Terry Farrell (actress)
Encyclopedia
Theresa Lee "Terry" Farrell (born November 19, 1963) is an American actress and former fashion model. She is perhaps best known for her performances in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
and Becker
.
in Cedar Rapids. In 1978, she left her hometown for a summer in Mexico City
as a foreign exchange student
. She has since been fond of big cities, so in her junior year of high school, the nearly six feet tall Farrell submitted her image to the Elite modeling agency
in New York City. Shortly after, at the age of 16, she was summoned to New York City
and, within two days of arriving, had an exclusive contract with Mademoiselle
.
playing a model and in the feature film Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield
. In the spring of 1989, she began studying acting with Stella Adler
and appeared in a number of guest-starring roles in series like Quantum Leap and The Cosby Show
. In 1992, she played Cat
in a second pilot for a U.S. version of Red Dwarf, which was not picked up.
Soon after the Red Dwarf USA project folded, she was offered a lead role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
. Farrell starred as Jadzia Dax
, the space station's Starfleet science officer; a character from an alien species known as the Trill, who is host to a 300-year-old symbiont and can draw upon the memories and knowledge of the symbiont's seven previous hosts. The series debuted in January 1993. She left the show at the end of the sixth season, when Paramount Pictures decided to kill off Farrell's "host" character (though continuing the "symbiont" character in a new Dax host, played by Nicole DeBoer).
Farrell then co-starred on Paramount's television comedy series Becker
. She played Regina "Reggie" Kostas, foil and love interest to Ted Danson
's John Becker, for four years and 94 episodes, before she was replaced by Nancy Travis
.
Farrell also provided the voice of Six of One in the animated short film Tripping the Rift
, which eventually became a Sci-Fi Channel
TV series with other actors providing the voice of Six. First released independently on the Internet
, Tripping the Rift originally featured Patricia Beckmann as the voice of Six and was replaced by Farrell's voice for an episode of the Sci-Fi Channel's short film series Exposure, in which Farrell was guest host. Farrell's version of Six was heard only once on television.
The asteroid 26734 Terryfarrell
, discovered in 2001, was named in her honor by its discoverer, William Kwong Yu Yeung
.
, with her husband, former Sprint Corporation spokesman Brian Baker
(a.k.a. the Sprint Guy) and their son. She enjoys sewing and quilting.
Farrell has appeared with her husband at the Hershey Area Playhouse in Hershey, Pennsylvania in a production of A. R. Gurney
's Love Letters
.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
and Becker
Becker (TV series)
Becker is an American television sitcom that ran from 1998 to 2004 on CBS. Set in the New York City borough of The Bronx, the show starred Ted Danson as John Becker, a misanthropic doctor who operates a small practice and is constantly annoyed by his patients, co-workers, friends, and practically...
.
Early life
Farrell is the daughter of Kay Carol Christine Bendickson and Edwin Francis Farrell, Jr. Later, her mother married David W. Grussendorf, who adopted Terry and her sister, Christine. Before becoming a model, she played a Christmas elf at a mallShopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in Cedar Rapids. In 1978, she left her hometown for a summer in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
as a foreign exchange student
Student exchange program
A student exchange program generally could be defined as a program where students from secondary school or university choose to study abroad in partner institutions...
. She has since been fond of big cities, so in her junior year of high school, the nearly six feet tall Farrell submitted her image to the Elite modeling agency
Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management is a large modeling agency based in New York and Paris. It is a subsidiary of Elite World S.A.-History:Founded in France in 1972 by John Casablancas and Alain Kittler, it was rebought in 1990 by Nicholas Farrae. Elite World S.A. is the parent company of Elite Model...
in New York City. Shortly after, at the age of 16, she was summoned to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and, within two days of arriving, had an exclusive contract with Mademoiselle
Mademoiselle (magazine)
Mademoiselle was an influential women's magazine first published in 1935 by Street and Smith and later acquired by Condé Nast Publications....
.
Career
After 18 months of modeling, she studied acting with Kate McGregor Stewart while still modeling on the side. Her first major roles were in the short-lived 1983 television series Paper DollsPaper Dolls
Paper Dolls is an American prime time soap opera which aired for 14 episodes on ABC from September 23, 1984 to December 25, 1984. Set in New York's fashion industry, the show centered around top modeling agency owner Racine , her conflicts with the family of cosmetics tycoon Grant Harper , and the...
playing a model and in the feature film Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield , was an American comedian, and actor, known for the catchphrases "I don't get no respect!," "No respect, no respect at all... that's the story of my life" or "I get no respect, I tell ya" and his monologues on that theme...
