Jeri Lynn Ryan (née Zimmermann; born February 22, 1968)[1][2] is an American actress best known for her role as the former Borg drone Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager (1997–2001), for which she was nominated four times for a Saturn Award and won in 2001. She reprised her role as Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023), for which she won another Saturn Award.

Jeri Ryan
A photograph of Jeri Ryan in 2019; a white woman with a red top and long blond hair and a wide smile
Ryan in 2019
Born
Jeri Lynn Zimmermann

(1968-02-22) February 22, 1968 (age 56)
EducationNorthwestern University (BA)
OccupationActress
Years active1991–present
Known forStar Trek: Voyager
Boston Public
Shark
Body of Proof
Star Trek: Picard
Spouses
  • (m. 1991; div. 1999)
  • Christophe Émé
    (m. 2007)
Children2

She is also known for her role as Veronica "Ronnie" Cooke on Boston Public (2001–2004), and as a regular on the science fiction series Dark Skies (1997) and the legal drama series Shark (2006–2008). In 2009 she guest-starred on the series Leverage as Tara Cole. From 2011 to 2013, she starred as Dr. Kate Murphy in the ABC drama series Body of Proof, and from 2016 to 2019, she appeared as Veronica Allen on the Amazon Prime series Bosch.

Early life

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Ryan was born Jeri Lynn Zimmermann on February 22, 1968, in Munich, West Germany, the daughter of Gerhard Florian "Jerry" Zimmermann, a master sergeant in the U.S. Army, and his wife Sharon, a social worker,[3] with an older brother, Mark. Ryan grew up on Army posts in Kansas, Maryland, Hawaii, Georgia and Texas.[4]

When she was 11, her father retired from the Army and the family settled in Paducah, Kentucky. She graduated from Lone Oak High School[1] in 1986 as a National Merit Scholar,[5] and then attended Northwestern University, where she was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. She graduated from Northwestern in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in theatre.[6]

In 1989, Ryan was chosen as Miss Illinois. She competed in the Miss America 1990 pageant, where she finished as third runner-up.[7]

Career

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Ryan in 2014

After college, Ryan pursued acting full-time in Los Angeles. She made her acting debut in Who's the Boss?, and followed that with guest-starring roles in television series such as Melrose Place, Matlock, and The Sentinel as well as TV movies.

She had a regular role as extraterrestrial investigator Juliet Stuart on the television series Dark Skies, which was cancelled after one season.[8]

In 1997, Ryan was chosen for a role on the science fiction series Star Trek: Voyager as Seven of Nine, a Borg drone who was freed from the Borg's collective consciousness. When she joined the cast in season four, ratings increased 60%.[5]

She appeared in Wes Craven's Dracula 2000.[9] After Voyager ended in 2001, Ryan joined the cast of Boston Public as Veronica "Ronnie" Cooke, a frustrated lawyer who becomes a high school teacher. David E. Kelley, the series' producer, wrote the role specifically for her. The series ended in 2004.

Ryan appeared in the romantic-comedy film Down with Love[10] and as Lydia in the independent film Men Cry Bullets.[11] Her first film lead was in The Last Man as the last woman left on Earth.[12]

In 2005 she had a role in a TV pilot titled Commuters, a suburban version of Desperate Housewives.[13] She had a recurring role as Charlotte Morgan on The O.C. in 2005,[14] and she guest-starred as Courtney Reece on David E. Kelley's Boston Legal in 2006. Ryan then co-starred in the legal drama Shark as Los Angeles County District Attorney Jessica Devlin alongside series lead James Woods,[15][16] but she did not return for episodes aired after the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike; she was credited in all four episodes. CBS cancelled the broadcast of the series after its season-two finale.[17]

She guest-starred as defense attorney Patrice La Rue on the April 7, 2009, episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, her first role since giving birth to her daughter Gisele.[18] Ryan next had a seven-episode role on the drama Leverage in season 2 as a grifter named Tara Cole, filling in while series regular Gina Bellman was on maternity leave.[19]

She was in Kevin Tancharoen's short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth as Sonya Blade.[20] Although originally a film, it was marketed as a web series, with previews scheduled to appear online in June 2010.[21] The web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy officially launched in March 2011.[22][23][24][25]

Ryan was a regular in the series Body of Proof, which premiered on March 29, 2011.[26]

Ryan continued to appear in guest roles on genre television series, including the science fiction series Warehouse 13 as Marine Major Amanda Lattimer, ex-wife of the series' male lead character Pete Lattimer, in the episode "Queen for a Day". She made a return guest appearance on the drama Leverage in season 4, episode 13 as grifter Tara Cole, in the episode "The Girls' Night Out Job". She also appeared for a multi-episode arc in season 1 of the science fiction series Helix.[27] She was next seen in the series Star Trek: Picard, reprising her role as Seven of Nine.

