Jenilee Harrison
Encyclopedia
Jenilee Harrison is an American actress possibly best known for her role as replacement blonde roommate Cindy Snow
on the hit sitcom Three's Company
from 1980–1982 and Jamie Ewing in Dallas
from 1984–1986.
. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega
sorority(Epsilon Chapter) at the University of Southern California.
Before being cast in Three's Company, Jenilee was a cheerleader from 1978–1980 for the Los Angeles Rams. Harrison can be seen in the opening moments of the highlight film for Super Bowl XIV
, which shows the Rams cheerleaders
in their dressing room before the game. She can also be seen in a second season episode of CHiPs
when Jon and Ponch pull over a van-load of Rams cheerleaders.
' ("Chrissy Snow
") firing Three's Company during season five following a bitter salary dispute, Harrison served as the replacement "dumb blonde" roommate. Her character "Cindy" was Chrissy's cousin and a klutzy farm-girl version of Chrissy. The similarity between the two cousins was strong enough so the show could use the scripts that were already written with Chrissy in mind. In addition, Harrison and costar John Ritter
worked well together, as her character's clumsiness often set up many of the physical gags that Jack Tripper was famous for on the show.
For the sixth season a new blonde roommate named Terri Alden
(Priscilla Barnes), a smart nurse, took Cindy's place in the apartment. Harrison was retained in the show and this time given star credit; however, she now had a lesser role, appearing less frequently in the series while actually living at UCLA. By the end of the season, Harrison's character was deemed obsolete, and with no explanation, Cindy Snow disappeared from the series (her last appearance was in "Janet Wigs Out"). In the TV movie of Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company
, Harrison was portrayed by Liz Crawford. {http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0186882/}
Harrison later portrayed Jamie Ewing Barnes on the hit drama Dallas
. Beginning in 1984, she was a recurring character in the series, first appearing in the episode titled "Jamie". She played the role until 1986 when she decided to leave the soap. 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. Turns out, the whole season was all a dream, so Harrison agreed to return long enough 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
. Harrison also guest-starred on That '70s Show
in 1999.
As of 2005, Harrison is starring on infomercial
s for the Ultimate Chopper
with Chef Tony
.
and baseball player Reggie Jackson
.
She is married to actress Cybill Shepherd
's ex-husband, Bruce Oppenheim, thus making her stepmother to Oppenheim's twin children by Shepherd, Ariel and Zachariah.
Cindy Snow
Cindy Snow is a fictional character on the 1977-1984 sitcom Three's Company, portrayed by Jenilee Harrison during the show's fifth and sixth seasons . The cousin of the character Chrissy Snow, Cindy was phased out to make way for Chrissy's permanent replacement Terri Alden...
on the hit sitcom Three's Company
Three's Company
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....
from 1980–1982 and Jamie Ewing in Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
from 1984–1986.
Early years
Harrison was born in Northridge, CaliforniaNorthridge, Los Angeles, California
Northridge is a community located in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States.The 1994 Northridge earthquake is named for the place based on early estimates of the location of the quake's epicenter; however, further refinements showed it to be technically...
. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Chi Omega is a women's fraternity founded on October 15, 1885. Currently, there are 135 chapters of Alpha Chi Omega at colleges and universities across the United States and more than 200,000 lifetime members...
sorority(Epsilon Chapter) at the University of Southern California.
Before being cast in Three's Company, Jenilee was a cheerleader from 1978–1980 for the Los Angeles Rams. Harrison can be seen in the opening moments of the highlight film for Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV was an American football game played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1979 regular season...
, which shows the Rams cheerleaders
St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders
The St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders are the cheerleading squad for the St. Louis Rams professional American football team. They were established in 1974 when the team was located in Los Angeles and were known as the Embraceable Ewes....
in their dressing room before the game. She can also be seen in a second season episode of CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
when Jon and Ponch pull over a van-load of Rams cheerleaders.
Career
After Suzanne SomersSuzanne Somers
Suzanne Somers is an American actress, author, singer and businesswoman, known for her television roles as Chrissy Snow on Three's Company and as Carol Lambert on Step by Step....
