Brenda Strong | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Brenda Lee Strong (1960-03-25)March 25, 1960 (age 64) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Arizona State University (BMus) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Title | Miss Arizona 1980 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
Brenda Lee Strong[1][2] (born March 25, 1960) is an American actress.[3] She began her career in television, including guest starring appearances inTwin Peaks,Party of Five,Seinfeld,Scandal,Star Trek: The Next Generation,Blossom andSports Night. She also starred asMary Alice Young onDesperate Housewives (2004–12).
Strong had supporting roles in a number of films, includingStarship Troopers (1997),Black Dog (1998),The Deep End of the Ocean (1999),Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004) andThe Work and the Glory (2004). She is best known for her role asMary Alice Young in theABC television comedy-drama seriesDesperate Housewives (2004–2012), for which she was nominated for twoEmmy Awards.[4][5] Strong later starred asAnn Ewing in theTNT prime time soap operaDallas (2012–14).
In 2016, she guest starred as Queen Nia inThe 100, and undertook a recurring role asLillian Luthor onSupergirl. Strong appeared as a recurring character in the second season of the Netflix Original13 Reasons Why. In September 2018, Strong was promoted to series regular for its third season. She directed two episodes in season four.
Strong was born inPortland, Oregon, and was crownedMiss Arizona in 1980.[1] She earned aBachelor of Music degree fromArizona State University, where she graduatedmagna cum laude.[6]
Her first break after college was a spot inBilly Crystal's 1984 music video "You Look Marvelous".[1] Her first television appearances came in 1985 with brief stints onSt. Elsewhere,MacGyver, andCheers. She also made guest appearances onShadow Chasers,Hotel,Star Trek: The Next Generation,Matlock,Murphy Brown,Herman's Head, andBlossom. In 1990, she had a recurring role in the ABC seriesTwin Peaks. She made her film debut in 1986 comedy filmWeekend Warriors before having a supporting part inSpaceballs (1987).
In 1992, Strong starred in the short-lived CBS sitcomScorch. She spent the following decade playing recurring and guest starring roles in many dramatic and comedic shows. From 1996 to 1998, she appeared as Elaine's nemesisSue Ellen Mischke, the "bra-less wonder" and "Oh Henry!"candy bar heiress, on several episodes of NBC sitcomSeinfeld.[7] She also had recurring roles onParty of Five,7th Heaven andEverwood and guest starred on3rd Rock from the Sun,ER,Picket Fences,Silk Stalkings,Dawson's Creek,Any Day Now,Ally McBeal,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation andNip/Tuck.
From 1998 to 2000, she played Sally Sasser, the nemesis ofFelicity Huffman's Dana Whitaker, in the ABC comedy-dramaSports Night.[1][8] In early 2004, she starred as wealthy Arlene Ridgeway inThe WB short-lived sitcom,The Help.
Strong had roles in a number of films, includingMy Life,Malice, andThe Craft before being cast as Captain Deladier in the 1997 science fiction action filmStarship Troopers. Her character died in the original film, but she returned in a different role as Sergeant Dede Rake in the second film,Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation. In 1998, she starred oppositePatrick Swayze in the action filmBlack Dog, playing his wife.[9] The following year, she playedMichelle Pfeiffer's character's best friend in the drama filmThe Deep End of the Ocean. In 2000, she appeared in the horror anthologyTerror Tract and, in 2002, had a short part inRed Dragon.
Strong starred, mostly off-screen, onDesperate Housewives, oppositeFelicity Huffman,Marcia Cross,Eva Longoria andTeri Hatcher during the show's run from 2004 to 2012. She played the deceasedMary Alice Young, who narrates the events of her friends' and neighbors' lives from beyond the grave. Her narrations yielded an Emmy Award nomination forOutstanding Voice-Over Performance in 2011 and 2012. Along with the cast, she received twoScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2005 and 2006.[1] Strong's character narrated all but two episodes of the series. One of the two exceptions is the season 3 episode narrated bySteven Culp, after his character,Rex Van de Kamp, is killed by George Williams and he observes the lives of the men on the street. The other episode is during season 5 and is narrated byNicollette Sheridan, in which her character,Edie Britt, dies of a car crash, followed by electrocution.
