Birth : 2 August 1964, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, USA
Height : 5' 8"
|
Southern-bred Mary-Louise Parker, from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, was born on August 2, 1964, the youngest of the family's brood. She showed potential in her teens and majored in acting in her college years, graduating from the North Carolina School of the Arts. She decided to test the waters in New York, and after work on the off-Broadway stage in the late 1980s, made her Broadway debut with "Prelude to a Kiss" in 1990, where she won the Theatre World Award, the Clarence Derwent Award and a Tony nomination. Films and TV quickly followed. She provided both poignant and amusing moments as the token femme friend to a group of gay men in the AIDS drama _Longtime Companion (1989)_ (qv), but really caught fire with her feisty, standout performance in _Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)_ (qv), holding her own against such female powerhouses as 'Jessica Tandy' (qv), 'Kathy Bates (I)' (qv) and 'Mary Stuart Masterson' (qv). Dubbed by some as the "long-suffering girl next door", she played such noble miserables and cast-asides in _Grand Canyon (1991)_ (qv), _Naked in New York (1993)_ (qv), _Bullets Over Broadway (1994)_ (qv), _Boys on the Side (1995)_ (qv), in which she was the AIDS victim this time, and _Let the Devil Wear Black (1999)_ (qv). Preferring quality over quantity, she perfected her craft with offbeat roles in independent features and did not abandon her theater roots. She copped a slew of acting prizes for her stage work in "How I Learned to Drive" (1996) and, most notably, "Proof" in 2000, wherein she won nearly every award there is to attain, including the prestigious Tony. Her marquee name still does not command what it should, but a picture or production with Mary-Louise Parker in it usually guarantees a strong critical reception. Unmarried, she did enter into a longtime companionship with actor 'Billy Crudup' (qv) after the twosome appeared opposite each other in the 1996 play "Bus Stop". They went their separate ways in 2003.
Biography written by: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net
|
- 'Fried Green Tomatoes': The Moments of Discovery (1998) (V) [Herself]
- A Place for Annie (1994) (TV) [Linda] <2>
- AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Meryl Streep (2004) (TV) [Herself] <20>
- Boys on the Side (1995) [Robin] <2>
- Bullets Over Broadway (1994) [Ellen] <5>
- Cupid & Cate (2000) (TV) [Cate DeAngelo] <1>
- Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) [Ruth Jamison] <3>
- Goodbye Lover (1998) [Peggy Blane] <3>
- Grand Canyon (1991) [Dee] <5>
- Howl (2010) [Gail Potter]
- Inside 'Red Dragon' (2002) (TV) [Herself]
- Legalese (1998) (TV) [Rica Martin] <3>
- Les passages (2010) [Katharine]
- Let the Devil Wear Black (1999) [Julia Hirsch] <7>
- Longtime Companion (1989) [Lisa] <4>
- Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story (2002) (TV) [Bonnie Hanssen] <2>
- Miracle Run (2004) (TV) [Corrine Morgan-Thomas] <1>
- Mr. Wonderful (1993) [Rita] <3>
- Murder in Mind (1997) (as Mary Louise Parker) [Caroline Walker] <2>
- Naked in New York (1993) [Joanne White] <2>
- No Apologies: 'Sorry, Haters' Roundtable (2006) (V) [Herself]
- Pipe Dream (2002) [Toni Edelman] <4>
- Premio Donostia a Matt Dillon (2006) (TV) (archive footage) (uncredited) [Rita]
- Reckless (1995) [Pooty] <8>
- Red (2010/I) [Sarah]
- Red Dragon (2002) [Molly Graham] <6>
- Reinventando Hollywood (2008) (TV) [Herself]
- Romance & Cigarettes (2005) [Constance] <7>
- Saint Maybe (1998) (TV) [Lucy Dean Bedloe] <6>
- Saved! (2004) [Lillian] <10>
- Sexo en serie (2008) (TV) (archive footage) [Nancy Botwin]
- Signs of Life (1989) (as Mary Louise Parker) [Charlotte] <9>
- Solitary Man (2009) [Jordan Karsch] <4>
- Sugartime (1995) (TV) [Phyllis McGuire] <2>
- The 20th Annual People's Choice Awards (1994) (TV) [Herself]
- The 44th Annual Tony Awards (1990) (TV) [Herself - Performer & Nominee: Best Lead Actress]
- The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2002) (TV) [Herself] <13>
- The 55th Annual Tony Awards (2001) (TV) [Herself - Performer & Winner: Best Lead Actress in a Play]
- The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2004) (TV) [Herself - Winner: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series or Made for TV Movie]
