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Brenda Strong

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Brenda Song.
For the film character played by Amy Adams, see Catch Me If You Can § Cast.

Brenda Strong
Strong at the PaleyFest 2013 forum for Dallas
Born
Brenda Lee Strong

(1960-03-25) March 25, 1960 (age 64)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Alma materArizona State University (BMus)
OccupationActress
Years active1985–present
TitleMiss Arizona 1980
Spouses
  • Tom Henri
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1989; div. 2011)​
  • John Farmanesh-Bocca
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2015)​
Children1

Brenda Lee Strong[1][2] (born March 25, 1960) is an American actress.[3] She began her career in television, including guest starring appearances in Twin Peaks, Party of Five, Seinfeld, Scandal, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Blossom and Sports Night. She was a regular cast member in the series Desperate Housewives (2004–2012).

Strong had supporting roles in a number of films, including Starship Troopers (1997), Black Dog (1998), The Deep End of the Ocean (1999), Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004) and The Work and the Glory (2004). She is best known for her role as Mary Alice Young in the ABC television comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives (2004–2012), for which she was nominated for two Emmy Awards.[4][5] Strong later starred as Ann Ewing in the TNT prime time soap opera Dallas (2012–14).

In 2016, she guest starred as Queen Nia in The 100, and undertook a recurring role as Lillian Luthor on Supergirl. Strong appeared as a recurring character in the second season of the Netflix Original 13 Reasons Why. In September 2018, Strong was promoted to series regular for its third season. She directed two episodes in season four.

Early life

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Strong was born in Portland, Oregon, and was crowned Miss Arizona in 1980.[1] She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Arizona State University, where she graduated magna cum laude.[6]

Career

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Early work

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Her first break after college was a spot in Billy Crystal's 1984 music video "You Look Marvelous".[1] Her first television appearances came in 1985 with brief stints on St. Elsewhere, MacGyver, and Cheers. She also made guest appearances on Shadow Chasers, Hotel, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Matlock, Murphy Brown, Herman's Head, and Blossom. In 1990, she had a recurring role in the ABC series Twin Peaks. She made her film debut in 1986 comedy film Weekend Warriors before having a supporting part in Spaceballs (1987).

In 1992, Strong starred in the short-lived CBS sitcom Scorch. She spent the following decade playing recurring and guest starring roles in many dramatic and comedic shows. From 1996 to 1998, she appeared as Elaine's nemesis Sue Ellen Mischke, the "bra-less wonder" and "Oh Henry!" candy bar heiress, on several episodes of NBC sitcom Seinfeld.[7] She also had recurring roles on Party of Five, 7th Heaven and Everwood and guest starred on 3rd Rock from the Sun, ER, Picket Fences, Silk Stalkings, Dawson's Creek, Any Day Now, Ally McBeal, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Nip/Tuck.

From 1998 to 2000, she played Sally Sasser, the nemesis of Felicity Huffman's Dana Whitaker, in the ABC comedy-drama Sports Night.[1][8] In early 2004, she starred as wealthy Arlene Ridgeway in The WB short-lived sitcom, The Help.

Dana Delany, Teri Hatcher, Strong and Andrea Bowen at the 2009 GLAAD Media Awards

Strong had roles in a number of films, including My Life, Malice, and The Craft before being cast as Captain Deladier in the 1997 science fiction action film Starship Troopers. Her character died in the original film, but she returned in a different role as Sergeant Dede Rake in the second film, Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation. In 1998, she starred opposite Patrick Swayze in the action film Black Dog, playing his wife.[9] The following year, she played Michelle Pfeiffer's character's best friend in the drama film The Deep End of the Ocean. In 2000, she appeared in the horror anthology Terror Tract and, in 2002, had a short part in Red Dragon.

2004–2012: Desperate Housewives

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Strong starred, mostly off-screen, on Desperate Housewives, opposite Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria and Teri Hatcher during the show's run from 2004 to 2012. She played the deceased Mary Alice Young, who narrates the events of her friends' and neighbors' lives from beyond the grave. Her narrations yielded an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 2011 and 2012. Along with the cast, she received two Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2005 and 2006.[1] Strong's character narrated all but two episodes of the series. One of the two exceptions is the season 3 episode narrated by Steven Culp, after his character, Rex Van de Kamp, is killed by George Williams and he observes the lives of the men on the street. The other episode is during season 5 and is narrated by Nicollette Sheridan, in which her character, Edie Britt, dies of a car crash, followed by electrocution.

