Kelly Rutherford (born November 6, 1968) is an American actress. She is known for her television roles as Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore on the NBC daytime soap opera Generations (1989–1991), as Megan Lewis on the Fox primetime soap opera Melrose Place (1996–1999),[1] and as Lily van der Woodsen on The CW series Gossip Girl (2007–2012).

Kelly Rutherford
Rutherford in 2007
Born (1968-11-06) November 6, 1968 (age 56)
OccupationActress
Years active1987–present
Spouses
Carlos Tarajano
(m. 2001; div. 2002)
Daniel Giersch
(m. 2006; div. 2010)
Children2

Early life and education

edit

Kelly Rutherford was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on November 6, 1968, the daughter of Ann Edwards.[2] She has a brother, Anthony.[2] She attended Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California.[3] She later studied at HB Studio in New York City, and the Beverly Hills Playhouse in California.[2]

Career

edit

Rutherford began her career on daytime soap operas. She appeared on Loving in 1987, and later was cast as a regular on Generations from 1989 to 1991. In 1992 she joined the cast of the ABC drama Homefront.

From 1993 to 1994, Rutherford was a regular on the Fox series The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. as Dixie Cousins, a saloon singer and con artist who has a brief romantic encounter with Brisco.[4] In later episodes, Dixie becomes Brisco's primary love interest.[5]

She also appeared in the film I Love Trouble. She also starred in the short-lived series The Great Defender as Frankie Collet (1995), and in Kindred: The Embraced as Caitlin Byrne (1996). In 1996, Rutherford joined the cast of Fox primetime soap opera Melrose Place, as Megan Lewis. She starred on the show until 1999.

She also starred as Christine Hamilton in the horror film Scream 3 (2000). From 2003 to 2004, she starred in the ABC drama Threat Matrix as Special Agent Frankie Ellroy Kilmer. In next television season she starred in another short-lived series, E-Ring, on NBC. In 2007, Rutherford began starring as Lily van der Woodsen in the CW series Gossip Girl. The series ended in 2012.[6] Rutherford has also starred in a number of Lifetime movies. In 2016, Rutherford was cast in the ABC thriller Quantico playing the recurring role of Laura Wyatt.[7] From 2018 to 2019, Rutherford played the recurring role of Melissa Daniels in the CW reboot series Dynasty.[8][9][10]

Personal life

edit

Rutherford married Venezuelan banker Carlos Tarajano in June 2001.[11][12] Rutherford filed for divorce in January 2002, after six months of marriage.[11] The wedding was featured shortly thereafter in the February 2002 issue of InStyle magazine.[11]

Rutherford married her second husband, German businessman Daniel Giersch, in August 2006.[13] She gave birth to their first child, son Hermés Gustaf Daniel Giersch, in October 2006.[14]

While pregnant with their second child, Rutherford filed for divorce from Giersch on December 30, 2008.[13] Rutherford and Giersch subsequently became involved in a child custody dispute over their son and their unborn child.[15] Rutherford gave birth to their second child, daughter Helena, in June 2009.

In August 2009, Rutherford and Giersch reached a temporary settlement of joint physical custody, in effect until April 2010.[16] Rutherford also obtained a temporary restraining order against him the following month.[17]

Giersch's U.S. visa was revoked in April 2012,[18] after Rutherford's lawyer informed the State Department about issues pertaining to Giersch's businesses, which led the department to conclude that it had sufficient evidence to deport him.[18]

It has been reported that the allegations involved fraud[18] or an involvement in drugs and weapons dealing in South America, considered terrorism under the PATRIOT Act.[19] Giersch consequently was unable to enter the United States and took up residence in France and Monaco.[18] In May 2012, Rutherford and Giersch's children went to France to spend the summer with their father.[20] Rutherford asked the court to grant her sole custody so that she could keep the children primarily in the United States following their visit to France, as the existing joint custody agreement required her to travel frequently to enable Giersch to spend time with the children.[20]

In August 2012, in a widely reported decision,[18] a California Superior Court judge ruled that the 50/50 custody arrangement should remain and that, because Giersch is unable to travel to the United States, the children should live in France with him and attend school there, with Rutherford traveling there to visit them. Though Rutherford opposed the decision and requested a stay of proceedings while she appealed, her request was denied and it was ruled that, in two years, his eligibility to enter the United States and the consequent well-being of the children will be reassessed.[18][19][20]

