Mel Harris

Mel Harris (born July 12, 1956) is an American actress best known for her iconic role as Hope Murdoch Steadman on the groundbreaking ABC drama Thirtysomething (1987–1991), a performance that earned her a Golden Globe nomination in 1990. Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, she is the daughter of Mary Michael "Mike" Harris, a high‑school science teacher, and Warren Harris, a football coach who taught at Bethlehem High School and later at Princeton University. Harris grew up in North Brunswick, New Jersey, where she attended New Brunswick High School, graduating in 1974 before moving to New York to pursue acting. Her early career included a brief appearance as a contestant on The $100,000 Pyramid in 1985, credited under the surname of her third husband, photographer David Hume Kennerly, a fact that underscores the intertwining of her personal and professional lives. Harris made her television debut in 1986 with a small part in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and quickly progressed to starring roles, securing the part of Hope Murdoch Steadman, a character that resonated with audiences for its nuanced portrayal of a young professional woman navigating love, career, and family in the late 1980s. Beyond Thirtysomething, Harris built a diverse résumé that spans film, television, and behind‑the‑scenes work. She appeared in the action film Wanted: Dead or Alive (1987) opposite Rutger Hauer, followed by roles in the horror movie Cameron’s Closet (1988) and the comedy‑action K‑9 (1989). The early 1990s saw her starring in numerous made‑for‑TV movies such as The Burden of Proof (1992) and Ultimate Betrayal (1994), as well as the NBC sitcom Something So Right (1996–1998) alongside Jere Burns. In the 2000s, Harris became a familiar guest star on series like Touched by an Angel, Stargate SG‑1, The West Wing, JAG, House and Criminal Minds. She expanded into writing and producing, creating the 2012 ABC drama pilot Scruples and serving as executive producer, demonstrating her versatility beyond acting. After a brief hiatus, she returned to television in 2013 with appearances on Law & Order: SVU, and later took on recurring roles in Hulu’s Shut Eye (2016) and Bravo’s Imposters (2017–2018). Although a planned Thirtysomething sequel in 2020 was shelved, Harris’s lasting impact on television drama remains evident. Her personal life has been equally eventful, marked by six marriages—to David Silbergeld, Brian Kilcommons, David Hume Kennerly, Cotter Smith, Michael Toomey, and currently Bob Brush—and two children, a son with Kennerly and a daughter with Smith. Harris continues to work in the industry, balancing acting, writing, and producing, while maintaining a devoted fan base that appreciates her contributions to the golden era of television storytelling.