Michelle Meyrink | Today's AI Wiki

1. Early Life and Background

Michelle Meyrink's life began in Canada, where she developed an early interest in acting, which would later lead to her career in film and television.

1.1. Birth and Upbringing

Meyrink was born on September 1, 1962, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Her childhood was spent in Vancouver before she embarked on her acting journey.

1.2. Start of Acting Career

Meyrink began her acting career at an early age, demonstrating an early aptitude for performance that would lead her to various roles in the entertainment industry during the 1980s.

2. Acting Career

Michelle Meyrink's acting career was prominent throughout the 1980s, during which she appeared in a variety of films and television shows, often cast as quirky or unconventional young women.

Meyrink made several significant appearances in feature films during the 1980s, primarily in the comedy film genre. In 1983, she appeared in Valley Girl as Suzi Brent and also in The Outsiders as Marcia, the best friend of Cherry Valance. She is widely remembered for her role as Judy, a female nerd, in the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds. That same year, she also appeared in National Lampoon's Joy of Sex as Leslie Hindenberg, a film known in Japan as ダイナマイト・ヴァージン／キッス一発火事の元_{Dynamite Virgin/Kiss Ippatsu Kaji no Moto}^Japanese. In 1985, she starred as the hyperactive whiz-kid Jordan Cochran in Martha Coolidge's film Real Genius, a role also recognized in Korea as 21세기 두뇌 게임_{21segi Dunoegame}^Korean and in Japan as 天才アカデミー_{Tenkai Academy}^Japanese. She also featured in the 1985 film One Magic Christmas as Betty. Her final Hollywood role was in the 1988 film Permanent Record, where she played M.G.

2.2. Television Appearances

In addition to her film work, Meyrink made several guest appearances on television programs. In 1984, she guest-starred on the popular television show Family Ties as Jane, a friend of Mallory and the latest infatuation of their neighbor, Skippy. She also appeared in the 1987 television movie Tonight's the Night as Steffi and in Nice Girls Don't Explode as April Flowers.

3. Retirement from Acting and Transition Period

After a successful period in Hollywood, Michelle Meyrink made the decision to step away from her acting career, seeking a different path in life that would lead her to new personal and spiritual explorations.

3.1. Reasons for Quitting Acting

Meyrink made the decision to retire from acting in 1989. She stated that she desired more from life than the acting profession was offering her at the time, indicating a personal quest for deeper fulfillment beyond the demands of a Hollywood career.

3.2. New Interests and Activities

During her transition away from acting, Meyrink developed a strong interest in the practice of Zen Buddhism. This spiritual exploration became a significant part of her life. For a period, she relocated to the Dominican Republic to be closer to family members residing there.

4. Personal Life

Following her spiritual journey and a period of relocation, Michelle Meyrink returned to her roots in Vancouver, where she built a family and continued her engagement with Zen Buddhism.

4.1. Marriage and Family

After returning to her hometown of Vancouver, Michelle Meyrink met John Dumbrille at the Zen Centre of Vancouver in 1996. The couple subsequently married and began raising a family, eventually having three children.

4.2. Current Residence and Family Practice

Michelle Meyrink and John Dumbrille currently reside in Vancouver. Their family's commitment to Zen Buddhism was highlighted in a 2004 episode of the Canadian television series Quiet Mind, which focused on their embrace and practice of the spiritual discipline.

5. Business Ventures

After establishing her family life, Michelle Meyrink channeled her experience and passion for acting into a new professional endeavor by founding her own school.

5.1. Founding of Actorium

In 2013, Meyrink established her own acting school in Vancouver, named Actorium. The school's curriculum and approach are partly modeled after the Loft Studio, an acting workshop she attended alongside other Hollywood actors during her time working in Los Angeles.

6. Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1983	The Outsiders	Marcia
1983	Valley Girl	Suzi Brent
1984	Revenge of the Nerds	Judy
1984	National Lampoon's Joy of Sex	Leslie Hindenberg
1984	Family Ties	Jane	Episode: "Don't Kiss Me, I'm Only the Messenger"
1985	Real Genius	Jordan Cochran
1985	One Magic Christmas	Betty
1987	Tonight's the Night	Steffi	TV movie
1987	Nice Girls Don't Explode	April Flowers
1988	Permanent Record	M.G.	(final film role)