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Margo Martindale
Margo Martindale MFF 2016.jpg
Martindale at the Montclair Film Festival, May 2016
Born 1951 (age 72–73)
Education Lon Morris College
University of Michigan (BA)
Occupation Actress
Years active 1987–present
Spouse(s)
Bill Boals
(m. 1986)
Children 1
Relatives Billy Martindale (brother)

Margo Martindale (born 1951) is an American character actress who has appeared on television, film, and stage. In 2011, she won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Critics' Choice Television Award for her recurring role as Mags Bennett on Justified. She was nominated for an Emmy Award four times for her recurring role as Claudia on The Americans, winning it in 2015 and 2016.

Martindale is known for her extensive supporting roles in numerous films such as The Rocketeer (1991), Lorenzo's Oil (1992), The Firm (1993), Dead Man Walking (1995), Marvin's Room (1996), The Hours (2002), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Walk Hard (2007), The Savages (2007), Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009), Secretariat (2010), Win Win (2011), August: Osage County (2013), Instant Family (2018), and Uncle Frank (2020).

She has had numerous recurring roles in shows such as The Good Wife (2015–2016), Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021), and Mrs. Davis (2023). For her portrayal of Bella Abzug on the FX miniseries Mrs. America (2020) she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie nomination. She also voiced herself in the Netflix series BoJack Horseman. She made her Broadway debut in the 2004 revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for which she received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play nomination.

Early life and education

Martindale was born in Jacksonville, Texas, the youngest of three children and only daughter of William Everett and Margaret (née Pruitt) Martindale. In addition to owning and operating a lumber company in Jacksonville, her father was known as a champion dog handler in Texas and throughout the Southern United States.

Her oldest brother is the professional golfer and golf course designer Billy Martindale. The middle child, brother Bobby Tim, died in 2004. Margo participated in golf, cheerleading and drama at school, and was crowned Football Sweetheart and Miss Jacksonville High School 1969.

Following graduation in 1969, she attended Lon Morris College, then transferred to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. While at Michigan, she attended summer courses at Harvard University, appearing onstage with future movie and TV stars Jonathan Frakes and Christopher Reeve.

Career

1980–2010

In the early 1980s, Martindale worked for four years at the Actors Theatre, Louisville, Kentucky, where she became good friends with fellow actress Kathy Bates. One of her first television roles came in the miniseries Lonesome Dove (1989). Martindale starred in several off-Broadway stage productions, most notably originating the role of Truvy Jones in the first production of Steel Magnolias, and starring in its first national tour. Martindale has been described as a character actress. Martindale's film roles include acting alongside Susan Sarandon in both Lorenzo's Oil (1992), and Dead Man Walking (1995). She appeared as Leonardo DiCaprio's character's doctor in Marvin's Room (1997); and as Hilary Swank's character's selfish mother in Million Dollar Baby (2004). Other films include The Human Stain (2000) with Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman, Nobody's Fool (1994) with Paul Newman, 28 Days (2000) with Sandra Bullock, Proof of Life with Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan, and Practical Magic (1998), again with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock.

Martindale made her Broadway debut in 2004 as Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play. A series of character and guest appearances followed in a wide range of TV shows. Martindale played recurring character Camilla Figg on the first three seasons of Dexter and had a recurring role in the A&E courtroom drama 100 Centre Street with Alan Arkin. From 2007 to 2008, she had a recurring role as Nina Burns, a neighbor of the Malloy/"Rich" family in The Riches with Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard. She was featured in Paris, je t'aime (2006). She played Mama Cox in the 2007 film Walk Hard, played Ruby in Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009) and played Miss Elizabeth Ham in the movie Secretariat (2010).

2011–present

In 2011, Martindale joined the cast of Justified for the second season. She played the role of Mags Bennett, matriarch of the Bennett crime family in the fictional version of Harlan County, Kentucky. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance.

After learning of the nomination, Martindale told CNN she hoped that it would open up more doors for older women in Hollywood. "People really identify with this character [Mags Bennett] and I think it's because it is a character that is powerful and older and extremely mean", she said. She won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the Critics' Choice Television Awards for her role as Mags Bennett. In February 2012 it was announced Martindale had been cast in the ABC comedy pilot Counter Culture, which was not picked up.

Martindale had a role in August: Osage County (2013), a film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tracy Letts. She played Mattie Fae Aiken, the sister of lead character Violet Weston (Meryl Streep). Filming took place in the fall and winter of 2012. Martindale returned to television in late January 2013 in the spy drama The Americans on FX Network. She played Claudia, the KGB "handler" of two Soviet spies living in 1980s Cold War America.

She co-starred in the sitcom The Millers on CBS. In 2015, she began a recurring role as Ruth Eastman, Peter Florrick's new campaign manager on The Good Wife. Martindale took up the role of Ruth again in 2018 in season two of The Good Fight, the sequel to The Good Wife. She appears as a fictionalized version of herself on the Netflix animated comedy BoJack Horseman. Her fictional version is easily angered and temperamentally violent. BoJack consistently refers to her as "Esteemed Character Actress Margo Martindale", while most other characters begin addressing her with "Beloved."

Martindale played Audrey Bernhardt, matriarch of the family on the Amazon series Sneaky Pete starring Giovanni Ribisi, for the 2015 pilot, the first season which aired in January 2017, and the second and third seasons as well. She also played Mike's ‘Aunt Rosemary’ in two episodes of Mike & Molly. I Spy, a podcast hosted by Martindale and produced by Foreign Policy, was released in November, 2019.

She portrayed Ruth Eastman in The Good Fight (2018-2021) and Senator Elizabeth Guthrie in Your Honor (2020-2021). For her performance as US Congresswoman Bella Abzug on the FX miniseries Mrs. America (2020) for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Recent roles include portrayals of Lucianne Goldberg in Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021), Maureen in The Watcher (2022), and Mother Superior in Mrs. Davis (2023).

Personal life

Martindale has been married to musician Bill Boals since 1986. They have a daughter, Margaret.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Days of Thunder Donna
1991 Rocketeer, TheThe Rocketeer Millie
1992 Lorenzo's Oil Wendy Gimble
1993 Emma and Elvis Jenny
1993 Firm, TheThe Firm Nina Huff
1994 Nobody's Fool "Birdy"
1995 Dead Man Walking Sister Collegeville
1995 Sabrina Nurse
1996 Marvin's Room Dr. Charlotte Samit
1996 Ghosts of Mississippi Clara Mayfield
1997 Critical Care Constance "Connie" Potter
1997 Eye of the God Dorothy
1998 Twilight Gloria "Mucho" Lamar
1998 Practical Magic Linda Bennett
1999 In Dreams Nurse Floyd
1999 Ride with the Devil Wilma Brown
2000 28 Days Betty
2000 Proof of Life Ivy
2002 Hours, TheThe Hours Mrs. Latch
2003 It's All About Love Betsy
2003 Human Stain, TheThe Human Stain Psychologist
2004 Best Thief in the World, TheThe Best Thief in the World Miss Mason
2004 Million Dollar Baby Earline Fitzgerald
2006 Out There Jeri
2006 Wedding Daze Betsy
2006 Paris, je t'aime Carol
2007 Savages, TheThe Savages Roz
2007 Rocket Science Coach Lumbly
2007 Mo Pam
2007 Death and Life of Bobby Z, TheThe Death and Life of Bobby Z Macy
2007 Rails & Ties Judy Neasy
2007 Feast of Love Mrs. Maggarolian
2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Ma Cox
2008 Management Trish Flux
2009 Winning Season, TheThe Winning Season Donna
2009 Hannah Montana: The Movie Grandma Ruby
2009 Orphan Dr. Browning
2009 La soga Flannigan
2010 Forged Dianne
2010 Secretariat Elizabeth Hamm
2010 Main Street Myrtle Parker
2011 Win Win Eleanor Cohen
2011 Scalene Janice Trimble
2013 Beautiful Creatures Aunt Del
2013 Bluebird Crystal
2013 August: Osage County Mattie Fae Aiken
2014 Heaven is for Real Nancy Rawling
2016 Sophie and the Rising Sun Anne Morrison
2016 The Hollars Sally Hollar
2016 The Boss Sister Agnes Aluminata
2016 Mother's Day Florence "Flo"
2016 My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea Mrs. Brinson (voice)
2017 Wilson Alta
2017 Table 19 Freda Eckberg
2017 Cars 3 Louise "Barnstormer" Nash (voice)
2017 Downsizing Woman On Shuttle Cameo
2018 Instant Family Sandy Wagner
2019 Blow the Man Down Enid Nora Devlin
2019 The Kitchen Helen O'Carroll
2020 Uncle Frank Mammaw Bledsoe
2020 Lazy Susan Mary O'Connell
2022 Family Squares Diane Worth Also C & D Camera Operator
2023 ... Bear Ranger Liz

