Tracey Needham
Encyclopedia
Tracey Needham is a Texas
-born American
actress best known as Paige Thatcher on Life Goes On
during the series' second to fourth seasons (1990–1993), and then on the first season of JAG
as Lt. Meg Austin (1995–1996).
, and her father's work dictated that the family move back and forth between the two cities. Needham was fully grown by the eighth grade, and later, when she took to heart a high-school theater director's snippy
advice that she was too tall to appear on stage, she worked on the technical crew instead. After her high-school graduation, Needham traveled through Europe
and Australia
. In 1988, she went to Los Angeles
to study acting and audition for roles. She made her TV acting debut on Jake and the Fatman
. After a few more acting classes, she landed the part of Paige Thatcher, the big sister, on Life Goes On
, beginning in the series' second season.
While growing up, she was always jumping into football games and wanted to be treated equally and not have boys take it easy on her. Later she would call on her own past experiences to play the strong but feminine Lt.(j.g.) Meg Austin in the first season of JAG
. As the female star of a military action-adventure series, Needham portrayed a Navy
judge advocate
who was also a computer-weapons expert.
She married actor Tommy Hinkley
in January 1995 and they have a daughter, Katie, born in 1999.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress best known as Paige Thatcher on Life Goes On
Life Goes On (TV series)
Life Goes On is a television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989 to May 23, 1993. The show centers on the Thacher family living in suburban Chicago: Drew, his wife Elizabeth, and their children Paige, Rebecca, and Charles, who is known as Corky...
during the series' second to fourth seasons (1990–1993), and then on the first season of JAG
JAG (TV series)
JAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
as Lt. Meg Austin (1995–1996).
Biography
Needham was born on March 28, 1967, in Dallas, Texas, where her father was a homebuilder. When she was eight, the Needhams moved to Denver, ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and her father's work dictated that the family move back and forth between the two cities. Needham was fully grown by the eighth grade, and later, when she took to heart a high-school theater director's snippy
Snippy
Snippy, pronounced , is an adjective meaning "sharp or curt" and "Sharp-tongued; impertinent".- 2000 U.S. presidential election :The word grew to prominence in the United States after its well-publicized use in a phone call between Al Gore and George W. Bush during the 2000 U.S...
advice that she was too tall to appear on stage, she worked on the technical crew instead. After her high-school graduation, Needham traveled through Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In 1988, she went to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to study acting and audition for roles. She made her TV acting debut on Jake and the Fatman
Jake and the Fatman
Jake and the Fatman is a television crime drama starring William Conrad as prosecutor J. L. "Fatman" McCabe and Joe Penny as investigator Jake Styles. The series ran on CBS for five seasons from 1987 to 1992. Diagnosis: Murder was a spin-off of this series...
. After a few more acting classes, she landed the part of Paige Thatcher, the big sister, on Life Goes On
Life Goes On (TV series)
Life Goes On is a television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989 to May 23, 1993. The show centers on the Thacher family living in suburban Chicago: Drew, his wife Elizabeth, and their children Paige, Rebecca, and Charles, who is known as Corky...
, beginning in the series' second season.
While growing up, she was always jumping into football games and wanted to be treated equally and not have boys take it easy on her. Later she would call on her own past experiences to play the strong but feminine Lt.(j.g.) Meg Austin in the first season of JAG
JAG (TV series)
JAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
. As the female star of a military action-adventure series, Needham portrayed a Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
judge advocate
Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
The Judge Advocate General's Corps also known as the "JAG Corps" or "JAG" is the legal arm of the United States Navy. Today, the corps consists of a worldwide organization of more than 730 Judge Advocates, 30 limited duty officers , 500 enlisted members and nearly 275 civilian personnel, serving...
who was also a computer-weapons expert.
She married actor Tommy Hinkley
Tommy Hinkley
-Life and career:Hinkley's on-screen career now spans more than 20 years, and since the beginning it has been supplemented by a heavy dose of television guest roles, and periodic regular turns on TV series, including the short-lived Showtime series Hard Knocks, that also featured Bill Maher...
in January 1995 and they have a daughter, Katie, born in 1999.
Partial filmography
- Bonnie and Clyde: The True Story - Bonnie, (1992) (Movie)
- Life Goes OnLife Goes On (TV series)Life Goes On is a television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989 to May 23, 1993. The show centers on the Thacher family living in suburban Chicago: Drew, his wife Elizabeth, and their children Paige, Rebecca, and Charles, who is known as Corky...
- Paige Thacher, (1990–1993) - Lush Life - Sarah, (1993) (TV)
- VR.5VR.5VR.5 was an American television program. It was broadcast on the Fox network from March 10 to May 12, 1995. Of the 13 episodes that were produced, only 10 aired during its original run.-Premise:...
- Samantha Bloom, (4 episodes, 1995) - JAGJAG (TV series)JAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
- Lt. Meg Austin, (1995–1996) - Last Stand At Saber RiverLast Stand at Saber RiverLast Stand at Saber River is a 1997 television movie starring Tom Selleck, based on the 1959 novel of the same title by Elmore Leonard. Directed by Dick Lowry, the film also featured Suzy Amis, Haley Joel Osment, Tracey Needham, Keith Carradine, David Carradine, and Harry Carey Jr..In 1997, Osment...
- Lorraine Kidston, (1997) (TV) - The DivisionThe DivisionThe Division is an American Lifetime Television original series about a team of women police officers in the San Francisco Police Department. The series premiered on January 7, 2001 and ended on June 28, 2004 after 88 episodes.-Synopsis:...
- Inspector Candace "C. D." DeLorenzo, (2001–2003) - Angel in the Family - Sarah, (2004) (TV)