- The 56th Annual Tony Awards (2002) (TV) [Herself - Presenter]
- The 59th Annual Tony Awards (2005) (TV) [Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Play]
- The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards (2007) (TV) [Herself]
- The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008) (TV) [Herself - Nominee: Lead Actress in a Comedy Series]
- The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards (2004) (TV) [Herself - Winner: Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series, Mini-Series or Made for TV Movie] <25>
- The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards (2009) (TV) [Herself - Nominee: Lead Actress in a Comedy Series]
- The 62nd Annual Tony Awards (2008) (TV) [Herself - Presenter: Best Leading Actor in a Play]
- The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2006) (TV) [Herself]
- The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2007) (TV) [Herself] <80>
- The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2009) (TV) [Herself]
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) [Zee James] <2>
- The Assassination of Jesse James: Death of an Outlaw (2008) (V) [Herself]
- The Best Thief in the World (2004) [Sue Zaidman] <1>
- The Client (1994) [Dianne Sway] <3>
- The Five Senses (1999) [Rona] <5>
- The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2005) (TV) [Herself]
- The Maker (1997) [Officer Emily Peck] <2>
- The Portrait of a Lady (1996) [Henrietta Stackpole] <4>
- The Quality of Mercy (2002) [Sarah Richardson] <1>
- The Robber Bride (2007) (TV) [Zenia Arden] <1>
- The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn (1999) (TV) [Dr. Valerie Crane] <3>
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) [Helen Grace] <2>
- The Well (2012)
- Too Young the Hero (1988) (TV) [Pearl Spencer]
- Vinegar Hill (2005) (TV) [Ellen Grier] <1>
- Weeds: Suburban Shakedown (2005) (TV) [Herself]
- Wrestling with Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner (2006) (archive footage) [Harper Pitt]
- "America in Primetime" (2011) [Herself]
- "Angels in America" (2003) {Millennium Approaches: Chapter One - Bad News (#1.1)} [Harper Pitt]
- "Angels in America" (2003) {Millennium Approaches: Chapter Three - The Messenger (#1.3)} [Harper Pitt] <4>
- "Angels in America" (2003) {Millennium Approaches: Chapter Two - In Vitro (#1.2)} [Harper Pitt]
- "Angels in America" (2003) {Perestroika: Chapter Five - Beyond Nelly (#1.5)} [Harper Pitt]
- "Angels in America" (2003) {Perestroika: Chapter Four - Stop Moving! (#1.4)} [Harper Pitt]
- "Angels in America" (2003) {Perestroika: Chapter Six - Heaven, I'm in Heaven (#1.6)} [Harper Pitt]
- "Chelsea Lately" (2007) {(2009-12-22)} [Herself] <3>
- "Entertainment Tonight" (1981) {(2009-10-16)} [Herself]
- "GMTV" (1993) {(2008-02-04)} [Herself]
- "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) {(#15.158)} [Herself - Guest] <3>
- "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) {(#16.194)} [Herself - Guest] <2>
- "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) {(1995-02-03)} [Herself - Guest] <3>
- "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" (1989) {(2009-01-30)} [Herself]
- "Rachael Ray" (2006) {(#2.103)} [Herself]
- "Ryan's Hope" (1975)
- "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." (2008) {Elvis Costello Interviewed by Mary-Louise Parker (#2.4)} [Herself]
- "The Bonnie Hunt Show" (2008) {(#2.34)} [Herself] <2>
- "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (2005) {(#5.163)} [Herself]
- "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996) {(1997-03-14)} [Herself]
- "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996) {(1998-09-15)} [Herself]
- "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996) {(2000-06-01)} [Herself]
- "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996) {(2001-01-22)} [Herself]
- "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996) {(2002-05-02)} [Herself]
- "The West Wing" (1999) {100,000 Airplanes (#3.12)} [Amy Gardner] <9>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Arctic Radar (#4.9)} [Amy Gardner] <9>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {College Kids (#4.2)} [Amy Gardner] <9>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Commencement (#4.21)} [Amy Gardner] <10>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Constituency of One (#5.5)} [Amy Gardner] <9>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Dead Irish Writers (#3.16)} [Amy Gardner] <10>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Debate Camp (#4.4)} [Amy Gardner] <9>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Freedonia (#6.15)} [Amy Gardner]
- "The West Wing" (1999) {H. Con-172 (#3.11)} [Amy Gardner] <9>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Han (#5.4)} [Amy Gardner] <9>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Jefferson Lives (#5.3)} [Amy Gardner] <10>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Posse Comitatus (#3.22)} [Amy Gardner] <10>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Privateers (#4.17)} [Amy Gardner] <10>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Process Stories (#4.7)} [Amy Gardner] <10>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Red Haven's on Fire (#4.16)} [Amy Gardner] <11>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Requiem (#7.18)} [Amy Gardner] <16>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {The Dogs of War (#5.2)} [Amy Gardner] <10>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {The Last Hurrah (#7.20)} [Amy Gardner] <11>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {The Red Mass (#4.3)} [Amy Gardner] <9>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {The Two Bartlets (#3.13)} [Amy Gardner] <9>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {The Women of Qumar (#3.9)} [Amy Gardner] <10>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {Twenty Five (#4.22)} [Amy Gardner] <10>
- "The West Wing" (1999) {We Killed Yamamoto (#3.21)} [Amy Gardner] <9>
- "Today" (1952) {(2005-12-26)} [Herself]
- "Weeds" (2005) {A Distinctive Horn (#5.8)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {A Modest Proposal (#5.6)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {A Pool and His Money (#3.2)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {A.K.A The Plant (#2.4)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {All About My Mom (#5.13)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Bash (#2.9)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Bill Sussman (#3.5)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Cankles (#3.11)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Cooking with Jesus (#2.2)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Corn Snake (#2.1)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Crush Girl Love Panic (#2.6)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Dead in the Nethers (#1.6)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Doing the Backstroke (#3.1)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Ducks and Tigers (#5.11)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Excellent Treasures (#4.6)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Fashion of the Christ (#1.4)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Free Goat (#1.2)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Glue (#5.12)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Go (#3.15)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Good Shit Lollipop (#1.3)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Grasshopper (#3.6)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {He Taught Me How to Drive By (#3.7)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Head Cheese (#4.11)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Higher Education (#1.7)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {I Am the Table (#4.8)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {If You Work for a Living, Then Why Do You Kill Yourself Working? (#4.13)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Lady's a Charm (#4.2)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Last Tango in Agrestic (#2.3)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Little Boats (#4.9)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Lude Awakening (#1.5)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Machetes Up Top (#5.2)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Mile Deep and a Foot Wide (#2.10)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {MILF Money (#2.8)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Mother Thinks the Birds Are After Her (#4.1)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Mrs. Botwin's Neighborhood (#2.5)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Must Find Toes (#2.7)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {No Man Is Pudding (#4.5)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Perro Insano (#5.10)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Pittsburgh (#2.12)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Protection (#3.14)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Release the Hounds (#3.9)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Risk (#3.13)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Roy Till Called (#3.10)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Sh*t Highway (#3.4)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Su-Su-Sucio (#5.3)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Suck 'n' Spit (#5.9)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Super Lucky Happy (#5.4)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {The Brick Dance (#3.3)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {The Dark Time (#3.12)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {The Godmother (#1.10)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {The Love Circle Overlap (#4.10)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {The Punishment Light (#1.8)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {The Punishment Lighter (#1.9)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {The Three Coolers (#4.4)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {The Two Mrs. Scottsons (#3.8)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {The Whole Blah Damn Thing (#4.3)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Till We Meet Again (#4.12)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Van Nuys (#5.5)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Where the Sidewalk Ends (#5.7)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Wonderful Wonderful (#5.1)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Yeah, Like Tomatoes (#2.11)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Yes I Can (#4.7)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
- "Weeds" (2005) {You Can't Miss the Bear (#1.1)} [Nancy Botwin] <1>
|
- "TV Guide" (USA), 19 November 2007, Vol. 55, Iss. 48, pg. 73, by: Damian Holbrook, "Q&A with Mary-Louise Parker"
- "The Advocate" (USA), 18 July 2000, pg. 52-53, by: Lawrence Ferber, "Senses Working Overtine"
- "Jane" (USA), May 1999, Vol. 3, Iss. 4, pg. 88+89, by: Tony Romando, "Q&A"
- "Empire" (UK), 1995, Iss. 72, pg. 54-55
|
- "The Los Angeles Times" (USA), 8 June 2008, by: Lynn Smith, "In Its Fourth Season, Showtime's 'Weeds' Finds Nancy Botwin Border-Bound"
- "TV Guide" (USA), 5 May 2008, Vol. 56, Iss. 18, pg. 62-63, by: Justin Kirk, "Sexy: TV's 38 Sexiest Stars - Mary-Louise Parker"
- "Courier Post" (USA), 9 April 2008, by: Josh L. Dickey, "Actor Mary-Louise Parker, Fiance Split"
- "The New York Times" (USA), 3 March 2008, Vol. 157, Iss. 54,238, pg. E1 & E6, by: Campbell Robertson, "You're Welcome to See Her Live, Not to Ask About Her Life"
- "Sly" (USA), January 2006, pg. 54-63, by: Brian O' Connor, "40 Hottest Women Over 40: #19) Mary-Louise Parker"
- "Esquire" (US), November 2002, Vol. 138, pg. 130-134, by: Mary-Louise Parker, "On Nudity"
- "TV Guide" (USA), 21 November 1998, Vol. 46, Iss. 47, pg. 5-6, by: Ellen Klugman, "A Hallmark Role For Parker"
- "TV Guia" (Portugal), 1997, Iss. 984, pg. 87
|
- "Playboy" (USA), February 2009, Vol. 56, Iss. 2, pg. 51, by: staff, "The Year In Sex"
- "Celebrity Skin" (USA), January 2009, Vol. 31, Iss. 186, pg. 10-11, by: n/a, "Fresh Flesh: Mary Louise Parker"
- "Show People Magazine" (USA), 9 September 2004, Iss. Fall 2004, "Cover and main article"
- "Celebrity Sleuth" (USA), 2004, Iss. 35, pg. 56-59, by: staff, "HB-OHHH!: Mary-Louise Parker"
- "Celebrity Sleuth" (USA), 1993, Vol. 6, Iss. 7, pg. 70-71, by: staff, "Hits Of Misses: Mary Louise Parker"
|
- "More" (USA), July 2009
- "PDTV" (USA), 7 August 2005
|
- Music video for Bonnie Raitt: "You Got It"
- Starred as Li'l Bit in Paula Vogel's "How I Learned to Drive" alongside David Morse at the Vineyard Theatre, directed by Mark Brokaw (1997). She won a Lucille Lortel Award and an Obie Award and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance.
