Biography
Who is Janel Parrish?
Early life and real name
Janel Parrish Meilani Parrish was born on October 30, 1988, in Kāneʻohe, Honolulu, Hawaii. Her mother, Joanne, is of Han Chinese descent, and her father, Mark Parrish, has German, Irish, and English ancestry. She grew up with an older sister named Melissa Nohelani. At the age of nine, she discovered a passion for performing after watching a production of The Phantom of the Opera in Honolulu. She quickly began studying piano, acting, singing, and dancing, eventually entering local talent contests.
When Janel was fourteen years old, she and her family moved to Burbank, California, to help her pursue a professional career in the entertainment industry. Following the relocation, she transitioned to homeschooling to accommodate her busy work schedule in television and theatre.
Career highlights
Janel began her professional acting career on stage, portraying Young Cosette in the National Touring Company and the Broadway production of Les Misérables. In 2003, she appeared on the reality television program Star Search, performing a song from the same musical. Transitioning to television and film, she landed minor roles in series such as Baywatch and Geppetto before securing her first major film role as Jade in the 2007 live-action adaptation of Bratz.
Her breakout television role came when she was cast as Mona Vanderwaal in the Freeform mystery drama series Pretty Little Liars. She portrayed the character throughout the show's seven-season run from 2010 to 2017, later reprising the role in the spin-off series Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists in 2019. In addition to her television success, Janel starred as Margot Covey in the popular Netflix romantic comedy film trilogy starting with To All the Boys I've Loved Before in 2018.
Other artistic and competitive ventures
Alongside her acting work, Janel pursued a career in music as a singer and songwriter. She wrote her own music as a teenager and released her debut single, 'Rainy Day', in 2007 through Geffen Records. She also contributed vocals to soundtracks and released additional original songs in later years.
In 2014, Janel expanded her resume by competing on the nineteenth season of the reality dance competition Dancing with the Stars. Partnered with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy, she performed consistently high-scoring routines, including the season's first perfect score during movie week, ultimately finishing the competition in third place.
Personal life
Janel began a relationship with chemical engineer Chris Long in September 2016, and the couple became engaged the following year. They were married in an outdoor ceremony at Kualoa Ranch in Oahu, Hawaii, in September 2018. The couple later separated, and legal divorce proceedings concluded in 2026.
Birthday and age
Janel Parrish was born on October 30, 1988, which makes Janel 37 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Janel shares the date with 21 other famous people.
Explore more