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Child Saver, TheThe Child Saver Alma TV film
1989 Lonesome Dove "Buffalo" Heiffer Episode: "The Plains"
1994 New York Undercover Nurse Warner Episode: "Tasha"
1996 Law & Order Ms. Best Episode: "Atonement"
1996 Ruby Jean and Joe Frankie TV film
1997 ...First Do No Harm Marjean TV film
1999 Homicide: Life on the Street Verna Henderson Episode: "The Same Coin"
1999 Earthly Possessions Libby TV film
1999 Snoops Hannah Larson Episode: "Pilot"
2000 Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder Linda Hoffmann-Pugh TV film
2001 Welcome to New York Rose Episode: "Dusting Diva"
2001 Girl Thing, AA Girl Thing May TV film
2001 What Girls Learn Lainey TV film
2001–2002 100 Centre Street Michelle Grande 14 episodes
2002 Laramie Project, TheThe Laramie Project Trish Steger TV film
2003 Ed Amanda Myers Episode: "Partners"
2003 Unexpected Love, AnAn Unexpected Love Maggie TV film
2004 Iron Jawed Angels Harriot Blatch TV film
2004 Plainsong Mrs. Beckman TV film
2005 Silver Bells Mrs. Quinn TV film
2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Rita Gabler Episode: "Cage"
2006–2008 Dexter Camilla Figg 5 episodes
2007–2008 Riches, TheThe Riches Nina Burns Regular role (20 episodes)
2009 Hung Molly Episode: "The Pickle Jar"
2009–2010 Mercy Nurse Klowden Recurring role (11 episodes)
2011 Harry's Law Gina Powell Episode: "Innocent Man"
2011 Justified Mags Bennett Recurring role (10 episodes)
2011 Chaos Doris Balshik Episodes: "Pilot", "Proof of Life"
2011–2012 Gifted Man, AA Gifted Man Rita Perkins-Hall Main role (16 episodes)
2012 Counter Culture Billie TV film
2012 Suits Nell Sawyer Episode: "Meet the New Boss"
2012 Person of Interest Barbara Russell Episode: "Bad Code"
2013 Smash Miriam Abramson Episode: "The Fallout"
2013 New Girl Bonnie Episode: "Chicago"
2013–2014 Millers, TheThe Millers Carol Miller Main role (34 episodes)
2013–2018 Americans, TheThe Americans Claudia Recurring role (32 episodes)
2014–2020 BoJack Horseman Character Actress Margo Martindale Voice; 8 episodes; fictionalized version of self
2015 Mike & Molly Rosemary Ritter Episodes: "Mudlick or Bust" and "Mother From Another Mudlick"
2015–2016 The Good Wife Ruth Eastman Recurring role (13 episodes)
2015–2019 Sneaky Pete Audrey Bernhardt Main role (30 episodes)
2016 BrainDead Dr. Joanne Alaimo Episode: "Back to Work: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Congress and How It Gets Things Done (and Often Doesn't)"
2017–2021 DuckTales Ma Beagle (voice) 8 episodes
2017 The Guest Book Alice 3 episodes
2018–2021 The Good Fight Ruth Eastman 4 episodes
2019 The Act Emma Lois Gisclair Pitre Episode: "A Whole New World"
2020 Mrs. America Bella Abzug Main role; Miniseries
2020–2021 Your Honor Senator Elizabeth Guthrie 5 episodes
2021 Infinity Train Judge Morpho (voice) Recurring; Book 4 – Duet
2021 Ada Twist, Scientist Great Aunt Rose (voice) Episode: "Movie Night/The Banana Peel Problem"
2021 Impeachment: American Crime Story Lucianne Goldberg 5 episodes
2022 The Watcher Maureen 7 episodes
2023 Accused Joanna Lynn Pierce Episode: "Laura's Story"
2023 Mrs. Davis Mother Superior 3 episodes

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue(s) Ref.
1982 Talking With performer ("Rodeo") Manhattan Theatre Club
1987 Steel Magnolias Truvy WPA Theater, Lucille Lortel Theatre
1990 Steel Magnolias Truvy Westport Country Playhouse
1995 The Sugar Bean Sisters Faye Clementine WPA Theater
1997 Always … Patsy Cline Louise Variety Arts Theater
2003 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Big Mama Music Box Theatre, Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2004 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Nominated
Tony Awards Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominated
Richard Seff Award Best Supporting Actress in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production Won
2011 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Justified Won
Online Film & Television Association Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Won
Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards Individual Achievement in Drama Nominated
2013 Online Film & Television Association Award Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series The Americans Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2014 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture August: Osage County Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series The Americans Nominated
2015 Gracie Awards Outstanding Female Actor in a Featured or Guest Role Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Won
2016 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series The Good Wife Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series The Americans Won
2018 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Sneaky Pete Nominated
2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Americans Nominated
2020 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Mrs. America Nominated
2021 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Margo Martindale para niños

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