Strong has appeared several times in flashbacks and in a dream episode in which Lynette struggles to understand why she could not stop Mary Alice's suicide. She played another deceased wife on the television seriesEverwood, appearing mainly in flashback sequences as the late Julia Brown. Coincidentally,Housewives co-star Marcia Cross played Dr. Linda Abbott, a love interest for Brown's widower, during the second season ofEverwood. Both Strong and Cross appear in season 9 ofSeinfeld (episodes 9 and 8 respectively).
In addition to her role onDesperate Housewives, Strong starred as Mary Ann Steed in the movie trilogyThe Work and the Glory, based on a bestselling series of the same name byGerald N. Lund.[10][11][12] She starred in the 2006Lifetime movieFamily in Hiding. Also in 2006, she playedTed Danson's love interest in the short-lived ABC comedy seriesHelp Me Help You. She also guest starred onCurb Your Enthusiasm as a love interest ofLarry David,Law & Order: Criminal Intent,Boston Legal, andRizzoli & Isles.
During her final year onDesperate Housewives, Strong signed on to playAnn Ewing, the third wife ofBobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) and new matriarch ofSouthfork Ranch, in theTNT seriesDallas, the revival of long-running CBS prime time soap operaof the same name.[13] Strong previously made a guest appearance in the original series in 1987 asCliff's one night stand.[14] The show premiered on June 13, 2012,[15] and was cancelled after three seasons in 2014.[16] During herDallas years, she began hostingInvestigation Discovery seriesBlood Relatives and played Joan Reston, the wife of Governor Samuel Reston, in two episodes ofShonda Rhimes' political seriesScandal.[17]
AfterDallas, Strong appeared in an episode ofNBC comedy proceduralThe Mysteries of Laura. In 2015, she joined the cast of the third season ofThe CW post-apocalyptic drama seriesThe 100, playing the role of Nia, Queen of the Ice Nation.[18][19] In 2016, Strong had a recurring role on season 2 ofFear the Walking Dead.[20] Later she joined the cast of The CW seriesSupergirl a recurring role asLillian Luthor.
In 2018, Strong appeared in the second season of Netflix series13 Reasons Why.[21] In 2018, Strong was promoted to series regular status for its third season.
A certifiedyoga instructor andfertility expert,[22] Strong has taught atUCLA's Mind/Body Institute and received an honoraryDoctorate of Science for her work regarding yoga and fertility from Yo San University.[6]
Strong married Tom Henri in July 1989; they have a son, Zakery Henri. She filed for divorce on January 14, 2011.[23] In May 2015, she married director-actor John Farmanesh-Bocca.[24]
In 2019, the actress won the Best First Time Filmmaker Award at theGI Film Festival San Diego for her directorial debut#3 Normandy Lane.[25]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Weekend Warriors | Danielle | |
| 1987 | Spaceballs | Nurse Gretchen | |
| 1989 | Skin Deep | Real Estate Agent | Uncredited |
| 1993 | My Life | Laura | |
| 1993 | Malice | Claudia | |
| 1996 | The Craft | Doctor | |
| 1997 | Starship Troopers | Captain Deladier | |
| 1998 | Get a Job | Emily LaCrosse | |
| 1998 | Black Dog | Melanie | |
| 1998 | Undercurrent | Renee Rivera | |
| 1999 | The Deep End of the Ocean | Ellen | |
| 2000 | Terror Tract | Dr. Helen Corey | |
| 2002 | Teddy Bears' Picnic | Jackie Sloane Chevron | |
| 2002 | Red Dragon | Dinner Guest | |
| 2003 | Missing Brendan | Joyce Calden | |
| 2003 | Exposed | Susan Andrews | |
| 2004 | Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation | Sergeant Dede Rake | |
