Marla Sokoloff | |
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![]() Sokoloff in a promotional photo | |
Born | December 19, 1980 (age 44) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1993–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 3 |
Marla Sokoloff (pronounced SOCK-oloff) (born December 19, 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]
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]
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]
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]
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 |
2024 | The Merry Gentlemen | Marie | Netflix |
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" |
Year | Artist | Song | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Everclear | "Brown Eyed Girl" | Brown Eyed Girl |
2013 | Cindy Alexander | "Wonderful" | Girlfriend |