Jana Marie Hupp
As Nancy Burton
As Nancy on "Ed," Jana Marie Hupp plays a "very genuine, slightly neurotic mother who is balancing career and husband and new baby as best as she can, wanting badly to do all three well," says the actress. Off-screen, Hupp is an accomplished actress, juggling a busy film and television career.
Hupp was born in Spokane and raised in Bellevue, Washington, where she performed in plays throughout junior high and high school. She later studied opera at the North Carolina School of the Arts and literature and theater at Western Washington University, also taking time to perform in Seattle theater productions. After her first professional job -- a one-line part in the coming-of-age drama "Vision Quest" she decided to move to Los Angeles. In the 10 years since, she has proven her versatility in a wide range of roles.
She recently guest-starred as Joanie's (Paula Cale) best friend from high school on NBC's "Providence," and had a memorable turn on NBC's "Friends" as Mindy, Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) former best friend who marries Rachel's ex-fiance. She played one of Jason Alexander's girlfriends on "Seinfeld," and was Drew Carey's date at his ex-girlfriend's wedding in "The Drew Carey Show." Hupp also guest-starred on "Melrose Place," "Nash Bridges," "Dave's World," "China Beach" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Hupp was a regular on the Steven Bochco series "Public Morals," played the quirky best friend of Paula Marshall on the comedy "Wild Oats," and had a recurring role as the drug-addicted wife of a bad cop on "Brooklyn South." She also played the sole female firefighter in the NBC movie "In the Line of Duty: Smoke Jumpers."
On the big screen, Hupp played a NASA scientist in the box-office blockbuster "Independence Day," a USO girl who dances the jitterbug with date John Turturro in "Barton Fink," and a wanna-be rock singer in the independent film "Obscurity."
Hupp starred with Steven Weber and Annette Bening in the L.A. Theater Works production of "Earth and Sky." She also starred in productions of "Gypsy," "Taming of the Shrew," "Bye, Bye Birdie" and "Oklahoma," all in Washington.
When she's not working, Hupp enjoys riding and training horses, painting and spending time with her two dogs. She lives in Los Angeles. Hupp's birthday is April 2.