Ally Walker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Allene Damian Walker (1961-08-25)August 25, 1961 (age 63) Tullahoma, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of California, Santa Cruz B.S.,Biochemistry |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Allene Damian "Ally"Walker (born August 25, 1961) is an American actress. She made her television debut in the NBC daytime soap operaSanta Barbara (1988) before landing the leading roles on the short-lived dramasTrue Blue (1989–1990), andMoon Over Miami (1993).
During the 1990s, Walker had roles in films such asUniversal Soldier (1992),Singles (1992),When the Bough Breaks (1994),While You Were Sleeping (1995),Kazaam (1996), andHappy, Texas (1999). From 1996 to 1999, she played the leading role of Doctor Samantha Waters in theNBC crime drama seriesProfiler, for which she received aSaturn Award for Best Actress on Television nomination. She returned to television with a role in theHBO drama seriesTell Me You Love Me (2007), and later played villainous AgentJune Stahl in theFX crime drama,Sons of Anarchy (2008–2010). Walker also had the leading role in the short-livedLifetime police drama seriesThe Protector in 2011. During seasons 4 and 5 (2014 and 2015) ofLongmire, she played Dr. Donna Monaghan, a therapist treating veterans who is the title character's love interest.
Walker was born inTullahoma, Tennessee, to James Joseph Walker, a physicist, and Louhannah (née Mann) who would become an attorney.[1] She grew up inSanta Fe, New Mexico, where her father worked at theLos Alamos National Laboratory. Originally intending to become a scientist, she attended theUniversity of California, Santa Cruz, where she earned a degree in biochemistry in 1983.[2][3] While spending a semester at Richmond College of Arts in London, UK, she discovered an interest in performing. After graduation, she worked for a time sequencing DNA at a genetic engineering company, but then sold all her possessions, traveled to Australia, surfed, and worked a series of jobs before returning to Los Angeles.[2] Although she planned to enter medical school, instead she became a model and obtained roles in commercials including asClairol’s “Nice & Easy Girl”.[2] Her acting career began when she was cast in the filmAloha Summer (1988), but her scene was cut from the final version.[3][4][dead link]
In early 1988, Walker joined the cast of NBC daytime soap operaSanta Barbara, playingAndrea Bedford.[3] Later that year, she began appearing on primetime television. During the 1989–90 television season, she played the female lead in the short-lived NBC crime drama seriesTrue Blue. She later guest-starred onMatlock,L.A. Law, andTales from the Crypt. She starred in the 1991 NBC television moviePerry Mason and the Case of the Fatal Fashion as murderer Julia Collier; the devious daughter ofDiana Muldaur's character. In 1993, she starred alongsideBilly Campbell in the short-livedABC comedy-drama,Moon Over Miami.[4][5]
In 1992, Walker played the female leading role oppositeJean-Claude Van Damme in the science-fiction action filmUniversal Soldier directed byRoland Emmerich.[6] Later that year, she playedSheila Kelley's grouchy roommate in theCameron Crowe romantic comedySingles.[7] Her first star-billed role was in the 1994 thrillerWhen the Bough Breaks.[8] In 1995, she had supporting roles inSandra Bullock's box-office hitWhile You Were Sleeping, andAndy García's flopSteal Big Steal Little.[9][10] The following year, Walker co-starred alongsideShaquille O'Neal in the fantasy comedy film,Kazaam.[10]
In 1996, Walker was listed as one ofPeople's "40 Most Fascinating People on TV".[11] The same year she was cast in the leading role as Doctor Samantha Waters in theNBC crime drama seriesProfiler, a role for which she received aSaturn Award for Best Actress on Television nomination in 1998, and aSatellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.[12] Walker starred as the series lead during the first three seasons, but left the show in the fall of 1999. She was replaced byJamie Luner as a new profiler during the show's final season.[13] Later in 1999, Walker co-starred oppositeSteve Zahn in the comedy filmHappy, Texas, and played the lead role in theLifetime television movie,If You Believe.[14][15]
In 2002, Walker returned to star in and produce the ABC pilot comedy calledMy Wonderful Life,[16] which was not picked up.[17] In 2005, she released a documentary filmFor Norman... Wherever You Are as director and producer, which screened at several film festivals.[18] She returned to the New York stage, appearing in a number ofOff-Broadway productions.[18] From 2005 to 2010, Walker played many guest roles on television, includingSleeper Cell,ER,The Shield,Boston Legal,Law & Order,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,Southland, andLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit.