. In the spring of 1989, she began studying acting with Stella Adler
Stella Adler
Stella Adler was an American actress and an acclaimed acting teacher, who founded the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City and the The Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles with long-time protege Joanne Linville, who continues to teach and furthers Adler's legacy...
and appeared in a number of guest-starring roles in series like Quantum Leap and The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
. In 1992, she played Cat
Cat (Red Dwarf)
The Cat is a character in the British science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf. He is played by Danny John-Jules.-Character development:According to Danny John-Jules, the character of Cat is based on a combination of Little Richard's look, James Brown's moves and Richard Pryor's facial...
in a second pilot for a U.S. version of Red Dwarf, which was not picked up.
Soon after the Red Dwarf USA project folded, she was offered a lead role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
. Farrell starred as Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax , played by Terry Farrell, was a main character during the first six seasons of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine....
, the space station's Starfleet science officer; a character from an alien species known as the Trill, who is host to a 300-year-old symbiont and can draw upon the memories and knowledge of the symbiont's seven previous hosts. The series debuted in January 1993. She left the show at the end of the sixth season, when Paramount Pictures decided to kill off Farrell's "host" character (though continuing the "symbiont" character in a new Dax host, played by Nicole DeBoer).
Farrell then co-starred on Paramount's television comedy series Becker
Becker (TV series)
Becker is an American television sitcom that ran from 1998 to 2004 on CBS. Set in the New York City borough of The Bronx, the show starred Ted Danson as John Becker, a misanthropic doctor who operates a small practice and is constantly annoyed by his patients, co-workers, friends, and practically...
. She played Regina "Reggie" Kostas, foil and love interest to Ted Danson
Ted Danson
Edward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
's John Becker, for four years and 94 episodes, before she was replaced by Nancy Travis
Nancy Travis
Nancy Ann Travis is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films Three Men and a Baby and its sequel, Three Men and a Little Lady , Married to the Mob , Air America , Internal Affairs , So I Married an Axe Murderer , Greedy , and Fluke...
.
Farrell also provided the voice of Six of One in the animated short film Tripping the Rift
Tripping the Rift
Tripping the Rift is a CGI science fiction comedy television series. It is based on two short animations published on the Internet by Chris Moeller and Chuck Austen. The series was produced by CineGroupe in association with the Sci Fi Channel...
, which eventually became a Sci-Fi Channel
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
TV series with other actors providing the voice of Six. First released independently on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, Tripping the Rift originally featured Patricia Beckmann as the voice of Six and was replaced by Farrell's voice for an episode of the Sci-Fi Channel's short film series Exposure, in which Farrell was guest host. Farrell's version of Six was heard only once on television.
The asteroid 26734 Terryfarrell
26734 Terryfarrell
26734 Terryfarrell is an asteroid discovered on April 23, 2001 by Canadian astronomer William Kwong Yu Yeung. Initially designated 2001 HG16, the asteroid was given its present name by the International Astronomical Union in honor of American actress Terry Farrell, who is best known for playing...
, discovered in 2001, was named in her honor by its discoverer, William Kwong Yu Yeung
William Kwong Yu Yeung
William Kwong Yu Yeung is a Hong Kong-born, Canadian astronomer with telescopes based in the United States.He is a prolific discoverer of asteroids and also discovered the comet 172P/Yeung...
.
Personal life
Farrell lives in Hershey, PennsylvaniaHershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
, with her husband, former Sprint Corporation spokesman Brian Baker
Brian Baker (actor)
Brian Edward Baker is an American actor best known for his recurring role as a trenchcoated spokesman in Sprint's television commercials.-Early career:...
(a.k.a. the Sprint Guy) and their son. She enjoys sewing and quilting.
Farrell has appeared with her husband at the Hershey Area Playhouse in Hershey, Pennsylvania in a production of A. R. Gurney
A. R. Gurney
A. R. Gurney is an American playwright and novelist. He is known for works including Love Letters, The Cocktail Hour, and The Dining Room. Gurney currently lives in both New York and Connecticut....
's Love Letters
Love Letters (play)
Love Letters is a Pulitzer Prize for Drama nominated play by A. R. Gurney. The play centers on just two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III...
.
