Andrea Anders

American actress (born 1975)

Andrea Anders

Born|  (1975-05-10) May 10, 1975 (age 50)

Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.

Education| University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point (BFA)
Rutgers University, New Brunswick (MFA)
Occupation| Actress
Years active| 1998–present
Partner(s)| Matt LeBlanc (2006–2014)
Jason Keller (2015–present)
Children| 1
Relatives| Sean Anders (brother)

Andrea Anders (born May 10, 1975) is an American actress. She is best known for her work on television, notably through her main roles on five short-lived sitcoms, Joey, The Class, Better Off Ted, Mr. Sunshine and Mr. Mom, as well as recurring and guest roles on numerous TV series including Cruel Summer, Oz, Young Sheldon, Modern Family, Necessary Roughness, Ted Lasso, and That '90s Show. Additionally, she has been cast in nearly ten produced but unsold pilots.

In addition, she regularly appears as supporting characters in films directed or produced by her older brother Sean Anders,[1] namely Never Been Thawed, Sex Drive, Daddy's Home 2, Instant Family, Countdown and Spirited, and has also had roles in a handful of other films such as The Stepford Wives, Return to Zero, Is That a Gun in Your Pocket? and Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase.

## Early life

[edit]

Andrea Anders was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 10, 1975, the third child of Terrance and Sally Anders.[2][3][4] She was raised in DeForest, Wisconsin with her sister Torri and her brother Sean,[5] where she attended the DeForest Area High School, graduating in 1993.[6][7] She went on to study acting at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point,[8] receiving her bachelor's degree in fine arts in 1997.[5] She then moved to New Jersey to study at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts,[9] earning a Master of Fine Arts in 2001.[5] In addition, she trained in the Meisner technique under Maggie Flanigan[10] and credits the teacher with her continued work as an actress.[11]

## Career

[edit]

### Theatre

[edit]

In 2001, Anders began her career in theatre. She was an understudy for Mary-Louise Parker in the Broadway production of Proof and later played the part of Elaine Robinson in The Graduate. She also appeared in On the Jump at the Arena Stage, New Doors at the Guthrie Theater, Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical and two New York Stage & Film productions: Cold/Tender and New World Rhapsody.[12][13]

In May 2007, Anders started in the Geffen Playhouse performance of Fat Pig. She played the part of Jeannie, an accountant. Fat Pig closed on July 1, 2007.[14]

### Television and film

[edit]

One of Anders' first appearances on television was a commercial for Danone that ran in the 1990s and then again around 2006.[15]

Her first acting credits came between 1998 and 2001 when she appeared on the soap operas One Life to Live and Guiding Light, respectively as Elaine, one of Starr Manning's nannies, and Ellie, an assistant to Olivia Spencer.

In 2001, she appeared in the Law & Order episode "The Fire This Time", as teenager Emily Hoyt. In 2003, she played the recurring role of Donna Degenhart for five episodes of the HBO drama series Oz. That same year, Anders was cast opposite Richard Ruccolo as the original female lead in the failed television pilot for the proposed series Spellbound,[16] about a warlock who falls in love with a mortal woman.[17] After the pilot was not picked up by NBC, Anders was replaced for the equally unsuccessful second pilot.[18]

In 2004, Anders made her film debut with a minor role in The Stepford Wives, playing a secretary to Nicole Kidman's main character. That same year, she was cast as Emma Leeds, the female lead in News To Me, a proposed workplace sitcom inspired by Joel Stein's experiences as the youngest-ever columnist at Time magazine; the pilot was not picked up.[19] That same year, Anders guest starred in one episode of the series Tru Calling.

In July 2004, Anders was cast in what would be her breakthrough role as Alex Garrett, Joey Tribbiani's neighbor, landlady, friend and eventual love interest on the Friends spin-off, Joey.[20][21] NBC cancelled the series during its second season.[22]

In between seasons of Joey, Anders appeared as a "Christian Band Slut" in her older brother Sean's directorial debut film Never Been Thawed, marking the first of many collaborations between the pair.

