 Disturbance at Dinner, TheThe Disturbance at Dinner Marian Pronkridge
2000 Scream 3 Christine Hamilton
2000 Chaos Factor, TheThe Chaos Factor Jodi
2001 Tag, TheThe Tag Wendy
2002 Angels Don't Sleep Here Kate Porter
2002 Swimming Upstream Sandra Bird
2013 Stream, TheThe Stream Maggie Terry
2017 Christmas Wedding Planner Aunt Olivia

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Loving N/A Unknown episodes
1989–1991 Generations Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore Unknown episodes
1992 Davis Rules Erika 2 episodes
1992 Breaking the Silence Cheryl Television film
1992–1993 Homefront Judy Owen Main role (season 2)
1992 Bodies of Evidence Diana Wallace Episode: "Afternoon Delights"
1992 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures N/A Episode: "As the Dude Turns (The Lives That We Live)"
1993–1994 Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., TheThe Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Dixie Cousins Recurring role, 7 episodes
1995 The Great Defender Frankie Collett Main role
1995 Courthouse Christine Lunden 4 episodes
1996 Kindred: The Embraced Caitlyn Byrne Main role
1996 No Greater Love Edwina Winfield Television film
1996 Buried Secrets Danielle Roff Television film
1996–1999 Melrose Place Megan Lewis Mancini Main role (seasons 5–7); 90 episodes
1998 Perfect Getaway, TheThe Perfect Getaway Julia Robinson Television film
1999–2000 Get Real Laura Martineau 4 episodes
1999 Nash Bridges Roxanne "Roxie" Hill Episode: "Kill Switch"
2000 Sally Hemings: An American Scandal Lady Maria Cosway Miniseries
2000 Outer Limits, TheThe Outer Limits Rachel Episode: "Nest"
2000–2001 The Fugitive Helen Kimble 3 episodes
2001 Night Visions Marilyn Lanier Episode: "The Passenger List"
2001 Acceptable Risk Kim Welles Television film
2002–2003 District, TheThe District Deputy Mayor Melinda Lockhart Recurring role, 6 episodes
2003–2004 Threat Matrix Special Agent Frankie Ellroy-Kilmer Main role
2005–2006 E-Ring Samantha "Sonny" Liston Main role
2007–2012 Gossip Girl Lily van der Woodsen Main role
2007 Tell Me No Lies Laura Cooper Television film
2013 Sister's Nightmare, AA Sister's Nightmare Jane Ryder Television film
2014 Bones Stephanie McNamara Episode: "The Ghost in the Killer"
2014 Being Mary Jane Cynthia Phillips 4 episodes
2014 Reckless Joyce Reed 4 episodes
2015 Mysteries of Laura, TheThe Mysteries of Laura Lisa Hanlon Episode: "The Mystery of the Popped Pugilist"
2015 Night of the Wild Sara Television film
2016 Quantico Laura Wyatt Episodes: "Care", "Right"
2016 Jane The Virgin Editor Episode: "Chapter Fifty"
2017 Nightcap Herself Episode: "What Would Staci Do?"
2018–2019 Dynasty Melissa Daniels 7 episodes
2018 Love, of Course Amy Andolini Television film (Hallmark Channel)
2019 Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists Claire Hotchkiss Main role
2019 Dark Angel Jillian Television film
2019 Fallen Hearts Jillian Television film
2019 All My Husband's Wives Cheryl Volberg Television film
2020 Power Book II: Ghost Colleen Saxe Episode: "The Stranger"

See also

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