Personal life

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Ryan at the 2010 Las Vegas Star Trek convention in Nevada

In 1990, while dealing blackjack at a charity event, Ryan met investment banker and future Republican political candidate Jack Ryan. They married on June 15, 1991, in Wilmette, Illinois. They had a son, Alex, on August 15, 1994. Jeri commuted between Los Angeles and Wilmette during their marriage. They divorced on August 27, 1999.[28] A few years after she joined the Voyager cast, Ryan began dating Star Trek: Voyager producer Brannon Braga.[29] Between February and November 2000, they were stalked by Marlon Estacio Pagtakhan, who was convicted for harassment and threats in May 2001.[30][31][32]

When Jack Ryan's campaign for an open United States Senate seat in Illinois began in 2003, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and WLS-TV, the local ABC affiliate, sought to have his records released. Both Jeri and Jack agreed to make their divorce records, but not their custody records, public, saying the latter's release could be harmful to their son.[33]

On June 18, 2004, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Schnider agreed to release the custody files.[34] The decision went against both parents' direct requests and reversed the decision to seal the papers in the child's best interest. It was revealed that six years earlier, Jeri accused Jack of asking her to perform sexual acts with him in public[35] and in sex clubs in New York, New Orleans and Paris.[33][36] Jeri described one venue as "a bizarre club with cages, whips, and other apparatus hanging from the ceiling."[37] Jack denied the allegations. Although Jeri only made a brief statement,[38] and refused to comment on the matter during the campaign, the disclosure led Jack to withdraw his candidacy;[39][40] his main opponent, Barack Obama, then won the 2004 United States Senate election in Illinois, flipping the Senate seat from Republican to Democratic.[41]

According to statements she has made in interviews, Ryan's main hobby is gourmet cooking. While starring in Boston Public, she moonlighted on weekends in the kitchen of the Los Angeles restaurant The House.[42] In 2003, Ryan met French chef Christophe Émé at a chef's charity event. They eventually began a relationship, and Émé moved in with Ryan and her son Alex in their home in San Fernando Valley.[43] In February 2005, Ryan, a "lifelong Francophile",[43] opened—in partnership with Émé—the restaurant Ortolan.[44] Located on Third Street in Los Angeles, California, it served French food with a modern interpretation. The two have appeared on Iron Chef America, where Émé and one sous-chef challenged Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and his two sous-chefs. The restaurant is seen in season 2, episode 26 of Boston Legal as Denny Crane (William Shatner) and Alan Shore (James Spader) discuss the arrival of Courtney Reece (Ryan) at "her favorite restaurant." Despite its success, the restaurant was hit hard by the Great Recession and closed in December 2010.[45][46]

Ryan and Émé married in the Loire Valley, France on June 16, 2007.[47] In March 2008, she gave birth to a daughter in Los Angeles.[48]

Notable awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref
1998 Saturn Awards Best Genre TV Actress Star Trek: Voyager Nominated
1999 Saturn Awards
Golden Satellite Award Best Actress – Drama Series Won
2000 Saturn Awards Best Best Genre TV Supporting Actress Nominated
2001 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress on Television Won
2021 Saturn Awards Best Guest Performance in a Television Series Star Trek: Picard Nominated
2023 Astra TV Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Drama Series Won [49]
2024 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series Won [50][51]
Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series Nominated

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1999 Men Cry Bullets Lydia
2000 The Last Man Sarah
2000 Disney's The Kid Herself
2000 Dracula 2000 Valerie Sharpe Alternate title: Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000
2003 Down with Love Gwendolyn
2010 Mortal Kombat: Rebirth Sonya Blade Short film
2019 Devil's Revenge Susan [52]
TBA Unplugged C.J. Skye Voice role; in production

Television films

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Year Film Role Notes
1991 Nightmare in Columbia County Dawn Elizabeth Smith Alternate title: Victim of Beauty
1992 Flash III: Deadly Nightshade Felicia Kane
1992 Just Deserts Nicole
1993 In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco Rebecca
1996 Co-ed Call Girl Kimberley
1996 Pier 66 Beth Saunders
2005 The Commuters Anne
2010 Dead Lines Sophie Fyne
2010 Secrets in the Walls Rachel Easton
2016 Against the Wild: Survive the Serengeti Jennifer Croft

