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Who is Terry Farrell?
American actress and model Theresa Lee ‘Terry’ Farrell was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA, on 19 November 1963, making Scorpio her zodiac sign. She has 35 acting credits and is perhaps still known best for starring as Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax in 148 episodes of the critically acclaimed action adventure series “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”, which also starred Rene Auberjonois and Avery Brooks, and was created by Michael Piller and Rick Berman. It follows the opening of a wormhole to the far side of the galaxy, the series aired from 1993 through 1999, and won 59 of its 175 award nominations.
Terry retired from acting in 2003, wanting to spend more time with her family, but returned to the film industry after she and her husband divorced in 2015.
Education and early life
Terry was raised alongside her two younger and two older sisters in Cedar Rapids, by their mother Kay Carol Christine Bendickson and father Edwin Francis Farrell Jr; Kay and Edwin eventually divorced, and Kay married her second husband David W. Grussendorf.
Terry attended a local high school and was 16 when she reached the height of 6ft (1.83m); she then sent her images to the modelling agency Elite in New York City, and was invited to come to the city. Terry signed a contract with the women’s magazine “Mademoiselle”, and appeared on the cover page of various other magazines, including German and Italian “Vogue”.
She matriculated in 1982, and then chose to pursue acting rather than to enroll at college.
Roles in TV series
Terry’s debut TV series role was playing Laurie Caswell in all 13 episodes of the 1984 drama “Paper Dolls”, which starred Dack Rambo and Lloyd Bridges, and was created by Jennifer Miller and Leah Markus; it follows the lives of a group of models. Terry was then cast to appear in an episode of the comedy “Spencer”, the romantic family comedy “The Cosby Show” and the crime thriller mini-series “The Deliberate Stranger”.
Her only two other TV series roles in the ‘80s were playing Marsha Cole in the 1986 episode “The After Hours” of the fantasy horror “The Twilight Zone” and Liz Obeck in the 1986 episode “The Big Fix” of the comedy “Family Ties”.
Terry portrayed Lieutenant Lisa Sherman in the 1992 episode “A Leap for Lisa – June 25, 1957” of the action adventure “Quantum Leap”, and the same year saw her play Laurie in the episode “The Allison and Ken Story” of the comedy “Grapevine”. From 1998 through 2002, she starred as Reggie Kostas in 94 episodes of the comedy “Becker”, which also starred Hattie Winston and Ted Danson, and was created by Dave Hackel. It follows the life of Dr. John Becker, the series aired from 1998 through 2004 and won four of its 14 award nominations.
Join us in wishing a #HappyBirthday to Terry Farrell, Jadzia Dax in #StarTrek: Deep Space Nine! pic.twitter.com/NUeOqYaKAb
— Star Trek (@StarTrek) November 19, 2015
Terry had no other roles prior to retiring, and has had two since she made her return: she played Jada in the 2017 episode “The Requiem” of the action science fiction adventure “Star Trek: Renegades”, and the same character in two episodes of the 2017 science fiction “Renegades”.
Roles in movies
Terry’s debut film role was playing Elite Model in the 1986 drama “Portfolio”, and some of her following roles were in 1986 in the drama “Beverly Hills Madam” and the romantic sports comedy “Back to School”, then the 1987 romantic comedy “Off the Mark”.
In 1990, she portrayed Party Guest Listening to Aubrey Buffing in the popular romantic comedy “The Bonfire of the Vanities”, which starred Bruce Willis and Tom Hanks, and was directed by Brian De Palma. It follows a Wall Street hotshot whose mistress has run over a young teen, and the movie won one of its six award nominations. Terry could then have been seen playing supporting characters in the horror “Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth” and the science fiction comedy “Red Dwarf” and the romantic drama “Star” both in 1992.
In 1994, she starred as Karen Ryder in the action “Red Sun Riding”, which also starred Don Wilson and Mako, and was directed by Francis Megahy; it follows a Japanese detective whose partner’s been killed by a Yakuza ninja. Some of Terry’s final roles prior to her retirement were in the 2002 family comedy “Crossing the Line”, the 2002 biographical family drama “Gleason” and the 2003 crime action “Code 11-14”.
She’s had only one role since her return to the film industry, playing a supporting character in the 2019 science fiction “The Circuit: Star Crew”, which failed to attract any attention.
Other credits
Terry sang two songs in two episodes (1994-1995) of the series “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”.
She received special thanks for the 2011 biographical documentary science fiction movie “The Captains”.
Some of Terry’s recent talk-show appearances have been in “From the Mouths of Babes”, “The 7th Rule” and “Inglorious Treksperts”.
Awards and nominations
Terry was nominated for three Online Film & Television Association Awards in 1997 and 1998, all for her performance in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”.
Love life and husband
Terry’s been married twice. Her first husband was American actor Brian Baker, who has 10 acting credits and is perhaps still known best for playing Agent Madyer in the 2002 episode “Dude, Where’s My Party?” of the action crime comedy series “V. I. P.” Terry and Brian married on 1 September 2002, she gave birth to their son Max in the following year, but their divorce was finalized in December 2015.
On 26 March 2018, Terry married her second husband Adam Nimoy; he’s an American producer, director and actor, and is probably known best for directing several episodes (1992-1993) of the action adventure science fiction series “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. Their divorce was finalized on 20 May 2022.
There are no other men whom Terry’s been with, that we know about; she’s unattached as of July 2023, has been married twice, and has a son with her first husband Brian Baker.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Terry’s favorite hobbies are yoga and sewing; she’s also passionate about deep sea fishing, and caught two large wahoos on her first try.
She and Nana Visitor, her co-star in the series “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” were honored by astronomer William Kwong Yu Yeung in 2011 when he named two asteroids after them: asteroid 26733 Nanavisitor and asteroid 26734 Terryfarrell.
Close to 30,000 people are following Terry on Instagram today, and she’s posted over 350 pictures and videos, with most of these showing her during her everyday life, whether she’s eating in restaurants, travelling or shooting for her movies and TV series.
Scarlett Johansson’s one of her favorite actresses, and some of her favorite movies include “Asteroid City”, “Lucy” and “Under the Skin”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Terry’s age is 59. She has light blue eyes and brown hair, is 6ft (1.83m) tall and weighs around 155lbs (71kgs).
Terry’s net worth’s been estimated at over $1 million, as of July 2023.