Christine Joan Taylor (born July 30, 1971) is an American actress. She has played Marcia Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) and A Very Brady Sequel (1996), and appeared in The Craft (1996), The Wedding Singer (1998), Zoolander (2001), and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004). In television, she has appeared in roles in Hey Dude, Arrested Development, and Search Party.
Early life and education Taylor was born on July 30, 1971, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to Joan, a homemaker, and Albert E. "Skip" Taylor III, who owns a security company. She grew up in neighboring Wescosville, Pennsylvania, and has a younger brother.
Taylor was raised Roman Catholic and attended St. Thomas More School and then Allentown Central Catholic High School.
Career
In 1989, Taylor began her acting career on the Nickelodeon children's television series Hey Dude, in which she portrayed the lifeguard Melody Hanson. She continued in that role through 1991, while making various guest appearances on other programs and films.
In 1995, Taylor was cast as Marcia Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie and later in A Very Brady Sequel. Following The Brady Bunch Movie, Taylor made several comedic guest appearances on the television series Ellen, landing the lead role in the television series Party Girl, based on the 1995 film of the same name, and more guest appearances on sitcoms, including Seinfeld and Friends.
In 1996, Taylor portrayed the racist school bully Laura Lizzie in the horror film The Craft, and also portrayed Drew Barrymore's cousin, Holly Sullivan, in the 1998 comedy The Wedding Singer. In 2001, she starred alongside her husband Ben Stiller in Zoolander. In 2005, Taylor guest starred on two episodes of Arrested Development, portraying the character Sally Sitwell; and the following year she performed in an episode of NBC's My Name Is Earl.
In July 2006, Taylor's husband Stiller announced plans to direct a CBS sitcom starring Taylor, but the series never aired. Taylor has appeared with Mandy Moore in both Dedication and License to Wed. In 2010, Taylor guest starred in Hannah Montana Forever and the Hallmark Channel Christmas movie Farewell Mr. Kringle.
In 2013, Taylor reprised her role as Sally Sitwell in two episodes of the revived fourth season of Arrested Development. She also guest starred on Elementary in 2017, playing villainess Gail Lundquist. From 2016 to 2022, Taylor had a recurring role as Gail on Search Party. In 2021, Taylor joined the cast of High Desert, an Apple TV series. In 2023, she reunited with her Hey Dude co-star David Lascher for the Hey Dude...The 90s Called! podcast.
Personal life
Taylor dated actor Neil Patrick Harris from 1997 to 1998."Neil Patrick Harris realized he was gay while dating a famous woman", IMDb, April 16, 2023 Harris later spoke highly of Taylor, saying she was an "absolute catch" but he felt their relationship helped him accept his homosexuality because he realized he felt no "super sparks" during their time together.
In May 2000, Taylor married Ben Stiller, whom she first met in 1999 while they were both filming Heat Vision and Jack. Taylor and Stiller appeared together in the films Zoolander, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Tropic Thunder, and Zoolander 2, and the television series Arrested Development and Curb Your Enthusiasm. They live in Westchester County, New York, and have a daughter and a son. Taylor and Stiller are both vegetarians.
After 17 years of marriage, Taylor and Stiller separated in 2017. The couple later reconciled after living together during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Filmography
Film + Year Title Role Notes1993 Calendar Girl Melissa Smock Credited as Christine Joan Taylor Showdown Julie 1994 Night of the Demons 2 Terri Direct-to-video1995 Breaking Free Brooke Kaufman The Brady Bunch Movie Marcia Brady 1996 The Craft Laura Lizzie A Very Brady Sequel Marcia Brady Cat Swallows Parakeet and Speaks! Ballerina 1997 Campfire Tales Lauren Direct-to-video1998 Denial Sammie The Wedding Singer Holly Sullivan Overnight Delivery Kimberly Jasney Direct-to-video1999 Desperate but Not Serious Lili Kiss Toledo Goodbye Deeann Emory 2001 True Love Zoolander Matilda Jeffries 2004 Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Katherine "Kate" Veatch The First Year's a Bitch Andrea 2006 Room 6 Amy Roberts Direct-to-video The Mirror Herself 2007 Dedication Allison License to Wed Lindsey Jones Kabluey Betty 2008 Tropic Thunder Rebecca 2012 The First Time Mrs. Miller 2016 Zoolander 2 Matilda Jeffries Little Boxes Joan 2020 Friendsgiving Brianne 2024 Sweethearts Diane 2026 Influenced McKinley The Dink Bea Evil Genius Post-production Rest and Relaxation Joanie Danver Post-production; also producer
Television +Television Year Title Role Notes 1989–1991 Hey Dude Melody Hanson Main cast1991 Dallas Margaret Barnes Episode: "Conundrum" Saved by the Bell Heather Brooks 1 episode Life Goes On Drama Student #1 1 episode; credited as Christine Joan Taylor 1992 Blossom Patti1995 Caroline in the City Debbie 1 episode Here Come the Munsters Marilyn Hyde (Munster) Television film Ellen Karen Lewis 2 episodes1996 Party Girl Mary 4 episodes To the Ends of Time Princess Stephanie Television film1997 Rewind Dana Unaired pilot Murphy Brown Taffy 1 episode Friends Bonnie 3 episodes Seinfeld Ellen Episode: "The Van Buren Boys"1999 Cupid Yvonne 1 episode Heat Vision and Jack The Sheriff Unaired pilot 2000 Spin City Catherine Moore 1 episode 2003 Harry's Girl Harry's Girl Television film 2004 Curb Your Enthusiasm Herself 3 episodes 2005 The Commuters Sandy Television film 2005–2019 Arrested Development Sally Sitwell 11 episodes2006 My Name Is Earl Alex Meyers Episode: "The Professor" American Dad! Candy Voice; 1 episode 52 Flights Jennifer Television film2010 Phineas and Ferb Mrs. Khaka Peü Peü Voice; 1 episode Hannah Montana Forever Lori 2 episodes Farewell Mr. Kringle Anna Television film 2011 Rip City Janet Marsh 2012–2013 Burning Love Symphony 4 episodes 2015 Sharing Polly Television film 2016 Zoolander: Super Model Matilda Jeffries Voice; television film 2016–2022 Search Party Gail 11 episodes 2017 Elementary Gail Lundquist 1 episode Odd Mom Out Barrett 2018 Insatiable Gayle Keene 2 episodes 2021 iCarly Argenthina Woolridge 1 episode 2023 High Desert Dianne Recurring role
References
External links