In February 2006, prior to Joey's cancellation, Anders signed as a series regular of the sitcom The Class as Nicole, the unfulfilled wife of a former pro-football player who reconnects with her high school boyfriend after a class reunion.[23] Despite steady ratings and winning the Favorite New TV Comedy Award at the 33rd People's Choice Awards, CBS did not renew the show for a second season.

In 2008, following The Class' cancelation, Anders guest starred on the episode "Power" of the crime drama Numb3rs, and had a small role her brother's film, Sex Drive.

In May 2008, Anders was cast in the satirical workplace comedy Better Off Ted, after creator Victor Fresco was impressed with her work on The Class.[24][25] She played Linda Zwordling, the love interest for main character Ted Crisp, played by Jay Harrington, and a co-worker of his at an evil megacorporation. The series was a mid-season replacement, premiering to low rating in March 2009,[26] but critical acclaim kept the show going and even renewed for a second season, though it would be cancelled and pulled from the air with the last two episodes of that season unaired.[27] The show enjoyed a mini-reunion in 2011 through the music video for "Revenge of the Nerds", a rap song recorded by co-star Malcolm Barrett under the stage name "Verbal", which features all the main actors from the series in cameos either as their characters or, in the case of Anders, new characters.[28]

In April 2009, shortly after Better Off Ted premiered, Anders joined the cast of The Big D, a sitcom project centered on a New York City couple - played by Anders and Ben Koldyke - who move to Dallas, where the husband is from, and where the wife consistently clashes with her southern belle mother-in-law. Despite her character being central to the premise, Anders was billed as a guest star in case she'd have to work on The Big D and Better Off Ted at the same time, with the latter having precedence. This issue was moot, as CBS did not pick up the series.[29]

In February 2010, Anders was cast in Mr. Sunshine, marking the return to comedy television for Friends star Matthew Perry.[30][31] Anders played Alice, the tomboyish co-worker and friend with benefits who's looking for more commitment from Perry's character.[32] It premiered as a midseason replacement the following February, but was cancelled by ABC just three months.[33]

Right after Mr. Sunshine's cancellation, Anders appeared in a four episode story arc in the first season of USA Network's series Necessary Roughness, as a former girlfriend of Marc Blucas' character.[34]

In the years following Mr. Sunshine, Anders starred as a lead in a string of sitcom pilots, none of which were picked up to series. First was Ladyfriends in 2012, for NBC, centered on two best friends leading very different lives, portrayed by Anders and Minnie Driver.[35] In 2013, ABC did not pick up Divorce: A Love Story, an adaptation of the long-running Israeli sitcom Ha-Chaim Ze Lo Hacol, about a happily divorced couple played by Anders and Jason Jones.[36] In 2014, CBS did not pickup the proposed Cuz-Bros, in which Anders was cast as an anchorwoman and co-worker of Geoff Stults' character.[37] In 2015, Anders starred in two more failed pilots. First was How We Live, where Anders played a stay-at-home mom and best friend of the female lead, played by Briga Heelan.[38] Next was The Half of It, where Anders portrayed the ex-wife of Jon Dore's character.[39] In 2016, she starred in the failed pilot for the sitcom Crunch Time, as the creator and producer of a game show hosted by Craig Ferguson's character.[40]

In between acting in these television pilots, Anders had roles in a number of other projects. In 2012, she filmed a supporting part in the fact-based television film Return to Zero, which premiered on the Lifetime Network in 2014. She had recurring roles in the one season each of comedy series About a Boy and of Modern Family, appearing in the latter as the obnoxious new neighbor of the Dunphy family. In 2016, she was the main character in the comedy film Is That a Gun in Your Pocket?, where women in a small Texas town withhold sex until their partners dispose of their guns. That same year, she also did a guest spot on the first season of Speechless, a sitcom led by Minnie Driver, her co-star from the failed Ladyfriends pilot.

