Mary McCormack
Encyclopedia
Mary Catherine McCormack (born February 8, 1969) is an American actress. Best known for her work in television, she has had leading roles as Justine Appleton in the series Murder One
(1995–97), as Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper in The West Wing
(2004–06) and as Mary Shannon in In Plain Sight
(2008–present).
Her film roles include Private Parts
(1997); Deep Impact
(1998); True Crime
(1999); High Heels and Low Lifes
(2001); K-PAX
(2001); Right at Your Door
(2006) and 1408
(2007).
. She is the daughter of clinical therapist Norah and car dealership and ice cream parlor owner William McCormack. Her parents divorced in 1990. She has a sister Bridget, a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School
, and a brother William
, an actor who has appeared in a recurring role as FBI agent Robert O'Connor on In Plain Sight.
McCormack graduated from The Wardlaw-Hartridge School
in Edison
, New Jersey, in 1987 and went on to attend and graduate from Trinity College
in Hartford
, Connecticut, majoring in English and painting.
McCormack married Brothers & Sisters producer Michael Morris in July 2003. They have three daughters, Margaret (born 2004), Rose (born 2007), and Lillian (born September 10th, 2011). McCormack is the godmother of Fred Weller
's daughter.
, Amahl and the Night Visitors
. She continued her stage work in musicals and finished an acting program at the William Esper Studio
. She has worked in New York theater productions, including The Atlantic Theater Company
, Alice's 4th Floor and Naked Angels
, where she appeared in Jon Robin Baitz
's A Fair Country.
McCormack portrayed Justine Appleton on Murder One
(1995–1997) and also starred in the HBO series K Street
, which aired for only ten episodes. She starred in Howard Stern's movie Private Parts
. 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 and remained throughout the last three seasons of the series until its finale.
McCormack now stars in a television series broadcast on the USA Network
, In Plain Sight
. She plays 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.
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
.
Murder One (TV series)
Murder One is an American legal drama series that first aired on the ABC network in the United States in 1995. The series was created by Steven Bochco, Charles H. Eglee, and Channing Gibson.-Premise:...
(1995–97), as Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper in The West Wing
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
(2004–06) and as Mary Shannon in In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight is an American dramatic television series on USA Network. The series revolves around Mary Shannon , a Deputy United States Marshal attached to the Albuquerque, New Mexico office of the Federal Witness Security Program , more commonly known as the Federal Witness Protection Program...
(2008–present).
Her film roles include Private Parts
Private Parts (1997 film)
Private Parts is a 1997 American biographical comedy film produced by Ivan Reitman and released by Paramount Pictures. Written by Len Blum and Michael Kalesniko, the film is an adaptation of the 1993 best-selling book of the same name by radio personality Howard Stern, who stars as himself. It...
(1997); Deep Impact
Deep Impact (film)
Deep Impact is a 1998 science-fiction disaster-drama film released by Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks in the United States on May 8, 1998. The film was directed by Mimi Leder and stars Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, Téa Leoni, and Morgan Freeman...
(1998); True Crime
True Crime (1999 film)
True Crime is a 1999 American mystery drama film directed by Clint Eastwood, and based on Andrew Klavan's 1997 novel of the same name. Eastwood also stars in the film as a journalist covering the execution of a death row inmate, only to discover that the convict may actually be innocent.-Plot:Steve...
(1999); High Heels and Low Lifes
High Heels and Low Lifes
High Heels and Low Lifes is a 2001 action comedy-drama film starring Minnie Driver, Mary McCormack, Kevin McNally, Mark Williams, Danny Dyer and Michael Gambon. It was directed by Mel Smith and written by Kim Fuller and Georgia Pritchett...
(2001); K-PAX
K-PAX (film)
K-PAX is a 2001 American science fiction and mystery film directed by Iain Softley and starring Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Mary McCormack and Alfre Woodard. The screenplay, written by Gene Brewer and Charles Leavitt, is based on a novel of the same name by Brewer about a psychiatric patient who...
(2001); Right at Your Door
Right at Your Door
Right at Your Door is a 2006 American thriller film about a couple and follows the events surrounding them when multiple dirty bombs detonate in Los Angeles....
(2006) and 1408
1408 (film)
1408 is a 2007 American psychological horror film based on the Stephen King short story of the same name directed by Swedish director Mikael Håfström, who earlier had directed the horror film Drowning Ghost. The cast includes John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, and Mary McCormack. The film was released...
(2007).
Personal life
McCormack was born in Plainfield, New JerseyPlainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808....
