1. Overview
Kristin Dattilo (born November 30, 1970) is an American television actress. She is widely recognized for her roles as Yola Gaylen on *The Chris Isaak Show* from 2001 to 2004 and as Detective Barbara Gianna in the third season of *Dexter*. This article outlines her early life, career highlights across film, television, and music videos, and provides a comprehensive filmography.
2. Early Life
Kristin Dattilo was born on November 30, 1970, in Kankakee, Illinois. She is the sister of fellow actor Bryan Dattilo.
3. Career
Kristin Dattilo's career spans various acting roles in film, television, and music videos, demonstrating her versatility in the entertainment industry.
In film, she is known for portraying the character Nikki Chandler in the 1990 horror film *Mirror, Mirror*. Her other film appearances include *The Legend of Grizzly Adams* (1990), *Pyrates* (1991), *The Final Judgement* (1992), *Power 98* (1996), *Two Guys Talkin' About Girls* (1996), *Infinity* (1996), *Just Write* (1997), *Some Girl* (1998), *Love and Support* (2001), *Coronado* (2003), *Intolerable Cruelty* (2003), *Audrey* (2014), *How to Get Rid of a Body and Still Be Friends* (2018), and *El Coyote* (2019).
On television, Dattilo has appeared in numerous series. In 1999, she played Ross Geller's love interest, Caitlin, in the *Friends* episode "The One Where Ross Can't Flirt". Her extensive television credits include *TV 101* (1988-1989), *21 Jump Street* (1990), *ABC Afterschool Special* (1990), *Hull High* (1990), *Beverly Hills, 90210* (1991), *Parker Lewis Can't Lose* (1991), *Davis Rules* (1992), *Cruel Doubt* (1992), *Camp Wilder* (1993), *Joe's Life* (1993), *Marker* (1995), *The Office* (1995), *Local Heroes* (1996), *Relativity* (1997), *Hitz* (1997), *Rude Awakening* (1998), *Ally McBeal* (1998), *Angel* (1999), *JAG* (1999), *It's Like, You Know...* (1999), *Grapevine* (2000), *The Drew Carey Show* (2002), *Complete Savages* (2005), *Courting Alex* (2006), *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2008), *Southland* (2009), *Aubrey* (2012), and *Stuck in the Middle* (2018). She also appeared in several made-for-television films such as *Child of Darkness, Child of Light* (1991), *If Someone Had Known* (1995), *To Love and Die* (2008), and *The Amazing Mrs. Novak* (2009). Her notable television roles include Yola Gaylen on *The Chris Isaak Show*, appearing in 47 episodes from 2001 to 2004, and Detective Barbara Gianna on *Dexter*, where she appeared in 9 episodes.
Beyond film and television, Dattilo also featured as the titular character in the music video for Aerosmith's 1989 song "Janie's Got a Gun".
4. Filmography
This section provides a comprehensive list of Kristin Dattilo's acting credits in both film and television.
4.1. Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Mirror, Mirror | Nikki Chandler | |
| 1990 | The Legend of Grizzly Adams | Kimberly | |
| 1991 | Pyrates | Pia | |
| 1992 | The Final Judgement | Paula | |
| 1996 | Power 98 | Betsy | |
| 1996 | Two Guys Talkin' About Girls | Angel | Direct-to-video |
| 1996 | Infinity | Joan Feynman | |
| 1997 | Just Write | Tourist #2 | |
| 1998 | Some Girl | Suzanne | |
| 2001 | Love and Support | Elaine | |
| 2003 | Coronado | Claire Winslow | |
| 2003 | Intolerable Cruelty | Rex's Young Woman | |
| 2014 | Audrey | Joanne | |
| 2018 | How to Get Rid of a Body and Still Be Friends | Maddie Harmon | |
| 2019 | El Coyote | Sophie Spencer |
4.2. Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-1989 | TV 101 | Allison / Venus | 3 episodes |
| 1990 | 21 Jump Street | Allison | Episode: "Blackout" |
| 1990 | ABC Afterschool Special | Allison Street | Episode: "A Question About Sex" |
| 1990 | Hull High | D.J. Sarkin | 9 episodes |
| 1991 | Beverly Hills, 90120 | Melissa Coolidge | Episode: "One Man and a Baby" |
| 1991 | Child of Darkness, Child of Light | Kathleen Beavier | Television film |
| 1991 | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | Rita | Episode: "Full Mental Jacket" |
| 1992 | Davis Rules | Laura | Episode: "The Moment of Youth" |
| 1992 | Cruel Doubt | Student | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Camp Wilder | Gina | Episode: "Bringing Up Brody" |
| 1993 | Joe's Life | Kelly | Episode: "Yule Be Sorry" |
| 1995 | If Someone Had Known | Sharon Liner | Television film |
| 1995 | Marker | Elizabeth Cole | Episode: "Discover" |
| 1995 | The Office | Deborah Beaumont | 6 episodes |
| 1996 | Local Heroes | Bonnie | 7 episodes |
| 1996-1998 | Tracey Takes On... | Marmalade Granger / Mom | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Relativity | Suzanne | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Hitz | Angela | 10 episodes |
| 1998 | Rude Awakening | Yvonne | Episode: "Vagina" |
| 1998 | Ally McBeal | Laura Payne | Episode: "Story of Love" |
| 1999 | Friends | Caitlin | Episode: "The One Where Ross Can't Flirt" |
| 1999 | Angel | Harriett 'Harry' Doyle | Episode: "The Bachelor Party" |
| 1999 | JAG | Laurie Westin | Episode: "Contemptuous Words" |
| 1999 | It's Like, You Know... | Nanny / Cynthia | Episode: "The Apartment" |
| 2000 | Grapevine | Diana | Episode: "Matt" |
| 2001-2004 | The Chris Isaak Show | Yola Gaylen | 47 episodes |
| 2002 | The Drew Carey Show | Amy | Episode: "Mama Told Me I Should Come" |
| 2003 | Two and a Half Men | Cindy | Episode: "If They Do Go Either Way, They're Usually Fake" |
| 2004 | Grounded for Life | Hope | 4 episodes |
| 2005 | Complete Savages | Mrs. Milfner | Episode: "Teen Things I Hate About You" |
| 2005 | Veronica Mars | Carla Cotter | Episode: "Driver Ed" |
| 2006 | Courting Alex | Valerie | Episode: "Alex Looks Out for Steven" |
| 2008 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Paula Bonfilio | Episode: "The Happy Place" |
| 2008 | Dexter | Det. Barbara Gianna | 9 episodes |
| 2008 | To Love and Die | Nancy | Television film |
| 2009 | Southland | Karen Campbell | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | The Amazing Mrs. Novak | Goldie | Television film |
| 2012 | Aubrey | Monica | Episode: "A Tart Finish" |
| 2018 | Stuck in the Middle | Sales Lady | Episode: "Stuck in Harley's Quinceañera" |