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Mary Kay Place
Highest Rated: 94% Being John Malkovich (1999)
Lowest Rated: 7% Music (2021)
Birthday: Sep 23, 1947
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
A versatile and multi-talented performer on film and in television, Emmy winner Mary Kay Place essayed free-thinking, often eccentric women in projects ranging from "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (syndicated, 1976-77) and "The Big Chill" (1983) to "Being John Malkovich" (1999) and "Big Love" (HBO, 2006-11). Her knack for gentle comedy and singing caught the eye of both Tim Conway and Norman Lear, who provided her first breaks in the early 1970s; a brief stint as an Emmy-nominated writer preceded stardom as Loretta Haggers, would-be country singer on "Mary Hartman," leading to the recording of a successful album as Haggers in 1976. In the 1980s and 1990s, she was a capable character actress, switching deftly from comedy to drama while honing a second career as a TV director. "Big Love" gave her the choicest role of her later career as the Lady Macbeth-like wife of a polygamist leader; her chameleon qualities as an actress, as well as her impressive body of credits, ensured her steady work and admiration from her peers and fans.
Photos
Filmography
Movies
| Credit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7% | 14% | Music | Millie (Character) | - | 2021 |
| 54% | 62% | The Prom | Grandma Bea (Character) | - | 2020 |
| 93% | 69% | Diane | Diane (Character) | $339.4K | 2018 |
| 37% | 16% | State Like Sleep | Elaine (Character) | $2.8K | 2018 |
| 45% | 47% | Youth in Oregon | Estelle Engersol (Character) | - | 2016 |
| 46% | 59% | The Hollars | Pam (Character) | $1.0M | 2016 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Breakup Girl | Joan Baker (Character) | - | 2015 |
| 59% | 73% | The Intern | Jules's Mom (Character) | $75.6M | 2015 |
| 93% | 68% | I'll See You in My Dreams | Rona (Character) | $7.4M | 2015 |
| 25% | 36% | Miss Meadows | Mrs. Davenport (Character) | - | 2014 |
| 38% | 34% | Last Weekend | Jeannie (Character) | $6.1K | 2014 |
| No Score Yet | 36% | Holidaze | Elaine (Character) | - | 2013 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Country Christmas Story | Sarah (Character) | - | 2013 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | You're in Charge | Penny Guidry (Character) | - | 2013 |
| 57% | 41% | Milo | Beatrice (Character) | - | 2013 |
| 83% | 68% | Smashed | Rochelle (Character) | $376.0K | 2012 |
| 57% | 54% | Shrek Forever After | Guard Witch (Voice) | - | 2010 |
| 67% | 52% | Youth in Revolt | Mrs. Saunders (Character) | $15.3M | 2009 |
| 59% | 60% | It's Complicated | Joanne (Character) | $112.7M | 2009 |
| No Score Yet | 70% | War Eagle, Arkansas | Jessie (Character) | $43.1K | 2008 |
| 54% | 46% | City of Ember | Mrs. Murdo (Character) | $7.9M | 2008 |
| 63% | 60% | Grace Is Gone | Woman at Funeral (Character) | $50.1K | 2007 |
| 60% | 57% | Lonesome Jim | Sally (Character) | $154.1K | 2005 |
| 76% | 67% | Nine Lives | Alma Morgan (Character) | $478.3K | 2005 |
| 43% | 30% | Evergreen | Susan (Character) | $1.6K | 2004 |
| 40% | 74% | Killer Diller | Dr. Gwen Bradley (Character) | $17.3K | 2004 |
| 48% | 33% | Silver City | Grace Seymour (Character) | $1.0M | 2004 |
| 46% | 78% | Latter Days | Sister Gladys Davis (Character) | $819.9K | 2004 |
| 75% | No Score Yet | Death and Texas | Mrs. Kim (Character) | - | 2004 |
| 38% | 78% | Sweet Home Alabama | Pearl (Character) | $127.2M | 2002 |
| 50% | 65% | The Safety of Objects | Helen Christianson (Character) | $319.1K | 2001 |
| No Score Yet | 9% | Nailed | Fern Romano (Character) | - | 2001 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Further Tales of the City | Prue Giroux (Character) | - | 2001 |
| 48% | 61% | Human Nature | Nathan's Mother (Character) | $695.9K | 2001 |
| 53% | 75% | My First Mister | Patty (Character) | $621.4K | 2001 |
| 43% | 35% | Committed | Psychiatrist (Character) | $31.8K | 2000 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story | Unknown (Character) | - | 2000 |
| 53% | 84% | Girl, Interrupted | Barbara Gilcrest (Character) | - | 1999 |
| 94% | 87% | Being John Malkovich | Floris (Character) | $22.9M | 1999 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story | Jan Martinez (Character) | - | 1999 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Point Last Seen | Coreen Davis (Character) | - | 1998 |
| 52% | 65% | Pecker | Joyce (Character) | $2.3M | 1998 |
| No Score Yet | 77% | Naturally Native | Madame Celeste (Character) | $10.5K | 1998 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | How to Make The Cruelest Month | Unknown (Character) | - | 1998 |
| 82% | 78% | John Grisham's The Rainmaker | Dot Black (Character) | $45.9M | 1997 |
