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Mary McDonnell

Mary McDonnell

Acting1952Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA

Biography

Mary Eileen McDonnell (born April 28, 1952) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She received Academy Award nominations for her roles as Stands With A Fist in Dances With Wolves and May-Alice Culhane in Passion Fish. McDonnell is well known for her performances as President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica, First Lady Marilyn Whitmore in Independence Day, and Rose in Donnie Darko. She was featured as Captain Sharon Raydor during seasons 5–7 of the TNT series The Closer and starred as Commander Sharon Raydor in the spin-off series Major Crimes on the same network. In 2023, she played Madeleine Usher in the miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix.

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Acting History

2025
Broke
as Kathy Brandywine
2023
The Fall of the House of Usher
TVas Madeline Usher8 eps
2021
Rebel
TVas Helen Peterson / Helen
2019
Veronica Mars
TVas Jane1 eps
2017
Fargo
TVas Ruby Goldfarb4 eps
2012
Major Crimes
TVas Captain Sharon Raydor105 eps
2011
Scream 4
as Kate Roberts
Margin Call
as Mary Rogers
The Closer
TVas Sharon Raydor / Captain Sharon Raydor / Sharon Raydor (archive footage) (uncredited)1 eps
2009
Hostile Makeover
as Rose Smithsonian
2008
Grey's Anatomy
TVas Virginia Dixon3 eps
2007
Battlestar Galactica: Razor
as President Laura Roslin
2006
Mrs. Harris
as Vivian Schulte
2004
Crazy Like a Fox
as Amy Banks
Battlestar Galactica
TVas Laura Roslin73 eps
2003
Nola
as Margaret Langworthy
Battlestar Galactica
TVas President Laura Roslin2 eps
2002
The Locket
as Helen Staples
Touched by an Angel
TVas Sister Theodore Claire1 eps
2001
Donnie Darko
as Rose Darko
ER
TVas Eleanor Carter5 eps
2000
For All Time
as Laura Brown
A Father's Choice
as Susan Shaw
1999
Mumford
as Althea Brockett
Replacing Dad
as Linda Marsh
Behind the Mask
as Mary Shushan
American Experience
TVas Narrator (voice)1 eps
Ryan Caulfield: Year One
TVas Rachel Caulfield
1998
1997
12 Angry Men
as Judge
Two Voices
as Sybil Goldrich
1995
High Society
TVas Dott Emerson13 eps
1994
Blue Chips
as Jenny
1993
The American Clock
as Rose Baumler
The Oscars
TVas Self1 eps
1992
Sneakers
as Liz
Passion Fish
as May-Alice Culhane
1991
Grand Canyon
as Claire
Golden Globe Awards
TVas Self2 eps
1990
1988
Tiger Warsaw
as Paula Warsaw
1987
Matewan
as Elma Radnor
1986
Courage
as Gabriella Estrada
1984
Garbo Talks
as Lady Capulet
E/R
TVas Eve Sheridan
1982
1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TVas Helen Staples

Social Media

Personal Info

Known For
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
4/28/1952(73 years old)
Place of Birth
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA