Who is Daphne Zuniga?
American actress Daphne Eurydice Zuniga was born in San Francisco, California USA, on 28 October 1962, making Scorpio her zodiac sign. She has 83 acting credits, and is perhaps known best for playing Victoria Davis in 40 episodes (2008-2012) of the popular romantic sports series “One Tree Hill”, which starred James Lafferty and Chad Michael Murray, and was created by Mark Schwahn. It follows the lives of half-brothers Nathan and Lucas Scott, the series aired from 2003 through 2012, and won four of its 31 award nominations.
Daphne’s still today active in the film industry, and is currently working on several upcoming projects.
Education and early life
Daphne was raised in San Francisco alongside her sister Jennifer Zuniga, by their father Joaquin who was originally from Guatemala and was a college professor, and mother Agnes A. (nee Janawicz) who was of Finnish and Polish descent, and was a Unitarian minister.
Daphne became interested in acting at the age of 13, and then enrolled at American Conservatory Theatre’s Young Conservatory program. Following her parents’ divorce, she and her sister moved with their mother to Reading, Vermont and Daphne studied at Woodstock Union High School in the nearby city of Woodstock, from which she matriculated in 1980.
She then enrolled at University of California, Los Angeles but dropped out after two years, wanting to pursue an acting career.
Roles in movies
Daphne’s debut film role was playing Debbie in the 1982 mystery horror thriller “The Dorm That Dripped Blood”, which starred Stephen Sachs and Laurie Lapinski, and was written and directed by Stephen Carpenter and Jeffrey Obrow. It follows four college friends who are staying on campus for Christmas, and are being stalked by a serial killer. Some of Daphne’s following roles were in the 1983 sports drama “Quarterback Princess”, the 1984 mystery horror thriller “The Initiation”, and the 1985 romantic comedy “The Sure Thing”.
What marked the ‘80s for her was perhaps playing one of the lead characters Beth Logan in the 1989 horror science fiction “The Fly II”, which also starred Eric Stoltz and Lee Richardson, and was directed by Chris Walas. It follows a mutated teenager who’s looking to ‘cure’ his mutated genes – the film was nominated for three awards.
The first half of the ‘90s saw Daphne play supporting characters in the 1992 action thriller “Prey of the Chameleon”, the 1992 romantic western horror “Mad at the Moon” and the 1993 action “Eight Hundred Leagues Down the Amazon”. In 1995, she starred as Ronda in the fantasy adventure comedy “Charlie’s Ghost Story”, which also starred Cheech Marin and Trenton Knight, and was directed by Anthony Edwards; the movie follows the ghost of a famous explorer who wants his bones to be taken from a museum and properly buried. Some of Daphne’s roles in the remainder of the decade were in the 1996 drama “Cityscrapes: Los Angeles”, the 1997 drama “Stand-ins”, and the 1998 mystery thriller “Loss of Faith”.
In 2003, she starred as Amanda Morton in the action family fantasy “Ghost Dog: A Detective Tail”, which also starred Jack Wagner and Zack Ward, and was directed by Worth Keeter; it follows the lives of police officer Kyle and his dog partner Hunter. The remainder of the 2000s saw Daphne appear in only a couple of movies, including the 2005 mystery “Secret Lives”, the 2008 romantic western “Mail Order Bride”, and the 2010 comedy “Seducing Charlie Barker”.
She portrayed the lead character Rene in the 2013 crime adventure “Gone Missing”, which also starred Brigette Davidovici-Dean and Lauren Bowles, and was directed by Tara Miele. It follows two mothers as they’re searching for their missing daughters.
Some of Daphne’s most recent film roles have been in the 2018 romantic drama “Abigail Falls”, the 2018 romantic comedy “A Christmas Arrangement” and the 2019 romantic drama “Christmas in Paris”.
Roles in TV series
Daphne’s debut TV series role was playing Rachel Miller in two episodes (1984) of the comedy “Family Ties”, which starred Michael Gross and Michael J. Fox, and was created by Gary David Goldberg. It follows the lives of liberals Elyse and Steven Keaton and their four children, the series aired from 1982 through 1989, and won 23 of its 66 award nominations.
