Biography: Janine Turner

 

 

 

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Janine Turner portrays Maggie O'Connell, the beautiful independent pilot and landlady who eventually becomes mayor of Cicely. As Dr. Joel Fleischman's (Rob Morrow) primary nemesis, Maggie struggles between her disdain for Joel's whiny ways and her reluctant physical attraction to him. Turner's stint as Maggie O'Connell resulted in an Emmy nomination and three Golden Globe nominations for best actress in a drama series.

Born December 6, 1962 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Turner developed a love for the arts as a child and studied acting and dance. In junior high she became an apprentice with The Fort Worth Ballet. At fifteen, her mother took her portfolio to the Wilhemina modeling agency, and two weeks later she became their youngest client. Turner modeled in New York while attending The Professional Children's School.

A year later, back in Fort Worth, she was discovered by Leonard Katzman, producer of Dallas, and was cast in a recurring role on the show as Lucy Ewing's best friend. Turner then decided to graduate from high school a year early and give up her modeling career to move to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. She starred on a late-night soap, Behind The Screen, spent a year on General Hospital as "Laura Templeton," (sister to Jackie Templeton, played by Demi Moore) and appeared in the feature film Young Doctors in Love. She then left General Hospital to appear in Dino Delaurentiis' Tai-Pan. Turner returned to New York in 1986 to further hone her acting skills. She spent the next three years studying with Marcia Haufrecht of The Actor's Studio and acting coach Mira Rastova. She went on to appear in several Off-Broadway productions, including Full Moon and High Tide in the Ladies' Room, and performed with the avant-garde theater group The Common Ground Theater.

Her additional film credits include co-starring roles in Monkey Shines, Steel Magnolias, Cliffhanger with Sylvester Stallone, Leave it to Beaver as June Cleaver, and Dr. T and the Women. Turner has been named one of People's "50 Most Beautiful People," one of US magazine's "10 Sexiest Women," and one of Esquire's "Women We Love." In 1992 she received the "Women At Work" award from the National Commission on Working Women. She was in several guest TV spots including Quantam Leap (Season 2, episode "Catch a Falling Star - May 21, 1979") with fellow NoEx cast member, John Cullum.

After Northern Exposure, Janine returned to TV As Dr. Dana Stowe in Lifetime's "Strong Medicine" from 2000 - 2002. She returned to the big screen in No Regrets (2004) and Birdie and Bogey (2004). She made her directorial debut with Trip in a Summer Dress, winning best new emerging director at the Deep Ellum Film Festival in 2004. In late 2004, she became the ad spokesperson for Restasis eyedrops. Her voice also was heard at the end of the Silestone Countertop commercials ("I am Brazillian Brown ...") in 2005.

In 2005, Turner appeared in a Chuck Norris made-for-TV movie, Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire. She appeared in the independent flick The Night of the White Pants, and the made-for-TV film Miracle Dogs Too in 2006. She also lent her voice in the Park Place Motors ads in 2007.

Turner released a new inspirational fitness DVD, Christoga, that combines yoga with scriptures from the Bible as the meditation focus, with fitness expert Mary Cunningham. Her book "Holding Her Head High: Inspiration from 12 Single Mothers Who Championed Their Children and Changed History" was released in March 2008.

In 2007, Turner appeared in the Lifetime telepic Primal Doubt, a psychological thriller. She appeared in Season 9, episode "Inconceivable" of Law & Order SVU that first aired in January 2008. In 2008-2009, she appeared in Friday Night Lights.

When not on location, Turner lives in her beloved Texas on a 300-acre ranch with her daughter Juliette Loraine (born November 22, 1997), along with four horses, five dogs, two birds, one cat and herd of prize-winning Texas Longhorn cattle. She enjoys horseback riding, writing poetry, attending the opera and ballet, and listening to classical and country music. She currently spends most of her time in politics, touring the country with her daughter, and has her own radio show.

Upcoming and Current Projects:

In 2015, Janine released a new book, A Little Bit Vulnerable: On Hollywood, God, Sobriety, & Politics. She spends much of her time as founder and co-chair of Constituting America, an educational foundation aimed at engaging America’s youth and citizens in learning about the United States' founding principles.


Articles:
Talk About Exposure ... Janine Turner is the breakout star of an amiable ensemble - TV Guide, 9/7/91
Total Exposure - Entertainment Weekly, 7/26/91
Janine Turner's Return to Cicely, Alaska - Roslyn, Washington - YouTube, 11/11/11

Contact:
Email her: jturner@janineturner.net

Publicist:
Patricola/Lust
Att: Susan Patricola
310-860-9770

Agent:
Linda McAlister Talent
972.938.2433
972.733.7593 fax
214.835.2844 voicemail / pager
email:linda@lindamcalistertalent.com

Commercial Agent
Rick Hersh: 310 - 581 - 6371

See the Official Janine Turner web siteJanine Turner quotes Janine Turner on You Tube

© Copyright, 2015 • Northern Exposure is Copyright © Universal City Studios. All Rights Reserved. • Created 12/22/01 • Updated 1/18/15