In June 2013, Rutherford filed for bankruptcy, stating she had debts of approximately $2 million, primarily due to the $1.5 million she spent on legal fees relating to the divorce and custody dispute with Giersch.[21]

In May 2015, Rutherford was granted temporary sole custody of her children, following a ruling that both her son and daughter be brought back to the United States from Monaco, where they had been living with their father since 2012.[22] On July 23, 2015, a California judge ruled that California did not have jurisdiction over Rutherford's child custody case because she resides in New York, and her former husband was again awarded custody.[23][24]

Rutherford then filed a case in New York but on July 27, 2015, the New York court ruled it also did not have jurisdiction.[25][26]

In December 2015, the Monaco courts reconfirmed that full custody remained with the children's father, with Rutherford granted extensive visitation rights in France and Monaco as well as shared input regarding "health, schooling, religious education, and any change of residence".[27]

Filmography

edit

Film

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Shakedown TV watcher
1989 Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge Salesgirl
1994 Tis a Gift to Be Simple Emily Hanover Short film
I Love Trouble Kim
Amberwaves Lola Barnes
1997 Six Months of Darkness, Six Months of Light Annie Short film
The Big Fall Veronica Direct-to-video film
Dilemma Woman in bar Uncredited[citation needed]
Cyclops, Baby Randy
1998 The Disturbance at Dinner Marian Pronkridge
2000 Scream 3 Christine Hamilton
The Chaos Factor Jodi
2001 The Tag Wendy
2002 Angels Don't Sleep Here Kate Porter
Swimming Upstream Sandra Bird
2013 The Stream Maggie Terry
2017 Christmas Wedding Planner Aunt Olivia

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1987 Loving N/A Unknown episodes
1989–1991 Generations Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore
1992 Davis Rules Erika 2 episodes
Breaking the Silence Cheryl Television film
1992–1993 Homefront Judy Owen Main role (season 2)
1992 Bodies of Evidence Diana Wallace Episode: "Afternoon Delights"
1992 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures Mona Episode: "As the Dude Turns (The Lives That We Live)"
1993–1994 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Dixie Cousins Recurring role, 7 episodes
1995 The Great Defender Frankie Collett Main role
Courthouse Christine Lunden 4 episodes
1996 Kindred: The Embraced Caitlyn Byrne Main role
No Greater Love Edwina Winfield Television film
Buried Secrets Danielle Roff
1996–1999 Melrose Place Megan Lewis Mancini Main role (seasons 5–7); 90 episodes
1998 The Perfect Getaway Julia Robinson Television film
1999–2000 Get Real Laura Martineau 4 episodes
1999 Nash Bridges Roxanne "Roxie" Hill Episode: "Kill Switch"
2000 Sally Hemings: An American Scandal Lady Maria Cosway Miniseries
The Outer Limits Rachel Episode: "Nest"
2000–2001 The Fugitive Helen Kimble 3 episodes
2001 Night Visions Marilyn Lanier Episode: "The Passenger List"
Acceptable Risk Kim Welles Television film
2002–2003 The District Deputy Mayor Melinda Lockhart Recurring role, 6 episodes
2003–2004 Threat Matrix Special Agent Frankie Ellroy-Kilmer Main role
2005–2006 E-Ring Samantha "Sonny" Liston
2007–2012 Gossip Girl Lily van der Woodsen
2007 Tell Me No Lies Laura Cooper Television film
2013 A Sister's Nightmare Jane Ryder
2014 Bones Stephanie McNamara Episode: "The Ghost in the Killer"
Being Mary Jane Cynthia Phillips 4 episodes
Reckless Joyce Reed
2015 The Mysteries of Laura Lisa Hanlon Episode: "The Mystery of the Popped Pugilist"
Night of the Wild[28] Sara Television film
2016 Quantico Laura Wyatt Episodes: "Care", "Right"
Jane the Virgin Editor Episode: "Chapter Fifty"
2017 Nightcap Herself Episode: "What Would Staci Do?"
2018–2019 Dynasty Melissa Daniels 7 episodes
2018 Love, of Course Amy Andolini Television film (Hallmark Channel)
2019 Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists Claire Hotchkiss Main role
Dark Angel Jillian Television film
Fallen Hearts Jillian
All My Husband's Wives Cheryl Volberg 2019 ‘’Gone’’ Paula Lannigan
2020 Power Book II: Ghost Colleen Saxe Episode: "The Stranger"


References

edit
  1. ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 766. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
  2. ^ a b c "Kelly Rutherford". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on September 16, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  3. ^ "Gossip Girl Transformations - Kelly Rutherford". (slide 7 of 8) InStyle. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  4. ^ Marnell, Blair (2011-01-28). "Friday Flashback: The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.". CraveOnline.com. CraveOnline Media, LLC.
  5. ^ King, Susan (April 12, 1994). "She's Got Starlet Allure, '40s-Style : Acting: Kelly Rutherford looks to old movies for inspiration. And many compare the Brisco County Jr. star to a combination of Dietrich, Bacall and Mae West". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ "Gossip Girl TV show last episode | canceled + renewed TV shows". TV Series Finale. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  7. ^ Roots, Kimberly (April 5, 2016). "Quantico's Kelly Rutherford: Shelby's Mom Faked Death 'To Protect Her'". TVLine. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  8. ^ Reiher, Andrea (February 1, 2018). "Dynasty Recap: Fallon Is in Some Serious Trouble". Brit + Co. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  9. ^ Swift, Andy (November 15, 2017). "Dynasty Enlists Kelly Rutherford for Mini Gossip Girl Reunion". TVLine. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  10. ^ Gaudens, Reed (October 26, 2019). "Dynasty power rankings: Sam finds a fitting foil in Kelly Rutherford's Melissa". Hidden Remote. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c Kuczynski, Alex (June 2, 2002). "The Curse Of the InStyle Wedding". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  12. ^ "Shortest Celebrity Marriages: Kelly Rutherford and Carlos Tarajano". Glamour. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  13. ^ a b Finn, Natalie (January 3, 2009). "Pregnant Gossip Girl Mom Kelly Rutherford Divorcing". E! Online. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  14. ^ Gee, Alison (October 18, 2006). "EXCLUSIVE: Melrose Place's Kelly Rutherford Has a Boy". People. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  15. ^ Lee, Ken (January 22, 2009). "Kelly Rutherford & Estranged Husband Testify in Custody Dispute". People. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  16. ^ Lee, Ken (August 4, 2009). "Kelly Rutherford and Ex Reach Truce in Custody Battle". People. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  17. ^ Lee, Ken (September 24, 2009). "Kelly Rutherford Gets Restraining Order Against Husband". People. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Abrams, Dan (September 1, 2012). "Two American Kids Shipped to France in One of the Worst Custody Decisions. Ever". ABC News. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  19. ^ a b Boehm, Kristin; Coughlan, Maggie (August 29, 2012). "Kelly Rutherford, Daniel Giersch Ordered to Co-Parent in Monaco". People. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  20. ^ a b c Silverman, Stephen (September 1, 2012). "Kelly Rutherford Vows to 'Never Stop Fighting for My Children'". People. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  21. ^ Coughlan, Maggie (June 23, 2013). "Kelly Rutherford Files for Bankruptcy". People. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  22. ^ Grinberg, Emanuella; Ford, Dana (May 25, 2015). "Kelly Rutherford granted temporary sole custody of her two children". CNN. United States. Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  23. ^ "Kelly Rutherford Taking Custody Battle to New York". People. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  24. ^ "Kelly Rutherford loses in latest custody battle round". CBS News. 23 July 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  25. ^ Corriston, Michele (July 27, 2015). "Kelly Rutherford Speaks to PEOPLE as New York Court Denies Custody Case: 'It's Just Incredible as an American Mom with America-Born Children'". People. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  26. ^ Bacardi, Francesca; Good, Lindsay (July 27, 2015). "Kelly Rutherford's Custody Battle Won't Be Heard in a New York Court, Judge Rules There's No Jurisdiction". E! Online. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  27. ^ Beard, Lanford; Corinthios, Aurelie (December 15, 2015). "Kelly Rutherford's Crushing Defeat as She's Banned from Bringing Kids to U.S.: 'She Only Has Herself to Blame,' Says Lawyer". People. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  28. ^ Upmails, Jordan (September 30, 2015). "Kelly Rutherford and Jill Zarin Fight Off Killer Dogs in New Movie". Bravo. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
edit