Mary McDonnell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary McDonnell
McDonnell at the 2019 GalaxyCon Raleigh
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(s)	Randle Mell ​ ​ (m. 1984; separated 2021)​
Children	2

Mary Eileen McDonnell (born April 28, 1952) is a talented American actress. She has starred in many movies, TV shows, and plays. Mary McDonnell is famous for her roles in Dances With Wolves and Passion Fish, which earned her nominations for the Academy Awards. She also played President Laura Roslin in the TV series Battlestar Galactica. You might also know her as First Lady Marilyn Whitmore in Independence Day. Later, she became well-known for playing Captain Sharon Raydor in The Closer and its spin-off show, Major Crimes. In 2023, she appeared in the miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix.

Early Life and Education

Mary Eileen McDonnell was born on April 28, 1952. She was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She was one of six children in her family. Her father, John "Jack" McDonnell, was a computer consultant. Her family moved to Ithaca, New York, where she grew up.

Mary McDonnell went to the State University of New York at Fredonia. This is where she studied and prepared for her acting career.

Acting Career

Mary McDonnell started her acting journey in theater. She performed in plays off-Broadway. In 1981, she won an Obie Award for her acting in a play called Still Life. She also performed on Broadway, which is the highest level of theater in New York City.

Breakthrough in Movies

After many years in theater and TV, Mary McDonnell became very famous in movies. This happened in 1990 with the film Dances With Wolves. In this movie, she played Stands With A Fist. This character was an American settler's daughter raised by Sioux Native Americans. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for this role.

Her role in the 1992 movie Passion Fish brought her another Academy Award nomination. This time, it was for Best Actress. She also appeared in other popular films. These include Grand Canyon (1991) and Sneakers (1992). She was also in Independence Day (1996) and Donnie Darko (2001). In 1997, she played a judge in the film 12 Angry Men.

Television Roles

Mary McDonnell's first regular TV role was in 1980. She was on the soap opera As the World Turns. She also starred in a medical comedy show called E/R in 1984. Later, in 2001, she guest-starred on the medical series ER. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role as Eleanor Carter on that show. From 2008 to 2009, she played Dr. Virginia Dixon on Grey's Anatomy. Dr. Dixon was a surgeon with Asperger syndrome.

Mary McDonnell at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con

In 2003, Mary McDonnell starred in the miniseries Battlestar Galactica. She played President Laura Roslin. This miniseries was so popular that it led to a weekly TV series. Mary McDonnell continued her role as President Roslin in the new Battlestar Galactica series, which ended in 2009. Her performance in the show was recognized worldwide. She was even invited to the United Nations to discuss the show.

From 2009 to 2012, Mary McDonnell had a recurring role in The Closer. She played Captain Sharon Raydor. This character was a police captain who often disagreed with the main character. Mary McDonnell received an Emmy nomination for this role in 2011.

After The Closer finished in 2012, Mary McDonnell's character, Captain Sharon Raydor, became the main character in a new show. This spin-off series was called Major Crimes. It started on August 13, 2012, and finished in January 2018. In 2011, she also appeared in the movie Scream 4.

Personal Life

Mary McDonnell married actor Randle Mell in 1984. They have two children, a son named Michael and a daughter named Olivia. The couple separated in December 2021.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Awards and Nominations

Mary McDonnell has received many awards and nominations for her acting. In 1992, she received an Outstanding Achievement Award from her college's alumni association.

See also

In Spanish: Mary McDonnell para niños