Jaclyn Tohn[1] (born 1981) is an American actress and musician. She is best known for playing Melanie "MelRose" Rosen on the Netflix series GLOW, and for taking part in American Idol season 8, making it to Top 36 (the Semi-finals). She also took part in the 2011 songwriting competition series Platinum Hit on the Bravo network.

Jackie Tohn
Background information
Born1981 (age 42–43)
Oceanside, New York
GenresPop, R&B, blues rock
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1994–present
Websitejackietohn.com

Early life edit

Tohn was born and raised in a Jewish family[2] in Oceanside, Long Island, New York,[3] to physical education teachers Alan and Bella Tohn.[3][4] She has two older brothers.[3]

Tohn began acting professionally while still a grade school student. She was a student at Boardman Middle School. After high school, she attended the University of Delaware and majored in elementary education,[1] and in the fall of 1998 was in the a cappella group the Deltones.[5]

In 1999, 18 years old Tohn came back to Los Angeles with her agent and mother and moved with actress Jessica Biel and her family in Calabasas, after meeting at the TV Guide Awards, to pursue her career.[6]

Career edit

Tohn's onscreen debut was made at age 10, with an extra role on the PBS children's series Ghostwriter. Her first credited role was on the CBS sitcom The Nanny.[3]

In November 1999, she starred in the one-act play This Property is Condemned by Tennessee Williams at the Chapel Street Theatre.[1] She moved to Los Angeles with her mother and agent at the time.[7] She played Tina in Tony-n-Tina's Wedding at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. She also originated the role of Joanie in Body Snatchers: The Musical at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles.[4]

In March 2004, she starred in the play Jewtopia at the Coast Playhouse in West Hollywood in Los Angeles.[7] The producers then decided to move the play to the Westside Arts Theater in New York and she relocated.[8]

She began performing solo acoustic guitar shows in April 2004. In November 2005, she released an EP, The Golden Girl, recorded at a studio in Tarrytown, New York.[citation needed] She has played at Pianos,[citation needed] The Living Room,[citation needed] CBGB,[citation needed] The Cutting Room,[citation needed] and The Rothko[citation needed] in New York and at Highland Grounds,[citation needed] The Mint,[citation needed] and Wizard Finger[9] in Los Angeles.

She has appeared in the films Dawg in 2002 (also known as Bad Boy) alongside Denis Leary, Deuces Wild as Mary Ann, and Return to Sleepaway Camp as Linda. She appeared as Faith in the film Postal and appeared in the 2008 television film Giants of Radio.

Tohn performed in a pilot for MTV called Show Me The Movie and a pilot for Fox called Prudy and Judy, starring alongside Laura Bell Bundy.[3] She has appeared in the television series The Sopranos, Strangers with Candy, Angel, Rules of Engagement, Veronica Mars and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

In 2007, she appeared in the short films Smile, Discovering The Wheels, The Malibu Myth, The Legend of Donkey-Tail Willie and Catch (where she was shown playing the guitar) which were made during the reality show On the Lot.[citation needed]

Tohn was a contestant on season eight of American Idol and made it to the top-34. Tohn was also featured on hip-hop artist Gotham Green's single "Been Doin' It".[citation needed]

In 2009, Tohn appeared on the eighth season of American Idol and made it through to the Hollywood rounds.[10] She advanced through the Hollywood rounds, making the Top 36 for season 8 and was in the first group of 12 to perform.[citation needed] She performed "A Little Less Conversation" from Elvis Presley during Top 36 (Group 1) under the theme Billboard Hot 100 Hits to Date and was eliminated without advancing to the finals.[citation needed]

In 2011, she appeared on the songwriting-competition reality show Platinum Hit on the American cable network Bravo as one of 12 aspiring songwriters.[11] She reached 7th place.[citation needed] In 2013, Tohn appeared on House of Lies.

In 2016, she was cast in the Netflix series GLOW.[12]

In 2019, Tohn appeared in Epic Rap Battles of History portraying Joan Rivers in the episode "George Carlin vs Richard Pryor". In 2019, Tohn was the host of The Howard Stern Show Sternthology's week-long show of [Wack History Month]. The same year, Tohn debuted as Courtenay Fortney on The Boys, and later reprised the role on spinoff Gen V in 2023.[13]

Tohn is a judge on the 2020 Netflix cooking competition show Best Leftovers Ever! alongside Rosemary Shrager and David So.[14]