. She is the daughter of clinical therapist Norah and car dealership and ice cream parlor owner William McCormack. Her parents divorced in 1990. She has a sister Bridget, a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
, and a brother William
Will McCormack
Will McCormack is an American television and film actor.McCormack, who graduated Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, is the younger brother of actress Mary McCormack, who stars in the hit USA TV series In Plain Sight....
, an actor who has appeared in a recurring role as FBI agent Robert O'Connor on In Plain Sight.
McCormack graduated from The Wardlaw-Hartridge School
Wardlaw-Hartridge School
The Wardlaw-Hartridge School is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational day school located in Edison, New Jersey, United States, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is commonly referred to as Wardlaw or W-H...
in Edison
Edison, New Jersey
Edison Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. What is now Edison Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1870, from portions of both Piscataway Township and Woodbridge Township...
, New Jersey, in 1987 and went on to attend and graduate from Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
in Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, Connecticut, majoring in English and painting.
McCormack married Brothers & Sisters producer Michael Morris in July 2003. They have three daughters, Margaret (born 2004), Rose (born 2007), and Lillian (born September 10th, 2011). McCormack is the godmother of Fred Weller
Fred Weller
Frederick Weller is an American actor.- Personal life :Weller was born in New Orleans and is a cousin of actor Peter Weller. He is a graduate of Jesuit High School, a Catholic all-boys high school in New Orleans, and the University of North Carolina. He married Ali Marsh on September 6, 2003...
's daughter.
Career
McCormack began her acting career at age 12, performing in Gian Carlo Menotti's Christmas operaOpera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Amahl and the Night Visitors is an opera in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti with an original English libretto by the composer. It was commissioned by NBC and first performed by the NBC Opera Theatre on December 24, 1951, in New York City at NBC studio 8H in Rockefeller Center, where it was broadcast...
. She continued her stage work in musicals and finished an acting program at the William Esper Studio
William Esper Studio
The William Esper Studio is a school for the performing arts located in Manhattan, New York; the school was founded in 1965.-Background:When William "Bill" Esper was a young man, he saw Eli Wallach and Maureen Stapleton in a touring production of The Rose Tattoo ... "[I] was so struck by the...
. She has worked in New York theater productions, including The Atlantic Theater Company
Atlantic Theater Company
Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater, whose mission is to produce great plays "simply and truthfully utilizing an artistic ensemble." The company was founded in 1985 by David Mamet, William H. Macy, and 30 of their acting students from New York University, inspired by the...
, Alice's 4th Floor and Naked Angels
Naked Angels (theater company)
Naked Angels is an American theater company founded in 1986 and based in New York City. It was named after John Tytell’s book about the Beat Generation, Naked Angels...
, where she appeared in Jon Robin Baitz
Jon Robin Baitz
Jon Robin Baitz is an American playwright, screenwriter, television producer and sometime actor.-Life and career:Baitz was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Edward Baitz, an executive of the Carnation Company. Baitz was raised in Brazil and South Africa before the family returned to...
's A Fair Country.
McCormack portrayed Justine Appleton on Murder One
Murder One (TV series)
Murder One is an American legal drama series that first aired on the ABC network in the United States in 1995. The series was created by Steven Bochco, Charles H. Eglee, and Channing Gibson.-Premise:...
(1995–1997) and also starred in the HBO series K Street
K Street (TV series)
K Street is a 2003 HBO television series about lobbyists and politicians in Washington, D.C. It was named for a street that is home to many lobbying and legal firms.-Format:...
, which aired for only ten episodes. She starred in Howard Stern's movie Private Parts
Private Parts (1997 film)
Private Parts is a 1997 American biographical comedy film produced by Ivan Reitman and released by Paramount Pictures. Written by Len Blum and Michael Kalesniko, the film is an adaptation of the 1993 best-selling book of the same name by radio personality Howard Stern, who stars as himself. It...
. In 2004, McCormack joined the cast of The West Wing
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
as Deputy National Security Advisor and ex-CIA officer Kate Harper. Her character soon became a recurring role and remained throughout the last three seasons of the series until its finale.
McCormack now stars in a television series broadcast on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
, In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight is an American dramatic television series on USA Network. The series revolves around Mary Shannon , a Deputy United States Marshal attached to the Albuquerque, New Mexico office of the Federal Witness Security Program , more commonly known as the Federal Witness Protection Program...
. She plays 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.
