Jenilee Harrison
| Jenilee Harrison | |
|---|---|
| Born |
June 12, 1958 Northridge, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, TV Infomercial pitchperson |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Bruce Oppenheim (1993-present) |
Jenilee Harrison (born June 12, 1958)[1] is an American actress possibly best known for her role as the replacement blonde roommate Cindy Snow on the hit sitcom Three's Company, between 1980 and 1982. She went on to play Jamie Ewing Barnes in Dallas from 1984 to 1986.
Career
Early years
Before breaking into show business, Harrison was a cheerleader from 1978–1980 for the Los Angeles Rams.
Three's Company
Harrison joined the cast of ABC's Three's Company in 1980. She entered the show as a replacement for Suzanne Somers who played the sitcom's "ditzy blonde" Chrissy Snow. Somers left the show just after the show's fifth season had begun. Harrison was cast as Somers' replacement. Harrison's character, Cindy Snow, was created to be Chrissy Snow's cousin. Unlike Chrissy, Cindy was not a "dumb blonde"; instead, she was an extremely clumsy farm-girl. The character of Cindy was similar enough to Chrissy, however, that producers could use scripts already written with the Chrissy character in mind. Harrison debuted on Three's Company in the episode entitled "Chrissy's Cousin" (season 5, episode 7). She enters as Jack and Janet's new roommate after Chrissy's departure. Cindy proves she's a klutz right away by knocking Jack down. Her constant "accidents" (mainly with Jack) added to the show's gags of characters being clumsy. Even though she had replaced Somers, Harrison was not given opening credits billing, and instead Somers still obtained opening billing (as a part of finishing off her contract). Harrison was end-credits billed, as a guest star.
For the sixth season of Three's Company, a new blonde roommate named Terri Alden (Priscilla Barnes), a smart nurse, took Cindy's place in the apartment. Harrison was retained on the show and this time was given opening cast billing. However, she now had a lesser role, appearing less frequently in the series, with the character living near the apartment, at UCLA. By the end of the season, however, Cindy Snow disappeared from the series. Her last appearance was in "Janet Wigs Out" (season 6, episode 24).
Later career
Beginning in 1984, Harrison portrayed the recurring character Jamie Ewing Barnes in the drama Dallas. She played the role until 1986. Her character was actually killed off twice, first when she starts the car belonging to her brother, Jack Ewing, in the episode "Blast from the Past" and it explodes killing her. After the whole season was explained away as a dream, Harrison returned for her character to die again. Early in 1987, Jamie was killed in a mountain climbing accident.
In 1984, Harrison played a reluctant prostitute in the movie Tank alongside James Garner and C. Thomas Howell.
In 1985, she appeared on Super Password with Dick Gautier, appearing again in 1986, this time with Marty Cohen, Michael Young and Bruce Baum, and Dallas star Ken Kercheval back in 1987 with Bert Convy.
Harrison also guest-starred on That '70s Show in 1999.
In 2005, Harrison began appearing in infomercials for the Ultimate Chopper with Chef Tony.
Family/Personal life
In the early 1980s Harrison dated L.A. Rams guard Dennis Harrah and major league baseball player Reggie Jackson.[2][3][4]
In 1993, Harrison married Dr. Bruce Oppenheim, a prominent Los Angeles area chiropractor, who is the ex-husband of actress Cybil Shepard. She has two stepchildren from her husband's previous marriage to Shepard; Molly Ariel Shepherd-Oppenheim, and Cyrus Zachariah Shepherd-Oppenheim.
References
- ↑ "Today in history". ABC News. Associated Press. June 12, 2014.
- ↑ Bricker, Rebecca (July 24, 1985). "Take One". People Magazine (People.com), Vol. 24 No. 2. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ↑ "Reggie Jackson biography". NNDB.com. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ↑ "Jennilee Harrison biography". NNDB.com. Retrieved December 11, 2015.