Vanessa Dorman (born February 27, 1969) is an American actress, best known for her role as Caitlin Richards Deschanel in the NBC soap opera, Sunset Beach.
Dorman was born in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in Niantic, Connecticut, and later attended East Lyme High School and graduated in 1987.
Dorman has made her television debut on the ABC soap opera All My Children, before was cast alongside Lesley-Anne Down and Sam Behrens as Caitlin Richards Deschanel in the NBC soap opera Sunset Beach produced by Aaron Spelling. She portrayed the role from January 9, 1997 to June 18, 1998, when she hit contract problems and was let go. As of June 24, 1998, she was replaced by Kam Heskin, who portrayed the role until the end of the show, December 31, 1999. She later went to guest-starring role on Silk Stalkings, Dawson's Creek, and Nash Bridges, and well as ABC miniseries The Beach Boys: An American Family.