Lanei Chapman facts for kids

Lanei Chapman (born January 23, 1973) is an American actress. She has appeared in many TV shows and movies. You might know her best as Lt. Vanessa Damphousse from the science fiction series Space: Above and Beyond.

Lanei Chapman's Acting Journey

Lanei Chapman started acting when she was just 13 years old. Her very first appearance was in a TV commercial for Kentucky Fried Chicken. After that, she began to appear in many different films and television shows.

Some of the popular shows and movies she was in include White Men Can't Jump, Seinfeld, The Wonder Years, and China Beach. She also appeared in the science fiction show Star Trek: The Next Generation. In Star Trek, she played Ensign Sariel Rager, a character who helped fly the spaceship.

Becoming Lt. Vanessa Damphousse

Lanei got a main role in the series Space: Above and Beyond. She played Lt. Vanessa Damphousse. While filming the first parts of the show, Lanei was taking a break from her film studies at the University of Southern California.

When she auditioned for the role, the character of Damphousse wasn't fully developed yet. So, Lanei read lines from a different character. The show's writers later used some of Lanei's own experiences to help create the character of Vanessa Damphousse. Even though fans tried to save it, the show only lasted for one season.

Lanei's Life Outside Acting

Lanei Chapman went to Dartmouth College. She earned a degree in Spanish. She first planned to study Drama, but she changed her mind. She was very interested in the foreign language programs at the college.

While at college, she also wrote a short play called Home Run. She even sent it to an actress named Chip Fields, hoping she would appear in it and help direct. Before becoming a full-time actress, Lanei was also a qualified teacher in California. For a short time, she taught kindergarten students.

Lanei Chapman's Film and TV Roles

Here are some of the films and TV shows Lanei Chapman has appeared in: