Mary McCormack

This article is about the actress. For the opera singer, see Mary McCormic. For the chief justice of Michigan, see Bridget Mary McCormack.

American actress (b. 1969)

Mary McCormack

McCormack in 2012

Born|

Mary Catherine McCormack

(1969-02-08) February 8, 1969 (age 54)

Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S.

Alma mater| Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut (BA, Comparative Arts, 1991)
Occupation| Actress
Years active| 1994-present
Spouse|

Michael Morris

(m. 2003)​

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 series Murder One (1995–1997), as Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper on The West Wing (2004–2006), as Deputy U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon on In Plain Sight (2008–2012), and as Peggy on the comedy series The Kids Are Alright (2018–2019).

McCormack's film roles include Private Parts (1997), Deep Impact (1998), True Crime (1999), Mystery, Alaska (1999), K-PAX (2001), Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003) and 1408 (2007).

## Early life[edit]

McCormack was born in Plainfield, 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 sister Bridget was the chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court[4] and a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School.[5] Her brother William is an actor, writer and producer[6] who has appeared in a recurring role as FBI agent Robert O'Connor on In Plain Sight.

In 1987, McCormack graduated from the Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison, New Jersey. In 1991, she received her BA in comparative arts, specifically painting and creative writing, from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.[7]

## Career[edit]

McCormack began her acting career at age 12, performing in Gian Carlo Menotti's Christmas opera Amahl and the Night Visitors.[8] She continued her stage work in musicals and finished an acting program at the William Esper Studio.[3] She has worked in New York theater productions, including The Atlantic Theater Company, Alice's 4th Floor, and Naked Angels,[1] where she appeared in Jon Robin Baitz's A Fair Country.[9]

McCormack portrayed Justine Appleton on Murder One (1995-1997)[3] and also starred in the HBO series K Street.[10] She starred in Howard Stern's movie Private Parts in 1997.[3] In 2004, McCormack joined the cast of The West Wing as Deputy National Security Advisor and ex-CIA officer Kate Harper. Her character soon became a recurring role throughout the last three seasons.[11]

McCormack starred in the USA Network series In Plain Sight. She portrayed Mary Shannon, a deputy United States marshal attached to the Albuquerque, New Mexico, office of the Federal Witness Security Program (WITSEC), more commonly known as the Federal 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 in Kari Lizer's untitled comedy pilot on ABC.[14]

McCormack was nominated for the 2008 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for the role of Gretchen in the 2008 Broadway revival of Boeing Boeing.[15]

McCormack appeared seven times as a guest on The 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 a rattlesnake from the gift shop of the American International Rattlesnake Museum in Albuquerque. 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 of The 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 for The Crash (previously titled A Conspiracy on Jekyll Island) alongside Frank Grillo, AnnaSophia Robb, Minnie Driver, Dianna Agron, John Leguizamo, Ed Westwick, Christopher McDonald and Maggie 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 and limited release on January 13, 2017, in North America.[24]

In 2016, McCormack played a supporting role in the Amazon.com exclusive special An American Girl Story – Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas alongside Alyvia Alyn Lind, who played the title character.

In 2018, McCormack began starring in the ABC sitcom The Kids Are Alright as Catholic family matriarch Peggy Cleary. ABC canceled the series after one season.[25]

## Personal life[edit]

In July 2003, McCormack married director and producer Michael Morris.[26] Together they have three children.[27]

McCormack and Morris are executive producers of the game show 25 Words or Less, hosted by Meredith Vieira. McCormack is a frequent celebrity panelist on the show, as are fellow executive producers Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky.

McCormack is the godmother of In Plain Sight co-star Fred Weller's daughter.[28]

## Filmography[edit]

### Film[edit]

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  |

### Television[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1994  | Law & Order | Rickie  | Episode: "Doubles"
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–present  | Heels | Willie Day  | 16 episodes[29][30]
As a producer  Year  | Title  | Notes

|
|

2010  | In Plain Sight | Episode: "Father Goes West"

## Theater[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1999  | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | Replacement
2008  | Boeing-Boeing | Gretchen  |

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Mary McCormack". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
2. ^ Mary McCormack Biography (1969-) Film Reference.com
3. ^ a b c d Michael A. Lipton (April 7, 1997). "Buddy Mary". People.com. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
4. ^ Mike Householder (November 9, 2012). "GOP Holds on to Michigan Supreme Court Majority". Insurance Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
5. ^ "Bridget M. McCormack, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Clinical Professor of Law" Archived 2012-09-24 at the Wayback Machine Bio at Michigan Law
6. ^ Frazier Moore (June 1, 2008). "'In Plain Sight': Mary McCormack relishes chance to play a character with flaws". The Herald. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
7. ^ "Trinity College Alumni Pages Class of 1991". Trinity College. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
8. ^ "Mary McCormack talks to female soldiers at Memorial Day concert". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
9. ^ "Mary McCormack | National Memorial Day Concert | PBS". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2012-02-19). "Mary McCormack Set As The Lead In Kari Lizer's ABC Comedy Pilot". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
11. ^ James Hibberd (February 19, 2012). "'West Wing' actress to star in ABC comedy pilot". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
12. ^ Seidman, Robert (July 28, 2010). "'In Plain Sight' Renewed by USA for Two More Seasons". TVbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
13. ^ James Hibberd (August 11, 2011). "USA cancels In Plain Sight". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
14. ^ Vlada Gelman (February 19, 2012). "Mary McCormack Cast in ABC Comedy Pilot". TVLine.com. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
15. ^ Nominations Tony Awards
16. ^ A guide to Craig Ferguson’s weirdest traditions you’ll never see on late-night TV again after this year, The Washington Post, 29 April 2014
17. ^ Mary McCormack – Mother Of The RattleSnake Mug – 7/7 Visits on Youtube
18. ^ zoochat.com
19. ^ Dawson Bell (September 20, 2012). "West Wing casts reunites for Bridget Mary McCormack". www.mccormackforjustice.com. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
20. ^ Kroll,Justin (29 October 2013). "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
21. ^ Kroll, Justin (29 October 2013). "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
22. ^ Kroll, Justin (October 29, 2013). "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
23. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 2, 2013). "Mary McCormack Joins Ensemble 'Conspiracy on Jekyll Island'". Variety.
24. ^ "Frank Grillo Tries To Stop An Economic Cyber Attack In Trailer For 'The Crash'". 13 December 2016.
25. ^ Mason, Charlie (May 10, 2019). "The Kids Are Alright Cancelled at ABC". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
26. ^ Jordan, Julie (April 22, 2011). "Mary McCormack Expecting Third Child". People.
27. ^ Jordan, Julie (September 11, 2011). "Mary McCormack Welcomes a Daughter". People. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
28. ^ Brian Gallagher (June 1, 2008). "Mary McCormack and Frederick Weller Dish on In Plain Sight". Movieweb. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
29. ^ Petski, Denise (January 27, 2020). "'Heels': Kelli Berglund Joins Starz's Wrestling Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood.
30. ^ "Independent Wrestling Drama 'Heels' Sets Series Debut Date on Starz". May 3, 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Mary McCormack at IMDb
* Mary McCormack at the Internet Broadway Database

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Spain
* France
* BnF data
* Germany
* Israel
* United States
* Netherlands
* Poland

Other|

* IdRef

*[m.]: married