Teri Hatcher

Hatcher studied acting at the American Conservatory Theater and worked as an NFL cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers in 1984. From 1985–86, she appeared on The Love Boat as Amy, a Mermaid showgirl. From 1986–89, she had a recurring role as Penny Parker on MacGyver.

In 1987, she co-starred in the Fox comedy Karen’s Song and guest-starred on Night Court. In 1988, she appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 1989, she guest-starred on Quantum Leap and L.A. Law and made her film debut in The Big Picture, followed by Tango & Cash.

In 1990, she appeared on Murphy Brown. In 1991, she co-starred in the series Sunday Dinner and appeared in the TV movie Dead in the Water and the film The Cool Surface.

In 1993, she guest-starred on Seinfeld. From 1993–97, she starred as Lois Lane in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, and also co-wrote a season-three episode. She hosted Saturday Night Live in 1996.

Film roles during this period included 2 Days in the Valley (1996), Heaven’s Prisoners (1996), and the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). She later appeared in Spy Kids (2001).

From 2004–12, she starred as Susan Mayer on ABC’s Desperate Housewives, winning a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. During this period, she released the book Burnt Toast: And Other Philosophies of Life (2006), contributed vocals to Unexpected Dreams – Songs From the Stars (2006), and voiced characters in the animated film Coraline (2009). In 2010, she guest-starred on Smallville.

She voiced Dottie in Planes (2013) and Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014). In 2016, she had a recurring role on The Odd Couple. In 2017, she appeared in a recurring role as Queen Rhea on Supergirl.

In 2018, she launched the YouTube series Hatching Change. In 2024, she portrayed Ruth Finley in the Lifetime film The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story.