Mary McCormack | |
|---|---|
 McCormack in 2022 | |
| Born | Mary Catherine McCormack (1969-02-08)February 8, 1969 (age 56) Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Citizenship | American |
| Education | Trinity College (BA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Bridget Mary McCormack (sister) Will McCormack (brother) |
Mary Catherine McCormack (born February 8, 1969[1]) is an American actress.
She has had leading roles as Justine Appleton on the seriesMurder One (1995–1997), as Deputy National Security AdviserKate Harper onThe West Wing (2004–2006), as Deputy U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon onIn Plain Sight (2008–2012), and as Peggy on the comedy seriesThe Kids Are Alright (2018–2019).
McCormack's film roles includePrivate Parts (1997),Deep Impact (1998),True Crime (1999),Mystery, Alaska (1999),K-PAX (2001),Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003) and1408 (2007).
McCormack was born inPlainfield, New Jersey.[1] She is the daughter of clinical therapist Norah and car dealership and ice cream parlor owner William McCormack.[2] Her parents divorced in 1990.[3] Her sisterBridget was the chief justice of theMichigan Supreme Court[4] and a professor of law at theUniversity of Michigan Law School.[5] Her brotherWilliam is an actor, writer and producer[6] who has appeared in a recurring role as FBI agent Robert O'Connor onIn Plain Sight.
In 1987, McCormack graduated from theWardlaw-Hartridge School inEdison, New Jersey. In 1991, she received her BA in comparative arts, specifically painting and creative writing, fromTrinity College inHartford, Connecticut.[7]
McCormack began her acting career at age 12, performing inGian Carlo Menotti'sChristmas operaAmahl and the Night Visitors.[8] She continued her stage work in musicals and finished an acting program at theWilliam Esper Studio.[3] She has worked inNew York theater productions, including TheAtlantic Theater Company, Alice's 4th Floor, andNaked Angels,[1] where she appeared inJon Robin Baitz'sA Fair Country.[9]
McCormack portrayed Justine Appleton onMurder One (1995–1997)[3] and also starred in theHBO seriesK Street.[10] She starred inHoward Stern's moviePrivate Parts in 1997.[3] In 2004, McCormack joined the cast ofThe West Wing asDeputy National Security Advisor and ex-CIA officerKate Harper. Her character soon became a recurring role throughout the last three seasons.[11]
McCormack starred in theUSA Network seriesIn Plain Sight. She portrayed Mary Shannon, a deputy United States marshal attached to theAlbuquerque, New Mexico, office of the Federal Witness Security Program (WITSEC), more commonly known as theFederal Witness Protection Program. On July 28, 2010, the show was renewed for its fourth and fifth seasons, to run in 2011 and 2012.[12] The show was ended in 2011, making the fifth season its last.[13] After its end, McCormack was cast as the lead inKari Lizer's untitled comedy pilot onABC.[14]
McCormack was nominated for the 2008Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for the role of Gretchen in the 2008Broadway revival ofBoeing Boeing.[15]
McCormack appeared seven times as a guest onThe Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. On her fourth visit in 2009, she gave the host,Craig Ferguson, a novelty coffee mug in the shape of arattlesnake from the gift shop of theAmerican International Rattlesnake Museum inAlbuquerque. Ferguson promised to use this mug on all future shows and kept his promise.[16][17] After his last show, he donated the mug back to the museum.[18]
In 2012, McCormack reunited with the cast ofThe West Wing to film a video that served both as a reminder that U.S. voters should vote for nonpartisan candidates when they cast their ballots and as a video promoting McCormack's sister's ultimately successful judicial candidacy for the Michigan State Supreme Court.[19]
In October 2013, McCormack started filming scenes forThe Crash (previously titledA Conspiracy on Jekyll Island) alongsideFrank Grillo,AnnaSophia Robb,Minnie Driver,Dianna Agron,John Leguizamo,Ed Westwick,Christopher McDonald andMaggie Q.[20] The film is directed by Aram Rappaport and produced by Hilary Shor, Atit Shah and Aaron Becker.[21][22][23] The film had a direct-to-VOD andlimited release on January 13, 2017, in North America.[24]
In 2016, McCormack played a supporting role in theAmazon.com exclusive specialAn American Girl Story – Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas alongsideAlyvia Alyn Lind, who played the title character.[25]
In 2018, McCormack began starring in the ABC sitcomThe Kids Are Alright as Catholic family matriarch Peggy Cleary. ABC canceled the series after one season.[26]
In 2021, McCormack began starring in the Starz dramaHeels as Willie Day, the protagonist's business partner. Starz canceled the series after two seasons.[27]
