Mary-Louise Parker

Mary-Louise Parker (born August 2, 1964) is an American actress. She is known for her roles on stage and screen and has received various accolades including two Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and two Tony Awards.

Parker made her film debut in Signs of Life (1989) and came to prominence for film roles in Grand Canyon (1991), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), The Client (1994), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), A Place for Annie (1994), Boys on the Side (1995), The Portrait of a Lady (1996), and The Maker (1997). Her later film appearances included roles in The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008), Red (2010), R.I.P.D. (2013), and Red 2 (2013).

On television, she portrayed Harper Pitt in the acclaimed HBO television miniseries Angels in America (2003) for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. She was Emmy-nominated for her roles as Amy Gardner in the NBC series The West Wing (2001–2006), Nancy Botwin in the Showtime series Weeds (2005–2012), and Zenia in the television film The Robber Bride (2007). She took a recurring role in the NBC series The Blacklist (2014) and played Roma Guy in the miniseries When We Rise (2017).

On stage, Parker has earned two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Play for her roles in David Auburn's Proof (2001) and Adam Rapp's The Sound Inside (2020). She was Tony-nominated for her roles in Prelude to a Kiss (1990), Reckless (2005), and How I Learned to Drive (2022). As a writer, Parker has contributed articles to Esquire magazine since 2007. She published her memoir, Dear Mr. You, in 2015.

Early life and education Parker was born in Columbia, South Carolina, the youngest of four children, Because of her father's career, Parker spent parts of her childhood in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, as well as in Thailand, Germany, and France. She described her childhood as "profoundly unhappy", noting that, "My parents did everything they could; I had books, clothes, a home and a warm bed, but I was never happy." She graduated from Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Arizona. Parker majored in drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and graduated in 1986. She received the 1997 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Actress, and 1997 Obie Award, Performance for her performance.

In the late 1990s, she appeared in several independent films, including Let the Devil Wear Black and The Five Senses. She starred alongside Sidney Poitier in the 1999 movie The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn.

2000–2012: Acclaim with Proof and Weeds From 2000 to 2001, Parker starred in the play Proof in off-Broadway and Broadway productions, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for the Broadway run.

In 2003, HBO aired the six-and-a-half-hour adaptation of Tony Kushner's acclaimed Broadway play Angels in America, directed by Mike Nichols. Parker played Harper Pitt, the Mormon, Valium-addicted wife of a closeted lawyer. For her performance, Parker won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

In 2004, Parker appeared in the comedy Saved! and the television film Miracle Run, based on the true story of a mother of two sons with autism, as well as appearing in the lead role in Craig Lucas' Reckless on Broadway. The production, directed by Mark Brokaw, earned Parker another Tony Award nomination in 2005. In November 2005, Parker was the subject of a career exhibition at Boston University, where memorabilia from her career were donated to the university's library.

In 2005, Parker began starring on the Showtime series Weeds. She played Nancy Botwin, a widowed mother of two boys who begins selling marijuana to support her family. In 2006, Parker won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy for her lead role in Weeds. In that category, she defeated the four leads of Desperate Housewives. She dedicated the award to the late John Spencer, known for his work as Leo McGarry on The West Wing. After receiving the award, Parker stated: "I'm really in favor of legalizing marijuana. I don't think it's that controversial."

In 2007, Parker played the lead role in the television film The Robber Bride, and portrayed Zerelda Mimms in the Andrew Dominik film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Parker appeared alongside Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell, and Garret Dillahunt.

Parker appeared in 2008's The Spiderwick Chronicles and in off-Broadway's Playwrights Horizons production in the New York premiere of Dead Man's Cell Phone, a new play by Sarah Ruhl, alongside Drama Desk Award-winner Kathleen Chalfant.

Following this, she returned to work on the fifth season of Weeds. Parker took the lead role in the Roundabout Theatre revival of the play Hedda Gabler, running at the American Airlines Theatre in 2009, totaling 74 performances. The play garnered a series of negative reviews.