Strong has appeared several times in flashbacks and in a dream episode in which Lynette struggles to understand why she could not stop Mary Alice's suicide. She played another deceased wife on the television series Everwood, appearing mainly in flashback sequences as the late Julia Brown. Coincidentally, Housewives co-star Marcia Cross played Dr. Linda Abbott, a love interest for Brown's widower, during the second season of Everwood. Both Strong and Cross appear in season 9 of Seinfeld (episodes 9 and 8 respectively).

In addition to her role on Desperate Housewives, Strong starred as Mary Ann Steed in the movie trilogy The Work and the Glory, based on a bestselling series of the same name by Gerald N. Lund.[10][11][12] She starred in the 2006 Lifetime movie Family in Hiding. Also in 2006, she played Ted Danson's love interest in the short-lived ABC comedy series Help Me Help You. She also guest starred on Curb Your Enthusiasm as a love interest of Larry David, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Boston Legal, and Rizzoli & Isles.

2012–2014: Dallas

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Strong at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Television Festival

During her final year on Desperate Housewives, Strong signed on to play Ann Ewing, the third wife of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) and new matriarch of Southfork Ranch, in the TNT series Dallas, the revival of long-running CBS prime time soap opera of the same name.[13] Strong previously made a guest appearance in the original series in 1987 as Cliff's one night stand.[14] The show premiered on June 13, 2012,[15] and was cancelled after three seasons in 2014.[16] During her Dallas years, she began hosting Investigation Discovery series Blood Relatives and played Joan Reston, the wife of Governor Samuel Reston, in two episodes of Shonda Rhimes' political series Scandal.[17]

2015–present

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After Dallas, Strong appeared in an episode of NBC comedy procedural The Mysteries of Laura. In 2015, she joined the cast of the third season of The CW post-apocalyptic drama series The 100, playing the role of Nia, Queen of the Ice Nation.[18][19] In 2016, Strong had a recurring role on season 2 of Fear the Walking Dead.[20] Later she joined the cast of The CW series Supergirl a recurring role as Lillian Luthor.

In 2018, Strong appeared in the second season of Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.[21] In 2018, Strong was promoted to series regular status for its third season.

Personal life

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A certified yoga instructor and fertility expert,[22] Strong has taught at UCLA's Mind/Body Institute and received an honorary Doctorate of Science for her work regarding yoga and fertility from Yo San University.[6]

Strong married Tom Henri in July 1989; they have a son, Zakery Henri. She filed for divorce on January 14, 2011.[23] In May 2015, she married director-actor John Farmanesh-Bocca.[24]