McCormack was nominated for the 2008 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
This is a list of winners and nomination of the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress. The award was first presented in 1947.-1940s:* 1947: Patricia Neal – Another Part of the Forest* 1949: Shirley Booth – Goodbye, My Fancy-1950s:...
for the role of Gretchen in the 2008 Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
revival of Boeing Boeing
Boeing Boeing (play)
Boeing-Boeing is a classic farce written by French playwright Marc Camoletti. The English language adaptation, translated by Beverley Cross, was first staged in London at the Apollo Theatre in 1962 and transferred to the Duchess Theatre in 1965, running for a total of seven years...
.
Filmography
| Filmography | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Law & Order Law & Order Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,... |
Rickie | Episode: "Doubles Doubles Doubles may refer to:* Doubles , Trinidadian food* Double , a two-base hit* Doubles , in sports like tennis and badminton refers to games with two players on each side... " |
| Miracle on 34th Street Miracle on 34th Street (1994 film) Miracle on 34th Street is a 1994 American fantasy film directed by Les Mayfield. It is the fourth remake of the original 1947 film. Like the original, this film was released by 20th Century Fox... |
Myrna Foy | Uncredited | |
| 1995 | Backfire! | Sarah Jackson | |
| 1995–1997 | Murder One Murder One (TV series) Murder One is an American legal drama series that first aired on the ABC network in the United States in 1995. The series was created by Steven Bochco, Charles H. Eglee, and Channing Gibson.-Premise:... |
Justine Appleton | 41 episodes |
| 1997 | Colin Fitz Lives! Colin Fitz Lives! Colin Fitz Lives!, also known simply as Colin Fitz is a 1997 Independent film directed by Robert Bella. Though it received many film festival awards, it was never released to theatres. In August 2010, IFC Films released a newly remastered version of the film as part of its Video On Demand... |
Moira | |
| Private Parts Private Parts (1997 film) Private Parts is a 1997 American biographical comedy film produced by Ivan Reitman and released by Paramount Pictures. Written by Len Blum and Michael Kalesniko, the film is an adaptation of the 1993 best-selling book of the same name by radio personality Howard Stern, who stars as himself. It... |
Alison Stern | ||
| Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer | Justine Appleton | TV mini-series | |
| Fathers' Day Fathers' Day (film) Fathers' Day is a 1997 comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Nastassja Kinski... |
Virginia Farrell | ||
| The Alarmist The Alarmist (film) The Alarmist, also known as Life During Wartime, is a 1997 film written and directed by Evan Dunsky, starring David Arquette, Stanley Tucci, with Kate Capshaw and Ryan Reynolds. The film is an adaptation of a play written by Keith Reddin.... |
Sally | ||
| 1998 | Deep Impact Deep Impact (film) Deep Impact is a 1998 science-fiction disaster-drama film released by Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks in the United States on May 8, 1998. The film was directed by Mimi Leder and stars Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, Téa Leoni, and Morgan Freeman... |
Andrea Baker | |
| Harvest | Becka Anslinger | ||
| 1999 | Getting to Know You | Leila Lee | |
| True Crime True Crime (1999 film) True Crime is a 1999 American mystery drama film directed by Clint Eastwood, and based on Andrew Klavan's 1997 novel of the same name. Eastwood also stars in the film as a journalist covering the execution of a death row inmate, only to discover that the convict may actually be innocent.-Plot:Steve... |
Michelle Ziegler | ||
| Mystery, Alaska Mystery, Alaska Mystery, Alaska is a 1999 drama directed by Jay Roach about a fictional small-town ice hockey team that plays a game against the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. It was shot in Banff National Park and Canmore, Alberta.-Plot:... |
Donna Biebe | ||
| The Big Tease The Big Tease The Big Tease is a 1999 comedy film starring Craig Ferguson, directed by Kevin Allen, and written by Ferguson and Sacha Gervasi.- Plot :Ferguson plays Crawford Mackenzie, a Scottish hairdresser who, while being filmed as part of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, is invited to the World Hairdresser... |
Monique | ||
| 2000 | Other Voices | Anna | |
| The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy | Anne | ||
| Gun Shy Gun Shy (film) -Plot:Charlie Mayeaux is an undercover DEA agent suffering from anxiety and gastrointestinal problems after a bust gone wrong. During the aforementioned incident, his partner was killed and he found himself served up on a platter of watermelon with a gun shoved in his face just before back-up... |
Gloria Minetti Nesstra | ||
| East of A | Daphne | ||
| 2001 | More, Patience | Patience More | TV Movie |