Parker starred opposite Bruce Willis in Red (2010), an adaptation of the comic book miniseries of the same name. The film earned positive reviews. In 2011, Parker became the host for the tenth season of the PBS documentary series Independent Lens.

2013–2019: Established actress In 2013, she played roles in both Red 2 and R.I.P.D. Also that year, she returned to Broadway in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of the play The Snow Geese by Sharr White at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The play was directed by Daniel J. Sullivan and also starred Danny Burstein and Victoria Clark.

In 2015, Parker starred in the play by Simon Stephens, Heisenberg, produced off-Broadway by the Manhattan Theatre Club. Mark Brokaw directed it. The play transferred to Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in 2016, with Parker and Denis Arndt reprising their roles. The play later transferred to Center Theatre Group's Mark Taper Forum in 2017.

She returned to Broadway in the Adam Rapp play The Sound Inside at Studio 54 in 2019. She had performed in the world premiere of the play a year earlier at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. In 2021, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for the Broadway run.

2020–present Parker appeared in the 2022 Broadway revival by the Manhattan Theatre Club of How I Learned to Drive, which was originally supposed to open at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in previews in 2020. David Morse co-starred, with direction by Mark Brokaw. This production united Parker, Morse and Brokaw from the original 1997 production. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this production was postponed to Manhattan Theater Club's 2021–22 season. She received her fifth Tony Award nomination for the production. In 2023, Parker appeared in the music video for country music duo The Reklaws' song "Honky Tonkin' About" with Drake Milligan.

In 2026, Parker made her London theater debut starring as Montie in The Oresteia at the Bridge Theatre. The contemporary re-imaging of the play was written and directed by Simon Stone.

Writing career Since 2007, Parker has contributed articles to Esquire magazine. In 2015, Scribner Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, published her memoir in letters titled Dear Mr. You.

Personal life Relationships and family From 1996 to November 2003, Parker dated actor Billy Crudup. Their relationship ended in 2003 when Parker, who was seven months pregnant with their son William Atticus Parker, discovered that Crudup was leaving her for actress Claire Danes. William's godmother is actress Susan Sarandon.

In December 2006, Parker began dating actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, whom she had met on the set of Weeds. On February 12, 2008, Parker and Morgan announced their engagement, only to break up in April 2008.

In September 2007, Parker adopted a baby girl, Caroline Aberash Parker, from Ethiopia. Parker lives in Brooklyn Heights with her two children.

Charity and interests In 2013, Parker was honored for her work with Hope North, an organization that works in the educating and healing of young victims in the Ugandan civil war. The actress began her involvement with the organization after meeting a former victim of Uganda's civil war.

Parker practices transcendental meditation. She says: "I'd always heard about transcendental meditation, and I thought, maybe that's the way back in for me. I learned TM and it changed everything." She also participates in a charity dinner for military veterans who are victims of post-traumatic stress disorder organized by the David Lynch Foundations Operation Warrior Wellness's Resilient Warrior Program, with Tom Hanks.

Acting credits

Film Year Title Role 1989 Signs of Life Charlotte Longtime Companion Lisa 1991 Fried Green Tomatoes Ruth Jamison Grand Canyon Dee 1993 Mr. Wonderful Rita Naked in New York Joanne White 1994 Bullets Over Broadway Ellen Dianne Sway 1995 Reckless Pooty Boys on the Side Robin Nickerson 1996 Henrietta Stackpole 1997 Murder in Mind Caroline Walker Officer Emily Peck 1998 Goodbye Lover Peggy Blane 1999 Let the Devil Wear Black Julia Hirsch Rona 2002 Red Dragon Molly Graham Sarah Richardson Pipe Dream Toni Edelman 2004 Saved! Lillian Cummings The Best Thief in the World Sue Zaidman 2006 Romance & Cigarettes Constance Murder 2007 Zee James 2008 Helen Grace 2009 Solitary Man Jordan Karsch 2010 Howl Gail Potter Red Sarah Ross 2013 R.I.P.D. Mildred Proctor Red 2 Sarah Ross 2014 Behaving Badly Lucy Stevens Jamesy Boy Tracy Burns 2016 Chronically Metropolitan Annabel 2017 Golden Exits Gwendolyn 2018 Red Sparrow Stephanie Boucher 2021 The Same Storm Roxy 2023 Seneca – On the Creation of Earthquakes Agrippina 2024 Omni Loop Zoya Lowe Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp Angie 2026 Happy Hours TBA Young Washington Mary Ball Washington

