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 an American actress. She has starred in many popular movies and TV shows. You might know her from Dances With Wolves or as President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica. She also played the First Lady in Independence Day and Rose in Donnie Darko. Later, she became famous as Captain Sharon Raydor in the TV series The Closer and its spin-off, Major Crimes. In 2023, she appeared in the Netflix miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher.

Early Life and Education

Mary Eileen McDonnell was born on April 28, 1952. She grew up in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Ithaca, New York. She was one of six children in her family. Her father, John "Jack" McDonnell, worked as a computer consultant. Mary is of Irish background and was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.

She went to college at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

Acting Career Highlights

Mary McDonnell started her acting career in theater. She performed in many plays off-Broadway and on Broadway. In 1981, she won an award called an Obie Award for her acting in the play Still Life.

Breakthrough in Film

After working in theater and television for over 20 years, Mary McDonnell became widely known in movies. Her big break came in 1990 with the film Dances With Wolves. In this movie, she played Stands With A Fist, a character raised by Sioux Native Americans. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for this role.

In 1992, she received another Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actress, for her role in Passion Fish. Other important films she appeared in include Grand Canyon (1991), Sneakers (1992), and the popular science fiction movie Independence Day (1996). She also played Rose Darko in the cult classic film Donnie Darko (2001).

Television Roles

Mary McDonnell has had many notable roles on television. In 1980, she had a regular part in the soap opera As the World Turns. She also guest-starred in the medical series ER in 2001, earning an Emmy Award nomination. From 2008 to 2009, she played Dr. Virginia Dixon in three episodes of Grey's Anatomy.

McDonnell at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con

A very famous role for McDonnell was President Laura Roslin in the miniseries Battlestar Galactica in 2003. She continued this role in the weekly TV series Battlestar Galactica, which ran until 2009. Her performance in this show brought her worldwide recognition. She even participated in a special discussion about the series at the United Nations.

From 2009 to 2012, McDonnell had a recurring role as Captain Sharon Raydor in the crime drama The Closer. She received an Emmy nomination for this role in 2011. After The Closer ended, her character, Captain Sharon Raydor, became the main star of the spin-off series Major Crimes. This show debuted in 2012 and ran until 2018.

In 2011, she appeared in the horror film Scream 4. More recently, in 2023, she played Madeleine Usher in the Netflix miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher.

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 2021.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

Mary McDonnell has received several awards and nominations for her acting. In 1992, she was honored by her college alumni association.

See also

In Spanish: Mary McDonnell para niños