| 2004 | The Work and the Glory | Mary Ann Steed | |
| 2005 | The Kid & I | Bonnie Roman | |
| 2007 | A Plumm Summer | Viv | |
| 2008 | Ocean of Pearls | Mary Stewart | |
| 2009 | You | Paula | |
| 2010 | Privileged | Mrs. Carrington | |
| 2012 | An Engagement | Mom | Short film |
| 2014 | Teacher of the Year | Ellen Behr | |
| 2014 | I Can See You | Marnie | Short film |
| 2015 | The Leisure Class | Charlotte | |
| 2019 | #3 Normandy Lane | Director | Short film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | St. Elsewhere | Nadine Aurora | Episode: "The Naked and the Dead" |
| 1985 | Misfits of Science | Miss Speedway | Episode: "Twin Engines" |
| 1985 | Shadow Chasers | Angela Taylor | Episode: "The Many Lies of Johnathan" |
| 1986 | MacGyver | Lila | Episode: "The Assassin" |
| 1986 | Cheers | Vicki | Episode: "The Cape Cad" |
| 1986 | Sledge Hammer! | Miss Hotchkins | Episode: "Miss of the Spiderwoman" |
| 1987 | Dallas | Cliff's One Night Stand | Episode: "Cat and Mouse" |
| 1987 | Hotel | Hilary Sinclair | Episode: "Revelations" |
| 1987 | Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues | Desiree | Television film |
| 1988 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Rashella | Episode: "When the Bough Breaks" |
| 1989 | Midnight Caller | Kristen | Episode: "No Exit" |
| 1989 | Hooperman | Nun | Episode: "The Nun and I" |
| 1989 | Matlock | Jan Sinclair | Episode: "The Model" |
| 1990 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Miss Cantrell/O'Grady | Episode: "The Perfect Cover Mystery" |
| 1990 | People Like Us | Brenda Primrose | Television film |
| 1991 | Anything but Love | Unknown | Episode: "My New Best Friend" |
| 1991 | Twin Peaks | Jones | 4 episodes |
| 1991–1992 | Blossom | Diane | 2 episodes |
| 1991 | Murphy Brown | Janine | Episode: "Eldin Inmates Life" |
| 1992 | Rachel Gunn, R.N. | Sheila | Episode: "I Dream of Squidhead" |
| 1992 | Scorch | Allison King | Series regular, 6 episodes |
| 1992 | Sibs | Naomi | Episode: "Warren and the Married Woman" |
| 1992 | Down the Shore | Eileen | Episode: "Turn of the Screw" |
| 1992 | Grapevine | Allison | Episode: "The Allison and Ken Story" |
| 1992 | Dark Justice | Jessica Sadler | Episode: "Happy Mothers Day" |
| 1992–1993 | Herman's Head | Dr. Holland | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Stepfather III | Lauren Sutliffe | Television film |
| 1993 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | Beatrice Kaufman | Episode: "Young Indian Jones and the Scandal of 1920" |
| 1993 | The Second Half | Heather | Episode: "Guess Who's Channeling Dinner?" |
| 1993 | Picket Fences | Sarah Evans | Episode: "Unlawful Entries" |
| 1993 | Silk Stalkings | Candy Grayson | Episode: "Ladies Night Out" |
| 1994 | Island City | Dr. Sammy Helding | Television pilot (notgreenlit) |
| 1994 | ER | Sally Niemeyer | Episode: "Into that Good Night" |
| 1996 | Murphy Brown | Tara Baker | Episode: "Casa Nova" |
| 1996 | The John Larroquette Show | Christine Taylor | Episode: "The Master Class" |
| 1996 | Party of Five | Kathleen Isley | 6 episodes |
| 1996–1997 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Miss Frost | 2 episodes |
| 1996–1997 | Seinfeld | Sue Ellen Mischke | 4 episodes |
| 1997 | Roar | Megan | Episode: "Traps" |
| 1997 | Chicago Sons | Nina | Episode: "Infrequent Flyers" |
| 1998–2000 | Sports Night | Sally Sasser | 7 episodes |
| 1998 | The Closer | Susan Bend | Episode: "The Rebound" |
| 1999 | Odd Man Out | Kasey Morton | Episode: "Good Will Hunting" |
| 1999 | Any Day Now | Jana Durham | Episode: "It's Not You, It's Me" |