In 2007, Walker starred in theHBO drama series about sexual relationships,Tell Me You Love Me.[19] The series was cancelled after a single season.[20] In 2009, she co-starred in filmsToe to Toe andWonderful World oppositeMatthew Broderick. From 2008 to 2010, Walker had the recurring role asATF AgentJune Stahl, a major antagonist on theFX crime drama seriesSons of Anarchy.[21]
In 2011, Walker played the leading role in theLifetime police drama seriesThe Protector, which revolves around a single mother who struggles to balance her family and professional life as anLAPD homicide detective.[22][23] The series was canceled after one season.[24] In 2014, she played the mother ofChyler Leigh's lead character in the short-lived NBC police procedural,Taxi Brooklyn.[25] She made her feature scripted film directing and writing debut withSex, Death and Bowling starringSelma Blair.[26][27] In 2015, she was cast in the recurring roles in theNetflix crime dramaLongmire,[28] andUSA Network thriller,Colony.[29] Most recently she appeared as Captain Ava Lafrey in the short-lived Fox horror-comedy sitcomGhosted (TV series) from 2017-2018.[30]
On June 14, 1997, Walker marriedJohn Landgraf, then a producer forNBC, at her parents' home inSanta Fe, New Mexico. The couple have three sons: Walker, Will, and Cal. She has a sister named Elizabeth and a brother named Jim.[31]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Aloha Summer | Scenes deleted | |
| 1991 | Eye of the Storm | Killer Girl | |
| 1991 | Ragin' Cajun | Kati | |
| 1992 | Universal Soldier | Veronica Roberts | |
| 1992 | Singles | Pam | |
| 1993 | The Seventh Coin | Lisa | |
| 1994 | When the Bough Breaks | Audrey Macleah | |
| 1995 | Just Looking | Sherrie | |
| 1995 | Someone to Die For | Alex Donaldson | |
| 1995 | While You Were Sleeping | Ashley Bartlett Bacon | |
| 1995 | Steal Big Steal Little | Bonnie Martin | |
| 1996 | Bed of Roses | Wendy | |
| 1996 | Kazaam | Alice Connor | |
| 1997 | Brittle Glory | Elise Rosen | |
| 1998 | Welcome to Hollywood | Herself | |
| 1999 | Happy, Texas | Josephine "Joe" McClintock the Banker | |
| 2005 | For Norman... Wherever You Are | Documentary; director and producer | |
| 2007 | By Appointment Only | Val Spencer | Also writer |
| 2009 | Toe to Toe | Claire | |
| 2009 | Wonderful World | Eliza | |
| 2013 | Angel's Perch | Judy | |
| 2013 | Mischief Night | Dr. Pomock | |
| 2014 | April Rain | Linda | |
| 2015 | Sex, Death and Bowling | Director, writer and producer | |
| 2020 | When We Kill the Creators | Walker |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Santa Barbara | Andrea Bedford | Series regular (94 episodes) |
| 1989 | Swimsuit | Romella | Television film |
| 1989–1990 | True Blue | Officer Jessica Haley | Series regular (12 episodes) |
| 1990 | Matlock | Renee Williams | Episode: "The Biker" |
| 1991 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion | Julia Collier | Television film |
| 1991 | L.A. Law | Christina Shepherd | Episodes: "Pump It Up” and “Mutinies on the Banzai” |
| 1991 | Tales from the Crypt | Elaine Tillman | Episode: "Mournin' Mess" |
| 1992 | The Witches of Eastwick | Alexandra Spofford | Pilot |
| 1993 | Moon Over Miami | Gwen Cross | Series regular, 13 episodes |
| 1996 | Wings | Melissa Williams | Episode: "Love at First Flight" |
| 1996–1999 | Profiler | Doctor Samantha Waters | Series regular (64 episodes) Nominated –Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television (1998) andBest Actress – Television Series Drama (1998) |
| 1999 | The Pretender | Doctor Samantha Waters | Episode: "End Game" |
| 1999 | If You Believe | Susan Stone | Television film |
| 2002 | My Wonderful Life | Billie | Pilot |
| 2005 | Sleeper Cell | Lynn Ellen Emerson | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | ER | Fran Bevens | Episode: "Body & Soul" |
| 2006 | The Shield | Tori Burke | Episode: "Postpartum" |
| 2007 | American Dad! | Melinda (voice) | Episode: "Four Little Words" |
| 2007 | Tell Me You Love Me | Katie | Series regular (10 episodes) |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | Attorney Phoebe Prentice | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Law & Order | Gretchen Steel | Episode: "Driven" |
| 2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Rita Nettles | Episode: "Hog Heaven" |
| 2009 | Southland | Dr. Merrill Matthews | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Fran Stanton | Episode: "Conned" |
| 2008–2010 | Sons of Anarchy | Agent June Stahl | 19 episodes |
| 2011 | The Protector | Gloria Sheppard | Series regular (13 episodes) |
| 2014 | Taxi Brooklyn | Frankie Sullivan | Series regular (12 episodes) |
| 2015–2016 | Longmire | Dr. Donna Monaghan | 8 episodes |
| 2016–2018 | Colony | Helena Goldwin | 16 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Ghosted | Capt. Ava Lafrey | Series regular (16 episodes) |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |