Mary Mara

Mary T. Mara (September 21, 1960 – June 26, 2022) was an American television and film actress known for her main role as Inspector Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges and appearances on primetime dramas ER and Law & Order. She also appeared in Mr. Saturday Night.

Mary Mara
Publicity photo
Born(1960-09-21)September 21, 1960
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 26, 2022(2022-06-26) (aged 61)
Cape Vincent, New York, U.S.
EducationCorcoran High School
Alma materSan Francisco State University
Yale University
OccupationActress
Years active1989–2020

Early life and education

Mara was born in Syracuse, New York, on September 21, 1960.[1][2] Her father, Roger, worked as the director of special events for the New York State Fair; her mother, Lucille, was an accountant.[1] Mara had a brother and two sisters.[2] She attended Corcoran High School in Syracuse.[3] After graduating, she studied at San Francisco State University and the Yale School of Drama,[2][4] obtaining a Master of Fine Arts from the latter institution.[1]

Career

Mara made her film debut in the 1989 television film The Preppie Murder.[2][5] In the same year, she participated in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of Twelfth Night, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Goldblum and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. She later featured in Mr. Saturday Night (1992), starring alongside Billy Crystal as his character's estranged daughter.[1]

Mara's breakthrough role came on ER, which was the most popular medical drama airing on prime time television during the mid-1990s.[2] She played Loretta Sweets, a patient with cervical cancer, in nine episodes from 1995 to 1996.[1][2] This helped spur her into the starring role of Inspector Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges from 1996 to 1997.[2] When reflecting on that role several years later, she noted that it was a "male-dominated show", adding that although the writers "started to write for me really well about halfway through the season", the producers "were afraid I would stand out too much."[1] She also featured on shows such as Law & Order, NYPD Blue, and Ally McBeal around this time.[2]

During the later part of her career, Mara appeared as a recurring character in Dexter (2009) as Valerie Hodges and Ray Donovan (2013) as Mrs. Sullivan.[2] She also starred in the horror film Prom Night (2008).[1] Her final role was in the 2020 film Break Even.[2][5] After appearing in the film, Mara retired from acting.[5]

Personal life

Mara lived a bicoastal life at New York City and Southern California.[6] According to Jon Lindstrom, she underwent chemotherapy for cancer in 2008, when they performed together in the play In Heat by Malcolm Danare.[2][7] Following her retirement from acting, she returned to Syracuse.[5] She resided in Cape Vincent, New York, at the time of her death. Mara had a stepdaughter.[1][2]

Mara drowned on the morning of June 26, 2022, in Cape Vincent while swimming in the St. Lawrence River. She was 61.[5][8][9] Tributes to Mara were posted on social media by Billy Crystal, Annette O'Toole, and Jon Lindstrom.[7] Her death was ruled an accident.[10]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1989 The Preppie Murder[11][12] Susan Bird Television film
Film debut
1990 Blue Steel[11][13] Wife
1991 The Hard Way[11][14] Detective China
True Colors[11][13] Sophia Palmeri
Out of the Rain[12][14] Trisha
1992 Mr. Saturday Night[13][14] Susan
Love Potion No. 9[13][14] Marisa
1995 Just Looking[11][14] Alicia
Indictment: The McMartin Trial[12] Detective Jane Hoag
1996 Bound[13][14] Sue the Bartender
What Kind of Mother Are You?[11][14] Marcy Hackman Television film
1998 A Civil Action[11][12] Kathy Boyer
1999 Switched at Birth[11][12] Judy Television film
2001 Stranger Inside[11][14] Tanya Television film
Lloyd[11][14] JoAnn
K-PAX[11][14] Abby
2002
Saint Sinner[11][14] Munkar Television film
2006 Undoing[11][12] Kasawa
Gridiron Gang[12] Kenny's mom
2008 Prom Night[11][14] Mrs. Waters
2020 Break Even[1][2] Molly