' ("Chrissy Snow
Chrissy Snow
Christmas "Chrissy" Noelle Snow was a fictional character on the sitcom Three's Company. Chrissy was played by Suzanne Somers.In the original unaired pilot to Three's Company, the character that became Chrissy was portrayed by Susanne Zenor. Zenor was not picked for the second filming, so actress...
") firing Three's Company during season five following a bitter salary dispute, Harrison served as the replacement "dumb blonde" roommate. Her character "Cindy" was Chrissy's cousin and a klutzy farm-girl version of Chrissy. The similarity between the two cousins was strong enough so the show could use the scripts that were already written with Chrissy in mind. In addition, Harrison and costar John Ritter
John Ritter
Jonathan Southworth "John" Ritter was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for having played Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the ABC sitcoms Three's Company and 8 Simple Rules, respectively...
worked well together, as her character's clumsiness often set up many of the physical gags that Jack Tripper was famous for on the show.
For the sixth season a new blonde roommate named Terri Alden
Terri Alden
Terri Alden is a major fictional character during the final three seasons of the sitcom Three's Company, born in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. She is played by Priscilla Barnes and is the third "token blonde" on the show ; however, she works as a registered nurse and is portrayed as far less "ditzy"...
(Priscilla Barnes), a smart nurse, took Cindy's place in the apartment. Harrison was retained in the show and this time given star credit; however, she now had a lesser role, appearing less frequently in the series while actually living at UCLA. By the end of the season, Harrison's character was deemed obsolete, and with no explanation, Cindy Snow disappeared from the series (her last appearance was in "Janet Wigs Out"). In the TV movie of Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company
Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company
Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company is a 2003 American made-for-television movie, made by NBC, documenting the success of the sitcom Three's Company, as well as the interpersonal conflicts that occurred among its staff and cast...
, Harrison was portrayed by Liz Crawford. {http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0186882/}
Harrison later portrayed Jamie Ewing Barnes on the hit drama Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
. Beginning in 1984, she was a recurring character in the series, first appearing in the episode titled "Jamie". She played the role until 1986 when she decided to leave the soap. 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. Turns out, the whole season was all a dream, so Harrison agreed to return long enough 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
Tank (film)
Tank is a 1984 comedy, drama, and action movie starring James Garner, Jenilee Harrison, and C. Thomas Howell. The film was written by Dan Gordon and directed by Marvin J. Chomsky...
alongside James Garner
James Garner
James Garner is an American film and television actor, one of the first Hollywood actors to excel in both media. He has starred in several television series spanning a career of more than five decades...
and C. Thomas Howell
C. Thomas Howell
Christopher Thomas "Tommy" Howell , known by his stage name C. Thomas Howell, is an American actor and film director. He starred in the films The Outsiders as Ponyboy Curtis and in The Hitcher as Jim Halsey. He has appeared in The Da Vinci Treasure,Soul Man, Red Dawn, Secret Admirer, Gettysburg, H. G...
. Harrison also guest-starred on That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979...
in 1999.
As of 2005, Harrison is starring on infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
s for the Ultimate Chopper
Ultimate Chopper
The Ultimate Chopper was a kitchen appliance, mainly advertised on television in the form of an As seen on TV 30 minute infomercial, and sold on-line.-What It Does:...
with Chef Tony
Chef Tony
Anthony "Chef Tony" Notaro is a successful infomercial pitchman. Since his beginnings in the 1970s, he has risen to become one of the most successful infomercial hosts in history.-Products:...
.
Personal life
She dated L.A. Rams guard Dennis HarrahDennis Harrah
Dennis Wayne Harrah is a former NFL Offensive Lineman who played 13 seasons in the National Football League for Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the University of Miami.- University of Miami :...
and baseball player Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
.
She is married to actress Cybill Shepherd
Cybill Shepherd
Cybill Lynne Shepherd is an American actress, singer and former model. Her best known roles include starring as Jacy in The Last Picture Show, as Betsy in Taxi Driver, as Madeleine Spencer in Psych, as Maddie Hayes on Moonlighting, as Cybill Sheridan on Cybill, and as Phyllis Kroll on The L...
's ex-husband, Bruce Oppenheim, thus making her stepmother to Oppenheim's twin children by Shepherd, Ariel and Zachariah.