Teri Hatcher is an American actress, writer, presenter, and former NFL cheerleader. Born on December 8, 1964, in Palo Alto, California, Hatcher is known for her television roles, notably portraying Lois Lane on the ABC series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997) and Susan Mayer on the television series Desperate Housewives (2004-2012). Her performance in Desperate Housewives earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

Hatcher grew up in Sunnyvale, California, and spent her childhood dancing and fishing with her father. She studied acting at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco while taking a degree course in mathematics and engineering at De Anza College in Cupertino, California. She began her career in Hollywood by auditioning for and winning the role of a singing and dancing mermaid on the television series The Love Boat. She later gained recognition for her role as Penny Parker on MacGyver and subsequently as Lois Lane on Lois & Clark. Her portrayal of Susan Mayer on Desperate Housewives solidified her status as a prominent actress in American television.