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1993, 1999 Law & Order[12][14] Mrs. Sharkey/Sally Knight 2 episodes
1994, 1998 NYPD Blue[12][14] Linda Walker/Theresa Carlin 2 episodes
1995–96 ER[12][14] Loretta Sweet 9 episodes
1996–97 Nash Bridges[14] Inspector Bryn Carson Main character, seasons 1–2
1997 Dellaventura[14] Anne Morgan Episode: "Clean Slate"
Spicy City[15] Alice / Geisha Voice
1998 The Visitor[14] Magnolia Vale Episode: "The Chain"
1999 Ally McBeal[12][14] Julie Stall Episode: "Angels and Blimps"
Farscape[12][14] Lyneea Episode: "I, E.T."
Profiler[12] Mrs. Atkins Episode: "Infidelity"
G vs E[14] Leona Episode: "Evilator"
2001 The Practice[12][14] Dr. Jane Lefkowitz 2 episodes
Gideon's Crossing[12][14] Dr. Jane Lefkowitz 2 episodes
Becker[12][14] Beth Episode: "Really Good Advice"
Judging Amy[12][14] Deborah Mahaffey Episode: "Hold on Tight"
The West Wing[12][14] Sherri Wexler Episode: "On the Day Before"
Third Watch[12] Mrs. Jensen 2 episodes
2002 Boston Public[12][14] Pauline Campbell Episode: "Chapter Thirty-Two"
Philly[14] Melissa Cannon Episode: "Meat Me in Philly"
Crossing Jordan[12][14] Denise Tremaine Episode: "Lost and Found"
2003–04 The Handler[12][14] Camille 3 episodes
2004 The Guardian[12][14] Alison Scanlon Episode: "The Watchers"
Star Trek: Enterprise[12][14] Sphere Builder Presage 3 episodes
Without a Trace[14] Mrs. Corcoran Episode: "In the Dark"
7th Heaven[4] Nurse Episode: "Gratitude"
Joan of Arcadia[14] Sarah Polonsky Episode: "The Book of Questions"
2005 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit[12][14] Carlene Ballentine Episode: "Pure"
Monk[12][14] Treesa Crane Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Kid"
Nip/Tuck[14] Natalie Holden Episode: "Sal Perri"
2006 Bones[12][14] Helen Bronson Episode: "The Woman in the Tunnel"
2009 Dexter[12][14] Valerie Hodges 3 episodes
Lost[12][14] Jill 2 episodes
Lie to Me[12][14] Krentz Episode: "Control Factor"
Saving Grace[14] Zoe Episode: "She's a Lump"
2013 Ray Donovan[12][14] Mrs. Sullivan 4 episodes
Shameless[16] Nance 2 episodes
2014 Criminal Minds[12][14] Judith Anderson Episode: "Mr. and Mrs. Anderson"
General Hospital[17][18] Selma

References
  1. Padnani, Amisha (June 29, 2022). "Mary Mara, Actress on 'ER,' 'Dexter' and 'Nash Bridges,' Dies at 61". The New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  2. Bella, Timothy (June 28, 2022). "'ER' actress Mary Mara dies after apparent drowning in New York river". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  3. Stevenson, Darian (June 27, 2022). "TV, movie actress Mary Mara, a Syracuse native, drowns in St. Lawrence River". syracuse.com. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  4. Perez, Lexy (June 27, 2022). "Mary Mara, Actress in 'ER' and 'Law & Order', Dies at 61". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  5. Chapman, Wilson (June 27, 2022). "Mary Mara, 'ER' and 'Law and Order' Actor, Dies at 61 in Apparent Drowning". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  6. Garner, Glenn (June 27, 2022). "ER Actress Mary Mara Dead at 61 After Apparent Drowning in NY River: 'Everyone Loved Her'". People.
  7. Jackson, Dory (June 28, 2022). "Mary Mara's Family Remembers Gifted ER Actress Who 'Just Missed Stardom but Always Played for Winning Teams'". People.
  8. Petski, Denise (June 27, 2022). "Mary Mara Dies In Apparent Drowning: 'Nash Bridges', 'ER', 'Law & Order: SVU' Actor Was 61". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  9. Perez, Lexy (June 28, 2022). "Mary Mara, Actress in 'ER' and 'Law & Order', Dies at 61". The Hollywood Reporter.
  10. Petski, Denise (June 29, 2022). "'Nash Bridges' Actor Mary Mara's Cause Of Death Revealed". Deadline Hollywood.
  11. "Mary Mara – Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  12. "Mary Mara List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  13. "Mary Mara". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  14. "Mary Mara". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  15. Solomon, Charles (July 11, 1997). "'Spicy City': Adolescent Humor for Adults". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  16. Saad, Nardine (June 28, 2022). "Mary Mara, prolific TV and film star, dies in apparent drowning at 61". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  17. "Ins&Outs". See Ya, Mickey!. August 18, 2014. p. 12. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  18. "General Hospital Spoilers: Actress Mary Mara Arrives As Mickey Diamond's Sister Selma – Gives Alice His Heart and Saves Her?". celebritylaundry.com. MLRP Media Group. August 7, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
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