Television series
- Paper DollsPaper DollsPaper Dolls is an American prime time soap opera which aired for 14 episodes on ABC from September 23, 1984 to December 25, 1984. Set in New York's fashion industry, the show centered around top modeling agency owner Racine , her conflicts with the family of cosmetics tycoon Grant Harper , and the...
(1984) Laurie Caswell - Cosby Show (1984) (guest star)
- Family TiesFamily TiesFamily Ties is an American sitcom that aired on NBC for seven seasons, from 1982 to 1989. The sitcom reflected the move in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of the 1980s. This was particularly expressed through the relationship between young...
(1986) (guest star) Liz Obeck - The Twilight Zone "After Hours" (1989) (guest star)
- Mimi & Me (1991) (TV) .... Mimi Molloy
- Quantum Leap "A Leap for Lisa" (1992) (guest star) Lt. Lisa Sherman
- Red Dwarf (second US pilot) (1992) The Cat
- Grapevine (1992) Laurie
- Danielle Steel's StarDanielle Steel's StarDanielle Steel's Star is a 1993 made-for-television film starring Jennie Garth, Craig Bierko, Terry Farrell, Penny Fuller and Mitchell Ryan. This film is based on the novel Star by author Danielle Steel...
(1993) Elizabeth - Star Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
(1993–1998) Jadzia Dax - Talk SoupTalk SoupTalk Soup was a television show produced for cable network E! that debuted on January 7, 1991, and aired until August 2002. Talk Soup aired selected clips of the previous day's daily talk shows—ranging from daytime entries like The Jerry Springer Show and to celebrity interview shows like The...
(1996) As herself - BeckerBecker (TV series)Becker is an American television sitcom that ran from 1998 to 2004 on CBS. Set in the New York City borough of The Bronx, the show starred Ted Danson as John Becker, a misanthropic doctor who operates a small practice and is constantly annoyed by his patients, co-workers, friends, and practically...
(1998–2002) Reggie
Television films and movies
- Off the Wall (1982)
- Portfolio (1984) as an Elite Model
- The Deliberate StrangerThe Deliberate StrangerThe Deliberate Stranger is a book and television film about serial killer Ted Bundy.-Book:Bundy: The Deliberate Stranger was written by a Seattle Times reporter named Richard W. Larsen and published in 1980...
(1986) as Katie Hargreaves - Back to School (1986) as Valerie
- Beverly Hills Madam (1986) as Julie Taylor
- Off the Mark (1987) as Jenell Johnson
- Hellraiser III: Hell on EarthHellraiser III: Hell on EarthHellraiser III: Hell on Earth is a 1992 American horror film and third installment in the Hellraiser series, directed by Anthony Hickox and starring Terry Farrell, Doug Bradley, Paula Marshall and Kevin Bernhardt...
(1992) as Joey Summerskill - Red Sun Rising (1993) as Karen Ryder
- Danielle Steel's StarDanielle Steel's StarDanielle Steel's Star is a 1993 made-for-television film starring Jennie Garth, Craig Bierko, Terry Farrell, Penny Fuller and Mitchell Ryan. This film is based on the novel Star by author Danielle Steel...
(1993) as Elizabeth - Reasons of the Heart (1996)
- LegionLegion (1998 film)Legion is a 1998 made for TV film directed by John Hess with screenplay by Patrick Highsmith and Evan Spiliotopoulos. It was produced by Avi Nesher for Mahagonny Pictures and Conquistador Entertainment Inc...
(1998) as Major Doyle - Deep Core 2000 (2000) as Allison Saunders
- One True Love (2000) as Dana Boyer
- Tripping the RiftTripping the RiftTripping the Rift is a CGI science fiction comedy television series. It is based on two short animations published on the Internet by Chris Moeller and Chuck Austen. The series was produced by CineGroupe in association with the Sci Fi Channel...
(2000) (voice) Six of One - Crossing the Line (2002) as Laura Mosbach
- Gleason: The Jackie Gleason Story (2002) as Marilyn Taylor
- Psychic Murders (2002) as Macy
- Code 11-14 (2003) as Michelle Novack
Video games
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: HarbingerStar Trek: Deep Space Nine: HarbingerStar Trek: Deep Space Nine: Harbinger is a computer game for the MS-DOS and Apple Macintosh operating systems. The game is based upon the television series, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine...
(1996) (voice) Jadzia Dax - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The FallenStar Trek: Deep Space Nine: The FallenStar Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Fallen is a third person shooter game, the third video game based on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Plot:...
(2000) (voice) Jadzia Dax - Treasure Quest (voice) Player's guide