Michele Greene is an American singer, actress, and author. She is best known for her role as Abby Perkins on the Emmy award-winning series L.A. Law which she played from 1986 to 1991. She would later reprise her role in the television reunion film L.A. Law: The Movie in 2002.
In addition to starring in numerous other television series and films, Greene has also published two young adult novels, released two feature-length albums, and is featured on two compilation albums.
Background info
Michele Dominguez Greene was born on February 3rd, 1962, in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Roland and Dorita Green. Roland was an Irish-American casino owner, and Dorita was an accomplished singer and dancer. Sadly, her father passed away when she was just a toddler. After his passing, her mom moved her to be closer to her relatives in Los Angeles, California.
Greene spent her childhood in Los Angeles, California, where she attended Fairfax High School.
During her time in high school, Greene would take a drama class, hoping to overcome her shyness. She fell in love with acting and began to follow in the footsteps of her mother to pursue the arts.
After high school graduation, Greene enrolled at the University of Southern California. She auditioned for their Bachelor of Fine Arts program and was accepted, formally beginning her training as an actress.
Career
While attending the University of Southern California, Greene began her television and film career working in uncredited roles. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts.
Once she completed her studies, Greene would settle into a role in the television series Bay City Blues (1983) created by Steven Bochco.
LA Law
While the series was short-lived and canceled shortly after debuting, Greene left quite an impression. In 1986 Bochco offered her the role of Abby Perkins in the television series L.A. Law.
L.A. Law would launch Greene into stardom and get her nominated for an Emmy in the Best Supporting Actress category at the 1989 Emmy Awards Show. The show would also be nominated for and win multiple Emmys.
Even with the show’s success, Greene decided to leave L.A. Law in 1991 to pursue her musical career and expand on acting possibilities.
She has played guest appearances and recurring roles in many popular television series. The series include Bones, CSI, CSI: Miami, Cold Case, Crossing Jordan, Diagnosis: Murder, JAG, Judging Amy, Nip/Tuck, The Outer Limits, Six Feet Under, Stargate SG-1, The Unit, and Big Love.
Music and Books
Greene has recorded two bilingual CDs called Ojo de Tiburon and Luna Roja. In addition to her musical endeavors, she has also penned two novels.
The young adult novels are titled Chasing the Jaguar: A Martika Gálvez Mystery and Keep Sweet.
Chasing the Jaguar pulls from her own roots growing up in a multiethnic neighborhood. In the novel, the main character learns she has inherited the powers of her Mayan shaman ancestors. As she learns about her new powers, she must put them to use when someone close to her gets kidnapped.
Keep Sweet looks at the intensity of living in a compound of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints in Utah.
Both books were well received, and many consider the risk of publishing these stories worth it. Greene has also written numerous screenplays and essays.
In 2009, she played the role of a fictional Governor of California on the television series Brothers and Sisters.
What is Michele Greene doing now?
In 2011, Greene began acting again. She appeared in an episode of CSI: Miami and The Defenders.
She also played the role of Andrea in the 2021 series Viral Vignettes, which is a comedy 12-episode series showcasing the lives of 21 different characters all stuck at home during the Covid pandemic.
In addition to these few television roles, Greene also stars in an upcoming short film titled The Kill Floor, which released in 2023.
In 2020, she reunited with her L.A. Law cast mates for a virtual reunion. The reunion featured Susan Dey, Jimmy Smits, Corbin Bernsen, Harry Hamlin, Blair Underwood and more.
Greene isn’t letting her expertise go to waste and is currently the artistic director and founder of the Adelante Arts Collective, helping inspire the next generation of great actors.
Michele Greene likes to keep her personal life out of the public eye. Greene was married to Brahms Yaiche in 1997 and divorced a year later.
Currently, she is not publicly dating. She has an adopted son from Guatemala and shares some of her and his story on her Instagram page.