In 2019, the actress won the Best First Time Filmmaker Award at the GI Film Festival San Diego for her directorial debut #3 Normandy Lane.[25]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 Weekend Warriors Danielle
1987 Spaceballs Nurse Gretchen
1989 Skin Deep Real Estate Agent Uncredited
1993 My Life Laura
1993 Malice Claudia
1996 The Craft Doctor
1997 Starship Troopers Captain Deladier
1998 Get a Job Emily LaCrosse
1998 Black Dog Melanie
1998 Undercurrent Renee Rivera
1999 The Deep End of the Ocean Ellen
2000 Terror Tract Dr. Helen Corey
2002 Teddy Bears' Picnic Jackie Sloane Chevron
2002 Red Dragon Dinner Guest
2003 Missing Brendan Joyce Calden
2003 Exposed Susan Andrews
2004 Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation Sergeant Dede Rake
2004 The Work and the Glory Mary Ann Steed
2005 The Kid & I Bonnie Roman
2007 A Plumm Summer Viv
2008 Ocean of Pearls Mary Stewart
2009 You Paula
2010 Privileged Mrs. Carrington
2012 An Engagement Mom Short film
2014 Teacher of the Year Ellen Behr
2014 I Can See You Marnie Short film
2015 The Leisure Class Charlotte
2019 #3 Normandy Lane Director Short film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 St. Elsewhere Nadine Aurora Episode: "The Naked and the Dead"
1985 Misfits of Science Miss Speedway Episode: "Twin Engines"
1985 Shadow Chasers Angela Taylor Episode: "The Many Lies of Johnathan"
1986 MacGyver Lila Episode: "The Assassin"
1986 Cheers Vicki Episode: "The Cape Cad"
1986 Sledge Hammer! Miss Hotchkins Episode: "Miss of the Spiderwoman"
1987 Dallas Cliff's One Night Stand Episode: "Cat and Mouse"
1987 Hotel Hilary Sinclair Episode: "Revelations"
1987 Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues Desiree Television film
1988 Star Trek: The Next Generation Rashella Episode: "When the Bough Breaks"
1989 Midnight Caller Kristen Episode: "No Exit"
1989 Hooperman Nun Episode: "The Nun and I"
1989 Matlock Jan Sinclair Episode: "The Model"
1990 Father Dowling Mysteries Miss Cantrell/O'Grady Episode: "The Perfect Cover Mystery"
1990 People Like Us Brenda Primrose Television film
1991 Anything but Love Unknown Episode: "My New Best Friend"
1991 Twin Peaks Jones 4 episodes
1991–1992 Blossom Diane 2 episodes
1991 Murphy Brown Janine Episode: "Eldin Inmates Life"
1992 Rachel Gunn, R.N. Sheila Episode: "I Dream of Squidhead"
1992 Scorch Allison King Series regular, 6 episodes
1992 Sibs Naomi Episode: "Warren and the Married Woman"
1992 Down the Shore Eileen Episode: "Turn of the Screw"
1992 Grapevine Allison Episode: "The Allison and Ken Story"
1992 Dark Justice Jessica Sadler Episode: "Happy Mothers Day"
1992–1993 Herman's Head Dr. Holland 2 episodes
1992 Stepfather III Lauren Sutliffe Television film
1993 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Beatrice Kaufman Episode: "Young Indian Jones and the Scandal of 1920"
1993 The Second Half Heather Episode: "Guess Who's Channeling Dinner?"
1993 Picket Fences Sarah Evans Episode: "Unlawful Entries"
1993 Silk Stalkings Candy Grayson Episode: "Ladies Night Out"
1994 Island City Dr. Sammy Helding Television pilot (not greenlit)
1994 ER Sally Niemeyer Episode: "Into that Good Night"
1996 Murphy Brown Tara Baker Episode: "Casa Nova"
1996 The John Larroquette Show Christine Taylor Episode: "The Master Class"
1996 Party of Five Kathleen Isley 6 episodes
1996–1997 3rd Rock from the Sun Miss Frost 2 episodes
1996–1997 Seinfeld Sue Ellen Mischke 4 episodes
1997 Roar Megan Episode: "Traps"
1997 Chicago Sons Nina Episode: "Infrequent Flyers"
1998–2000 Sports Night Sally Sasser 7 episodes
1998 The Closer Susan Bend Episode: "The Rebound"
1999 Odd Man Out Kasey Morton Episode: "Good Will Hunting"
1999 Any Day Now Jana Durham Episode: "It's Not You, It's Me"
1999 Safe Harbor Marilyn Conray Episode: "Older Women, Younger Men"
2000 Get Real Olivia Clark Episode: "Guilt"
2000 The Michael Richards Show Beth Episode: "Discrimination"
2000–2002 7th Heaven Mrs. Carmen Mackoul 8 episodes
2001 Ally McBeal Jerry Hill Episode: "Mr. Bo"
2001 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. Leigh Sapien Episode: "Overload"
2001 Thieves Loretta Episode: "Liver Let Die"
2001 Gilmore Girls Eva Episode: "Like Mother, Like Daughter"
2001 Dawson's Creek Kay Liddell Episode: "High Anxiety"
2002 Bram & Alice Theresa Episode: "Scribbling Rivalry"
2002 The Court Marsha Palmer 4 episodes
2002 Malcolm in the Middle Amelia Episode: "Family Reunion"
2002–2005 Everwood Julia Brown 5 episodes
2003 A.U.S.A. Judge Kimberly Flynn Episode: "The Joint Report...A Love Story"
2003 Nip/Tuck Iris 2 episodes
2003 The Lyon's Den Rebecca McCandless Episode: "Things She Said"
2004 The Help Arlene Ridgeway Series regular, 7 episodes
2004 Going to the Mat Patty Newfield Television film
2004–2012 Desperate Housewives Mary Alice Young Series regular, 179 episodes
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2005–2006)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2007–2009)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance (2011–2012)
2005 The Work and the Glory II: American Zion Mary Ann Steed Television film
