Melora Hardin Opens Up About Being Cut From Back to the Future (and How It Made Her Cry)

Hollywood fans know Melora Hardin as Jan Levinson from The Office, but early in her career she almost starred in one of the biggest movies of the 1980s — Back to the Future. Recently, Hardin shared a candid memory from that time, revealing how painful it was to lose a role she thought was hers.

At just 17 years old, Hardin had been cast as Jennifer Parker, the girlfriend of Marty McFly, and had even filmed scenes with actor Eric Stoltz, who was originally playing Marty. But when the film’s producers decided to replace Stoltz with Michael J. Fox, it triggered changes across the cast.

Hardin says she was blindsided when she was let go from the production. She described how much it hurt in a recent interview, admitting she “burst into tears” at the news. At the time, she saw the role and the two-picture deal attached to it as a huge break, and losing it was a major disappointment.

Why the Change Happened

According to interviews and Fox’s own memoir, the decision to recast Hardin wasn’t about her talent — it came down to perceptions about physical appearance. Producers were worried that audiences wouldn’t accept Fox, who is significantly shorter than Hardin, in a romantic pairing on-screen. That concern ultimately cost her the part.

Ultimately, the role of Jennifer Parker went to Claudia Wells for the first Back to the Future film, and later to Elisabeth Shue in the sequels.

Hardin’s Perspective Today

Looking back four decades later, Hardin doesn’t seem bitter — she sees failure as an inevitable part of an actor’s life. In her words, you have to be willing to face disappointment and keep pushing forward, because setbacks don’t define you. That mindset helped her go on to build a long career that includes beloved roles far beyond that early heartbreak.