Marla Sokoloff

Marla Sokoloff
Sokoloff in a promotional photo
BornDecember 19 1980
San Francisco, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1993–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2009)​
Children3

Marla Sokoloff (born 1980)[1] is an American actress. She is known for playing Lucy Hatcher on the legal drama television series The Practice, and Gia Mahan on Full House and Fuller House. She has also appeared in films True Crime (1996), Dude, Where's My Car? (2000), Sugar & Spice (2001) and Love on the Side (2004).[2]

Early life

Sokoloff was born in San Francisco, to Cindi (née Sussman) and Howard Sokoloff, a former caterer and podiatrist. Her family is Jewish[3] and originates from Russia and Germany. She graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where she studied music and theatre.[2]

Career

In 1993, Sokoloff (then aged 12) began pursuing an acting career when she was cast as Gia Mahan in the popular ABC sitcom Full House. She was originally in-mind to play Topanga Lawrence on ABC's Boy Meets World, and had even filmed a few scenes; however, the part was subsequently given to Danielle Fishel. In 1995, she appeared in the film adaptation of The Babysitters Club as Marguerite “Cokie” Mason, the “bad-girl” and archenemy of the babysitters. In 1998, Sokoloff landed the role of receptionist Lucy Hatcher in the legal television drama series The Practice. Along with other popular appearances, she is well-remembered as Joey's pregnant sister, Dina, in season 8 of Friends. She also had a three-episode stint as nanny Claire in the comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives.[2]

In 2000, she played Maggie Carter in the teen romance film Whatever It Takes.

In November 2006, she starred in the ABC television series Big Day, which ended on January 30, 2007. She also made a guest appearance in an episode of Burn Notice, where she played Melanie, working undercover as a receptionist at a Miami art gallery whose owner had murdered her character's father.

Sokoloff also has starred in several movies, including Whatever It Takes, The Climb, The Tollbooth, Dude, Where's My Car?, Sugar & Spice and Love on the Side.

In 2008, Sokoloff starred alongside Paul Campbell, Andy Griffith, Doris Roberts and Liz Sheridan in the romantic comedy Play the Game. She also voices the Glatorian Kiina in Bionicle: The Legend Reborn. She played Imogene O'Neill in the mini series Meteor.

In 2012, she starred in the television film A Christmas Wedding Date.[4]

She reprised her role as Gia on Full House's sequel series Fuller House, making 11 appearances starting with the second season episode "Girl Talk".[5][6]

Personal life

Sokoloff dated actor James Franco for five years after they met on the set of Whatever It Takes in 1999.[7]

In 2004, she began dating Deadsy drummer Alec Puro. They married in 2009,[8] and have three daughters.[9][10][11][12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 So I Married an Axe Murderer Alcatraz Visitor
1995 Freaky Friday Rachel French TV movie
The Baby-Sitters Club Marguerite "Cokie" Mason
1996 True Crime Vicki Giordano Video
1997 The Date Stacey Short
1999 The Climb Leslie Himes
2000 Whatever It Takes Maggie Carter
Dude, Where's My Car? Wilma
2001 Sugar & Spice Lisa Janusch
Prairie Dogs Starlett Short
2003 A Date with Darkness: The Trial and Capture of Andrew Luster Connie TV movie
2004 Freshman Orientation Marjorie
Love on the Side Eve Stuckley
The Tollbooth Sarabeth Cohen
2005 The Drive Rachel Short
Crazylove Ruth Mayer
Christmas in Boston Gina TV movie
2009 Play the Game Julie Larabee
Bionicle: The Legend Reborn Kiina (voice) Video
The Flower Girl Laurel Haverford TV movie
2010 Gift of the Magi Della Young TV movie
2011 Scents and Sensibility Marianne Dashwood
The Chateau Meroux Wendy
2012 A Christmas Wedding Date Rebecca TV movie
2016 Do You Take This Man Zoe
Summer in the City Mindy TV movie
2017 A Happening of Monumental Proportions Mindy
2018 Preschool in L.A. Miss Allison Short
2019 The Road Home for Christmas Lindsey TV movie
2020 Home, But Not Alone Mom Short
2023 Sweet on You Kate's Mom TV movie