In July 2003, McCormack married director and producerMichael Morris.[28] Together they have three children.[29]
McCormack and Morris are executive producers of the game show25 Words or Less, hosted byMeredith Vieira. McCormack is a frequent celebrity panelist on the show, as are fellow executive producersLisa Kudrow andDan Bucatinsky.[30][31]
McCormack is the godmother ofIn Plain Sight co-starFred Weller's daughter.[32]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Miracle on 34th Street | Myrna Foy | |
| 1995 | Backfire! | Sarah Jackson | |
| 1997 | Colin Fitz Lives! | Moira | |
| 1997 | Private Parts | Alison Stern | |
| 1997 | Fathers' Day | Virginia Farrell | Uncredited |
| 1997 | The Alarmist | Sally | |
| 1998 | Deep Impact | Andrea Baker | |
| 1998 | Harvest | Agent Becka Anslinger | |
| 1999 | Getting to Know You | Leila Lee | |
| 1999 | True Crime | Michelle Ziegler | |
| 1999 | Mystery, Alaska | Donna Biebe | |
| 1999 | The Big Tease | Monique | |
| 2000 | Other Voices | Anna | |
| 2000 | The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy | Anne | |
| 2000 | Gun Shy | Gloria Minetti-Nesstra | |
| 2000 | East of A | Daphne | |
| 2001 | BigLove | Phoebe | Short film |
| 2001 | High Heels and Low Lifes | Frances | |
| 2001 | World Traveler | Margaret | |
| 2001 | K-PAX | Rachel Powell | |
| 2002 | Full Frontal | Linda | |
| 2003 | Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | Grace Finney | |
| 2005 | Madison | Bonnie McCormick | |
| 2006 | Right at Your Door | Lexi | |
| 2006 | For Your Consideration | Pilgrim Woman | |
| 2007 | 1408 | Lily | |
| 2009 | Streetcar | Casting Director | Short film |
| 2012 | Should've Been Romeo | Ellen | |
| 2014 | Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery | Ms. Richards | |
| 2015 | A Country Called Home | Amanda | |
| 2016 | An American Girl Story – Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas | Kay Larkin | |
| 2017 | The Crash | Sarah Schwab | |
| 2017 | Drone | Ellen Wistin | |
| 2017 | Alien Code | Rebecca Stillman | |
| 2020 | Unpregnant | Debra Clarke | |
| TBA | Vicious | TBA | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Law & Order | Rickie | Episode: "Doubles" |
| 1994 | Roseanne | Michele | Episode: "Isn't It Romantic?" |
| 1995 | The Wright Verdicts | Beth Eckhart | Episode: "Family Matters" |
| 1995–1997 | Murder One | Justine Appleton | Main role; 41 episodes |
| 1997 | Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer | Justine Appleton | TV mini-series |
| 2001 | More, Patience | Patience More | TV movie |
| 2002 | Julie Lydecker | Julie Lydecker | TV movie |
| 2003 | K Street | Maggie Morris | Main role; 10 episodes |
| 2003, 2006 | ER | Debbie | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
| 2004 | Traffic | Carole McKay | TV mini-series Nominated –Prism Award for Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries (2005) |
| 2004–2006 | The West Wing | Kate Harper | Recurring role (season 5); main role (seasons 6–7); 48 episodes Nominated –Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series(2005, 2006) |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Deputy US Marshal Mary Shannon | Episode: "Contract" |
| 2008–2012 | In Plain Sight | Deputy US Marshal Mary Shannon | Lead role; 61 episodes Nominated –Prism Award for Performance in a Drama Episode (2009) |
| 2013 | Welcome to the Family | Caroline Yoder | Main role; 5 episodes |
| 2013 | Escape from Polygamy | Leann | TV movie |
| 2014 | Scandal | Lisa Elliot | Episode: "The State of the Union" |
| 2014 | The Newsroom | Molly | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | House of Lies | Denna Altshuler | Recurring role; 7 episodes |
| 2016 | Divorce | Kathy DeSantis | Episode: "Weekend Plans" |
| 2016–2017 | Chelsea | Herself | Recurring role; 8 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Angie Tribeca | Abigail Liukin | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| 2017 | When We Rise | Roberta Kaplan | TV mini-series |
| 2017 | Loaded | Casey | Main role; 8 episodes |
| 2018–present | 25 Words or Less | Herself | Recurring guest, also executive producer |
| 2018 | Falling Water | Taylor Bennett | Recurring role; 8 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | Will & Grace | Janet Adler | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | For the People | Chloe Daniels | Episode: "The Library Fountain" |
| 2018–2019 | The Kids Are Alright | Peggy Cleary | Main role, 23 episodes |
| 2019 | Into the Dark | Lilith | Episode: "Treehouse" |
| 2021–2023 | Heels | Willie Day | Main role, 16 episodes[33][34] |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | In Plain Sight | Episode: "Father Goes West" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | Replacement |
| 2008 | Boeing-Boeing | Gretchen |
