Melora Hardin was a working actress for 30 years before her recurring role as Jan on NBC’s cult hit, “The Office” (2004- ) finally cemented her name and face for posterity. The songbird and classically trained dancer carved out an impressive career for herself as a working character actress on dozens of shows throughout the 1980s, 1990s and into the next millennium before regular appearances on “Monk” (USA, 2002- ) and “The Office” brought this charismatic talent into the spotlight —a position she used to help launch a new career behind the camera.

Hardin was born on June 29, 1967, in Houston,