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Elaine Hendrix

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Elaine Hendrix
Hendrix at the 2015 ATX Television Festival
Born
Katherine Elaine Hendrix

(1970-12-28) December 28, 1970 (age 55)
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1992–present
RelativesHarrison Smith (cousin)
Websiteelainehendrix.com

Katherine Elaine Hendrix[1] (born December 28, 1970)[1][2] is an American actress. She gained recognition for appearing in a range of television films in the 1990s before her breakthrough role as Meredith Blake in the romantic comedy film The Parent Trap (1998). On television, Hendrix appeared in Joan of Arcadia (2003–2005), 90210 (2010–2011), Anger Management (2014), Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (2015–2016), and later gained renewed attention for starring as Alexis Colby in the CW drama television series Dynasty (2019–2022).

Early life

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Hendrix was born and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.[3][4] Her father was serving in the Vietnam War at the time of her birth. Her mother named her Katherine Elaine, but most of her relatives called her by her middle name, and the practice stuck.[1]

Career

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Dancing and modeling

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In her senior year of high school, Hendrix won a model search and became a professional dancer with the Gary Harrison Dance Company. She soon split her time as a professional model and dancer for such companies as Nike, Levi's, Mattel, and Sun Microsystems, and for a number of hip-hop artists including Whodini, Keith Sweat and MC Hammer.

In 1992, she moved to Los Angeles, California, and, shortly after, was hit by a car while riding her bike, ending her early career as a model and dancer.[5]

Film and television

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After recuperating from her accident, Hendrix was cast in the short-lived 1995 Get Smart series. She has also appeared on the television series Joan of Arcadia, Friends, Ellen, Charmed and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and had a recurring role in Married... with Children, User Friendly (1995) and Lez Be Friends (1997).

Films in which she appeared include Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, Superstar, Inspector Gadget 2, and What the Bleep Do We Know!?. In 2006, she also appeared in an episode of Ghost Whisperer and the movie Coffee Date. In 2018, Hendrix appeared in Christmas at Pemberley Manor, a Hallmark Channel feature TV movie.

In 2008 Hendrix appeared in two episodes of the single-season ABC Family show The Middleman as Roxy Wasserman, a succubus who works as a fashion designer. She was seen in a 2008 episode of Criminal Minds ("Normal"). In 2009 Hendrix made an appearance on the ABC show Castle and in the film Rock Slyde.

Hendrix at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con

In 2011, Hendrix played Felicia in the Tribeca award-winning film Spork.[6]

Hendrix has also appeared as Renee on 90210 in season three in "They're Playing Her Song" and "Holiday Madness". In 2014, she appeared alongside Charlie Sheen for a three-episode story arc as Warden Hartley in the FX sitcom Anger Management. She appears in the web-series Fetching, which is also a nod to her love of animals.[7]

She also co-starred as Ava in the FX comedy series Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll with Denis Leary, Elizabeth Gillies, John Corbett, Bobby Kelly and John Ales.

On September 13, 2018, it was announced that Hendrix would appear as the recurring character Susan Andrews in the Fox series Proven Innocent.[8]

In October 2019, Hendrix was cast as Alexis Carrington Colby for season three of The CW's Dynasty reboot series, replacing Nicollette Sheridan who left the role for personal family reasons.[9]

She reunited with Parent Trap co-star Lindsay Lohan in the 2025 American fantasy comedy film Freakier Friday in a cameo role as Blake Kale.[10] Of her reunion with Lohan, Hendrix told Entertainment Weekly, "I got to physically see her, and we spent a lot of time together on set, hanging out, reminiscing, and catching up. Now, we're better about staying in touch with one another".[11]

In 2025, Hendrix was announced to be competing on season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with Alan Bersten and placed fifth in the season finale.[12][13]

Stage

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Hendrix starred as Lisa in the cast of the Off-Broadway play It's Just Sex at the Actors Temple Theatre in Manhattan for its June 2013 to January 2014 run.[14][15]

