Merrin Dungey

Merrin Melissa Dungey (born August 6, 1971) is an American film and television actress, known for her roles on the television series The King of Queens, Alias, Malcolm in the Middle, Summerland, Conviction, The Resident and The Fix. She also appeared as Ursula on Once Upon a Time. From 2022 to 2023, Dungey played series regular Kam in Shining Vale.

Early life and education Dungey, who is of African-American heritage, was born and raised in Sacramento, California. As a child, she was active in ballet and dance as well as piano. Dungey was also an accomplished ice skater. Dungey graduated in 1989 from Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California. After high school, Dungey earned a degree of Bachelor of Arts from UCLA in 1993. Dungey has a sister, Channing Dungey who was president of ABC Entertainment and is the CEO of Warner Bros. Television Studios.

Career Dungey had small roles in Hollywood films such as EDtv and Deep Impact and on television series such as Martin, before landing the recurring role of Kelly Palmer on the CBS television series The King of Queens, in which she starred from 1999 to 2007. from 2001 to 2003, as well as making an appearance on the 2006 series finale episode All the Time in the World. She also had a recurring role on the FOX sitcom Malcolm in the Middle as Stevie's mother, Kitty Kenarban. but was replaced by actress Audra McDonald for the series.

Dungey guest-starred on the ABC sitcoms Surviving Suburbia starring Bob Saget, Better Off Ted starring Portia de Rossi, Castle starring Nathan Fillion, She portrayed Ellie on the Nick at Nite television series Hollywood Heights in 2012 Dungey played investigator Maxine Bohen on the ABC legal drama Conviction from October 2016 to May 2017. In September 2017, she joined the cast of the medical drama The Resident as Claire Thorpe. Dungey next appeared as C.J. Bernstein in the ABC legal drama The Fix.

In February 2021, Dungey was cast in the series regular role of Kam in the Starz series Shining Vale. The series premiered in March 2022, and was later picked up for a second season in May 2022.

Personal life In May 2007, Dungey married Matthew Drake in a mariachi-style wedding ceremony in Cancun, Mexico. She gave birth to their first daughter in June 2008, and a second daughter in 2011. Dungey and Drake separated in 2018 and divorced in 2021. In 2023, Dungey announced her engagement to Kevin Ryder, a member of the Radio Hall of Fame and NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame for his work on Kevin and Bean. They married on December 31, 2023.

Filmography

Film Year Film Role Notes 1998 Deep Impact Sheila Bradley 1999 EDtv Ms. Seaver 2000 The Sky Is Falling Sheila 2001 Odessa or Bust Disgruntled Diner Short 2002 Scream at the Sound of the Beep Jill 2006 Beyond Debbie Sprague TV movie 2009 Masterwork Rachel West TV movie 2011 L!fe Happens Hester 2014 Some Kind of Beautiful Angela 2015 The Diabolical Mrs. Dana Wallace 48 Hours 'til Monday Mary Johansson TV movie 2017 CHiPs Joy Jackson Brothered Up Desiree Williams TV movie 2020 Greenland Major Breen 2021 The Madness Inside Me Madison

Television Year Film Role Notes 1995 Martin Monique Episode: "Girlfriend" 1996 Babylon 5 Security Guard #2 Episode: "Messages from Earth" Living Single Laura Episode: "Woman to Woman" Party Girl Wanda Main cast 1997 Caroline in the City Female Prostitute Episode: "Caroline and the Buyer" ER Daphina Episode: "When the Bough Breaks" Murphy Brown Woman Episode: "From the Terrace" 1998 Seinfeld Cashier Episode: "The Bookstore" 1999 Tracey Takes On... Nancy Episode: "Drugs" Saved by the Bell: The New Class Coach Williams Episode: "Prescription for Trouble" The West Wing Daisy Episode: "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc" G vs E Rebecca Clemens Episode: "Cliffhanger" 1999–2007 The King of Queens Kelly Palmer Recurring cast 2000 Jesse Rosemary Episode: "Kurt Slips, Niagara Falls" City of Angels Mrs. Lombard Episode: "Deliver the Male" Friends The Museum Official Episode: "The One Where Paul's the Man" 2000–01 Grosse Pointe Joan Recurring cast 2000–04 Malcolm in the Middle Kitty Kenarban Guest: Seasons 1 & 3 & 6, Recurring cast: Season 2 2001 Curb Your Enthusiasm Amy Episode: "The Doll" 2001–06 Alias Francie Calfo / Allison Doren Main cast: Season 1-2, Recurring cast: Season 3, guest: Season 5 2004–05 Summerland Susannah Rexford Main cast 2007 Boston Legal Sandy Zionts Episode: "Angel of Death" Grey's Anatomy Dr. Naomi Bennett Episode: "The Other Side of This Life, Part 1 & 2" 2009 Surviving Suburbia Mrs. Devore Episode: "Nothing for Money" 2009–10 Better Off Ted Sheila Guest: Season 1, Recurring cast: Season 2 2010 Castle Monica Finch Episode: "Den of Thieves" The Closer Ms. Reed Episode: "Heart Attack" Hung Liz Recurring cast: Season 2 Outlaw Alison Mills Episode: "In Re: Curtis Farwell" 2012 Revenge Barbara Snow Recurring cast: Season 1 Hollywood Heights Ellie Moss Recurring cast 2013 90210 Court Appointed Therapist Episode: "Brother From Another Mother" How to Live with Your Parents Morgan Episode: "How to Have a Playdate" & "How to Be Gifted" Betrayal Alissa Barnes Recurring cast 2014 Episodes Tonight Show Producer Episode: "Episode Four" Trophy Wife Agent Dawn Johansen Episode: "The Wedding, Part 1" Shameless Nurse Episode: "Lazarus" Rizzoli & Isles Gwen Miller Episode: "It Takes a Village" CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Twyla Owens Episode: "Road to Recovery" 2014–15 Once Upon a Time Ursula Recurring cast: Season 4 Chasing Life Dr. Susan Hamburg Recurring cast Brooklyn Nine-Nine Sharon Jeffords Guest: Seasons 1-2, Recurring cast: Season 3 2015 Backstrom Eleanor Deering Episode: "Enemy of My Enemies" 2016 Con Man Jess Episode: "What Goes Up..." 2016–17 Conviction Maxine Bohen Main cast 2017 You're the Worst Candace Recurring cast: Season 4 2017–19 Big Little Lies Detective Adrienne Quinlan Recurring cast 2018 The Resident Claire Thorpe Main cast: Season 1 2019 Grace and Frankie Elena Episode: "The Highs" The Fix C.J. Bernstein Main cast 2020 Star Trek: Picard Interviewer Episode: "Remembrance" Man with a Plan Dr. Felicia Episode: "Couples Therapy" & "Adam's Not Sorry" 2020–present Star Trek: Lower Decks Solvang First Officer/Ensign Wendy (voice) 2 episodes 2021 Bad Vibes Melinda Episode: "Shifter" American Horror Stories Dr. Andi Grant Recurring cast: Season 1 Lucifer Officer Sonja Harris Recurring cast: Season 6 Bob's Burgers Judith (voice) Episode: "Driving Big Dummy" 2022–23 Shining Vale Kam Main cast 2024 S.W.A.T. Deputy Chief Leticia Bennett Recurring cast The Lincoln Lawyer Judge Regina Turner Recurring cast (Season 3)2025–26Chicago MedDr. Jennifer Kingston6 episodes (Season 11) 2026 Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair Kitty Kenarban 1 episode In Between