Jennifer Beals was born on December 19, 1963, in Chicago, Illinois. Her father, Alfred Beals, was a supermarket owner, and her mother, Jeanne (née Anderson), was a hospital administrator. She has two brothers, Gregory and Michael. Beals attended the progressive Francis W. Parker School before enrolling at Yale University.
Beals began her acting career in 1980 with a small role in the film My Bodyguard. She followed this with roles in the made-for-television movies The Right Hand of the Father (1985) and First Steps (1985), and the theatrical film Flashdance (1983), for which she is best known. She also appeared in the television series Fame (1982–1987) and Family Ties (1987–1989).
In the 1990s, Beals appeared in such films as Backdraft (1991), Point of No Return (1993), Sliver (1993), and Devil in a Blue Dress (1995). She also had a leading role in the short-lived television series The L Word (2004–2009).
Beals has won several awards for her work, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama for The L Word and a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Devil in a Blue Dress.
As of 2021, Jennifer Beals’ net worth is $16 million. She has been married to Alexandre Rockwell since 1998, and they have one daughter together.
Photographer, Film producer, Actor, Model, Triathlete
Education
Francis W. Parker School, Yale University
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Ken Dixon (m. 1998), Alexandre Rockwell (m. 1986–1996)
Parents
Alfred Beals, Jeanne Anderson
Siblings
Gregory Beals, Bobby Beals
Accomplishments
Awards
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film, GLAAD Media Golden Gate Award
Nominations
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or...
Movies
Flashdance, Devil in a Blue Dress, Vampire's Kiss, The Book of Eli, Manhattan Night, Four Rooms, Roger Dodger, The Anniversary Party, Catch That Kid, The Grudge 2, In the Soup, The Last Days of Disco, Cinemanovels, The Spree, The Prophecy II, Queen to Play, Split Decisions, They Shoot Divas, Don't T...
TV Shows
Proof, The Chicago Code, Lie to Me, The L Word, Nothing Sacred, 2000 Malibu Road, Faerie Tale Theatre
[on who inspires her] My role models are Bettie Page and Mia Kirshner (co-star on The L Word (2004)). Every day when Mia comes to work she raises the bar for us all.
2
I'm always shocked that gay marriage is such a big deal. You have to realize how precious human life is, when there are tsunamis and mudslides, when there are armies and terrorists - at any moment, you could be gone, and potentially in the most brutal fashion. And then you have to realize that love is truly one of the most extraordinary things you can experience in your life. To begrudge someone else their love of another person because of gender seems to be absolutely absurd. It's based in fear, fear of the other, fear of what is not like you. But when you are able to see lives on a day-to-day basis, rather than reducing it to politics, then it humanizes a whole community of people that were otherwise invisible.
3
It's been perfect. I can still ride a subway and work with great people. I can't imagine being Julia Roberts. I don't have the fortitude to withstand that kind of attention.
Facts
#
Fact
1
Is trained in Kung Fu San-Soo & Kickboxing.
2
Was considered for the role of Catwoman/Selina Kyle in Batman Returns (1992).
On February 1, 2010, in cooperation with Eastman Kodak and Color Centric, she released her photographic journal. A book containing over 250 photographs. Additionally, the book also contained call sheets, production notes and intimate interviews with the cast. Jennifer wanted to share the behind the scenes photos she had taken over her six years on the show portraying the dynamic and alpha Bette Porter with both the cast and fans (that supported the show around the world).
Thieves took nearly $1,000 from her hotel room while she was on location in Manila, Philippines, shooting the movie Tinikling ou 'La madonne et le dragon' (1990) (aka "Madonna and the Dragon"), in 1989.
14
Close friends with Quentin Tarantino. He often stayed at her home while struggling as a director before making Pulp Fiction (1994).
While still a teenager, before she went into show business, she worked as a babysitter for one of her neighbors - Steve Edwards.
23
In Flashdance (1983), the birth date that she fills out on the application form is her actual birth date in real life.
24
Has two brothers and at least four half-siblings from her father's relationships with African-American women.
25
In the film The Anniversary Party (2001), Beals plays a character who takes photographs of performers which she then gives away, usually to the subjects of the photos. Beals actually does this.
In Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), she played a woman passing for white who is actually the daughter of an interracial couple. In real life, this is also Beals' racial background.
Angela (segments "The Wrong Man", "The Man from Hollywood")
The Search for One-eye Jimmy
1994
Ellen
Dead on Sight
1994
Rebecca Darcy
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
1994
Gertrude Benchley
The Thief and the Cobbler
1993
Princess YumYum (Miramax version) (voice)
Night Owl
1993
TV Movie
Julia
Le Grand Pardon II
1992
Joyce Ferranti
Indecency
1992
TV Movie
Ellie Shaw
2000 Malibu Road
1992
TV Series
Perry Quinn
Terror Stalks the Class Reunion
1992
TV Movie
Virginia
In the Soup
1992
Angelica Pena
Blood and Concrete
1991
Mona
Sons
1990
Transvestite
Tinikling ou 'La madonne et le dragon'
1990
TV Movie
Patty Meredith
Dr. M
1990
Sonja Vogler
Split Decisions
1988
Barbara Uribe
The Gamble
1988
Lady Olivia Candioni
Vampire's Kiss
1988
Rachel
The Bride
1985
Eva
Faerie Tale Theatre
1985
TV Series
Cinderella
Flashdance
1983
Alex Owens
My Bodyguard
1980
Clifford's Friend (uncredited)
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Manhattan Night
2016
co-producer
Laughs Unlimited
2013
TV Movie executive producer
Cinemanovels
2013
executive producer
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
They Shoot Divas, Don't They?
2002
TV Movie performer: "Slow Burn", "I Can See Through You", "When I'm in Your Hands"
Blood and Concrete
1991
performer: "One Girl in a Million"
That's Dancing!
1985
Documentary performer: "Flashdance. . .What A Feeling"
Camera Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Freedom Park
2001
Short still photographer
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Moving Malcolm
2003
thanks
The Anniversary Party
2001
acknowledgment: prop photos by
Poetry, Passion, the Postman: The Poetic Return of Pablo Neruda
1996
TV Movie documentary thanks
Pulp Fiction
1994
special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Untitled Victor Skrebneski Documentary
Documentary filming
Herself
Talk Stoop with Cat Greenleaf
2017
TV Series
Herself
Quotidien
2017
TV Series
Herself
The View
2008-2017
TV Series
Herself - Guest / Herself
The Chew
2017
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Today
2016-2017
TV Series
Herself / Herself - Guest
The Meredith Vieira Show
2015
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Talk
2011-2015
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Sidewalks Entertainment
2015
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Off Camera with Sam Jones
2015
TV Series
Herself
Katie
2014
TV Series
Herself - Guest
A Fuller Life
2013
Documentary
Herself - Reader (segment "Crime Reporter")
Huffpost Live
2012
TV Series
Herself - Panelist
Rachael Ray
2011
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Hour
2011
TV Series
Herself
The Marilyn Denis Show
2011
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Chelsea Lately
2011
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2005-2011
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Tavis Smiley
2011
TV Series
Herself - Guest
77th McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade
2010
TV Movie
Herself
The Book of Eli: Eli's Journey
2010
Video short
Herself
Starz Inside: Fashion in Film
2008
TV Movie documentary
Herself
2008 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
2008
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Series / Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special / Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) for VMC Programming and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Sexo en serie
2008
TV Movie documentary
Herself
19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards
2008
TV Special
Herself
Eigo de shabera-night
2008
TV Series
Herself
The Grudge 2: Ready When You Are Mr Shimizu
2007
Video documentary short
Herself
The Sharon Osbourne Show
2004
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Live with Kelly and Ryan
2004
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Daily Show
2000-2004
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Exploring the Scene: Hackman & Hoffman Together
2004
Video documentary short
Herself
The Ensemble: Acting
2004
Video short
Herself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2004
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Charlie Rose
2004
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The 2003 IFP Independent Spirit Awards
2003
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Hollywood Celebrates Denzel Washington: An American Cinematheque Tribute
2003
TV Special documentary
Herself
Gala Paramount Pictures Celebrates 90th Anniversary with 90 Stars for 90 Years
2002
TV Movie
Herself
Dinner for Five
2002
TV Series
Herself - Special Guest
Seitenblicke
2002
TV Series documentary
Herself
Hollywood Goes to Hell
2000
TV Short documentary
Herself
VH-1 Where Are They Now?
2000
TV Series documentary
Herself
The Directors
1997
TV Series documentary
Herself
Poetry, Passion, the Postman: The Poetic Return of Pablo Neruda
1996
TV Movie documentary
Herself - Host
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1995
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Late Show with David Letterman
1995
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Caro diario
1993
Herself
Días de cine
1992
TV Series
Herself - Interviewee
The Word
1990
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Freedomfest: Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Celebratation
1988
TV Special documentary
Herself
The 57th Annual Academy Awards
1985
TV Special documentary
Herself - Presenter: Best Costume Design
The 56th Annual Academy Awards
1984
TV Special documentary
Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Original Score
The 41st Annual Golden Globe Awards
1984
TV Special
Herself - Nominee
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Marilyn Denis Show
2011
TV Series
Herself
Lie to Me Season 1: The Truth About 'Lie to Me'
2009
Video short
A.U.S.A. Zoe Landau
Cámara negra. Teatro Victoria Eugenia
2007
TV Short documentary
Herself
Retrosexual: The 80's
2004
TV Mini-Series documentary
VH1 Goes Inside
2004
TV Series documentary
Alex Owens
Marithé + François = Girbaud
2016
Documentary
Herself - American actress
Extra
2016
TV Series
Herself
Tellement Gay! Homosexualité et pop culture
2015
TV Mini-Series documentary
Bette Porter
Welcome to the Basement
2014
TV Series
Alex Owens
Tu cara me suena - Argentina
2014
TV Series
Alex Owens
Awards
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2005
Golden Gate Award
GLAAD Media Awards
1999
Maverick Tribute Award
Cinequest San Jose Film Festival
1998
Golden Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television
The Twilight of the Golds (1996)
1985
Bravo Otto Germany
Bravo Otto
Best Actress (Schauspielerin)
1984
Image Award
Image Awards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture
Flashdance (1983)
1983
Jupiter Award
Jupiter Award
Best International Actress
1983
Bravo Otto Germany
Bravo Otto
Best Actress (Schauspielerin)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
BTVA Anime Dub Movies/Special Voice Acting Award
Behind the Voice Actors Awards
Best Vocal Ensemble in an Anime Feature Film/Special
UFO gakuen no himitsu (2015)
2016
Canadian Screen Award
Canadian Screen Awards, CA
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series
A Wife's Nightmare (2014)
2008
Image Award
Image Awards
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
The L Word (2004)
2007
Image Award
Image Awards
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
The L Word (2004)
2007
Vision Award
NAMIC Vision Awards
Best Actress - Drama
The L Word (2004)
2005
Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Outstanding Actress in a Series, Drama
The L Word (2004)
2001
Video Premiere Award
DVD Exclusive Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Something More (1999)
2001
Golden Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television
A House Divided (2000)
1996
Image Award
Image Awards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
1986
Razzie Award
Razzie Awards
Worst Actress
The Bride (1985)
1984
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical