Teri Polo — Biography
Theresa Elizabeth "Teri" Polo was born on June 1, 1969, in Dover, Delaware. She is an accomplished actress primarily recognized for her starring role as Pam Byrnes-Focker throughout the "Meet the Parents" film trilogy. Her television work includes notable appearances in series such as "The West Wing" and "The Fosters".
Polo's father worked as a stereo systems designer while her mother maintained the household. Beginning at age five, she trained extensively in ballet and continued this pursuit for thirteen years, studying at New York's prestigious School of American Ballet. Her life took a different direction when she entered and won a modeling competition, prompting her to relocate to New York City at seventeen to launch an acting career.
Her television debut occurred in the 1988 CBS drama series "TV 101". Subsequently, she performed in the miniseries adaptation of "The Phantom of the Opera", based on Arthur Kopit's book and unproduced stage musical, where she played Christine Daae. She later joined the cast of "Northern Exposure" during its final season and took on the role of Detective Ash in "Brimstone". During "The West Wing's" sixth and seventh seasons, Polo portrayed Helen Santos, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Matt Santos, played by Jimmy Smits, in the series centered on the fictional White House administration of President Josiah Bartlett, portrayed by Martin Sheen.
In 2005, Polo's career gained further momentum when she appeared as a featured performer and cover girl in Playboy's February issue. That same year, she was cast in "Meet the Fockers", the second installment of the trilogy reuniting her with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro from the original film. She subsequently appeared in magazines including Maxim and InStyle. Her filmography expanded to include television movies such as Lifetime's "Legacy of Fear" and Hallmark's "Love is a Four Letter World", along with horror films "2:13", "The Beacon" by Sabbatical Pictures, and later "The Hole", set in the 1980s. In 2009, she participated in the television pilot "Washington Field", following FBI specialists traveling globally, though the project remained unproduced. She returned to the big screen in 2010 for "Little Fockers", completing the trilogy.
Her subsequent television work landed her a principal role in "The Fosters" as Stef Adams Foster, a San Diego police officer. Guest appearances on popular series including "Numb3rs", "Chicago Hope", "Ghost Whisperer", "Law & Order: LA", and "Criminal Minds" further expanded her television presence.
In 1997, Polo married photographer Anthony
Polo's father worked as a stereo systems designer while her mother maintained the household. Beginning at age five, she trained extensively in ballet and continued this pursuit for thirteen years, studying at New York's prestigious School of American Ballet. Her life took a different direction when she entered and won a modeling competition, prompting her to relocate to New York City at seventeen to launch an acting career.
Her television debut occurred in the 1988 CBS drama series "TV 101". Subsequently, she performed in the miniseries adaptation of "The Phantom of the Opera", based on Arthur Kopit's book and unproduced stage musical, where she played Christine Daae. She later joined the cast of "Northern Exposure" during its final season and took on the role of Detective Ash in "Brimstone". During "The West Wing's" sixth and seventh seasons, Polo portrayed Helen Santos, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Matt Santos, played by Jimmy Smits, in the series centered on the fictional White House administration of President Josiah Bartlett, portrayed by Martin Sheen.
In 2005, Polo's career gained further momentum when she appeared as a featured performer and cover girl in Playboy's February issue. That same year, she was cast in "Meet the Fockers", the second installment of the trilogy reuniting her with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro from the original film. She subsequently appeared in magazines including Maxim and InStyle. Her filmography expanded to include television movies such as Lifetime's "Legacy of Fear" and Hallmark's "Love is a Four Letter World", along with horror films "2:13", "The Beacon" by Sabbatical Pictures, and later "The Hole", set in the 1980s. In 2009, she participated in the television pilot "Washington Field", following FBI specialists traveling globally, though the project remained unproduced. She returned to the big screen in 2010 for "Little Fockers", completing the trilogy.
Her subsequent television work landed her a principal role in "The Fosters" as Stef Adams Foster, a San Diego police officer. Guest appearances on popular series including "Numb3rs", "Chicago Hope", "Ghost Whisperer", "Law & Order: LA", and "Criminal Minds" further expanded her television presence.
In 1997, Polo married photographer Anthony