Television Year Title Role Notes 1988 Too Young the Hero Pearl Spencer Television film 1994 A Place for Annie Linda Marsten 1995 Sugartime Phyllis McGuire 1998 Saint Maybe Lucy Dean Bedloe Legalese Rica Martin 1999 Dr. Valerie Crane 2000 Cupid & Cate Cate DeAngelo 2001–2006 Amy Gardner 23 episodes 2002 Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story Bonnie Hanssen Television film 2003 Angels in America Harper Pitt 6 episodes 2004 Miracle Run Corrine Morgan-Thomas Television film 2005 Vinegar Hill Ellen Grier 2005–2012 Weeds Nancy Botwin Lead role 2007 Zenia Arden Television film 2013 Christmas in Conway Suzy Mayor 2014 The Blacklist Naomi Hyland 4 episodes 2017 When We Rise Roma Guy 7 episodes Billions George Minchak 2 episodes Mr. Mercedes Janey Patterson 6 episodes 2021 Colin in Black & White Teresa Kaepernick 6 episodes 2023 Jane Robin Episode: "Acerodon jubatus"2025 Elsbeth Freya Frostad 2 episodes The InstituteMs. Sigsby 8 episodes 2026 The Gray HouseEliza Van Lew 8 episodes

Theatre

Audio +YearTitleRoleNotes 2023 Murder in Bermuda Beth Heller 6 episodes

Music videos Year Title Artist 2023 "Honky Tonkin' About" The Reklaws

Awards and nominations Organizations Year Category Work Result Actor Awards 2003 Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie Angels in America 2005 Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Weeds (season one) 2006 Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Weeds (season two) Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2007 Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Weeds (season three) 2008 Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Weeds (season four) Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Drama Desk Awards 1990 Outstanding Actress in a Play Prelude to a Kiss 2001 Outstanding Actress in a Play Proof Drama League Awards 2001 Distinguished Performance Proof Genie Award 2000 Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role The Five Senses Golden Globe Awards 2003 Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Angels in America 2005 Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Weeds (season one) 2006 Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Weeds (season two) 2007 Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Weeds (season three) 2008 Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Weeds (season four) Lucille Lortel Award 1997 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play How I Learned to Drive 2001 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play Proof Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2007 Outstanding Actress – Comedy Series Weeds Obie Awards 1997 Distinguished Performance by an Actress How I Learned to Drive 2001 Distinguished Performance by an Actress Proof Outer Critics Circle Awards 2001 Outstanding Actress in a Play Proof 2020 Outstanding Actress in a Play The Sound Inside People's Choice Awards 2009 Choice TV Drama Diva Weeds Primetime Emmy Awards 2002 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The West Wing (episode: "The Women of Qumar") 2004 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Angels in America 2007 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Weeds (episode: "Mrs. Botwin's Neighborhood") 2008 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Weeds (episode: "Bill Sussman") 2009 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Weeds (episode: "Lady's a Charm") Satellite Awards 2004 Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Angels in America 2005 Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Weeds 2006 Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Weeds 2008 Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Weeds 2009 Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Weeds 2010 Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Red Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Weeds Theatre World Awards 1990 Prelude to a Kiss Tony Awards 1990 Best Actress in a Play Prelude to a Kiss 2001 Best Actress in a Play Proof 2005 Best Actress in a Play Reckless 2020 Best Actress in a Play The Sound Inside 2022 Best Actress in a Play How I Learned to Drive