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Mary McDonnell

Updated: Wikipedia source

Mary McDonnell

Mary Eileen McDonnell (born April 28, 1952) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She received Academy Award nominations for her roles as Stands With A Fist in Dances With Wolves and May-Alice Culhane in Passion Fish. McDonnell is well known for her performances as President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica, First Lady Marilyn Whitmore in Independence Day, and Rose in Donnie Darko. She was featured as Captain Sharon Raydor during seasons 5–7 of the TNT series The Closer and starred as Commander Sharon Raydor in the spin-off series Major Crimes on the same network. In 2023, she played Madeleine Usher in the miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix.

Infobox

Born
Mary Eileen McDonnell (1952-04-28) April 28, 1952 (age 73)Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education
State University of New York at Fredonia
Occupation
Actress
Years active
1972–present
Spouse
mw- Randle Mell (m. 1984; sep. 2021)
Children
2

Tables

· Filmography › Film
1984
Garbo Talks
Role(s)
Lady Capulet
1987
Matewan
Role(s)
Elma Radnor
1988
Tiger Warsaw
Role(s)
Paula Warsaw
1990
Dances With Wolves
Role(s)
Stands With A Fist
1991
Grand Canyon
Role(s)
Claire
1992
Passion Fish
Role(s)
May-Alice Culhane
Sneakers
Role(s)
Liz
1994
Blue Chips
Role(s)
Jenny Bell
1996
Independence Day
Role(s)
First Lady Marilyn Whitmore
Mariette in Ecstasy
Role(s)
Prioress
1997
Woman Undone
Role(s)
Terri Hansen
1998
You Can Thank Me Later
Role(s)
Diane
1999
Mumford
Role(s)
Althea Brockett
2001
Donnie Darko
Role(s)
Rose Darko
2003
Nola
Role(s)
Margaret Langworthy
2004
Crazy Like a Fox
Role(s)
Amy Banks
2011
Scream 4
Role(s)
Kate Roberts
Margin Call
Role(s)
Mary Rogers
2021
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
Role(s)
Lady Zerbst
Notes
Voice role
2025
Broke
Role(s)
Kathy Brandywine
TBA
Role(s)
One Second After
Notes
Jen Matherson
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1984
Garbo Talks
Lady Capulet
1987
Matewan
Elma Radnor
1988
Tiger Warsaw
Paula Warsaw
1990
Dances With Wolves
Stands With A Fist
1991
Grand Canyon
Claire
1992
Passion Fish
May-Alice Culhane
Sneakers
Liz
1994
Blue Chips
Jenny Bell
1996
Independence Day
First Lady Marilyn Whitmore
Mariette in Ecstasy
Prioress
1997
Woman Undone
Terri Hansen
1998
You Can Thank Me Later
Diane
1999
Mumford
Althea Brockett
2001
Donnie Darko
Rose Darko
2003
Nola
Margaret Langworthy
2004
Crazy Like a Fox
Amy Banks
2011
Scream 4
Kate Roberts
Margin Call
Mary Rogers
2021
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
Lady Zerbst
Voice role
2025
Broke
Kathy Brandywine
TBA
One Second After
Jen Matherson
Filming
· Filmography › Television
1980
As the World Turns
Role(s)
Claudia Colfax
Notes
Unknown episodes
1982
Money on the Side
Role(s)
Terri
Notes
Television film
1984–1985
Role(s)
E/R
Notes
Dr. Eve Sheridan
1995–1996
Role(s)
High Society
Notes
Dorothy "Dott" Emerson
1997
12 Angry Men
Role(s)
Judge Cynthia Nance
Notes
Television film
1998
Evidence of Blood
Role(s)
Dora Overton
1999
Replacing Dad
Role(s)
Linda Marsh
Ryan Caulfield: Year One
Role(s)
Rachel Caulfield
Notes
2 episodes
2000
A Father's Choice
Role(s)
Susan Shaw
Notes
Television film
For All Time
Role(s)
Laura Brown
2001–2002
Role(s)
ER
Notes
Eleanor Carter
2002
Touched by an Angel
Role(s)
Sister Theodore
Notes
Episode: "Minute by Minute"
The Locket
Role(s)
Helen Staples
Notes
Television film
2003
Battlestar Galactica
Role(s)
President Laura Roslin
Notes
Television miniseries
2004–2009
Role(s)
Battlestar Galactica
Notes
President Laura Roslin
2005
Mrs. Harris
Role(s)
Vivian Schulte
Notes
Television film
2008–2009
Role(s)
Grey's Anatomy
Notes
Dr. Virginia Dixon
2009
Killer Hair
Role(s)
Rose
Notes
Television film
Hostile Makeover
Role(s)
Rose Smithsonian
2009–2012
Role(s)
The Closer
Notes
Captain Sharon Raydor
2012–2018
Role(s)
Major Crimes
Notes
Captain (later Commander) Sharon Raydor
2017
Fargo
Role(s)
Ruby Goldfarb
Notes
4 episodes
2019
Veronica Mars
Role(s)
Jane
Notes
Episode: "Years, Continents, Bloodshed"
2021
Rebel
Role(s)
Helen Peterson
Notes
7 episodes
2026
VisionQuest
Role(s)
TBA
Notes
Post-production; miniseries
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1980
As the World Turns
Claudia Colfax
Unknown episodes
1982
Money on the Side
Terri
Television film
1984–1985
E/R
Dr. Eve Sheridan
Main role; 20 episodes
1995–1996
High Society
Dorothy "Dott" Emerson
Main role; 13 episodes
1997
12 Angry Men
Judge Cynthia Nance
Television film
1998
Evidence of Blood
Dora Overton
1999
Replacing Dad
Linda Marsh
Ryan Caulfield: Year One
Rachel Caulfield
2 episodes
2000
A Father's Choice
Susan Shaw
Television film
For All Time
Laura Brown
2001–2002
ER
Eleanor Carter
5 episodes
2002
Touched by an Angel
Sister Theodore
Episode: "Minute by Minute"
The Locket
Helen Staples
Television film
2003
Battlestar Galactica
President Laura Roslin
Television miniseries
2004–2009
Battlestar Galactica
President Laura Roslin
Main role; 71 episodes
2005
Mrs. Harris
Vivian Schulte
Television film
2008–2009
Grey's Anatomy
Dr. Virginia Dixon
3 episodes
2009
Killer Hair
Rose
Television film
Hostile Makeover
Rose Smithsonian
2009–2012
The Closer
Captain Sharon Raydor
Recurring role (seasons 5–6); main cast (season 7); 23 episodes
2012–2018
Major Crimes
Captain (later Commander) Sharon Raydor
Main role
2017
Fargo
Ruby Goldfarb
4 episodes
2019
Veronica Mars
Jane
Episode: "Years, Continents, Bloodshed"
2021
Rebel
Helen Peterson
7 episodes
2023
The Fall of the House of Usher
Madeline Usher
Main role, miniseries
2026
VisionQuest
TBA
Post-production; miniseries
· Awards and nominations
1991
Academy Awards
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress
Notes
Dances With Wolves
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress
Notes
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Notes
Nominated
1993
Academy Awards
Role(s)
Best Actress
Notes
Passion Fish
Golden Globe Awards
Role(s)
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Notes
Nominated
2002
Primetime Emmy Awards
Role(s)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Notes
ER
2009
Saturn Awards
Role(s)
Best Actress on Television
Notes
Battlestar Galactica
2011
Gotham Awards
Role(s)
Best Ensemble Cast
Notes
Margin Call
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Role(s)
Best Cast
Notes
Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards
Role(s)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Notes
The Closer
Critics' Choice Television Awards
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries
Notes
Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards
Role(s)
Best Villain in a Series
Notes
Nominated
Year
Association
Category
Nominated work
Result
1991
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Dances With Wolves
Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Nominated
1993
Academy Awards
Best Actress
Passion Fish
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Nominated
2002
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
ER
Nominated
2009
Saturn Awards
Best Actress on Television
Battlestar Galactica
Won
2011
Gotham Awards
Best Ensemble Cast
Margin Call
Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Best Cast
Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
The Closer
Nominated
2024
Astra TV Awards
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie
The Fall of the House of Usher
Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Awards
Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries
Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards
Best Villain in a Series
Nominated

