Melora Hardin

Melora Hardin is an actress, known for her roles as Jan Levinson on NBC's "The Office" and Trudy Monk on USA's "Monk."

Hardin was born in Houston, TX, the daughter of acting manager/coach and retired actress Diane and actor Jerry Hardin. She was raised in San Francisco, CA, and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College.

Hardin started her acting career as the young star of the television series "Thunder," and has appeared in over 70 movies and television programs since, including two 1981 "Little House on the Prairie" episodes as well as playing Michele Pierson in the 1983 television movie "Little House: Look Back to Yesterday." She starred as Baby in the 1988 television series "Dirty Dancing" and two 1992 episodes of "Quantum Leap." She co-starred in the 1990 dancing movie "Lambada" as Sandy. She also appeared in "Absolute Power" as Christy Sullivan.

Hardin starred in the 2000-2001 series "Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family," and 2004-2009 she played the recurring role of Trudy Monk, the title character's deceased wife, on the USA Network series "Monk." She appeared on the series "NCIS" as former Petty Officer Erin Toner in the episode "The Curse". In 2005, Hardin portrayed Linda Evans in "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure," a fictionalized television movie based on the creation and behind the scenes production of the 1980s prime time soap opera "Dynasty." Hardin played former corporate manager Jan Levinson in "The Office" from 2005 to 2011.

Hardin later appeared in the 2006 film "Thank You for Smoking," and appears in "Hannah Montana: The Movie" as Robby Ray's love interest. She played the role of Fantine in the Hollywood Bowl's concert of "Les Misérables" in Summer 2008. Hardin also appeared in several episodes of the popular web show, "Elevator," on YouTube.

Hardin made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the revival of "Chicago: The Musical" on December 29, 2008. She stayed with the show until February 12, 2009. Hardin was cast as a major character in the NBC drama "Outlaw," playing a powerful senior partner of an elite law firm, and the main love interest to the series' protagonist, played by Jimmy Smits.

Most recently, Hardin has starred in Amazon’s Emmy-winning series, "Transparent."