| 1999 | Safe Harbor | Marilyn Conray | Episode: "Older Women, Younger Men" |
| 2000 | Get Real | Olivia Clark | Episode: "Guilt" |
| 2000 | The Michael Richards Show | Beth | Episode: "Discrimination" |
| 2000–2002 | 7th Heaven | Mrs. Carmen Mackoul | 8 episodes |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Jerry Hill | Episode: "Mr. Bo" |
| 2001 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dr. Leigh Sapien | Episode: "Overload" |
| 2001 | Thieves | Loretta | Episode: "Liver Let Die" |
| 2001 | Gilmore Girls | Eva | Episode: "Like Mother, Like Daughter" |
| 2001 | Dawson's Creek | Kay Liddell | Episode: "High Anxiety" |
| 2002 | Bram & Alice | Theresa | Episode: "Scribbling Rivalry" |
| 2002 | The Court | Marsha Palmer | 4 episodes |
| 2002 | Malcolm in the Middle | Amelia | Episode: "Family Reunion" |
| 2002–2005 | Everwood | Julia Brown | 5 episodes |
| 2003 | A.U.S.A. | Judge Kimberly Flynn | Episode: "The Joint Report...A Love Story" |
| 2003 | Nip/Tuck | Iris | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | The Lyon's Den | Rebecca McCandless | Episode: "Things She Said" |
| 2004 | The Help | Arlene Ridgeway | Series regular, 7 episodes |
| 2004 | Going to the Mat | Patty Newfield | Television film |
| 2004–2012 | Desperate Housewives | Mary Alice Young | Series regular, 179 episodes Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series(2005–2006) Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series(2007–2009) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance(2011–2012) |
| 2005 | The Work and the Glory II: American Zion | Mary Ann Steed | Television film |
| 2006 | Family in Hiding | Carol Peterson | Television film |
| 2006 | Just Legal | Liza Lynch | Episode: "The Bar" |
| 2006 | The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided | Mary Ann Steed | Television film |
| 2006–2007 | Help Me Help You | Linda | 4 episodes |
| 2007 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Dr. Flomm | Episode: "The N Word" |
| 2007 | Shark | Olivia Hartnell | Episode: "In Absentia" |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Kathy Jarrow | Episode: "Betrayed" |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | Judge Judy Beacon | Episode: "True Love" |
| 2010 | Scoundrels | Penny Priest | Episode: "Birds of a Feather Flock Together" |
| 2010 | Rizzoli & Isles | Mel Gaynor-Randle | Episode: "I Kissed a Girl" |
| 2012–2014 | Dallas | Ann Ewing | Series regular, 40 episodes |
| 2012; 2014 | Scandal | Joan Reston | Episodes: "All Roads Lead to Fitz", "The Fluffer" |
| 2012–2015 | Blood Relatives | Narrator | 32 episodes |
| 2014 | The Mysteries of Laura | Margot Preston | Episode: "The Mystery of the Mobile Murder" |
| 2015 | Bones | Senator Hayley Winters | Episode: "The Senator in the Street Sweeper" |
| 2015 | Ice Sculpture Christmas | Chef Gloria | Television film |
| 2016 | Chicago P.D. | Attorney Green | Episode: "Now I'm God" |
| 2016; 2019 | The 100 | Queen Nia | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Love by Chance | Helen | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2016 | Notorious | Maggie Sherman | Episode: "Missing" |
| 2016–2017 | Fear the Walking Dead | Ilene Stowe | 4 episodes |
| 2016–2021 | Supergirl | Lillian Luthor | 23 episodes |
| 2018–2020 | 13 Reasons Why | Nora Walker | 21 episodes; Also director (season 4) |
| 2020 | All Rise | Jean Ruberstone-Frost | Episode: "My Fair Lockdown" |
| 2023 | Unprisoned | Nadine Gregory | |
| 2023 | Sweeter Than Chocolate | Helen Sweet | TV Movie (Hallmark) |
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