Claudia Wellsis an American actress and businesswoman, best known for her role asJennifer Parkerin the 1985 filmBack to the Future.
Claudia Wells | |
|---|---|
 Wells in 2022 | |
| Born | |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, businesswoman |
| Years active | 1974–1986; 1996–present |
| Known for | Jennifer ParkerinBack to the Future |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www.claudiawells.com www.armaniwells.com |
Early life
editWells was born on July 5, 1966 inKuala Lumpur,Malaysia.[1][2]Her family moved to theSan Francisco Bayarea when she was seven weeks old.[2]She went toMarin Country Day Schooland French-American Bilingual School. As of 2014, some of her family lived in that area,[3]Wells moved toLos Angelesat the age of 14, later graduating fromBeverly Hills High School.She has a brother.[4]
Career
editWells appeared in ten operas between ages eight and twelve. She began acting in TV shows in the late 1970s.
Wells playedJennifer Parker,Marty McFly's girlfriend, in the 1985 filmBack to the Future.She almost did not end up in the first film of the successfulfranchise.According to Wells, she had been cast, but a pilot she had done forABChad been picked up, and she was contractually forced to drop out ofBack to the Future.During that time,Eric Stoltzhad been shooting for five weeks in the role of Marty McFly. The producers halted filming and replaced Stoltz withMichael J. Fox.By then, Wells's pilot had been finished and she was recast as Jennifer, now shooting alongside Fox, having never filmed a frame with Stoltz.[5]
That same year (1985), Wells co-starred inStop the Madness,an anti-drug music video sponsored by theReagan administration,featuring several famous musicians, actors and athletes. The following year, she appeared in the TV movieBabies Having Babies,and the short-lived seriesFast Times,a TV adaptation of the 1982 filmFast Times at Ridgemont High(Wells played Linda Barrett, portrayed byPhoebe Catesin the film). FollowingFast Times,she did not appear again on-screen until the 1996 independent film,Still Waters Burn(released on DVD February 12, 2008).
Leaving acting
editAfter her mother was diagnosed withbreast cancer,Wells put her career on hold for family reasons, and told the studio she would be unavailable toreprise herBack to the Futurerolefor the two sequels.[6]ActressElisabeth Shuereplaced her.[7]Her mother ultimately died in October 1994.[8]
On December 19, 1991, Wells founded aStudio City, Los Angeles-based clothing store, Armani Wells, which she still owns and manages as of 2024.[9][10]
Return to acting
editAfter a lengthy absence, Wells returned to acting in 2011 with a small role in the independent science-fiction film,Alien Armageddon.[11]
The same year, Wells reprised her role fromBack to the Future,26 years after her last appearance in the series, provided the voice of Jennifer Parker forBack to the Future: The Game.[12]Wells announced that her next project would be a horror film titledRoom & Board.[13]
Personal life
editWhen she was 15, she became a born-again Christian[14]and her faith helped her get through her mother's cancer diagnosis and death.[8]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Back to the Future | Jennifer Parker | |
| 2008 | Still Waters Burn | Laura Harper | |
| 2011 | Alien Armageddon | Eileen Daly | |
| 2013 | You Are Not Alone | Cristina's Mom | Short film |
| 2013 | Max | Mom | Short film |
| 2014 | Starship: Rising | Captain Savage | |
| 2015 | EP/Executive Protection | Pam Travis | |
| 2015 | Back in Time | Herself | Back to the Futuredocumentary[17] |
| 2015 | Back to the 2015 Future | Jennifer Parker | Short film |
