Michelle Meyrink, a former Canadian actress played parts in films and television shows during the 1980s. She is most remembered for her roles as “Judy,” the feminine nerd in Revenge of the Nerds (1984), and “Jordan Cochran,” the hyperactive genius in “Real Genius” (1985). Michelle Meyrink, however, made the decision to forgo her acting career in favour of teaching. Let’s get to know her a bit more.
Michelle Meyrink’s Life And Career
Michelle Mayrink was born on September 1, 1962, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. When Meyrink was 12 years old, she worked as an extra in The Godfather: Part II, which was partially filmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She made a connection with Francis Ford Coppola on the set, and after graduating from high school, she wrote him a letter. Producer Fred Roos replied to her message regarding an audition for another Coppola movie in Los Angeles instead of director Francis Ford Coppola.
Michelle Meyrink started off as a young performer. She mainly portrayed quirky teen girls when she was developing her career in the industry. She played “Suzi Brent” in the comedy Valley Girl and “Marcia,” Cherry Valance’s best friend in The Outsiders. She became well-known, though, thanks to her roles in the comedies Revenge of the Nerds (1984) and Real Genius (1985). The 1988 movie Permanent Record is Meyrink’s last known film. Meyrink quit acting in 1989, claiming that she desired more from life than what the industry could provide.
Martha Coolidge cast her again, this time in the sci-fi comedy Real Genius. Later in 1985, she played Betty in One Magic Christmas. In 1987, she played Steffi in the TV movie Tonight’s the Night and had the punny name “April Flowers” in the movie Nice Girls Don’t Explode.
Throughout the remaining years of the 1980s, Meyrink enjoyed a streak of noteworthy acting appearances. She starred in The Joy of Sex with Martha Coolidge again in 1984, and she also had an appearance on one of the episodes of Family Ties.
Why Did Michelle Meyrink Quit Acting?
Meyrink made the decision to stop performing in 1989 after spending the majority of her 20s residing and working in Los Angeles. She temporarily relocated back to the Dominican Republic so she could be near her family before eventually moving back to Vancouver. She had originally intended to take six months off, but that quickly expanded to a year and then more than two decades. She came to the realisation that she didn’t really miss acting during this time and started concentrating on her family and creating a new life.
Meyrink’s enthusiasm for artistic expression was reignited after a long absence when a friend persuaded her to lead an acting workshop. She used this enthusiasm to launch Actorium, an acting school, in 2013. The school provides participants with classes, workshops, and a place where they may “immerse themselves in the art of acting.”
Even though she is no longer actively involved in the acting industry, she still mentors aspiring actors and imparts the wisdom she acquired while working in Hollywood. Actorium was modelled after Los Angeles’ Loft Studio, where Meyrink had experience as an actress. Actorium has since trained hundreds of actors, and the school routinely hosts classes with a variety of instructors.
Michelle Meyrink’s Personal Life
Michelle Meyrink gave up performing, embraced Zen Buddhism, and moved to the Dominican Republic to be closer to her relatives who still lived there. Later, she returned to Vancouver, where she had lived all her life. It was there that she fell in love with and later married John Dumbrille in 1996. Together, the couple has three kids.