In 2016, Hendrix reprised the role of Truvy in Steel Magnolias at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania. This production was directed by four time Oscar nominee Marsha Mason, and also starred Patricia Richardson, Lucy DeVito, Jessica Walter and Susan Sullivan.[16][17] On June 9, 2016, this production became the highest-grossing show in the history of the Bucks County Playhouse. [18]

Activism

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As an avid animal rights activist, Hendrix has been advocating for animals since 2006, when she also adopted a vegan lifestyle.[19] When not filming, she travels throughout North America and works with organizations around the globe to educate, demonstrate, speak, protest, build habitats, transport and rescue. In 2012, Hendrix founded The Pet Matchmaker, an organization dedicated to celebrating and inspiring the rescue, foster and adoption of homeless pets everywhere. She serves on the board of Stray Rescue of St. Louis as well as the US chapter of No to Dog Meat.

Personal life

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Hendrix's cousin is Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith.[20]

In a widely cited August 2025 interview, Hendrix opened up about her romantic life and why she chose a non-traditional path. She stated that while she initially expected to find a lifelong partner, she always knew she never wanted marriage or children. She has a deep, 28-year bond with The Parent Trap co-star Lisa Ann Walter. The publication featured their joint appearance on Ancestry's series unFamiliar, where Walter openly referred to Hendrix as her "life partner" and soulmate. In a November 2025 profile, Hendrix explained to Extra that she and Walter joke about being "a married couple without the romance," supporting each other through decades of life's ups and downs.[21][22][23][24]

She has roots in Oak Ridge and Morristown, Tennessee, including her transition from a local student actor to a professional dancer before a 1992 bicycle accident forced her to pivot to acting.[25][26]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Last Dance Kelly
1993 Laurel Canyon TV movie
1995 Road Warriors Marissa Rayborn
Lover's Knot Robin
1996 Boys & Girls Blake Benedict TV movie
Mixed Nuts Laurie Wynn TV movie
The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas Marilyn Munster TV movie
1997 Romy and Michele's High School Reunion Lisa Luder
1998 Carly Vel Duncan Dobbs TV movie
The Parent Trap Meredith Blake
1999 Molly Jennifer Thomas
Superstar Evian Graham
2000 Here on Earth Jennifer Cavanaugh
Get Your Stuff Cat Hardy
2001 Unbakeable Mrs. Done Video short
2002 Dawg Angel
Wish You Were Dead Melody 'Jupiter Music' Malloy
The Big Time Fleur Soap Announcer TV movie
Mr. St. Nick Heidi Gardelle TV movie
2003 The Hebrew Hammer Blonde Bombshell
Our Very First Sex Tape Woman Video short
Inspector Gadget 2 Gadget Model 2 / G2 Video
2004 What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? Jennifer
Stag Party Beth Short film
2005 Bow TV movie
Bam Bam and Celeste Jackie
2006 What the Bleep!?: Down the Rabbit Hole Jennifer
Down the P.C.H. Samantha
Coffee Date Bonnie
2007 LA Blues Brenda Simon
The Dukes Stephanie
Charlie's Bitch Ass Hos Ass Short film
2008 Two Sisters Carley TV movie
Jane Doe: Eye of the Beholder Agnes Dart TV movie
Tru Loved Mrs. Muller Also co-producer
Player 5150 Mrs. Lanzelin
Twisted Faith Sandra Short film and also producer
Friends & Lovers: The Ski Trip 2 Patti
Food for Thought Miss Priss Short film
2009 Friends of Dorothy Dorothy Roller Short film
The Cloggers Kristie Short film and also producer, director and writer
Rock Slyde Judy Bee
Within Sadie Weiss
Dear Lemon Lima Coach Roach
Haunting At The Beacon Vanessa Carver
2010 Nurses Who Kill... Monroe Short film
Hated Betty Churchill
Magic Amanda Francis
Cutthroat Lacey Andrews TV movie
Good Intentions Etta Milford Also co-producer
2011 Spork Felicia
Fading of the Cries Maggie
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 Colleen Mansfield Video
Beholder Evelyn Short film
Witness Insecurity Susan
Deep in the Heart Patsy
Material Lies Deborah
2012 Anything But Christmas Grace
2013 The Violation Janice Dougherty Short film
2015 Kids vs Monsters Mary
2016 Swing State Ann Alcott
2017 Shot Nurse Marci
2018 Lez Bomb Maggie
Christmas at Pemberley Manor Caroline TV movie
2019 Adopt a Highway Diane Spring
Burying Yasmeen Vaginia
2025 Freakier Friday[27] Blake Kale

