Actress Melora Hardin has recounted a past on-set incident involving an animal co-star during her early career in the 1990s.
Hardin, 58, who later gained prominence for her role on The Office, appeared as a guest actor on the ABC legal drama Equal Justice, which aired between 1990 and 1991 and starred Sarah Jessica Parker, now 60. Parker portrayed the character Jo Ann Harris, while Hardin appeared in the second season as a character named Doris.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hardin stated that during the filming of one episode, a monkey was featured on set and bit her during production. She clarified that while the bite did not cause bleeding, it did break the skin. According to Hardin, the animal was of the same type as the monkey she later worked with on the television series Friends, where a similar incident occurred involving the show’s monkey character, Marcel.
Hardin explained that the animal appeared highly excitable and anxious, noting that during filming it abruptly bit her while moving erratically around the set. She further remarked that, although such an incident could potentially lead to legal action if it occurred today, no such steps were taken at the time. Instead, she stated that the injury was treated with a bandage and filming resumed.
Reflecting on the experience, Hardin emphasized that she harbors no ill will, describing the incident as minor and expressing her general comfort around animals.
Hardin’s early career credits also include roles in the CBS series Dirty Dancing, the Clint Eastwood film Absolute Power, and later, The Office. More recent projects include The Bold Type, Clock, and Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie.
Separately, on New Year’s Day, Hardin shared social media posts featuring moments from her New Year’s Eve celebration with her husband, actor Gildart Jackson, whom she married in 1997. The couple share two daughters, Rory, 24, and Piper, 21.#newsafro_
