Lauren Holly

Lauren Michael Holly (born October 28, 1963) is an American and Canadian actress. She has played the roles of Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart in the television series Picket Fences, NCIS Director Jenny Shepard in the series NCIS, and Dr. Betty Rogers on Motive. In film, she portrayed Mary Swanson in Dumb and Dumber, Bruce Lee's wife Linda Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993), Darian Smalls in Beautiful Girls (1996), and Gigi in What Women Want (2000).

Early life Holly was born in Bristol, Pennsylvania. Her mother, Michael Ann Holly, is an art historian. She was the Starr Director of Research and Academic Program at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, and a professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Her father, Grant Holly, was a screenwriter and professor of literature at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. She had two younger brothers: Nick Holly and Alexander Innes Holly. Holly attended Sarah Lawrence College in New York.

Career

Holly's acting career began at the age of 20 when she appeared as Carla Walicki in two episodes of Hill Street Blues. She was also in one episode of Spenser: For Hire. At age 23, she joined the cast of the ABC television soap opera All My Children as Julie Rand Chandler (1986–1989). She portrayed the comic book character Betty Cooper in the TV movie Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again in 1990.

In 1992, Holly's big break came when she was cast as small-town Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart opposite veteran movie actor Tom Skerritt on CBS's Picket Fences for four seasons, appearing in every episode except one. She portrayed Linda Lee Cadwell, the wife of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, in 1993's Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. She appeared as Mary Swanson, Lloyd Christmas's love interest, in the 1994 Jim Carrey comedy Dumb and Dumber; a doctor in Sydney Pollack's 1995 remake of Sabrina; and Lieutenant Emily Lake in the 1996 comedy Down Periscope with Kelsey Grammer. In 1999, she starred in the film Any Given Sunday as the wife of the Sharks quarterback, played by Dennis Quaid.

Holly appeared in the music video for Dixie Chicks' single "Goodbye Earl" (2000). She was a member of the cast of NCIS as Director Jenny Shepard from 2005 to 2008, reuniting with her former Chicago Hope co-stars Mark Harmon and Rocky Carroll. Holly portrayed the "worldly and stunning" lead medical examiner Dr. Betty Rogers, a regular character on the CTV series Motive. In 2014, she was reunited with her Picket Fences co-star, Tom Skerritt, in the film Field of Lost Shoes. In 2015, Holly starred in Oz Perkins' horror film The Blackcoat's Daughter.

In 2018, Holly was cast in a recurring role in the third season of Netflix's Designated Survivor as Lynn Harper.

Personal life Holly has been married three times. Her first marriage was to actor Danny Quinn. The two married in 1991, and divorced two years later in 1993. In 1993, she met Jim Carrey during auditions for Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. She did not get offered the part, but the two developed a relationship while working together during the filming of Dumb and Dumber. In 1996 they were married. The marriage lasted less than a year, and they divorced in 1997. In 2001, she married Francis Greco, a Canadian-born investment banker. The couple adopted three children, sons Henry, George, and Alexander Holly-Greco. In 2008, while married to Greco, Holly became a Canadian citizen. The couple divorced in 2014.

In 1992, Holly, her father Grant, and their families established the "A" Fund at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in memory of her brother, Alexander, about whom Holly said, "He was a boy filled with dreams, hopes, and plans. Although he was only 14 when he died, he had traveled extensively in Europe and Central America, lived in New York City and Los Angeles, and these experiences produced in him a fascination for architecture and archaeology."

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1984 Hill Street Blues Carla Walicki 2 episodes 1985 Love Lives On Tracy Television film 1986 Spenser: For Hire Emily Brown Episode: "Home Is the Hero" 1986–1989 All My Children Julie Chandler Unknown episodesNomination: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series (1988) 1990 Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again Betty Cooper Television film 1990 My Two Dads Allison Novack 2 episodes 1991 The Antagonists Kate Ward Episode: "Con Safos" 1992Fugitive Among UsSuzie Bryant Television film 1992–1996 Picket Fences Maxine Stewart 1994 Dangerous Heart CarolTelevision film 1998 Vig Marybeth 1999 Fantasy Island Heather Finn Episode: "The Real Thing" 1999–2000 Chicago Hope Dr. Jeremy Hanlon Main role 2001 Destiny Unknown Television film Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot Ethel Kennedy Television filmNominated for Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Becker Laura Episode: "The Buddy System"2002 Providence Darla Rosario Episode: "The Heart of the Matter" King of Texas Mrs. Rebecca Lear HighsmithTelevision film Living with the Dead James' Wife Santa Jr. Susan Flynn 2003 CSI: Miami Hayley Wilson Episode: "Grand Prix"2004 Just Desserts Grace CarpenterTelevision film Caught in the Act Jodie Colter 2005 Bounty Hunters Tess 2005–2008 NCIS NCIS Director Jenny Shepard Main role 2009 Leverage Ms. Tobey Earnshaw Episode: "The Juror #6 Job" Before You Say I Do Mary BrownTelevision film Too Late to Say Goodbye Heather2010 Covert Affairs Madeline Jarvis Episode: "Houses of the Holy" Flashpoint Jill Hastings Episode: "Acceptable Risk" The Town Christmas Forgot Annie BensonTelevision film Mrs. Miracle 2: Miracle In Manhattan Lindy Lowe 2010–2012 The Adventures of Chuck and Friends Haulie Recurring voice role2011 Rookie Blue Superintendent Elaine Peck Episode: "In Plain View" Scream of the Banshee Prof. Isla Whelan Television film2012 Lost Girl Sadie Episode: "Midnight Lamp" Alphas Senator Charlotte Burton 3 episodes Layover Suzanne HollingsworthTelevision film Do No Harm Dr. Thorne 2013–2016 Motive Dr. Betty Rogers Main role 2015 A Country Wedding MargaretTelevision film 2016 My Summer Prince Deidre Kelly 2017 Lucifer Roxie Pagliani Episode: "Vegas with Some Radish"2018Good Witch Melanie Anderson Episode: "How to Make a Middleton Quilt"My Perfect Romance AdeleTelevision filmChristmas Catch Captain Bennett 2019 Designated Survivor Lynn Harper Recurring role 2020 Tiny Pretty Things Monique Dubois Main role 2021–2026 Family Law Joanne Kowalski Main role (season 2–4) Recurring role (season 1)2022 The Lake Mimsy Recurring roleCountry Roads ChristmasSkye's motherTelevision film2023 The IrrationalMayorEpisode 1 2024Christmas Under the Northern LightsLauraTelevision film