A lithe, attractive Hollywood leading woman, Hatcher gained attention and good notices for her portrayal of a very modern Lois Lane in ABC’s “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” (1993-97). She began her professional career as a dancer in San Francisco, and was soon doing commercials and hoofing as a “Love Boat” mermaid on the last season (ABC, 1985-86) of that aqueous anthology series. That same year, she made her TV acting debut as Penny Parker in an episode of “MacGyver”, a role that later became a recurring character (ABC, 1986-90). She also has popped up as a guest-star on such TV series as “Quantum Leap”, “Tales from the Crypt”, “Murphy Brown”, “Night Court”, “L.A. Law” and “Seinfeld” (as Jerry’s well-endowed date whose much-debated breasts are revealed to be “real…and spectacular”).

Hatcher made her feature film debut in the comedy “The Big Picture”, then went into drama as Sylvester Stallone’s love interest in “Tango and Cash” (both 1989). She returned to comedy with a small but pivotal role in “Soapdish” (1991) and co-starred with Dolly Parton and James Woods in “Straight Talk” (1992). Hatcher had little luck with series TV at first, appearing in the failed Patty Duke sitcom “Karen’s Song” (Fox, 1987) and as Robert Loggia’s young bride in Norman Lear’s “Sunday Dinner” (CBS, 1991). She also appeared in pilots for “Baby on Board” (CBS, 1988) and “The Brotherhood” (ABC, 1991) and co-starred in the thriller “Dead in the Water” (USA, 1991).

In 1993, Hatcher won the star-making part in “Lois and Clark”. Since its premiere, she’s appeared in several features (some filmed before her show first aired), including “Brain Smasher. . .A Love Story” (1993), “All Tied Up” (1994), opposite Alec Baldwin in the thriller “Heaven’s Prisoners” and in John Herzfeld’s crime drama “2 Days in the Valley” (both 1996). Hatcher subsequently co-starred in David Schwimmer’s “Since You’ve Been Gone” (1997), about a high school reunion, and was cast in the James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997) as Paris Carver, a mysterious woman from 007′s past now married to his nemesis. Hatcher’s attentions were diverted to the theater when she appeared to good effect as Sally Bowles in the touring company of the 1996 revival production of the Kander & Ebb musical “Cabaret” while staying in the public consciousness in a ubiquitous string of long-running Radio Shack commercials opposite NFL great Howie Long beginning in 1999.

More features–”Fever” (1999), “Spy Kids” (2001), “The Chester Story” (2003)—and telepics—”Running Mates” (2000), “Jane Doe” (2002), “Say Uncle” (2001)—followed before Hatcher made her return to primetime network series TV in the compelling, unique suburban black comedy, “Desperate Housewives” (ABC, 2004 – ), playing Susan Mayer, the neighborhood’s romance-minded single mom. Four out of five desperate housewives were nominated for Golden Globe Awards in 2005—Eva Longoria was the only one snubbed—but it was Hatcher who came away with the award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.

• Also Credited As:
  Teri L. Hatcher
• Born:
  on 12/08/1964 in Sunnyvale, California
• Job Titles:
  Actor, Dancer

Family

• Daughter: Emerson Rose Tenney. born November 10, 1997

Significant Others

• Companion: Bryan Burk. dated briefly in 2005
• Husband: Jon Tenney. born 1961; married May 1994; Hatcher filed for a divorce in on February 28, 2003 citing irreconcilable differences
• Husband: Markus Leithold. married in 1988; divorced after 10 months

Education

• Freemont High School, Sunnyvale, California

Milestones

• 1985 TV debut as a Love Boat mermaid on “The Love Boat” (ABC)
• 1986 Had recurring role on “MacGyver” (ABC)
• 1986 Played Anjelica Clegg on the CBS daytime soap “Capitol”
• 1989 Feature acting debut, “The Big Picture”
• 1991 Co-starred in Norman Lear’s failed sitcom, “Sunday Dinner”
• 1993 Starred as Lois Lane in the TV series, “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”
• 1997 Cast in pivotal role in the James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies”
• 1999 Toured as Sally Bowles in the environmental revival of the stage musical “Cabaret”
• 2000 Cast as Ms. Gradenko in the summer hit “Spy Kids”
• 2003 Co-starred with Louis Gossett Jr. in the television movie “Momentum”
• 2004 Cast as Susan Mayer, the divorcee and single mom in the television drama “Desperate Housewives” (ABC); received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations (2005) for Best Actress in a Comedy series
• Worked as a dancer in San Francisco