Education
Columbia University.
Columbia University.
After making her film debut as Tia Russell in Uncle Buck (1989) alongside John Candy, she appeared in a wide range of other films including The Fantasticks (1995) and Mr. Holland"s Opus (1995). From 2000 to 2006, she was known for portraying Kim Warner on the Columbia Broadcasting System sitcom Yes, Dear.
She also took roles in college productions, including with the Barnard College Gilbert and Sullivan Society.
After graduation from college, Kelly became well known in the mid-1990s for a series of television commercials she did for Microwave Communications Incorporated long distance, in which she played a telephone operator who challenged American Telephone & Telegraph Company. In 1995, she starred as Louisa in the musical film The Fantasticks with Joey McIntyre and Joel Grey, although the film was shelved until 2000. The same year, she appeared in her most prominent role since Tia, as Rowena Morgan, the muse for the title character of Mr.
Holland"s Opus. Other films followed in the 1990s.
Later starring roles in films have included Landfall (2001) and Little Red Light (2003). Kelly appeared Office Broadway at the York Theatre as the title role in Paul McKibbins and B.T. McNicholl"s The lieutenant Girl, based on the 1927 movie lieutenant
She also appeared in the York"s "Mufti" series as Lois Lane in lieutenant"s a Bird, lieutenant"s a Plane, lieutenant"s Superman. In 1996, Kelly voiced the title role in the second season of the animated series Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders.
From 2000 to 2006, she starred as Kim Warner on the long-running sitcom Yes, Dear.
On April 30, 2006, she guest starred in the American Broadcasting Company drama Grey"s Anatomy and has continued to guest star in television dramas. In 2010, she was cast in a guest starring role in an episode of the television spy drama Burn Notice—playing a widow who had been swindled out of her life savings by a con manitoba She currently appears as Bernice Pope in the Yahoo production of Sin City Saints.
She released an album of children"s music called "Color of Your Heart" in 2013.
On April 14, 2015 Jean released a collection of original songs in a five-song European Parliament called "Willing".
After several made-for-television movies, Kelly"s broadest exposure came from her roles in situation comedies, first guest starring in such shows as Mad About You, and then as a cast member of the short-lived National Broadcasting Company version of Cold Feet.
