Hallie Todd | |
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Born: |
Hallie Eckstein |
Occupation: |
Actress |
Hallie Todd (born Hallie Eckstein; January 7, 1962) is an American actress, producer and writer, known for her roles as Penny Waters on Brothers and as Jo McGuire on Lizzie McGuire.
Early Life
Todd was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actress Ann Morgan Guilbert and writer/producer George Eckstein.
Career
She played a homeless character, "The Kid," on a Christmas episode of the sitcom, Growing Pains. She played Penny Waters, the daughter of fictional former football player Joe Waters on the Showtime comedy series Brothers, which is her longest lasting role. In 1990, a year after Brothers left the air, Todd moved into her next sitcom role as spunky writer and aspiring comedian Kate Griffin on Going Places. Later roles include Lal, Data's daughter, on the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Offspring;" Blanche's niece, Lucy, on the The Golden Girls episode "Nice and Easy;" the mother in the Disney Channel original movie The Ultimate Christmas Present; Hilda's and Zelda's cousin Marigold, Amanda's mother, on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; and Lizzie's mother, Jo McGuire, on Lizzie McGuire.
Todd subsequently appeared frequently on VH1, providing comedic commentary. She also starred in numerous Murder, She Wrote episodes. Todd starred in the feature film The Mooring, which she co-wrote with her husband and daughter. The film has being released on DVD, digital download and Video on Demand on February 19, 2013.
Todd is the co-founder of the film production company In House Media and the Hallie Todd Studios acting conservatory, the latter of which is devoted to training actors of all ages.
Personal Life
Todd is married to actor Glen Withrow, whom she wed in 1991. The couple have a daughter, Ivy, also an actress and producer.
Books
In between her acting roles, Todd wrote two books, Being Young Actors and Parenting The Young Actor.
Filmography
Film
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High- 1982
- Who Will Love My Children?- 1983
- Sam's Son- 1984
- The Check Is in the Mail- 1986
- The Ultimate Christmas Present- 2000
- The Lizzie McGuire Movie - 2003
- The Mooring- 2012
Television
- Family- 1980
- ABC Afterschool Special- 1983
- Brothers- 1984-1989
- Highway to Heaven- 1985
- The Golden Girls- 1986
- Growing Pains- 1986
- HeartBeat- 1988
- Star Trek: The Next Generation- 1990
- Going Places- 1990-1991
- Murder, She Wrote- 1989-1991
- Laurie Hill- 1992
- Brooklyn Bridge- 1992
- Murder One- 1996
- Diagnosis: Murder- 1996
- Life with Roger- 1996-1997
- Two of a Kind- 1998
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch- 1999
- Kim Possible- 2003
- Malcolm in the Middle- 2004
- Lizzie McGuire- 2001-2004
- Brandy & Mr. Whiskers- 2005