Marla Sokoloff

Last updated
Marla Sokoloff
Marla Sokoloff (cropped).jpg
Sokoloff in a promotional photo
Born1980
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 Gia Mahan on Full House and Fuller House , Cokie Mason in The Babysitters Club movie, and Lucy Hatcher on the legal drama series The Practice . She also appeared as Joey's sister Dina on Friends and as the nanny Claire on Desperate Housewives . She has starred in the films True Crime (1996), The Climb (1999), Whatever It Takes (2000), Dude, Where's My Car? (2000), Sugar & Spice (2001), The Tollbooth (2004), Love on the Side (2006), Play the Game (2009), and The Merry Gentlemen (2024). [2]

Contents

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 on the legal television drama series The Practice . Along with other popular appearances, she is well-remembered as Joey's pregnant sister, Dina, on season 8 of Friends . She also had a three-episode stint as nanny Claire on 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

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993 So I Married an Axe Murderer Alcatraz Visitor
1995 Freaky Friday Rachel FrenchTV movie
The Baby-Sitters Club Marguerite "Cokie" Mason
1996 True Crime Vicki GiordanoVideo
1997The DateStaceyShort
1999 The Climb Leslie Himes
2000 Whatever It Takes Maggie Carter
Dude, Where's My Car? Wilma
2001 Sugar & Spice Lisa Janusch
Prairie DogsStarlettShort
2003 A Date with Darkness: The Trial and Capture of Andrew Luster ConnieTV movie
2004Freshman OrientationMarjorie
Love on the Side Eve Stuckley
The Tollbooth Sarabeth Cohen
2005The DriveRachelShort
CrazyloveRuth Mayer
Christmas in BostonGinaTV movie
2009 Play the Game Julie Larabee
Bionicle: The Legend Reborn Kiina (voice)Video
The Flower GirlLaurel HaverfordTV movie
2010Gift of the MagiDella YoungTV movie
2011Scents and SensibilityMarianne Dashwood
The Chateau MerouxWendy
2012A Christmas Wedding DateRebeccaTV movie
2016 Do You Take This Man Zoe
Summer in the CityMindyTV movie
2017A Happening of Monumental ProportionsMindy
2018Preschool in L.A.Miss AllisonShort
2019The Road Home for ChristmasLindseyTV movie
2020Home, But Not AloneMomShort
2023Sweet on YouKate's MomTV movie
2024 The Merry Gentlemen MarieNetflix

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993 Boy Meets World PaigeEpisode: "Cory's Alternative Friends"
The Second Half CourtneyEpisode: "It's My Party"
1993–95 Full House Gia MahanRecurring Cast: Season 7-8
1994 Step by Step MarissaEpisode: "Thirteen with a Bullet"
1995 Home Improvement PaigeEpisode: "Let Them Eat Cake"
1995–96 Party of Five Jody LynchRecurring Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3
1996 3rd Rock from the Sun DinaEpisode: "Post-Nasal Dick"
1997 Over the Top Gwen MartinMain Cast
1998 7th Heaven JenEpisode: "Nothing Endures But Change"
1998–04 The Practice Lucy HatcherMain Cast: Season 3-7, Recurring Cast: Season 8
2001 Night Visions JuliaEpisode: "My So-Called Life and Death"
Strange FrequencyDarcy KingEpisode: "More Than a Feeling"
Friends Dina TribbianiEpisode: "The One with Monica's Boots"
2004–05 Desperate Housewives ClaireRecurring Cast: Season 1
2006 Modern Men Molly ClarkRecurring Cast
2006–07 Big Day Alice HopkinsMain Cast
2009 Burn Notice MelanieEpisode: "Seek and Destroy"
Meteor Imogene O'NeilEpisode: "Part 1 & 2"
Maneater Jennifer EllenbackEpisode: "Part 1 & 2"
Drop Dead Diva Mia ReynoldsEpisode: "Crazy"
2011 CSI: NY Abigail WestEpisode: "Party Down"
2013 Melissa & Joey Dr. Chelsea MullinsEpisode: "Can't Hardly Wait"
2014 Mind Games JaneEpisode: "Texts, Lies and Audiotapes"
The Fosters Dani KirklandRecurring Cast: Season 1-2
2015 Grey's Anatomy Glenda CastilloRecurring Cast: Season 11
Hot in Cleveland ChloeEpisode: "Kitchen Nightmare"
2016–20 Fuller House Gia Mahan-HarmonGuest: Season 2, Recurring Cast: Season 3-5
2018 Hollywood Darlings MarlaEpisode: "Y2K"

Music Videos

YearArtistSongRole
2001 Everclear "Brown Eyed Girl"Brown Eyed Girl
2013 Cindy Alexander "Wonderful"Girlfriend

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References

  1. ↑ [https://books.google.com/books?id=vaneBgAAQBAJ&dq=marla+sokoloff+1980&pg=PA384 Broken Dreams by Mel Chizedek]
  2. 1 2 3 Carter, Brooke (2017-01-24). "What Happened to Marla Sokoloff - News & Updates". Gazette Review. Archived from the original on 2019-07-03. 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. Archived from the original on 2023-05-20. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  5. ↑ Jamal, Zakiya (December 9, 2016). "Gia Joins 'Fuller House' Season 2, But What Has She Been Up To?". Romper. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. 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. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Marla Sokoloff Welcomes Daughter Elliotte Anne". People.com. February 8, 2012. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  10. ↑ Leon, Anya; Michaud, Sarah (March 17, 2015). "Marla Sokoloff Welcomes Daughter Olive Mae". People. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. 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. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. 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. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
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