Mary Albright facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Albright
Jane Curtin as Dr. Mary Albright
First appearance	"Brains and Eggs"
Last appearance	"The Thing That Wouldn't Die: Part 2"
Created by	Bonnie and Terry Turner
Portrayed by	Jane Curtin Jodi Johnson (as a child in "Dick-In-Law")
Information
Aliases	Kiki Lyle
Species	Human
Gender	Female
Occupation	Anthropology professor
Title	Doctor of Philosophy
Family	George Albright (father - not biologically) Martha Albright (mother) Roy Albright (brother) Renata Albright (sister)
Relatives	Tiffany (niece)

Mary Margaret Albright is a fun character from the American TV show 3rd Rock from the Sun. She was played by the actress Jane Curtin, who was also on Saturday Night Live. Mary is often the serious one, which makes her a great match for the funny and unusual character, Dick Solomon. She is also his main love interest in the show.

Playing Mary Albright

Choosing the Actress

The show's creators wanted a strong actress to play Mary. Bonnie Turner, a friend of Jane Curtin, asked her to join the cast. Another actress was first considered, but she was thought to be too sweet for the role.

Why Jane Curtin Was Perfect

John Lithgow, who played Dick Solomon, said they needed someone with a strong funny presence. He felt Jane Curtin was perfect because she could be serious but also had a wild side. This helped her play a character who sometimes lost control, just like the aliens. Jane Curtin had worked with the Turners before on Saturday Night Live and in the movie Coneheads.

Jane's Experience on the Show

Jane Curtin first agreed to be in only seven episodes. But she loved the character and the show's humor so much that she stayed. She also enjoyed working with John Lithgow. She said they made each other laugh a lot.

Mary's Job

Mary Albright works as a professor of Anthropology at Pendelton State University. This is a made-up university in Rutherford, Ohio. Anthropology is the study of humans, their societies, and their cultures.

Mary as a Dean

For about six months, Mary had a bigger job. She became the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Pendleton. A dean is like a head of a department or school. However, she lost this job. She returned to being a professor after she was tricked into breaking into a colleague's office.

Mary and Dick's Relationship

Mary and Dick Solomon shared an office at the university. Dick was the 'father' of the alien group and taught physics. Dick was interested in Mary right away. But it took Mary a long time to like Dick.

Their On-Again, Off-Again Romance

Mary and Dick had a relationship that was often on and off. Dick would often annoy Mary, making her angry. This would cause them to break up. However, in the very next episode, they would almost always be back together again.

The Truth About Dick

When Dick and his alien 'family' had to go back to their home planet, Mary found out Dick was an alien. At first, she thought about going with them. But she realized how much she would miss Earth. So, Dick made her forget him and his family. In a different ending, Dick comes back and takes her with him.

Mary's Pets

Mary used to have fish. Dick was left to care for them while Mary was away at a conference. He put an angelfish in the tank, which then ate all the other fish. Mary was very upset with Dick for this.

Getting a Dog

To make up for the fish, Dick bought Mary a dog. Later, when Mary and Dick broke off their engagement, Mary tried to give the dog away. But she soon realized she loved the dog very much. When she and Dick got back together, Mary was happy she had kept her dog.

Fun Facts About Mary

• In one episode, "Dick's Ark," it's mentioned that people at her local supermarket call her "The White Zinfandel Lady."
• Mary's passport and credit card both show her name as "Mary Albright, Ph.D." The "Ph.D." means she has a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
• Jane Curtin, the actress who plays Mary, also played an alien named Prymaat Conehead. This character was from Saturday Night Live and the Coneheads movie. Prymaat's fake name in the movie, Mary Margaret DeCicco, is very similar to Mary Albright's full name.