| Madison Madison (film) Madison is a semi-fictional 2001 film about APBA hydroplane racing in the 1970s. It stars James Caviezel as a driver who comes out of retirement to lead the Madison, Indiana community-owned racing team.-Background:... |
Bonnie McCormick | ||
| High Heels and Low Lifes High Heels and Low Lifes High Heels and Low Lifes is a 2001 action comedy-drama film starring Minnie Driver, Mary McCormack, Kevin McNally, Mark Williams, Danny Dyer and Michael Gambon. It was directed by Mel Smith and written by Kim Fuller and Georgia Pritchett... |
Frances | ||
| World Traveler World Traveler World Traveler is a 2001 drama directed by Bart Freundlich. It stars Billy Crudup and Julianne Moore. It was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival.-Plot:... |
Margaret | ||
| K-PAX K-PAX (film) K-PAX is a 2001 American science fiction and mystery film directed by Iain Softley and starring Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Mary McCormack and Alfre Woodard. The screenplay, written by Gene Brewer and Charles Leavitt, is based on a novel of the same name by Brewer about a psychiatric patient who... |
Rachel Powell | ||
| BigLove BigLove bigLove is a 2001 short film, written and directed by Leif Tilden. It was first shown on January 19, 2001 on the Sundance Film Festival. It won the award for Best Short at the 2001 Flickapalooza Film Festival and both Best Director of an HD Film and Best High-Definition Short at the 2001... |
Phoebe | ||
| 2002 | Julie Lydecker | Julie Lydecker | |
| Full Frontal Full Frontal (film) Full Frontal is a 2002 film by Steven Soderbergh, about a day in the life of people in Hollywood. The film, starring Catherine Keener, David Duchovny, Julia Roberts, Mary McCormack and David Hyde Pierce was shot on digital video in under a month using the Canon XL-1s... |
Linda | ||
| 2003 | Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Sam Weisman and starring David Spade and Mary McCormack.- Plot :... |
Grace Finney | |
| K Street K Street (TV series) K Street is a 2003 HBO television series about lobbyists and politicians in Washington, D.C. It was named for a street that is home to many lobbying and legal firms.-Format:... |
Maggie Morris | 10 episodes | |
| 2003–2006 | ER ER (TV series) ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television... |
Debbie | 6 episodes |
| 2004 | Traffic | Carole McKay | TV mini-series |
| 2004–2006 | The West Wing The West Wing (TV series) The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006... |
Kate Harper | 44 episodes SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2005) SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2006) |
| 2006 | Right at Your Door Right at Your Door Right at Your Door is a 2006 American thriller film about a couple and follows the events surrounding them when multiple dirty bombs detonate in Los Angeles.... |
Lexi | |
| For Your Consideration For Your Consideration (film) For Your Consideration is a 2006 comedy film directed by Christopher Guest. It was co-written by Guest and Eugene Levy, both also starring in the film.... |
Pilgrim Woman | ||
| 2007 | 1408 1408 (film) 1408 is a 2007 American psychological horror film based on the Stephen King short story of the same name directed by Swedish director Mikael Håfström, who earlier had directed the horror film Drowning Ghost. The cast includes John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, and Mary McCormack. The film was released... |
Lily | |
| 2008–present | In Plain Sight In Plain Sight In Plain Sight is an American dramatic television series on USA Network. The series revolves around Mary Shannon , a Deputy United States Marshal attached to the Albuquerque, New Mexico office of the Federal Witness Security Program , more commonly known as the Federal Witness Protection Program... |
Mary Shannon | 40 episodes Prism Award nomination for Performance in a Drama Episode (2009) |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama... |
Mary Shannon | Episode: "Contract" |
| 2009 | Streetcar | Casting Director | |
Produced
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | In Plain Sight In Plain Sight In Plain Sight is an American dramatic television series on USA Network. The series revolves around Mary Shannon , a Deputy United States Marshal attached to the Albuquerque, New Mexico office of the Federal Witness Security Program , more commonly known as the Federal Witness Protection Program... |
Episode: "Father Goes West" |
Theatre work
| Theater | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Cabaret Cabaret Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or... |
Sally Bowles Sally Bowles Sally Bowles is a fictional character created by Christopher Isherwood. She originally appeared in Isherwood's 1937 novella Sally Bowles published by Hogarth Press. The story was later republished in the novel Goodbye to Berlin... |
Replacement |
| 2008 | Boeing-Boeing | Gretchen | Tony Award Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway... nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play (2008) |