Television series

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Year Show Role Notes
1991 Who's the Boss? Pam Episode: "The Unsinkable Tony Micelli"
1991 The Flash Felicia Kane Episode: "The Deadly Nightshade"
1991 Top of the Heap Tyler Episode: "The Marrying Guy"
1991 Nurses Lisa Episode: "Mother, Jugs, and Zach"
1991 Reasonable Doubts Rachel Beckwith Episode: "Graduation Day"
1993 The Jackie Thomas Show Pauline Yardley Episode: "Jackie and the Model"
1993 Matlock: The Fatal Seduction Carrie Locke 2 episodes
1994 Time Trax Lauren Sanders Episode: "Out for Blood"
1995 Murder, She Wrote Maura Episode: "Death n' Denial"
1995 Charlie Grace Claire Episode: "Designer Knock-Off"
1996 The Client Jennifer Episode: "The Morning After"
1996 Melrose Place Valerie Madison 2 episodes
1996 Diagnosis: Murder Melissa Farnes Episode: "Murder by the Book"
1997 Dark Skies Juliet Stewart 8 episodes
1997–2001 Star Trek: Voyager Seven of Nine 100 episodes
Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television (1998–1999)
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television
1999 The Sentinel Alexis Barnes 2 episodes
1999 Dilbert Seven of Nine alarm clock (voice) Episode: "The Gift"
2001–2004 Boston Public Ronnie Cooke 59 episodes
2004–2011 Two and a Half Men Sherri 3 episodes
2005 The O.C. Charlotte Morgan 7 episodes
2006 Boston Legal Courtney Reese 2 episodes
2006–2009 Iron Chef America Herself 2 episodes
2006–2008 Shark Jessica Devlin 34 episodes
2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Patrice Larue 3 episodes
2009–2011 Leverage Tara Cole 8 episodes
2010 Psych Dr. Kim Phoenix Episode: "The Head, the Tail, the Whole Damn Episode"
2011 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Naomi Halloran Episode: "Boots on the Ground"
2011 Mortal Kombat: Legacy Sonya Blade 2 episodes
2011–2012 Warehouse 13 Major Amanda Lattimer 2 episodes
2011–2013 Body of Proof Kate Murphy 42 episodes
2014–2017 Major Crimes Linda Rothman 3 episodes
2014 Helix Constance Sutton 2 episodes
2015 NCIS Rebecca Chase Episode: "Check"
2015 Arrow Jessica Danforth[53] Episode: "The Candidate"
2016–2019 Bosch Veronica Allen 12 episodes
2020–2023 Star Trek: Picard Seven of Nine 25 episodes
Astra TV Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Drama Series
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television
Nominated—Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role on Television
2020 The Ready Room Herself 2 episodes
2020 MacGyver Gwendolyn Hayes 3 episodes
2023 Dark Winds Rosemary Vines 4 episodes

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force Seven of Nine Voice role (in patch 1.2 and the Expansion Pack)
2014, 2020 Star Trek Online Seven of Nine Voice role