Daphne’s following role was playing Irene Marlowe in the 1989 episode “The Eyes of the Panther” of the fantasy horror “Nightmare Classics”, and from 1992 through 1996, she starred as Jo Reynolds in 111 episodes of the romantic drama “Melrose Place”, which aired from 1992 through 1999, and also starred Andrew Shue and Heather Locklear. It follows a group of friends living in Melrose Place, California and the series won six of its 14 award nominations. The remainder of the ‘90s saw Daphne appear in an episode of the comedy “Spin City”, the fantasy horror “The Outer Limits” and the comedy “Stark Raving Mad”.
In 2004 and 2005, she played Shelly Pierce in 14 episodes of the popular historical family drama “American Dreams”, which starred Tom Verica and Gail O’Grady, and was created by Josh Goldstein and Jonathan Prince. Set in the 1960s, the series follows the life of a middle-class family, and it won 10 of its 37 award nominations.
What also marked the 2000s for Daphne was portraying the lead character Lynn Kerr in all 16 episodes of the 2006 romantic drama “Beautiful People”, which also starred Torrey DeVitto and Sarah Foret, and was created by Michael Rauch; it follows the lives of an intelligent teenage girl, her older sister who’s working as a model, and their mother.
Daphne’s since appeared in only a couple of TV series, and her three most recent roles have been in the 2020 episode “Lonely Hearts” of the crime action “NCIS”, the 2021 episode “The Big Five Oh” of the adventure “Fantasy Island”, and two episodes of the 2022 drama “Dynasty”.
Other credits
Daphne received special thanks for the 1998 romantic comedy movie “Buffalo ‘66”, and in 2005 the short biographical documentary film “John Candy: Comic Spirit” and the short documentary movie “Spaceballs: The Documentary”.
She produced the 2007 documentary movie “TED: The Future We Will Create”, and the 2010 fantasy comedy film “A Family Thanksgiving”; she also directed the 2019 drama movie “Deadly Assistant”.
Some of Daphne’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “25 Words or Less”, “Entertainment Tonight” and “Stars in the House”.
Awards and nominations
Daphne’s won two awards: a 2008 LA Femme International Film Festival New Establishment Award, and a 2016 Santa Fe Film Festival Creative Spirit Award, for her performance in “Search Engines”.
Love life and relationships
Daphne avoids sharing the details of her love life with the public, which is why there is only one man whom she’s been with, that we know about.
She met American businessman David Mleczko on a blind date in 2006, and the two were together for 12 years prior to becoming engaged in November 2018; they exchanged vows in a private ceremony on 8 June 2019, attended by their closest friends and family members.
Not many details have been disclosed about David, as he prefers to stay away from media, while it’s known that his net worth has been estimated at over $8 million.
Daphne’s married to David Mleczko as of July 2023, and doesn’t have children.
Just Married! Melrose Place Alum Daphne Zuniga Weds Her Longtime Beau David Mleczko https://t.co/EehKD79QXu
— People (@people) June 8, 2019
Interesting facts and hobbies
More than 70,000 people are following Daphne on Instagram today, and she’s posted over 1,500 pictures and videos; most of her content shows her during her everyday life.
She’s an environmental activist, and has stated that her interest in the environment was sparked by her family’s camping trips to Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks. Daphne joined the board of directors of the non-profit organization Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation in 2009, and she’s today working with Environment California, Waterkeeper Alliance and Natural Resources Defense Council; she’s also the founder of the Earth Communications Office.
Daphne’s younger sister Jennifer launched her acting career by appearing in the 1992 movie “A Woman, Her Men, and Her Futon”.
She often goes to Buddhist meditation retreats.
Daphne suffered from mercury poisoning in 2004, because she ate fish more than four times a week; she then entirely stopped eating fish, as well as other meat.
Meryl Streep’s one of her favorite actresses, and some of Daphne’s favorite movies include “It’s Complicated”, “The Devil Wears Prada” and “The Bridges of Madison County”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Daphne’s age is 60. She has brown hair and blue eyes, is 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall and weighs about 145lbs (66kgs).
Daphne’s net worth’s been estimated at over $3 million, as of July 2023.
