Template:Actor ;Daphne Lee Ashbrook is an American actress.
Biography
Early years
The daughter of actor/director Buddy Ashbrook and actress D'Ann Paton, Ashbrook was raised in the San Diego, California, area. Her siblings are actor Dana Ashbrook and actor/director Taylor Ashbrook. She made her acting debut at age 6.
Career
Ashbrook gained early acting experience on stage in the Los Angeles area. Productions in which she appeared included Burlesque ... The Way You Like It (1982), Come Blow Your Horn (1983), and The Coming of Stork (1984).
Ashbrook played Liz McKay in the ABC crime drama Our Family Honor (1985-1986), Kathy Davenport on the ABC crime drama Fortune Dane (1986) and Alex in the ABC comedy-drama Hooperman (1987-1989). In 1990, she appeared as Phyllis Gates (Rock Hudson's wife) in TV film Rock Hudson, starring Thomas Ian Griffith (as Hudson).
She has appeared in many television programs and films including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (as the titular character in "Melora") and the Doctor Who telemovie, in which she played Doctor Grace Holloway -- a portrayal that upset some fans because she was the first character to romantically kiss the Doctor, setting a precedent for the more sexually charged nature of the new Doctor Who series that began in 2005.
A 2004 trip to the United Kingdom was filmed for the 2005 documentary Daphne Ashbrook in the UK. This DVD documentary followed her work with Doctor Who, including her role as Perfection in the Big Finish Productions audio play The Next Life.
In 2006, Ashbrook played Charlotte Howell in the audio drama Dark Shadows: The Book of Temptation. She was featured in extensive interviews on the Doctor Whopodcasts Doctor Who: DWO Whocast, and Doctor Who: Podshock as well as in other podcasts including "The Happiness Patrol".
Her past TV and film work includes Cold Case, CSI, Crossing Jordan, JAG, Murder She Wrote, Judging Amy, Intruders, and Guardian. She had a recurring role on The O.C..
Her recent appearances include the film The Lodger (2009), NCIS, Ghost Whisperer, Without a Trace, and Fame. In 2012 she starred as Jackie in the Nickelodeon night time soap Hollywood Heights.
In 2010 she released her first music CD, Grace Notes on Dharmapala Records to very positive reviews. The songs range from Roots to Jazz and are mostly covers from some of her favorite singer/songwriters, such as Joni Mitchell and Patty Griffin. The CD was produced by composer/multi-instrumentalist David Vito Gregoli. She has performed music from the CD at various conventions and other events.
In 2012 Ashbrook released a memoir Dead Woman Laughing (An actor's take from both sides of the camera). It details her life as an actor and her experience growing up in an acting family.
Personal life
On September 6, 1988, Ashbrook and her then-partner, Lorenzo Lamas had a daughter named Paton Lee.