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Boy Meets World Paige Episode: "Cory's Alternative Friends"
The Second Half Courtney Episode: "It's My Party"
1993–95 Full House Gia Mahan Recurring Cast: Season 7-8
1994 Step by Step Marissa Episode: "Thirteen with a Bullet"
1995 Home Improvement Paige Episode: "Let Them Eat Cake"
1995–96 Party of Five Jody Lynch Recurring Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3
1996 3rd Rock from the Sun Dina Episode: "Post-Nasal Dick"
1997 Over the Top Gwen Martin Main Cast
1998 7th Heaven Jen Episode: "Nothing Endures But Change"
1998–04 The Practice Lucy Hatcher Main Cast: Season 3-7, Recurring Cast: Season 8
2001 Night Visions Julia Episode: "My So-Called Life and Death"
Strange Frequency Darcy King Episode: "More Than a Feeling"
Friends Dina Tribbiani Episode: "The One with Monica's Boots"
2004–05 Desperate Housewives Claire Recurring Cast: Season 1
2006 Modern Men Molly Clark Recurring Cast
2006–07 Big Day Alice Hopkins Main Cast
2009 Burn Notice Melanie Episode: "Seek and Destroy"
Meteor Imogene O'Neil Episode: "Part 1 & 2"
Maneater Jennifer Ellenback Episode: "Part 1 & 2"
Drop Dead Diva Mia Reynolds Episode: "Crazy"
2011 CSI: NY Abigail West Episode: "Party Down"
2013 Melissa & Joey Dr. Chelsea Mullins Episode: "Can't Hardly Wait"
2014 Mind Games Jane Episode: "Texts, Lies and Audiotapes"
The Fosters Dani Kirkland Recurring Cast: Season 1-2
2015 Grey's Anatomy Glenda Castillo Recurring Cast: Season 11
Hot in Cleveland Chloe Episode: "Kitchen Nightmare"
2016–20 Fuller House Gia Mahan-Harmon Guest: Season 2, Recurring Cast: Season 3-5
2018 Hollywood Darlings Marla Episode: "Y2K"

Music Videos

Year Artist Song Role
2001 Everclear "Brown Eyed Girl" Brown Eyed Girl
2013 Cindy Alexander "Wonderful" Girlfriend

References

  1. ^ [https://books.google.com/books?id=vaneBgAAQBAJ&dq=marla+sokoloff+1980&pg=PA384 Broken Dreams by Mel Chizedek]
  2. ^ a b c Carter, Brooke (2017-01-24). "What Happened to Marla Sokoloff - News & Updates". Gazette Review. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  3. ^ Nicole Roberge. "On Her Own: Marla Sokoloff". Davidsvoice.org. Archived from the original on 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  4. ^ "'A Christmas Wedding Date': This Weekend's Lifetime Movie Is A Romantic Holiday Comedy, Starring Marla Sokoloff". The Inquisitr. 2016-12-08. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  5. ^ Jamal, Zakiya (December 9, 2016). "Gia Joins 'Fuller House' Season 2, But What Has She Been Up To?". Romper. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Pomarico, Nicole (September 22, 2017). "Gia's 'Fuller House' Season 3 Appearance Comes With A Huge Surprise". Bustle. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  7. ^ Dinh, Mai; Janet Murphy. "James Franco Biography". People.
  8. ^ Elavsky, Cindy (October 23, 2009). "Marla Sokoloff Remembers Her "Full House" Days". Celebrity Extra. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
  9. ^ "Marla Sokoloff Welcomes Daughter Elliotte Anne". People.com. February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  10. ^ Leon, Anya; Michaud, Sarah (March 17, 2015). "Marla Sokoloff Welcomes Daughter Olive Mae". People. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  11. ^ Slater, Georgia (October 13, 2021). "Marla Sokoloff Expecting Third Daughter with Husband Alec Puro: 'Baby Girl Coming Early 2022'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  12. ^ Slater, Georgia (February 10, 2022). "Marla Sokoloff and Husband Alec Puro Welcome Third Baby, Daughter Harper Bea: 'We Are All Obsessed'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved February 10, 2022.