2006 Family in Hiding Carol Peterson Television film
2006 Just Legal Liza Lynch Episode: "The Bar"
2006 The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided Mary Ann Steed Television film
2006–2007 Help Me Help You Linda 4 episodes
2007 Curb Your Enthusiasm Dr. Flomm Episode: "The N Word"
2007 Shark Olivia Hartnell Episode: "In Absentia"
2008 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Kathy Jarrow Episode: "Betrayed"
2008 Boston Legal Judge Judy Beacon Episode: "True Love"
2010 Scoundrels Penny Priest Episode: "Birds of a Feather Flock Together"
2010 Rizzoli & Isles Mel Gaynor-Randle Episode: "I Kissed a Girl"
2012–2014 Dallas Ann Ewing Series regular, 40 episodes
2012; 2014 Scandal Joan Reston Episodes: "All Roads Lead to Fitz", "The Fluffer"
2012–2015 Blood Relatives Narrator 32 episodes
2014 The Mysteries of Laura Margot Preston Episode: "The Mystery of the Mobile Murder"
2015 Bones Senator Hayley Winters Episode: "The Senator in the Street Sweeper"
2015 Ice Sculpture Christmas Chef Gloria Television film
2016 Chicago P.D. Attorney Green Episode: "Now I'm God"
2016; 2019 The 100 Queen Nia 4 episodes
2016 Love by Chance Helen Television film (Hallmark)
2016 Notorious Maggie Sherman Episode: "Missing"
2016–2017 Fear the Walking Dead Ilene Stowe 4 episodes
2016–2021 Supergirl Lillian Luthor 23 episodes
2018–2020 13 Reasons Why Nora Walker 21 episodes; Also director (season 4)
2020 All Rise Jean Ruberstone-Frost Episode: "My Fair Lockdown"
2023 Unprisoned Nadine Gregory
2023 Sweeter Than Chocolate Helen Sweet TV Movie (Hallmark)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Brenda Strong". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  2. ^ "Miss Arizona 1980". Arizona Republic. July 13, 1980. p. B1. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "Today in History: March 25". The Associated Press. March 13, 2023. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  4. ^ "Brenda Strong". Television Academy. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  5. ^ "Brenda Strong". IMDb. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Trolice, Mark P. (2020). The Fertility Doctor's Guide to Overcoming Infertility: Discovering Your Reproductive Potential and Maximizing Your Odds of Having a Baby. Beverly, MA: The Harvard Common Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-55832-936-2.
  7. ^ Martin, John (June 25, 1998). "Seinfeld Episode Reruns in Reverse". Telegraph Herald. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  8. ^ "Brenda Strong". Hollywood.com. June 11, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  9. ^ "Black Dog". Rotten Tomatoes. May 1, 1998. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "The Work and the Glory". Rotten Tomatoes. November 24, 2004. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  11. ^ "The Work and the Glory II: American Zion". Rotten Tomatoes. October 13, 2005. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided". Rotten Tomatoes. November 22, 2006. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  13. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (April 5, 2011). "Dallas Scoop: Housewives Vet Is Bobby's Wife". TVLine. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  14. ^ Eggertsen, Chris (March 28, 2012). "Cast of TNT's 'Dallas' revival bare some skin, take a shower together in new poster". HitFix. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  15. ^ "Linda Gray Saddles Up For 'Dallas' Return". Access Hollywood. February 10, 2011. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  16. ^ "'Dallas' Canceled by TNT". The Hollywood Reporter. October 3, 2014. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  17. ^ Natalie Abrams (September 6, 2012). "Exclusive: Dallas, Desperate Housewives' Brenda Strong Heads to Scandal". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  18. ^ "'The 100' casts Brenda Strong as the Ice Queen - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  19. ^ "'Desperate Housewives' Alum Brenda Strong Joins CW's 'The 100'". TheWrap. August 24, 2015. Archived from the original on August 28, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  20. ^ "For One Character On 'Fear The Walking Dead,' Death Is All But Certain". UPROXX. September 19, 2016. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  21. ^ Petski, Denise (August 10, 2017). "'13 Reasons Why': Jake Weber, Brenda Strong, Meredith Monroe & RJ Brown Join Season 2 Cast". Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  22. ^ Brenda's Bio, yoga4fertility.com
  23. ^ Desperate Housewives' Brenda Strong Files for Divorce Archived March 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Us Weekly, January 15, 2011. By Us Weekly Staff
  24. ^ "Brenda Strong Marries John Farmanesh-Bocca, Honeymoons in Mexico—See the Pic!". E! Online. June 1, 2015. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  25. ^ "GI Film Festival San Diego 2019 Award Winners". 2019 GI Film Festival San Diego. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
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