- Starred as Rita in "Prelude to a Kiss" at the Helen Hayes Theatre, directed by Norman René (May 1 1990 - May 19, 1991). She received a Tony Award nomination, a Drama Desk Award nomination and won a Theatre World Award for her performance.
- Starred as Catherine in David Auburn's "Proof" at the Walter Kerr Theatre, directed by Daniel Sullivan (10/24/2000 - 1/5/2003). She won a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Drama League Award, an Obie Award and a New York Magazine Award for her performance. She also received the 2001 T. Schreiber Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre for her performance.
- Starred as Hedda Tesman in the Roundabout Theatre Company's new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler", directed by Ian Rickson at the American Airlines Theater (Spring 2009).
- Public service announcement for The ONE Campaign [www.one.org] (2005)
- Starred in a one-night performance of "Escape: 6 Ways to Get Away" at the Circle in the Square Theatre (January 31, 2005).
- Starred as Cherie in William Inge's "Bus Stop" at the Circle in the Square Theatre, directed by Josephine R. Abady (February 22 - March 17, 1996).
- Starred as Rachel in the revival of Craig Lucas' "Reckless" at the Biltmore Theatre, directed by Mark Brokaw (October 14 - December 19, 2004). She was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance.
- Starred in Sarah Ruhl's "Dead Man's Cellphone" alongside Kathleen Chalfant at the Playwrights Horizons, directed by Anne Bogart (February 8 - March 25, 2008).
- Appeared alongside Mark Lamos and Mary Layne in "The Importance of Being Ernest" at The Hartford Stage (Hartford, Connecticut) 1989/90
|
- Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1990" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 42.
- Her critically acclaimed role as a jaded London prostitute named Poopay in "Communicating Doors" played in New York City at the Variety Arts Theatre on Third Avenue, 1998.
- Is part Swedish.
- Performed in "Proof," which first opened at Manhattan Theatre Club, then moving to Broadway. She won the Tony award for Best Actress in a Play for this in 2001.
- The 'Counting Crows' (qv) song "Butterfly in Reverse" was written for her.
- Graduated from the prestigious North Carolina School of Arts.
- Split with actor 'Billy Crudup' (qv) in November of 2003, after seven years. She was seven months pregnant with his child at the time.
- Son, William Atticus, born 7 January 2004.
- Won Broadway's 2001 Tony Award as Best Actress (Play) for "Proof." She had previously received a Tony nomination in the same category in 1990 for "Prelude to a Kiss."
- Nominated for the 2005 Tony Award for "Reckless" (Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play).
- For the film _The Best Thief in the World (2004)_ (qv), originally 'Eric Stoltz' (qv) was offered the role of her husband, but Mary-Louise Parker wanted someone older so asked the producers to hire the actor 'David Warshofsky' (qv). The film never received a theatrical release.
- Turned down the opportunity to replace 'Shannen Doherty' (qv) on _"Charmed" (1998)_ (qv).
- Considered for the role of Susan Mayer in _"Desperate Housewives" (2004)_ (qv).
- [April 8, 2008] Broke up with her _"Weeds" (2005)_ (qv) co-star, 'Jeffrey Dean Morgan' (qv). Later reconciled and became engaged and then broke engagement.
- At age 43, she adopted her second child, a baby girl from Africa, named Ash. This is apparently a shortened version of her birth name, Aberash. The girl's full name is Caroline Aberash Parker.
- Good friend of 'Shelby Lynne' (qv).
- Loves Corona beer. Loves to listen to albums by 'Willie Nelson' (qv), 'Frank Sinatra' (qv), 'Chet Baker (I)' (qv) and 'Tom Waits' (qv).
- Hated school.
- Was author 'Stephenie Meyer' (qv)'s original choice for the role of "Esme Cullen" in the film adaptation of her novel, _Twilight (2008/I)_ (qv).
|