In 2019, she appeared as the aunt of Sophia Lillis' character in the film Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, and as the mother of Elizabeth Lail's character in the film Countdown, the latter produced by her brother Sean. That same year, Anders played the starring role in the sitcom Mr. Mom, which was cancelled after 11 episodes.[41]

## Personal life

[edit]

Anders met actor Matt LeBlanc in 2004 while co-starring as his friend and eventual love interest on Joey and the pair eventually embarked on a relationship which was confirmed in 2006 following LeBlanc's split from his wife Melissa McKnight.[42][43] After over eight years as a couple, LeBlanc announced at the start of 2015 that he and Anders had been broken up for several months.[44]

On September 15, 2016, Anders and her older brother Sean were inducted into their high school's hall of fame, at the DeForest Area High School's Performing Arts Center.[45]

## Filmography

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1998  | One Life to Live | Elaine  | Unknown episodes
2001  | Guiding Light | Ellie  | Unknown episodes
Law & Order | Emily Hoyt  | Episode: "The Fire This Time"
2003  | Oz | Donna Degenhart  | 5 episodes
Spellbound | Female lead  | Unaired NBC pilot
2004  | The Stepford Wives | Heather  |
News To Me | Emma Leeds  | Unaired ABC pilot
Tru Calling | Fake Chris Berensen/Kathy  | Episode: "Rear Window"
2004–2006  | Joey | Alexis "Alex" Garrett  | Starring role in 46 episodes
2005  | Never Been Thawed[46] | Christian Band Slut  |
2006–2007  | The Class | Nicole Allen (née Campbell)  | Starring role in 19 episodes
2008  | Numb3rs | Rena Vining  | Episode: "Power"
Sex Drive | Brandy  |
2009  | The Big D | Jane Dupree  | Unaired CBS pilot
2009–2010  | Better Off Ted | Linda Zwordling  | Starring role in 26 episodes
2011  | Mr. Sunshine | Alice  | Starring role in 13 episodes
Necessary Roughness | Laura Radcliffe  | 4 episodes
2012  | Ladyfriends | Nicole Lambert  | Unaired NBC pilot
2013  | Divorce: A Love Story | Robin  | Unaired ABC pilot
2014  | Return to Zero | Trish  | Lifetime TV movie
Cuz-Bros | Stacey  | Unaired CBS pilot
2014–2015  | About a Boy | Joanne  | 3 episodes
Modern Family | Amber LaFontaine  | 4 episodes
2015  | How We Live | Natalie Harris  | Unaired NBC pilot
The Half of It | Megan  | Unaired CBS pilot
2016  | Is That a Gun in Your Pocket? | Jenna Keely  |
Speechless | Audrey  | Episode: "T-H-A-- THANKSGIVING"
Crunch Time | Emily  | Unaired NBC pilot
2017  | Daddy's Home 2 | Principal Hayes  |
2018  | 9JKL | Lauren  | Episode: "Heavy Meddling"
Instant Family | Jessie  |
2018–2023  | Young Sheldon | Linda  | 6 episodes
2019  | Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase | Hannah  |
The Good Fight | Cheryl Lamore  | 2 episodes
Mr. Mom | Megan Anderson  | Starring role of 11 episodes
Countdown | Jamie Harris  |
2020–2023  | Ted Lasso | Michelle Lasso  | 9 episodes
2021  | Big Shot | Arielle  | Episode: "Beth Macbeth"
Cruel Summer | Joy Wallis  | 8 episodes
2022  | The Conners | Helen  | 2 episodes
Spirited | Carrie  |
2023  | Carol & the End of the World | (voice)  | Episode: "The Distraction"
2023–2025  | Bookie | Sandra  | Starring role of 15 episodes
2023–2024  | That '90s Show | Sherri Runck  | 13 episodes
2024  | Extended Family | Kristin  | Episode: "The Consequences of Writing Things Down"
2025  | Leanne | Becca  | 2 episodes

