Michelle Clunie
Clunie in 2014
Born (1969-11-07) November 7, 1969
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1992–present
Children1

Michelle Renee Clunie (born November 7, 1969) is an American actress and former ballet dancer. A native of Portland, Oregon, Clunie studied ballet from an early age, earning a scholarship at the Academy of Professional Ballet. In 1992, she starred in a Los Angeles–based production of A Comedy of Eros, for which she won a Drama-Logue Award for Best Actress, before making her film debut in the slasher film Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993).

Clunie gained international attention for her portrayal of Melanie Marcus on Showtime's critically acclaimed series Queer as Folk (2000–2005). She later starred as Ellen Beals on Make It or Break It (2010–2011) and as Mrs. Finch on MTV’s Teen Wolf (2015–2017).

Early life

Clunie was born November 7, 1969, in Portland, Oregon.[1] As a child, she studied ballet, tap, jazz, and violin.[1] Clunie attended Portland's David Douglas High School, graduating in 1987.[1]

She was awarded a scholarship to The Academy of Professional Ballet where she studied and apprenticed throughout her teenage years. At 19 years old she sold her violin for $200 and moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue an acting career.[2]

Career

In 1992, Clunie made her Los Angeles stage debut in Dean Orion's A Comedy of Eros performed at the Skylight Theatre, which earned her a Drama-Logue Award for Best Actress.[3]

Additional stage highlights include her portrayal of Abby in Neil LaBute's West Coast premiere of The Mercy Seat at the Ford Theatre,[4] for which she won the Backstage Readers Best Performance Award,[5] and the world premiere and Off-Broadway production of US, written and performed by Clunie at New York City's Lion Theatre at Theatre Row.

In 1995, she was cast in the Academy Award-winning The Usual Suspects[6] and shortly thereafter played a supporting role in Lost & Found.[7] She became a series regular on The Jeff Foxworthy Show and guest starred on ER, The Tony Danza Show, House M.D., Without a Trace, NCIS, among several others.

She played Melanie Marcus in the US adaptation of Queer as Folk[8] and the biology teacher, Mrs. Finch, on MTV’s Teen Wolf.

Personal life

In October 2014 it was announced Clunie was expecting a child with director Bryan Singer, and in January 2015 she gave birth to their son.[9][10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday Deborah
1993 Sunset Strip Jonesy
1995 The Usual Suspects Sketch Artist
1999 Lost & Found Gail
2005 The Unseen Kathleen
2008 Solar Flare Jamie
2008 Leaving Barstow Sandra
2012 Magic Mike Dallas' Girl
2014 Death Clique Tina
2015 A Sort of Homecoming Amy Hartinger

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Space: Above and Beyond Jennifer Brandt 1 episode
1996 The Jeff Foxworthy Show DeeDee Landrow 5 episodes
1997 Boy Meets World Kelly 1 episode
Night Man Megan Farrell 1 episode
1998 The Tony Danza Show Maggie 1 episode
1999 V.I.P. Mary Tepsin 1 episode
2000 Diagnosis: Murder Maeve Michaels 1 episode
2000 Battery Park Mrs. Fleishman 1 episode
2000–2005 Queer as Folk Melanie Marcus 83 episodes
2002 Judging Amy Nancy Recurring role
2006 House M.D Judy 1 episode
2006 Without a Trace Cindy Peterson 1 episode
2007 The Closer Dr. Leonard 1 episode
2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Paulla Kingsley 1 episode
2010 The Mentalist Tara Harrington 1 episode
2010–2011 Make It or Break It Ellen Beals Recurring role
2010 Lie to Me Jane Prescott 1 episode
2011 Detroit 1-8-7 Alex Bergman 1 episode
2011 In Plain Sight Sage Lorne/Britt Parnell 1 episode
2013 NCIS Meredith Dunn 1 episode
2014 Bones Suzanne Levitt 1 episode
2015-2017 Teen Wolf Mrs Finch (AP Biology Teacher) Recurring role; 9 Episodes

References

  1. 1 2 3 Baker, Jeff (April 28, 2014). "18 actors you (maybe) didn't know were from Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ↑ Michelle Clunie Biography, buddytv.com; accessed January 28, 2018.
  3. ↑ "US: written by 'Queer as Folk' star Michelle Clunie". New York Theatre Guide. June 14, 2012. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ "Theater Review: THE MERCY SEAT (Vs. Theatre Company at [Inside] the Ford in Los Angeles)". stageandcinema.com. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  5. ↑ "Theater review: The Mercy Seat at [Inside] the Ford". LA Times Blogs. 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  6. ↑ "The Usual Suspects (1995) - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.com. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Lost & Found (I) (1999) - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Bryan Singer expecting first child via surrogate Queer As Folk actress". Independent.co.uk. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  9. ↑ "Bryan Singer Expecting First Child With Best Friend Michelle Clunie". 23 October 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  10. ↑ "Bryan Singer and Best Friend Michelle Clunie Welcome Baby Boy". The Hollywood Reporter. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
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