Jean Paige Turco, born on May 17, 1965, is an American actress best known for bringing the iconic character April O'Neil to life in the early 1990s live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films and later earning acclaim for her long-running role as the resilient Dr. Abigail Griffin on the post-apocalyptic drama The 100. Her career, spanning over three decades, has seen her transition from daytime television to primetime series and feature films, showcasing a versatility that has made her a familiar face to audiences across generations.

Turco began her professional acting career in the late 1980s, making her mark in the demanding world of daytime soap operas. She first appeared on the long-running series Guiding Light from 1987 to 1989, before moving to All My Children where she played the role of Melanie Parr from 1989 to 1992. This experience on two of television's most popular soaps provided her with a solid foundation in performance and a dedicated fanbase. It was during this period that she landed her breakout film role, stepping into the role of intrepid television reporter April O'Neil for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze in 1991. She reprised the part two years later in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III in 1993, cementing her place in pop culture history for a generation of fans who grew up with the heroes in a half-shell.

Following her time with the Turtles, Turco transitioned to primetime television, taking on a series of notable roles in the 1990s and early 2000s. She was a main cast member in the short-lived drama Winnetka Road in 1994, and from 1995 to 1998, she played the complex role of Gail Emory in the critically acclaimed horror series American Gothic, created by Shaun Cassidy. She later starred as Terri Lowell in the political drama The Agency from 2001 to 2003. In the mid-2000s, she appeared in a recurring role on NCIS and played the wife of Joshua Malina's character in the ensemble comedy-drama Big Shots from 2007 to 2008, further demonstrating her range across genres.

Turco found her most substantial and enduring role in 2014 when she was cast as Dr. Abigail "Abby" Griffin in the Jason Rothenberg-created series The 100. She played the character, a former chancellor and the mother of the show's protagonist Clarke Griffin, for the first six seasons of the post-apocalyptic drama. Her portrayal of the fiercely intelligent and morally complex leader earned her widespread praise and a devoted following. Turco made a special return appearance for the series finale, "The Last War," in 2020, bringing her character's arc to a close. Her last film role came earlier that same year in the anthology horror movie Books of Blood. While she has stepped back from the spotlight in recent years, Paige Turco remains a respected figure in the entertainment industry, celebrated for her ability to anchor both blockbuster franchises and beloved television series with grace and conviction.