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Doogie Howser, M.D. Fantasy Girl #2 Episode: "The Big Sleep... Not!"
1993 Fallen Angels Auditioning Blonde #1 Episode: "Since I Don't Have You"
1994 Days of Our Lives Brandee Fields Episode: "#1.7193"
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Dolly Cousins Episode: "Wild Card"
1995 Ellen Maya Episode: "Ballet Class"
Get Smart Agent 66 7 episodes
1995–1997 Married... with Children Sandy/Elaine 2 episodes
2000 The Weber Show Jamie Episode: "...And Then He Looked at Wendell's Thing"
2001 First Years Frances O'Donnell Episode: "The First Thing You Do..."
Special Unit 2 Medusa Episode: "The Rocks"
2001–2002 The Chronicle Kristen Martin 7 episodes
2002 Friends Sally Episode: "The One with the Pediatrician"
2003 Mister Sterling Tori Wheeler Episode: "Statewide Swing"
Watching Ellie Daisy Episode: "Date"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Harper Fitzgerald Episode: "Forever"
Coupling Molly Episode: "Holiday"
2003–2005 Joan of Arcadia Ms. Lischak 17 episodes
2004 Oliver Beene Aunt Connie Episode: "X-ray Specs"
Charmed Clea Episode: "Witch Wars"
Crossing Jordan Julie Seaton Episode: "Dead in the Water"
Quintuplets Lisa Appleby Episode: "Thanksgiving Day Charade"
2005 CSI: Miami Joann Nivens Episode: "Felony Flight"
Ghost Whisperer Sandra Holloway Episode: "Undead Comic"
2006 ER Brinn Episode: "Parenthood"
2008 The Middleman Roxy Wasserman Episode: "The Accidental Occidental Conception" and "The Cursed Tuba Contingency"
2008 Criminal Minds Judy Hannity Episode: "Normal"
2009 Privileged Elyse Valencour Episode: "All About Confessions" and "All About Betrayal"
2009 Castle Melissa Talbot Episode: "When the Bough Breaks"
2009–2011 Poor Paul Pauline 5 episodes
2010 The Mentalist Julia Episode: "Red Herring"
NCIS: Los Angeles Vanessa Maragos Episode: "Little Angels"
Rules of Engagement Stephanie Episode: "Refusing to Budget"
Rizzoli & Isles Geena Young Episode: "Don't Hate the Player"
2010–2011 90210 Renee 4 episodes
2013 The Client List Earlene Episode: "I Ain't Broke But I'm Badly Bent"
2014 Maron Lauren Episode: "White Truck"
Anger Management Warden Hartley 3 episodes
2015–2016 Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Ava Main role
2017 Stitchers Kate Episode: "Kill it Forward"
2019 Proven Innocent Susan Andrews Recurring role
2019–2022 Dynasty Alexis Carrington Colby Main role (seasons 3–5)
2020 Paradise Lost Devoe Shifflet Main role
2025 Dancing with the Stars Contestant Season 34

