Biography for
Jenna Elfman More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

30 September 1971, Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name

Jennifer Mary Butala

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

Jenna Elfman was born in Los Angeles, California, and began her career appearing in commercials. She studied with Milton Katselas, the renowned acting teacher. She then began appearing in TV shows before landing the role of Dharma in the hit ABC television show "Dharma & Greg" (1997).

Her first starring role in a film was in Krippendorf's Tribe (1998), alongside Richard Dreyfuss. She won a Golden Globe award for her role in "Dharma & Greg" (1997) and has since appeared in such films as Keeping the Faith (2000) and Edtv (1999).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Matt Dicker

Spouse

Bodhi Elfman

(18 February 1995 - present) 2 children

Trivia

Studied acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas.

Is a classically-trained ballet dancer.

Graduated from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, class of 1989. She was senior class representative (dance dept), on Student Arts Council.

Niece of singer Tony Butala, who founded and performs with the vocal group The Lettermen.

She started taking classical ballet at the age of five, but by nine, she suffered a serious ankle injury, and at age 12, the tendon came off the bone. She later gave up ballet at the age of 16.

Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2004 Razzie Award nominating ballot. She was suggested in the Worst Supporting Actress category for her performance in the film Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003); however, she failed to receive a nomination.

Is of Croatian heritage.

Daughter-in-law of Richard Elfman and Marie-Pascale Elfman.

Was among the guests at Tom Cruise's and Katie Holmes' wedding ceremony in Italy.

Gave birth to her son Story Elias Elfman, with husband Bodhi Elfman, in Los Angeles, weighing in at 7lbs 2oz (23 July 2007).

Susan Sullivan, who played the mother-in-law of her character, Dharma, in the series "Dharma & Greg" (1997), also played the mother of her character Lizzie, in the series "Brothers & Sisters" (2006).

Turned down a role in Minority Report (2002).

Gave birth to her son Easton Quinn Monroe Elfman, with husband Bodhi Elfman, in Los Angeles at 7.53am, weighing in at 7lbs 12oz (2 March 2010).

Was four months pregnant with her son Easton when she completed filming on the first series of "Accidentally on Purpose" (2009).

Returned to work four months after giving birth to her son Easton in order to begin filming Friends with Benefits (2011).

Personal Quotes

Creatively, you need to go live life. As an artist, you are representing life. So you have to rub elbows and be out in it.

Salary

"Accidentally on Purpose" (2009)

$125,000/episode (2009-10)

Where Are They Now

(October 2003) Was to perform on Broadway in the musical "Nine", as a replacement for Jane Krakowski. Citing lack of proper time, she left the show during rehearsals and was replaced by Krakowski's understudy.