References

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  1. ^ a b "Jeri Ryan - Yahoo! TV". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  2. ^ "Jeri Ryan News, Jeri Ryan Bio and Photos". TV Guide
  3. ^ "Jeri Ryan Biography (1968–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  4. ^ Star Trek Communicator magazine[volume & issue needed]
  5. ^ a b Hanania, Joseph (February 7, 1999). "Signoff Intergalactic Generation Gap". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  6. ^ "Ryan". Star Trek.
  7. ^ "Jeri Ryan". TVGuide.com. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  8. ^ Pearlman, Cindy. "Jeri Ryan finds herself a bemused 'Voyager' in the world of 'Star Trek' fans." Tulsa, Oklahoma: Tulsa World, December 9, 1998, p. D5 (subscription required).
  9. ^ Holden, Stephen (December 23, 2000). "Film Review; Those Wacky, Drooling, Foaming, Biting Undead". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  10. ^ Wilmington, Michael (May 14, 2003). "'Love' fizzles with fake pillow talk". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  11. ^ Gates, Anita (October 22, 1999). "Film Review; He Puts On His Dress One Leg At a Time". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  12. ^ Scott, A. O. (February 15, 2002). "Film Review; 'The Last Man'". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  13. ^ Aurthur, Kate (April 10, 2005). "Desperate Hours". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  14. ^ Ryan, Maureen (September 30, 2005). "Chicago as a 'Grey' area?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  15. ^ Shattuck, Kathryn (September 21, 2006). "What's On Tonight". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  16. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (September 21, 2006). "Shark: When a Legal Superstar Changes Sides". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  17. ^ Fernandez, Maria Elena (May 13, 2008). "Upfronts: James Woods says goodbye to TV". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  18. ^ Keck, William (March 30, 2009). "Ryan's Law". TV Guide. p. 18.
  19. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 26, 2009). "Jeri Ryan gains "Leverage" at TNT". Reuters.
  20. ^ "New Mortal Kombat Promotional Featurette Delivers the Goods". Dreadcentral.com. June 8, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  21. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (June 15, 2010). "'Mortal Kombat' Reloaded: A Director's Quest to Remake a Game-to-Movie Franchise". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  22. ^ Davis, Christian (March 16, 2011). "First Look at Baraka in New Mortal Kombat Series (with video)". Device. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  23. ^ Patta, Gig (March 16, 2011). "Twitter News: Girl Fight Image from 'Mortal Kombat' Web Series". Latino Review. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  24. ^ Johnson, Stephen (March 17, 2011). "Jeri Ryan As Sonya Blade In Mortal Kombat Web Series — First Video!". The Feed. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  25. ^ Lyon, Carl (March 21, 2011). "Jeri Ryan Talks 'Mortal Kombat: Rebirth'". Fear.net. Archived from the original on March 23, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  26. ^ Stelter, Brian (March 18, 2011). "Among the Dead, a Character Finds Life". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  27. ^ "Jeri Ryan joins Syfy's Helix". October 7, 2013.
  28. ^ Fornek, Scott; Herrmann, Andrew. Senate rivals urge Ryan to unseal divorce records, Chicago Sun-Times (March 4, 2004).
  29. ^ Tyler, Aisha (July 3, 2013). "Girl on Guy 100: Jeri Ryan". Aisha Tyler. 45:47 mark. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  30. ^ Manekin, Michael (August 24, 2007). "'Star Trek' stalker may not be fit to stand trial". Oakland Tribune. Archived from the original on September 7, 2014.
  31. ^ "Cyberstalking garnering more serious response". USA Today. Associated Press. June 29, 2001.
  32. ^ "Trek Beauty Terrified". Fox News Channel. January 19, 2001.
  33. ^ a b Chase, John and Liam Ford (June 22, 2004). "Ryan file a bombshell: Ex-wife alleges GOP candidate took her to sex clubs". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  34. ^ Martinez, Michael and Rick Pearson (June 18, 2004). "Court sets release of Ryan's divorce file: Judge admits son will be harmed". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  35. ^ Zernike, Kate (November 13, 2005). "What Some Politicians Fear Most: The Ex-Wife". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  36. ^ Kinzer, Stephen (June 23, 2004). "Illinois Senate Campaign Thrown Into Prurient Turmoil". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  37. ^ "Senate Race Sex Scandal". The Smoking Gun. June 22, 2004.
  38. ^ "Statement of Jeri Ryan". Los Angeles Times. June 22, 2004. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  39. ^ Napolitano, Jo (July 30, 2004). "National Briefing | Midwest: Illinois: Candidate Officially Drops Out". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  40. ^ Kinzer, Stephen (June 26, 2004). "Candidate, Under Pressure, Quits Senate Race in Illinois". The New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  41. ^ Reynolds, Dean (December 28, 2007). "A Refresher on Obama's Senate Race". CBS News.
  42. ^ Horchow, Sally (March 23, 2003). "Good Company; When 'Doing Lunch' Lasts 2 Days". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  43. ^ a b Bardin, Brantley (January 15, 2008). "Jeri Ryan Trades Power Suits for Maternity Wear". TV Guide.
  44. ^ Virbila, S. Irene (June 4, 2008). "Restaurant Review: Beso — ready for its close-up? Beso in Hollywood has the sexy allure of its owner, Eva Longoria Parker. Diners watch and wait for a star sighting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  45. ^ "Ortolan Closes". L.A. Weekly. January 12, 2011.
  46. ^ Balla, Lesley (January 29, 2019). "Chef Christophe Émé Is Trying Something Way More Low Key with Kass".
  47. ^ "Actress Jeri Ryan Marries French Chef". People. June 18, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  48. ^ Wihlborg, Ulrica (March 3, 2008). "Jeri Ryan Welcomes a Girl". People. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  49. ^ Schneider, Michael (January 8, 2024). "'The Boys,' 'Succession' Land Most Honors at Astra TV Awards (FULL WINNERS LIST)". Variety. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  50. ^ Hipes, Patrick (December 6, 2023). "'Avatar: The Way Of Water', 'Oppenheimer', 'Star Trek' Series Lead Nominations For Genre-Focused Saturn Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  51. ^ Pascale, Anthony (February 4, 2024). "'Star Trek: Picard' Wins 4 Saturn Awards, 'Strange New Worlds' Wins 1". TREKMOVIE.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2024.
  52. ^ Fix, Christine (July 26, 2019). "Robert Scott Wilson in William Shatner's 'Devil's Revenge' DVD Release".
  53. ^ Lash, Jolie (July 23, 2015). "'Arrow' Casting Exclusive: Jeri Ryan To Guest Star On CW Drama". Access Hollywood. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
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Preceded by
Dawn Spicuzza
Miss Illinois
1989
Succeeded by