Kelly Rutherford

Photo of Kelly Rutherford

Biography

With a sultry blond edge straight out of '40s film noir, the Kentucky-born actress dove into a steady string of network series, until hitting her stride as Megan Lewis, a resident on Fox's primetime soap drama "Melrose Place" (1992-99).

Kelly Rutherford Deane was born on Nov. 6, 1968 in Elizabethtown, KY. Her parents divorced when she was three, but her mother, Ann Edwards, who was a model, raised her and her younger brother on her own. The …

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Job Title

Actor

Born

Kelly Deane Melissa Rutherford on November 6, 1968 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA

Career Milestones

Moved to NYC to study acting after high school

Returned to Los Angeles

Worked in NYC modeling and doing commercials (one opposite actor Matt LeBlanc)

1987

Had a recurring role on the ABC daytime drama "Loving"

1988

Film debut in bit role in "Shakedown"

1989

First regular television role in the NBC daytime soap "Generations"

1992

Played Judy Owen, a baseball-loving bartender on the critically-acclaimed series "Homefront" (ABC)

1992

TV-movie debut, "Breaking the Silence" (CBS)

1993

Had recurring role on the FOX series "The Adventures of Briscoe County Jr"

1996

Appeared as a regular on the short-lived FOX drama "Kindred: The Embraced"

1996

Joined the fifth season of the FOX drama "Melrose Place" playing the role of gold-hearted prostitute Megan Lewis

2000

Joined an ensemble cast in Wes Craven's "Scream 3"

2002

Co-starred in the family drama, "Swimming Upstream"

2002

Had a recurring role on "The District" (CBS) as Deputy Mayor Melinda Lockhart

2003

Cast in the ABC series "Threat Matrix," as Special Agent Frankie Ellroy Kilmer

2005

Cast in the short-lived NBC drama "E-Ring" as military staffer Samantha Liston

2007

Played Lily van der Woodsen, the ex-ballerine turned socialite mother of Serena (Blake Lively) on the CW series "Gossip Girl"