In 2021, Tohn co-created and starred in Do, Re & Mi, an animated series produced by Gaumont for Amazon Prime Video.[15]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Dawg Eric Koyle
2002 Deuces Wild Mary Ann
2007 On the Lot Jackie Short film
2007 Postal Faith
2008 Giants of Radio Jamie Moran Television film
2008 Return to Sleepaway Camp Linda O'Casey Direct-to-video
2011 Monster of the House Isabelle Television film
2015 Jem and the Holograms Rebecca
2015 Bad Roomies Jennifer
2015 Sisters DJ
2016 Dad Friends Jessica Television film
2017 CHiPs Amy Stephenson
2018 A Futile and Stupid Gesture Gilda Radner
2018 Spell Jess
2023 Old Dads Cara Brody

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1994, 1996 The Nanny Tiffany Koenig, Francine 2 episodes
1999 The Sopranos Heather Dante Episode: "Boca"
2000 Strangers with Candy Heckler Episode: "Trail of Tears"
2003 Angel Woman No. 1 Episode: "Shiny Happy People"
2007 Veronica Mars B.A. Episode: "Show Me the Monkey"
2007 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Asriel Episode: "The Gang Finds a Dumpster Baby"
2008 The Closer Kim Reynolds Episode: "Split Ends"
2010 Memphis Beat Delilah Boswell Episode: "One Night of Sin"
2010 Laugh Track Mash-Up Tammy Episode: "Coopin' with Mr. Levy"
2010–2011 For a Green Card Jackie 4 episodes
2011 CSI: NY Ainsley McCrea Episode: "To What End?"
2011 Zeke and Luther Lady Lucy Episode: "Skate Video Awards"
2012 Rules of Engagement Andrea Episode: "Goodbye Dolly"
2014 Castle Cyber Rita Episode: "Bad Santa"
2016 The Good Place Alexis 2 episodes
2017–19 GLOW Melanie Rosen 28 episodes
2018 Drop the Mic Herself Episode: "WWE Superstars vs. GLOW / Laila Ali vs. Chris Jericho"
2018 WWE SmackDown Herself Episode: "The Road to WWE Extreme Rules 2018 Begins"
2019 Epic Rap Battles of History Joan Rivers Episode: "George Carlin vs Richard Pryor"
2019 The Boys Courtenay Fortney Episode: "The Innocents"
2020 Royalties Polly Amorous 3 episodes
2020 Best Leftovers Ever! Host Main cast
2021 Do, Re & Mi Re Main cast
2023 Gen V Courtenay Fortney Episode: "#ThinkBrink"
2023 The Tiny Chef Show Herself Episode: "Fwendsgiving"

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

Year Album details
2009 Beguiling
2010 2.Yo
  • Released: May 11, 2010
  • Label: self-released

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Three by Two' to be staged Nov. 23". Vol. 18, no. 12. University of Delaware Update. November 19, 1998. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. (Scroll down to second item.)
  2. ^ Scott, Becky (June 26, 2017). "5 Things To Know About The Breakout Star Of New Netlix Series 'GLOW', Jackie Tohn". Jewish Daily Forward. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e Lovece, Frank (July 24, 2017). "Oceanside's Jackie Tohn discusses her role on Netflix's 'GLOW'". Newsday. New York City / Long Island. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Who's Who". Jewtopia Los Angeles Production. Archived from the original on March 7, 2005.
  5. ^ "Fall 1998 – Spring 1999". Deltones.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  6. ^ "Basking in the 'GLOW' of wrestling series and playing Gilda Radner". jewishjournal.com. July 26, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Bio". Jackie Tohn official site. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012.
  8. ^ Isherwood, Charles (October 22, 2004). "The Art of Pursuing Jewish Girls, for Dummies". The New York Times. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  9. ^ Jackie Tohn at Wizard Finger Nov. 06 (YouTube). StandUpInLA. Retrieved January 21, 2020.[dead YouTube link]
  10. ^ Andy Dehnart (February 6, 2009). "American Idol's Fake Controversies". RealityBlurred.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012.
  11. ^ "Jackie Tohn: Contestant". Platinum Hit. Bravo. Archived from the original on April 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Petski, Denise. "'G.L.O.W.': Jenji Kohan Netflix Comedy Series Adds Britt Baron, Jackie Tohn & Five More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  13. ^ Club, Comic Book (October 8, 2023). "Who Plays Courtenay Fortney On Gen V? Meet Jackie Tohn". Comic Book Club. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  14. ^ Kennedy, Mark (December 29, 2020). "Leftovers are the stars in Netflix's new food-based reality game show". Chicago Sun Times. Associated Press. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  15. ^ "'Do, Re & Mi' Hits the Perfect Note For Preschoolers and Families". NBC Los Angeles. September 16, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.

External links edit