Jeanine Anderson

Jeanine Anderson was born in Detroit Michigan to Robert Anderson and Jane O'Donnell Anderson. Robert was an engineer with the Ford Motor Co. And Jane was a piano teacher. Heading to Los Angeles after graduating college and not knowing anyone there except her then boyfriend, she enrolled in a summer theatre course at UCLA in order to make some friends and pursue her love of acting. She was soon cast in the Lanford Wilson play The Rimers of Eldritch where she played the pivotal role of Eva Jackson directed by guest director Edward Binns. At the closing night cast party at Mr. Binn's home Jeanine asked Mr. Binns if he had any advice for her in pursuing a career in Hollywood. He advised her to move back to the Midwest and have a happy life. She didn't follow that suggestion. Soon after Jeanine heard about The Melrose Theatre, an acting company headed by actor and teacher Paul Kent. She auditioned and was accepted as a member and there she performed in many plays. From being seen in these plays she got her first agent and several jobs on TV which enabled her to join the Screen Actors Guild. While waiting for her big break in show business Jeanine got a job at The Magic Castle a world famous private club for magicians and magic lovers. She worked at the front desk. She worked there for 24 years waiting for that big break! While there she made many friends with top magicians and began to learn from them and perform for children and families. She continues to work as a children's magician. During this time she also began writing plays. She wrote a two person play with her fellow receptionist and friend Kate Ward called The Mystic Palace which parodied their experiences working at The Magic Castle. The play was directed by Don Most of Happy Days fame and played in a small theatre above Jerry's Deli on Ventura Blvd. The play was such a success that Jeanine wrote a sequel Murder at the Mystic Palace. This play had 11 characters and was directed by Marcia Rodd. In 2000 Jeanine joined the longest running theatre company in Los Angeles, Theatre West. There she met and worked with such wonderful actors as Betty Garrett, Marvin Kaplan, Malachi Throne, Lee Meriwether and many more. She continues to perform in plays there and also participate in the Writer's workshop. She served many years on the Theatre West board of directors. In 2018 Jeanine had the idea for a web series which she pitched to the board of the Kaplan/Loring Foundation which handles Marvin Kaplan's estate. The board loved the idea and granted her the funds to film the first season, a six episode series called Kaplan's Korner (streaming on YouTube). In January of 2019 the series won Best Comedy and Best Director (Jaymes Camary) in the Festigious International Film Featival. Jeanine continues to work in theatre film and television. She is probably best known for her recurring role as "waitress" on Glee. She is represented by her one-time writing partner and long-time friend Kate Ward who is now an agent.