Blossom's Sidekick

Background:

American film and television actress and accomplished singer of Dutch lineage Jenna Von Oy is most famous for her roles as the motor-mouthed sidekick Six in the NBC sitcom “Blossom” (1991-1995), from which she was handed two Young Artist Awards, and the kinky chum Stevie van Lowe in the hit UPN series “The Parkers” (1999-2004). She also received a Young Artist nomination for her regular turn in her series debut, “ Lenny” (CBS, 1990). Jenna has guested in various TV series, more recently “Cold Case” (2005), and acted in TV films like She Cried No (1996) and Dying to Belong (1997). In addition, she has done several voice work, including as the fast talking teenage Stacey in the animated movie The Goofy Movie (1995). Jenna made her film debut with Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July (1989).

Jenna was ranked No. 94 on VH1's “100 Greatest Kid Stars” in 2005. She dated fellow Connecticut actor Will Friedle for six months in the early 1990s. When she is not acting, singing and writing songs, Jenna enjoys painting, cooking, traveling and photography. Her photos has appeared in several publications. She is also known as a fluent French speaker.

Connecticut Native

Childhood and Family:

Jennifer Jean Von Oy was born on May 2, 1977, in Stamford, Connecticut. She grew up in a very supportive and close knit family, which she mentioned has had a significant part for her prosperous personal and professional switch from child star to adult. When she was young, she legally changed her first name to Jenna. Her paternal grandparents were from Germany which explains where the future actress' last name comes from. Jenna attended the esteemed University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California for two years.

The Parkers

Career:

Jenna von Oy had her first taste of acting at age 5, when she landed the role of the littlest orphan Molly in a regional production of the musical “Annie.” She went on to appear in a string of commercials, most notably in a Jell-O Pudding Pop commercial with Bill Cosby. After the early break, she embarked on her small screen career, making guest appearances in such series as CBS's “Kate & Allie” (1987) and “Monsters” (1989), as well as acting in the CBS miniseries “At Mother's Request” (1987), playing a young child of a family entangled in homicidal schemes. The energetic girl moved on to features in 1989 when she landed a part in the Oliver Stone-directed biography film Born on the Fourth of July. There she played the young Susanne Kovic, sister of Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic (played by Tom Cruise).

By year 1990, Jenna had debuted as a series regular on the CBS sitcom “Lenny,” portraying the oldest daughter Kelly Callahan. The role brought her a Young Artist nomination in the category of Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series. However, it was her scene-stealing role in the NBC comedy series “Blossom” (1991-1995) that established Jenna as a talented and exceptionally professional performer. As Six LeMeure, the talkative and neurotic best friend of the titular character, she won two Young Artist for Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Television Series (1993) and Best Youth Comedienne (1994), an a nomination in 1992 for Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Television Series. In addition to her TV role, Jenna also provided the voice of Stacey on the animated film The Goofy Movie (1995).

After the demise of “Blossom,” Jenna starred as Phoebe Huck in a 1995 failed series called “Family Values,” produced by Drew S. Levin, and made the college-set NBC TV-movie dramas She Cried No (1996), opposite Candace Cameron Bure and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Dying to Belong (1997), with Hillary Swank and Sarah Chalke. She remained active in the small screen with guest stints in various sitcoms like “Martin” and “Unhappily Ever After” (both 1997). Her episodic turn as Theresa, a young woman who throws her newborn baby in the trash, in the CBS drama “Chicago Hope” (1997), displayed her endowment. The actress returned to voice-over in 1999 with a gig for the ABC Saturday morning animated offering “Disney's Pepper Ann,” as Trinket St. Blaire.

1999 also marked a banner year for Jenna, who began a long-running tenure with the well-liked UPN comedy series “The Parkers.” Her character, the off-beat college student Stevie Van Lowe, was originally planned to appear in three episodes of the series' first season, but it was so popular that the producers soon progressed it to a series regular in early 2000. The show aired a final episode on May 10, 2004. Meanwhile, she also voiced the character Jen for the Canadian cartoon series “What's with Andy?” (2001-2002) and was featured in the drama film Final Breakdown (2002).

The award-winning performer portrayed the tightly hurt daughter in the ABC comedy pilot “Marsha Potter Gets a Life” (2005), starring Brenda Blethyn. The same year, she also appeared as Kitty in an episode of the superb CBS crime/drama series “Cold Case” and had a guest voice role in “Family Gay.” In 2006, she voiced Gracie for the direct-to-video comedy/film Dr. Dolittle 3, a third installment to the 1998 highly successful Dr. Dolittle, starring Eddie Murphy.

Although she loves working in TV and film productions, Jenna has attempted to extend her career into country music by recording a demo CD in June 2000. She has also written all of the songs on the 2000 special “Where Are They Now” for VH1.

Awards:

• Young Artist: Best Youth Comedienne, “Blossom,” 1994

• Young Artist: Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Television Series, “Blossom,” 1993