Actress
Birth Date: March 20, 1966
Age: 58 years old
Birth Place: San Diego, California
Although she gained the spotlight as the brassy, cynical hairdresser Gloria in the NBC series "Hope & Gloria," Jessica Lundy, in real life, was more like the Hope character, optimistic and a bit shy--although without the perkiness. Entertaining classmates in elementary school and her grandmother at home from the time she was eight, Lundy knew she wanted a career as a performer when she entered New York University. She teamed with classmate Alec Mapa to form a cabaret duo, and both were cast in small roles in the film "Bright Light, Big City" as a result. Lundy experienced her first on-screen kiss: with actress Kelly Preston in a bathroom as star Michael J Fox watched. Lundy's bigger film break came in 1988, when she was cast as Jackie Mason's nouveau riche daughter, Kate Hartounian, in the low comedy "Caddyshack II." She was also able to kiss a man on screen for the first time; Jonathan Silverman was the guy who won her heart.
Heading for Los Angeles in 1990, Lundy snagged the role of an obituary writer who teams with a detective to solve crimes in CBS' "Over My Dead Body" (1990-91). The series, which also starred Edward Woodward, was short-lived, but Lundy bounced back to co-star in the ABC series "Baby Talk " (1991-92) and as a member of the ensemble cast in CBS' "The Carol Burnett Show" (1991) revival. Both shows failed, as did "The Second Half" (NBC, 1993).
But the network liked Lundy, and gave her one of the title roles in "Hope & Gloria," a midseason 1995 entry. Cast opposite Cynthia Stevenson's Hope, the ever optimistic associate producer of a local Pittsburgh TV talk show, Lundy was Gloria, twice married and divorced to the same man, who saw life with a sense of realism. The chemistry between the two women worked as audiences liked to see the two female buddies alternating between arguing, supporting each other, and crying on each other's shoulders. Some critics compared the effort to "Kate & Allie," or even the rapport between Mary and Rhoda on the older "Mary Tyler Moore Show." As a result of her work in "Hope & Gloria," Lundy was cast as Tom Arnold's wife in the feature comedy "The Stupids" (1996).
Credits
A Cloud So High
Actor
Dolores White
Movie
2022
B PositiveStream
Guest Star
Charlene
Series
2020
85%
The InspectorsStream
Actor
Amanda Wainwright
Series
2015
Major CrimesStream
Guest Star
Series
2012
Of Two Minds
Actor
Madeleine
Movie
2012
Men of a Certain AgeStream
Guest Star
Series
2009
94%
CastleStream
Guest Star
Series
2009
82%
Fudgy Wudgy Fudge Face
Actor
Sour Lemon Drop
Movie
2009
Pushing DaisiesStream
Guest Star
Series
2007
96%
Saving GraceStream
Guest Star
Series
2007
76%
'Til DeathStream
Guest Star
Series
2006
The Town That Banned Christmas
Actor
Noelle
Movie
2006
Criminal MindsStream
Guest Star
Series
2005
NUMB3RSStream
Guest Star
Series
2005
Century City
Guest Star
Show
2004
Two and a Half MenStream
Guest Star
Allie
Series
2003
65%
1-800-MissingStream
Actor
Susan Bordner La Belle
Series
2003
Without a TraceStream
Guest Star
Series
2002
What I Like About YouStream
Guest Star
Marcy
Series
2002
MonkStream
Guest Star
Rachel Sweeney
Series
2002
91%
Some of My Best Friends
Actor
Meryl Doogan
Show
2001
Wasteland
Guest Star
Show
1999
Just a Little Harmless Sex
Actor
Terrianne
Movie
1999
Cupid
Guest Star
Show
1998
Denial
Actor
Bonnie
Movie
1998
Dharma & Greg
Guest Star
Series
1997
RocketMan
Actor
Julie Ford
Movie
1997
The Good Bad Guy
Actor
Carol Graham
Movie
1997
L'Homme fusée
Actor
Movie
1997
The Stupids
Actor
Joan Stupid
Movie
1996
The Outer LimitsStream
Guest Star
Theresa McPhee
Series
1995
Hope & Gloria
Actor
Gloria Utz
Show
1995
Party of FiveStream
Actor
Series
1994
Party of FiveStream
Guest Star
Series
1994
The Second Half
Actor
Denise Palmaro
Show
1993
DinosaursStream
Guest Voice
Mindy
Series
1991
91%
Baby Talk
Actor
Susan Davis
Series
1991
0%
Baby Talk
Voice
Susan Davis
Series
1991
0%
Madhouse
Actor
Bernice
Movie
1990
SeinfeldStream
Guest Star
Naomi
Series
1989
89%
Vampire's KissStream
Actor
Sharon
Movie
1989
61%
B.L. Stryker: Blind Chess
Actor
Michelle
Movie
1989
Caddyshack II
Actor
Kate Hartounian
Movie
1988
The Golden GirlsStream
Guest Star
Janet
Series
1985
ADVERTIsem*nT
ADVERTIsem*nT