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "'Never Been Thawed'". Wisconsin State Journal. March 13, 2005. Retrieved August 27, 2009.[permanent dead link]
2. ^ "Andrea Anders". AlloCiné.
3. ^ "Page 76". Wisconsin State Journal. May 26, 1985.
4. ^ Chase, Dustin (November 14, 2018). "Director Sean Anders Discusses Adoption for New Film 'Instant Family'". Modern Day Moms.
5. ^ a b c "Andrea Anders Biography". CBS.
6. ^ Andrea Anders from Better Off Ted - at Film.com Archived June 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ "2016 ALUMNI HALL OF FAME". DeForest Area High School. September 15, 2016.
8. ^ "Andrea Anders". University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.
9. ^ Kampfe, John (August 29, 2016). "Rutgers' All-Star Lineup: A Not So Complete List". Jerseywood.
10. ^ "Andrea Anders". Press Advantage. November 21, 2016.
11. ^ "Actor Andrea Anders Credits Maggie Flanigan Studio's Acting Programs For Their Success". Maggie Flanigan Studio. November 25, 2019.
12. ^ De Leon, Kris (March 4, 2007). "Hot List: The Class – Andrea Anders". Buddy TV. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
13. ^ Gans, Andrew (November 2, 2002). "New Cast Announced for Broadway's Graduate; Turner, Biggs Depart Nov. 17". Playbill.
14. ^ Hitchcock, Laura (May 20, 2007). "Fat Pig, A CurtainUp Los Angeles Review". curtainup.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
15. ^ Andrea Anders, Interviewee (2006). Andrea Anders Exclusive Interview (Stream). CBS Innertube. Retrieved February 15, 2008.[permanent dead link]
16. ^ "Development Update: February 24". The Futon Critic. February 24, 2004. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
17. ^ "Pilot Pickups". TV Week. March 3, 2003.
18. ^ "Pair is 'Spellbound' for Fox". The Hollywood Reporter. August 19, 2004.
19. ^ "News to Me". The Futon Critic. October 13, 2004.
20. ^ "Development Update: July 20–26". The Futon Critic. July 26, 2004.
21. ^ "Development Update: June 8–11". The Futon Critic. June 11, 2004.
22. ^ Banham, Mark (May 17, 2006). "NBC cancels 'Friends' spin-off Joey". Brand Republic.
23. ^ "Development Update: February 8". The Futon Critic. February 8, 2006.
24. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 5, 2008). "Megan Dodds, Mike O'Malley join shows". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 8, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
25. ^ Halterman, Jim (March 17, 2009). "Interview: "Better Off Ted" Creator Victor Fresco". The Futon Critic.
26. ^ Seidman, Robert (March 19, 2009). "Wednesday Ratings: Better off Ted ABC's lowest-rated comedy debut since 2005". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
27. ^ "Report: FlashForward, Romantically Challenged, Better Off Ted, Scrubs Canceled". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 18, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
28. ^ "Better Off Ted cast reunites for Malcolm Barrett's hip-hop video". Zap2it. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
29. ^ "The Big D". The Futon Critic. April 27, 2009.
30. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 12, 2010). "Matthew Perry project a go at ABC". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
31. ^ Hibberd, James (May 18, 2010). "ABC's new fall schedule". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 20, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
32. ^ "Mr. Sunshine". The Futon Critic. March 11, 2016.
33. ^ Gorman, Bill (May 13, 2011). "ABC: 'V' Cancelled, 'Brothers & Sisters,' 'Mr. Sunshine,' 'Detroit 187,' 'Off The Map,' 'No Ordinary Family,' 'Better With You' Cancelled Too". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011.
34. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (June 1, 2011). "Exclusive: USA Network Series Is Better Off With Andrea Anders". TVLine.
35. ^ "Ladyfriends". The Futon Critic. March 1, 2012.
36. ^ "Divorce: A Love Story". The Futon Critic. January 12, 2015.
37. ^ "Cuz-Bros". The Futon Critic. May 10, 2015.
38. ^ "How We Live". The Futon Critic. May 10, 2015.
39. ^ "The Half of It". The Futon Critic. May 13, 2015.
40. ^ "Crunch Time". The Futon Critic. March 24, 2016.
41. ^ Pedersen, Erik (August 26, 2019). "'Mr. Mom' Trailer: First Original Series From Walmart's Vudu Streaming Service". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
42. ^ "Matt LeBlanc's Other Woman". People. April 6, 2006.
43. ^ Wulff, Jennifer (April 17, 2006). "Matt Leblanc's Surprise Split". People.
44. ^ Krishnan, Joe (January 7, 2015). "Matt LeBlanc announces split from partner Andrea Anders after eight years". Evening Standard.
45. ^ "DASD News" (PDF). DeForest Area High School. September 2016.
46. ^ "Andrea Anders: Credits". TV Guide. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.

## External links

[edit]

* Andrea Anders at IMDb
* Andrea Anders on Instagram

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