Jenilee Harrison (born June 12, 1958)[1] is an American actress who appeared as Cindy Snow, a cousin of and replacement for blonde roommate Chrissy Snow on the hit sitcom Three's Company, between 1980 and 1982. She went on to play Jamie Ewing Barnes on Dallas from 1984 to 1986.
Jenilee Harrison | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 12, 1958 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1978–2002 |
| Known for | Three's Company Dallas |
| Spouse | Bruce Oppenheim (m. 1993; div. 2022) |
Career
Before breaking into show business, Harrison was a cheerleader from 1978–1980 for the Los Angeles Rams.[2]
Harrison was just 21 when she landed the role of Cindy on "Three's Company" after Suzanne Somers asked for a raise in salary, and her role was reduced. Both Harrison and Somers suffered in popularity.[3] As a result, Priscilla Barnes was cast as Terri permanently replacing Somers, while Harrison was made a supporting cast member and disappeared from the series after two and a half seasons, with producers saying she was too "inexperienced and unseasoned."[4] This period of her life was later dramatized in the television movie Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company(2003) with Liz Crawford playing Harrison.
After "Three's Company", Harrison continued on with her acting career appearing in feature films Tank (film) and television series Dallas where she played Jamie Ewing Barnes for two years. She continued in guest-starring roles on television where she reunited with her former "Three's Company" co-stars Suzanne Somers and Don Knotts on She's the Sheriff in 1988. She also performed with another "Three's Company" co-star Richard Kline in dinner theater for the play "Shear Madness" in Canada in 1992.[5]
She left showbiz in 2002 to focus on her real estate investments, caring for animals and car racing.[6] In 2017, she did reunite with some of the surviving stars of "Three's Company" for the show's 40th anniversary celebration on Antenna TV.[7]
Personal life
In the early 1980s, Harrison dated L.A. Rams guard Dennis Harrah and Major League Baseball star Reggie Jackson.[8]
In 1993, Harrison married Dr. Bruce Oppenheim, a Los Angeles-area chiropractor and the ex-husband of actress Cybill Shepherd.[9] Oppenheim and Harrison divorced in 2022.[10]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | CHiPs | Cheerleader | Episode: "High Flyer" |
| 1979 | 240-Robert | College Girl / Jill | Episodes: "Stuntman" and "The Applicant" |
| 1980–82 | Three's Company | Cindy Snow | Main cast (32 episodes) |
| 1981 | The Love Boat | Connie Wilker | Episodes: "The Three R's" (Parts 1 & 2) |
| 1981 | Fantasy Island | Ginger Donovan | Episode: "Slam Dunk" |
| 1981 | Battle of the Network Stars X | Herself - ABC Team | TV special |
| 1982 | Fantasy Island | Jenny Ryan | Episode: "Natchez Bound" |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Erica Dupont | Episode: "Here Comes the Bride - Maybe" |
| 1983 | Malibu | Cindy | TV movie |
| 1983 | Bring 'Em Back Alive | Stacey | Episode: "The Shadow Women of Chung Tai" |
| 1984 | Fantasy Island | Barbara Jessup | Episode: "Games People Play" |
| 1984 | The Love Boat | Sheila | Episode: "The Babymakers" |
| 1984 | The New Mike Hammer | Shelley Steele | Episode: "Shots in the Dark" |
| 1984 | Tank | Sarah | |
| 1984–86 | Dallas | Jamie Ewing | Main cast (69 episodes) |
| 1985 | Battle of the Network Stars XVIII | Herself - CBS Team | TV special |
| 1986 | Simon & Simon | Jennifer Tucker | Episode: "Just Because I'm Paranoid" |
| 1987 | The Love Boat: Who Killed Maxwell Thorn? | Sarah York | TV movie |
| 1987 | Hotel | Brenda Thompkins | Episode: "Class of '72" |
| 1987 | The New Mike Hammer | Maggie | Episode: "Lady Killer" |
| 1987 | Murder, She Wrote | Serena | Episode: "The Way to Dusty Death" |
| 1988 | She's the Sheriff | Grace | Episode: "Hair" |
| 1991 | They Came from Outer Space | Dr. H.J. Pretzel | Episode: "Play Doctor" |
| 1991 | Curse III: Blood Sacrifice | Elizabeth Armstrong | Alternative title: Panga |
| 1991 | Prime Target | Kathy Bloodstone | |
| 1992 | Illicit Behavior | Charlene Lernoux | |
| 1995 | Fists of Iron | Julie Weaver | |
| 1999 | AbSlide | TV movie | |
| 1999 | That '70s Show | Carol | Episode: "Red's Birthday" |
| 2000 | The Redemption | Sarah Snyder | |
| 2002 | The Power | Hillary | TV movie |