Bio

JOSIE BISSETT is recognized internationally for her role as the popular ‘Jane Mancini’ on FOX-TV’s “Melrose Place,” which ended its successful seven-year run in May of 1999. To date, she has graced over 40 magazine covers, including such publications as TV Guide, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Shape’s Fit Pregnancy and New Woman.

She can currently be seen on ABC Family Channel’s one-hour breakout teen-pregnancy hit drama series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” created and executive produced by Brenda Hampton (“7th Heaven”). Josie plays the role of ‘Kathleen Bowman’, mother to good girl ‘Grace’ (Megan Park). Twelve new episodes will begin airing on January 5, 2009.

She starred in the Lifetime Television original film “The Other Woman,” based on the best-selling novel by Joy Fielding and directed by Jason Priestley. The film aired on June 21, 2008.

When Josie isn’t acting, she keeps herself busy with many other projects.  Josie is the author of two children’s books “Tickle Monster” and “Boogie Monster.” Both books encourage families to spend quality time together, by creating interactive and fun stories that get you dancing and laughing in no time. “Tickle Monster” gives parents adorable gloves to tickle their children, while “Boogie Monster” provides cute leg warmers for children to dance in. These beautifully illustrated books are bound to bring joy to your family and home. You can find both books at major book stores, and on amazon.com.

“Tickle Monster” and “Boogie Monster” have both been named among the best in family friendly products from the Mom’s Choice Awards (MCA) in 2009 and 2011, respectively. The MCA is an annual awards program that recognizes authors, inventors, companies and parents for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media, products and services. In addition, MCA named Josie the 2008 “Celebrity Mom of the Year,” and featured Josie and her children on the cover of MCA’s Entro magazine. Josie’s ability to offer parenting advice and bring laughter in the lives of families, along with her mission to live life as a whole team and balanced person, made her the perfect choice for the Mom’s Choice Team. “Boogie Monster” recently received the coveted Moonbeam Award for exemplary children’s books.

Josie’s first book, “Little Bits Of Wisdom,” was inspired by the birth of her first child in 2001 and is now in its third printing. It is a heart-warming collection of parenting wisdom and child-rearing “tricks of the trade” gathered from more than 1,000 parents and grandparents throughout the world. Two years later, she completed a second book, “Making Memories,” which featured over 200 ways for parents to create rich family memories with their children that last a lifetime. Tens of thousands of parents have already embraced this magical book, the premise of which is so simple and powerful: The moments with our children pass so quickly, but the memories we create today will last forever.

The Seattle native began her career in front of the camera at the age of 12 as a model in print advertisements and television commercials. At 16, she left home and moved to Japan to further her career and at 17 headed to Hollywood to make her mark.

Josie soon landed the role of ‘Cara’ on “The Hogan Family,” where she spent two seasons. Within two years of her arrival in Los Angeles, Josie was cast on “Melrose Place” and quickly became one of television’s most recognizable actors. In recent years, she has had the opportunity to explore many diverse and interesting characters in such projects as the ABC movies “The Fire Above” and “Dare to Love,” the FOX telefilm “Deadly Vows” and the USA cable film “Baby Monitor: Sound of Fear.” She most recently starred in the ABC Family Channel original telefilm “I Do, They Don’t,” a romantic comedy about two widowed parents whose spontaneous marriage thrusts them into the position of having to blend two families into one. She has also made numerous guest-starring appearances, most recently on NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

On the big screen, she made her feature film debut in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors,” in which she played the wife of Doors’ guitarist Robbie Krieger. Her subsequent films include the coming-of-age comedy “Book of Love” and the psychological thriller “Mikey.”

Josie has hosted numerous shows including “Parenting & Beyond.” The show offered parents creative solutions to everyday problems, so that they can have more quality time to enjoy their family and watch their children growing up.

She also hosted the PBS educational special, “Teach More, Love More,” which follows four families, each with a child in one of the four critical stages of early childhood development — newborn, infancy, toddlerhood and preschool. As host, Josie guided viewers through the program which explores the joys, fears and a myriad of questions that accompany the beginning of life. “Teach More, Love More” included interviews with nationally renowned experts such as Dr. T. Berry Brazelton.

Josie has been the face of several national commercial campaigns, including Neutrogena’s skin care line and Dr. Scholl’s Pedicure Essentials, an entire line of 14 different products designed to pamper the feet. She is currently a spokesperson for Murad Skin Care’s Resurgence® Regimen, which is the first comprehensive line of products formulated exclusively to help revitalize and rebuild hormonally aging skin.

Josie’s experience as an actress, author, and mom makes her the perfect fit as the new co-host of the Lifetime show “The Balancing Act,” with Beth Troutman, Kristy Villa and Danielle Knox. This morning talk show is dedicated to creating a trusting environment for women to share advice about the challenges of balancing it all—between work, family, and fun!

Josie resides in Seattle with her children, twelve-year-old son Mason and nine-year-old daughter Maya.