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Alex Wesker Likeness and motion capture[28]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Rapp, Ilana (August 13, 2013). "Stage/Film/TV Actress Elaine Hendrix Started The Pet Matchmaker - Part II". HuffPost. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. The upside to having a birthday three days after Christmas and three days before New Years is that no one forgets it.
  2. ↑ "Elaine Hendrix Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 5, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Photos: Knoxville actress Elaine Hendrix through the years". Knoxville News Sentinel. Tennessee. February 5, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020. Hendrix, who was born in Oak Ridge...{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ↑ Jones, Maggie (July 14, 2016). "Oak Ridge native, actress Elaine Hendrix relishes role on 'Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll'". Knoxville News Sentinel. Tennessee. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  5. ↑ Cristi, Andrew (July 28, 2016). "BEAUTY & THE BEAT; Actress and Activist ELAINE HENDRIX Gives A Dynamic Performance All Women Must See On FX's SEX&DRUGS&ROCK&ROLL!". HuffPost. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  6. ↑ Guerrasio, Jason (April 30, 2010). "Notes From Tribeca". Filmmaker. Retrieved January 4, 2022. Spork won Best Feature in the Tribeca Film Festival Virtual category.
  7. ↑ Carey, Ross (June 12, 2012). "Episode 65: Featuring Elaine Hendrix". Conversations with Ross.
  8. ↑ Patten, Dominic (September 13, 2018). "Danny Strong's 'Proven Innocent' Adds Elaine Hendrix To Fox Legal Drama Cast". Deadline Hollywood.
  9. ↑ Patten, Dominic (October 28, 2019). "Dynasty Casts Elaine Hendrix as the New Alexis For CW Soap". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  10. ↑ Smart, Jack; Ross, Alex (September 3, 2025). "Elaine Hendrix on That Parent Trap Reunion with Lindsay Lohan in Freakier Friday: 'She Was All Grown Up' (Exclusive)". People. Archived from the original on January 1, 2026. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  11. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (June 6, 2025). "Lindsay Lohan's Parent Trap reunion with Elaine Hendrix brings stars back together in Freakier Friday: 'So happy' (exclusive)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 1, 2026. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  12. ↑ "'Dancing With the Stars' reveals full season 34 cast: '90s nostalgia hits, Olympians, and more". EW.com. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  13. ↑ Mader, Daniel (November 25, 2025). "Who won Dancing with the Stars in 2025? Full results, highlights from Jordan Chiles and more in Season 34 finals". The Sporting News. Retrieved November 25, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ↑ "Elaine Hendrix". Lortel Archives. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  15. ↑ "It's Just Sex". Lortel Archives. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  16. ↑ Simoes, Monica (May 18, 2016). "Meet the Cast of Bucks County Playhouse's Steel Magnolias". Playbill. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  17. ↑ Otten, Ted (June 1, 2016). "Theater: 'Steel Magnolias' at Bucks County Playhouse". NJ.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  18. ↑ "STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Bucks County Playhouse Breaks Box Office Records!". Broadway World. June 10, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Veg Celeb: Elaine Hendrix". Vegetarian Times. March 9, 2015. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  20. ↑ Young, Lindsey (May 30, 2019). "Immersive Experience with FDNY Gives Harrison Smith Unique Perspective". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Lisa Ann Walter, Elaine Hendrix Find Connection Between Great-Grandparents (Exclusive)". Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Is Elaine Hendrix Married? What She's Said About Relationships Through the Years". Yahoo Entertainment. November 25, 2025.
  23. ↑ Michelle Stein. "'Parent Trap': Elaine Hendrix & Lisa Ann Walter Are 'Soulmates' 28 Years Later". Archived from the original on January 21, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Elaine Hendrix Breaks Down Her 'Married Couple' Bond With Lisa Ann Walter". www.complex.com. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Elaine Hendrix's hometown: Oak Ridge actress' journey to DWTS". eu.knoxnews.com. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  26. ↑ "The Surprising Best Friendship Formed On 'The Parent Trap' Set | HuffPost UK Entertainment". www.huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Elaine Hendrix's Cameo in 'Freakier Friday' Is Also a Nod to her 'Parent Trap' Role". www.today.com.
  28. ↑ "Entervista/Interview: Elaine Hendrix (Alex Wesker, RE Revelations 2)". Resident Evil Database. July 6, 2015. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
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