| 2018 | Groove Street | Julie | |
| 2018 | System Failure | Mrs Henderson | Short film |
| 2019 | Vitals | Margaret Parks |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Family | Denise / Barbara Collins | 2 episodes |
| 1981 | Rise and Shine | Patsy D'Allisandro | 1 episode |
| 1981 | Strike Force | Patty | Episode: "Magic Man" |
| 1982 | Herbie, the Love Bug | Julie MacLane | 5 episodes |
| 1982 | Lovers and Other Strangers | Mary Claire Delvecchio | Television film |
| 1984 | Fame | Marya | Episode: "Appearances" |
| 1984 | Anatomy of an Illness | Sarakit | Television film |
| 1984–1985 | Off the Rack | Shannon Halloran | 7 episodes |
| 1984–1986 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Lisa / Wendy | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Trapper John, M.D. | Candy | Episode: "Long Ago and Far Away" |
| 1985 | Simon & Simon | Phoebe Glass | Episode: "Slither" |
| 1985 | Able to Do | ||
| 1986 | Fast Times | Linda Barrett | 7 episodes |
| 1986 | Brothers | Sarah | Episode: "Joe Leaves This Old World Behind" |
| 2011 | The Mentalist | Chief Marnie Green | Episode: "Where in the World is Carmine O'Brien?" |
| 2014 | Zero Impact Home | Future Petal | Short series |
| 2015 | The Comeback Kids | Herself | Episode: "Re-United and It Feels So Good" |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Back to the Future: The Game | Jennifer Parker | Episode 3: "Citizen Brown" Episode 4: "Double Visions" |
References
edit- ^"Claudia Wells on Facebook:" So grateful for all of the love you've all shown me! ❤️❤️❤️ "".Facebook.RetrievedAugust 25,2024.
- ^ab"Claudia Wells, The Original 'Jennifer' From 'Back To The Future' Appears At Wondercon 2014 - CBS San Francisco".CBS News.April 22, 2014.RetrievedAugust 25,2024.
- ^"Claudia Wells, the Original 'Jennifer' from 'Back to the Future' Appears at Wondercon 2014".April 22, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on April 29, 2014.
- ^"Videos".November 8, 2019.
- ^"What Marty McFly's Girlfriend Is Up To In The Future".Yahoo!.May 2, 2012.RetrievedMay 2,2012.
- ^"Back to the Future's Claudia Wells: Shining Brighter Than Ever Before".The Huffington Post.July 7, 2015.RetrievedJuly 2,2017.
- ^Huver, Scott (July 3, 2015)."Claudia Wells on Back to the Future".Peoplemag.RetrievedAugust 25,2024.
- ^abNolasco, Stephanie (August 4, 2021)."'Back to the Future' star Claudia Wells on how faith helped her cope with tragedy: It's 'the reason I'm alive'".Fox News.RetrievedAugust 25,2024.
- ^"Actress Claudia Wells talks about her high-end men's resale shop, Armani Wells".ktla.com.
- ^"Welcome to Armani Wells".www.armaniwells.com.
- ^Clint, Caffeinated."Claudia Wells in Alien Armageddon".Moviehole. Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 23,2012.
- ^"Back To The Future Episode 1: It's About Time Video Game, Exclusive Behind The Scenes Part IV: How We Got Jennifer HD".GameTrailers.com.RetrievedMarch 24,2011.
- ^Wells, Claudia."Announcing My Next Project..."Twitter.RetrievedFebruary 23,2012.
- ^"How 'Back to the Future' actress Claudia Wells became a Christian".OpentheWord.org.October 19, 2016.RetrievedMay 8,2021.
- ^"Claudia Wells to Join 25th Anniversary 'Back to the Future' Reunion | Jan. 22, 2010".University of North Alabama.January 22, 2010.RetrievedAugust 25,2024.
- ^Nolasco, Stephanie (August 4, 2021)."'Back to the Future' star Claudia Wells reveals her favorite theory about Jennifer Parker: 'It's wild'".Fox News.RetrievedAugust 25,2024.
- ^"Back in Time Film".backintimefilm.com.RetrievedMarch 19,2015.
External links
edit- Official website
- Claudia WellsatIMDb
- Armani Wells,a clothing store founded and run by Wells.
- Back to the Futurewebsite