| 75% | 78% | Eye of God | Claire Spencer (Character) | $85.7K | 1997 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Love in Another Town | Sam (Character) | - | 1997 |
| 61% | 63% | Manny & Lo | Elaine (Character) | $435.0K | 1996 |
| No Score Yet | 67% | For My Daughter's Honor | Betty Ann Dustin (Character) | - | 1996 |
| 81% | 73% | Citizen Ruth | Gail Stoney (Character) | $278.5K | 1996 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | My Very Best Friend | Molly Butler (Character) | - | 1996 |
| No Score Yet | 50% | Teresa's Tattoo | Nora (Character) | - | 1994 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance | Norma Williams (Character) | - | 1994 |
| 26% | 52% | Captain Ron | Katherine Harvey (Character) | $22.5M | 1992 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bed of Lies | Jean Daniel Murph (Character) | - | 1992 |
| No Score Yet | 82% | Crazy From the Heart | Merrilee Playton (Character) | - | 1991 |
| No Score Yet | 40% | Samantha | Marilyn (Character) | - | 1991 |
| 80% | 27% | Bright Angel | Judy (Character) | $17.4K | 1990 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Out on the Edge | Sondra Evetts (Character) | - | 1989 |
| 33% | 26% | A New Life | Donna (Character) | $7.4M | 1988 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Portrait of a White Marriage | Joyce Harrison (Character) | - | 1988 |
| No Score Yet | 96% | The Girl Who Spelled Freedom | Prissy Thrash (Character) | - | 1986 |
| 72% | 66% | Explorers | Mrs. Crandall (uncredited) (Character) | - | 1985 |
| 92% | 46% | Smooth Talk | Katherine (Character) | - | 1985 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | For Love or Money | K.K. (Character) | - | 1984 |
| No Score Yet | 67% | Waltz Across Texas | Unknown (Character) | - | 1983 |
| 71% | 77% | The Big Chill | Meg (Character) | $57.0K | 1983 |
| No Score Yet | 31% | Modern Problems | Lorraine (Character) | - | 1981 |
| No Score Yet | 40% | Act of Love | Becky Wiggins (Character) | - | 1980 |
| 83% | 60% | Private Benjamin | Pvt. Mary Lou Glass (Character) | - | 1980 |
| 20% | 33% | More American Graffiti | Teensa (Character) | - | 1979 |
| 86% | 58% | Starting Over | Marie (Character) | - | 1979 |
| 56% | 58% | New York, New York | Bernice Bennett (Character) | $91.9K | 1977 |
TV
| Credit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49% | 62% | The Romanoffs | Marilyn Hopkins (Character) | 2018 |
| 93% | 90% | Imposters | Marsha Bloom (Guest Star) | 2017-2018 |
| 97% | 80% | Lady Dynamite | Marilyn Bamford (Character) | 2016-2017 |
| 90% | 86% | Grace and Frankie | Amanda (Guest Star) | 2015-2016 |
| No Score Yet | 64% | Family Guy | Lady (Guest Voice) | 2016 |
| No Score Yet | 89% | The Mentalist | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2015 |
| 68% | 71% | Rake | Judge Cunningham (Guest Star) | 2014 |
| 51% | 73% | The New Normal | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2013 |
| 57% | 77% | Californication | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2013 |
| 91% | 90% | Suburgatory | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2013 |
| 80% | 79% | Big Love |
Adaleen Grant (Character), Unknown (Guest Star) |
2006-2007 2009-2011 |
| 96% | 95% | Pushing Daisies | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2008 |
| 84% | 74% | Grey's Anatomy | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2006 |
| No Score Yet | 93% | Numb3ers | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2006 |
| 81% | 95% | The West Wing | Surgeon General Millicent Griffith (Guest Star) | 2001 2004 |
| No Score Yet | 70% | King of the Hill | Helen Pell (Guest Voice) | 1998 2004 |
| 73% | No Score Yet | The Handler | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
| 78% | 85% | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Hope Garrett (Guest Star) | 2002 |
| 93% | 82% | Undeclared | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Citizen Baines | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2001 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Wild Thornberrys | Unknown (Guest Voice) | 2000 |
| 94% | 93% | My So-Called Life | Camille Cherski (Guest Star) | 1994-1995 |
| 83% | No Score Yet | thirtysomething | Patsy Klein (Guest Star) | 1990 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Baby Boom | Director | 1988 |
| No Score Yet | 56% | Saturday Night Live | Host | 1977 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Forever Fernwood | Loretta Haggers (Character) | 1976-1977 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
Sally Jo Hochkiss (Guest Star), Writer |
1975 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Paper Moon | Writer | 1974 |
| No Score Yet | 86% | M*A*S*H | Lt. Louise Simmons (Guest Star) | 1974 |
| No Score Yet | 89% | All in the Family | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1973 |