Michele Greene


Michele Dominguez Greene is an American actress, singer/songwriter and author. She is known for her role as attorney Abigail "Abby" Perkins on the TV series L.A. Law from 1986 to 1991, for which she was nominated for a 1989 Primetime Emmy Award. She reprised the role in the 2002 TV reunion film .

Early years

Greene was born in Las Vegas, Nevada to an Irish American father, Roland, and a Mexican/Nicaraguan mother, Dorita, who was an accomplished singer and dancer. She attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles where she
picked up a taste for acting after enrolling in a high-school drama class; she had chosen the class to help her overcome her extreme shyness. She then attended University of Southern California, where she auditioned for and was accepted to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, entering on a scholarship and beginning her formal training as an actor. During her college years she began working in television, appearing in numerous guest shots and television movies.

Career

Shortly after graduation, she landed the role of Judy Nuckles in the short-lived Steven Bochco series Bay City Blues. When that was cancelled, Bochco kept her in mind and offered her the role of Abby Perkins on L.A. Law in 1986. The show was a critical and commercial success, winning multiple Emmys and garnering Greene a nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category in 1989. Together with Amanda Donohoe her character participated in what was U.S. primetime television's first lesbian kiss in 1991. Greene appeared on L.A. Law for five seasons, leaving in 1991 to pursue her musical career and stretch her acting challenges.
After leaving L.A. Law, Greene had acting roles in a number of popular television series including Bones, ', ', Cold Case, Crossing Jordan, , JAG, Judging Amy, Nip/Tuck, The Outer Limits, Six Feet Under, Stargate SG-1 and The Unit. Greene also appeared in an episode of Brothers and Sisters on ABC-TV in March 2009 as a fictional Governor of California. She had a recurring role on HBO's Big Love as a TV reporter.
Greene has recorded two bilingual CDs, Ojo de Tiburon and Luna Roja. She has also written two young adult novels, Chasing the Jaguar: A Martika Gálvez Mystery and Keep Sweet.

Filmography

Film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1979DorothyMargo2 episodes
1979Laverne & ShirleyVickiEpisode: "Bad Girls"
1980–81Eight is enoughJill5 episodes
1981The Miracle of Kathy MillerSherrieMovie
1982Desperate LivesJulie JordanMovie
1982The Dukes of HazzardBobby Lee JordanEpisode: "Coy meets Girl"
1983For Love and HonorJoyEpisode: "For Love and Honor"
1983ABC Afterschool SpecialsAndrea CranstonEpisode:
1983Bay City BluesJudy Nuckles8 episodes
1984Highway to HeavenSara HigginsEpisode: "Song of the Wild West"
1985Simon & SimonLisa BrơoksEpisode: "Mummy Talks"
1985SeducedThunder ThighsMovie
1985The Best TimesStacey EmeryEpisode: " The Narc"
1986American PlayhouseKevin's Friend Episode: "The Little Sister"
1986Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious NunSister MargaretMovie
1987MatlockLaura GordonEpisode: "The Billionaire"
1988Double StandardVirginiaMovie
1989The Pat Sajak ShowHerselfEpisode:
1990In the Best Interest of the ChildNoraMovie
1990Nightmare on the 13th FloorElaine KalisherMovie
1990Cop RockAbby PerkinsEpisode: "Potts Don't Fail Me Now"
1990To My DaughterJulie CarlstonMovie
1986–91L.A. LawAbby PerkinsSeasons 1–5
1991Posing: Inspired by Three Real Stories originally known as "I Posed for Playboy"Janet JanewayMovie
1992Jack's PlaceSuzanneEpisode: "Everything Old Is New Again"
1993Silent VictimBonnie JacksonMovie
1993Moment of Truth: A Child Too ManyPatty NowakowskiMovie
1993Picket FencesPatty HenleyEpisode: "Duty Free Rome"
1994Heart of a ChildKaren SchoutenMovie
1994How the West Was FunLaura ForesterMovie
1996She Woke Up PregnantConnie LoftisMovie
1997Badge of BetrayalAnnie WalkerMovie
1997The Outer LimitsJoan GarrisonEpisode: "The Awakening"
1997Lost Treasure of Dos SantosWillaMovie
1998CaptiveLily HunterMovie
1999Twice in a LifetimeJenny Parnell / Dr. Karen LantzEpisode: "The Gift of Life"
2000Stargate SG-1LairaEpisode: "A Hundred Days"
2000Entertainment Tonight Presents: L.A. Law - Secrets of the FirmHerselfSpecial
2000Wild GrizzlyRachel HardingMovie
1997
2001
Diagnosis MurderRachel Wơdrall
Carrie Langford Adams
"Must Kill TV"
"Sins of the Father" Parts 1 & 2
2001The Perfect WifeFelicia LaurelMovie
2001Lightning: Fire from the SkyBarbara DobbsMovie
2002RedeemerSharon DavidsonMovie
2002JAGLt. Col. Sara CoffeyEpisode: "Head to Toe"
2002NBC 75th Anniversary SpecialHerself
2002Weakest LinkHerself"L.A. Law Edition"
2002'Abby PerkinsReunion
2002'Jan BransonEpisode: " Blood Lust"
2002TV's Most Censored MomentsHerselfSpecial
2003MiraclesTravis's AuntEpisode: "The Bone Scatterer"
2003'Natalie PowellMovie
2003Strong MedicinePam SherrEpisode: "Rash Decisions"
2004Judging Amy Beth BenfieldEpisode: "Christenings"
2004Crossing JordanPam OakleyEpisode: "Missing Pieces"
2004Threat MatrixAnne ColtEpisode: "19 Seconds"
2005Six Feet UnderDr. FrakerEpisode: "Ecotone"
2005Nip/TuckIllana ManningEpisode: "Hannah Tedesco"
2006The UnitCynthia Burdett4 episodes
2007McBride: DoggedJudy MurrayMovie
2007Cold CaseTessie Bartram '07Episode: "Justice"
2008BonesAmanda O'RourkeEpisode: "The Man in the Outhouse"
2009Brothers & SistersGovernor Eve KernEpisode: "Troubled Waters" Part 1
2009'Sue SchiffEpisode: "The Gone Dead Train"
2009Brothers & SistersGovernor Eve KernEpisode: "Breaking the News"
2009Three RiversJudge GlynnEpisode: "A Roll of the Dice"
2010Big LoveReporter Sheila Jackson White3 episodes
2011The DefendersJudge GlynnEpisode: "Nevada v. Donnie the Numbers Guy"
2011Connie FaberEpisode: "A Few Dead Men"

Discography

YearAlbum titleLabelNotes
2002Ojo De TiburonAppleseed Recordings
2003Seeds: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol.3Appleseed RecordingsThe song "From Way Up Here"
2003Spanish In My Heart: Songs of the Spanish Civil WarAppleseed RecordingsThe songs, "En la Plaza de Mi Pueblo" and "Tu Que Brillas"
2006Luna RojaAppleseed Recordings

Literature

YearBookPublisherNotes
2006Chasing the JaguarRayo HarperCollinsHardcover / Paperback
2010Keep SweetSimon & SchusterPaperback

Awards/Nominations

YearAwardCategoryProductionResult
1989Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Dramatic SeriesL.A. Law