References

  1. Encyclopædia Britannica
    https://www.britannica.com/facts/Mary-McDonnell
  2. "Mary McDonnell Biography"
    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/mary_mcdonnell
  3. Historical Gazetteer of the United States
  4. Times Leader
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151117034701/http://archives.timesleader.com/1993_3/1993_02_18_MARY_MCDONNELL_NOMINATED_FOR_BEST_ACTRESS_AREA_NATIVE_RECOGNIZED.html
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    http://www.ew.com/article/2007/03/23/spotlight-mary-mcdonnell
  6. Chicago Tribune
    https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-08-29-9308290140-story.html
  7. Fredonia.edu
    https://www.fredonia.edu/news/actress-and-alumna-mary-mcdonnell-return-fredonia-homecoming-weekend
  8. Erie Times-News
    https://www.goerie.com/story/entertainment/local/2015/07/05/major-crimes-star-mary/24883891007/
  9. Profile, iobdb.com. Accessed April 15, 2022.
    http://www.iobdb.com/Production/564
  10. "81"
    https://www.obieawards.com/events/1980s/year-81/
  11. "The 63rd Academy Awards | 1991"
    https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1991
  12. "The 65th Academy Awards | 1993"
    https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1993
  13. "Zap2it Interview"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20081223143346/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2008/11/mary-mcdonnell.html
  14. Battlestar Galactica World Science Festival, June 10–14, 2009, New York City
    http://www.worldsciencefestival.com/2009/battlestar-galactica
  15. "And the Body Count Continues – More Scream 4 Casting: Mary McDonnell and Alison Brie"
    http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38329/and-body-count-continues-more-scream-4-casting-mary-mcdonnell-and-alison-brie
  16. Entertainment Weekly
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090324014116/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/03/the-closer-excl.html
  17. "Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for 2011 – Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series"
    http://www.emmys.com/nominations/2011/Outstanding%20Guest%20Actress%20In%20A%20Drama%20Series
  18. HitFix
    http://www.hitfix.com/articles/tnt-orders-closer-spinoff-major-crimes-starring-mary-mcdonnell
  19. TV Guide
    https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mary-mcdonnell/bio/165099/
  20. Extra
    https://extratv.com/2021/12/10/battlestar-gallactica-star-mary-mcdonnell-and-husband-randle-mell-split/?adid=extra_eme_28256_2021-12-10_featured_story-1
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