Mary Mara

Mary Mara
Publicity photo
Born	(1960-09-21)September 21, 1960 Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Died	June 26, 2022(2022-06-26) (aged 61) Cape Vincent, New York, U.S.
Education	Corcoran High School
Alma mater	San Francisco State University Yale University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1989–2020

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.

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!. Vol. 18. Bauer Media Group. 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.

External links

• Mary Mara at IMDb