Penny Johnson Jerald

Penny Johnson Jerald (born March 14, 1961) is an American actress. She played Beverly Barnes on the HBO comedy series The Larry Sanders Show, Kasidy Yates on the syndicated science fiction series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Sherry Palmer on the Fox series 24, Captain Victoria "Iron" Gates on the ABC comedy-drama series Castle, Dr. Claire Finn on the Fox/Hulu science-fiction series The Orville, and the voice of Sarafina in The Lion King.

Early life Johnson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, one of seven siblings. She aspired to be an actress as a child.

Career Jerald began her career with small guest roles. She made her screen debut on an episode of American Playhouse in 1983. Her first major role on television was Vivian Conway in The Paper Chase from 1984 to 1986. She appeared in General Hospital in 1986 and Do the Right Thing in 1989. She portrayed Virginia "Vicki" Harper on short-lived sitcom Homeroom in 1989.

In 1992, Jerald landed the role of unflappable personal assistant, Beverly Barnes, on The Larry Sanders Show. For her work on Larry Sanders, Jerald received a CableACE Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 1996. Two years later, she earned an NAACP Image Award nomination in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She continued playing Beverly until the show ended in 1998.

Throughout the 1990s, Jerald guest starred in several television series, including Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Grace Under Fire, Cosby and Family Law. She appeared as Lavinia in television film Class of '61 and portrayed Lorraine in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993).

Following Larry Sanders, Jerald appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine playing freighter captain Kasidy Yates, the love interest for the series's main character Benjamin Sisko, a recurring role which she played from 1995 to the show's end in 1999. In 1997, she played Laura Simon in the film Absolute Power. She also had a recurring guest role on ER as Lynette Evans from 1998 to 1999. She then appeared as Roscoe Dellums in the Emmy Award–winning TV movie The Color of Friendship. Jerald also guest starred on Frasier, The Practice, Touched by an Angel and The X-Files.

Jerald's most-recognized role came in 2001 when she appeared in the Kiefer Sutherland-led Fox series, 24, playing Sherry Palmer, the wife of Senator David Palmer. Jerald believed it was the first role to test her acting ability, claiming the majority of her previous characters were "easy-going." She appeared in all but two of the first season episodes and multiple episodes of the second and third seasons. She received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2003 alongside her 24 co-stars.

In 2003, Jerald portrayed Condoleezza Rice in DC 9/11: Time of Crisis, a TV movie about the September 11 attacks in 2001. She reprised the role in the miniseries The Path to 9/11, which aired September 10–11, 2006.

Jerald also guest-starred on the sitcom Eve, playing Shelly's mother Beverly in four episodes. She portrayed Rebecca Parrish in three episodes of sci-fi series The 4400 in 2007. Jerald had a recurring role on ABC midseason drama October Road for the 2007–08 season.

She made guest appearances on episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne. Jerald gave voice to Amanda Waller in animated series Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles in 2015.

Jerald joined the cast of ABC's Castle in its fourth season as the new captain of the 12th Precinct, Victoria "Iron" Gates, replacing Ruben Santiago-Hudson's deceased character Roy Montgomery as captain of the precinct. In 2015, Jerald announced on Twitter that she had been let go from the series, and was herself "saddened" and "surprised" by the news.

She was later cast in the role of Dr. Claire Finn in the Fox/Hulu science-fiction series The Orville. In 2019, Jerald provided the voice of Sarafina in The Lion King, a remake of the 1994 film.

Personal life She married Gralin Jerald in 1983. Jerald also teaches acting workshops and produces and directs for Outreach Christian Theater Company, which she and her musician husband founded in 1994. The couple have a daughter.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1984 Swing Shift Genevieve Sue 1990 Goin' to Chicago Darlene 1993 Fear of a Black Hat Re-Re What's Love Got to Do with It Lorraine Taylor 1994 Molly & Gina Maria 1995 Automatic Julia Rodriguez 1997 Absolute Power Laura Simon 1998 Krippendorf's Tribe Teacher 2005 Rent Bohemian 2015 Justice League: Gods and Monsters President Amanda Waller Voice role 2018 Parker's Anchor Laurie 2019 The Lion King Sarafina Voice role 2020 Celeste's Dreams Penelope Short film 2025 BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions Herself Documentary film Good Fortune Elena's Mom

Television Year Title Role Notes 1983 American Playhouse Jill Hatch Episode: "The Files on Jill Hatch: Part 1" 1984 T. J. Hooker Lisa Cody Episode: "Anatomy of a Killing" Hill Street Blues Jackie DeWitt Episode: "Blues for Mr. Green" Michelle TV movie 1984–1986 Vivian Conway Main cast (seasons 2-4) 1985 Danelle Episode: "Last Dance" Betty TV movie Simon & Simon Hanna McKenzie Episode: "Out-of-Town Brown" 1986 General Hospital Debbie Episode: "14 & 15 May 1986" 1987 1st & Ten Phyllis Recurring role (season 4) Women in Prison Patty Episode: "Walk This Way" 1988 Simon & Simon Evelyn Jacobson Episode: "Zen and the Art of the Split-Finger Fastball" 1989 Tour of Duty Jan Hudson Episode: "For What It's Worth" She's the Sheriff Dorothy Episode: "Divorce, Wiggins Style" Homeroom Virginia Harper Main cast 1990 Freddy's Nightmares Elaine Alamo Episode: "Life Sentence" Coach Susan Birch Episode: "The Day That Moses Came to Town" Kaleidoscope Paula TV movie Night Visions Luanne TV movie Parker Lewis Can't Lose Ms. Miriam Donnelly Episode: "Teacher, Teacher" 1991 Columbo Maxine Jarrett Episode: "Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health" 1992–1998 Beverly Barnes Main cast 1993 Class of '61 Lavinia TV movie Empty Cradle Gail Huddle TV movie 1994 Star Trek: The Next Generation Dobara Episode: "Homeward" 1995 Sweet Justice Marcy Lerner Episode: "Greener Grass" 1995–1999 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Kasidy Yates Recurring role (seasons 3-7) 1996 Grace Under Fire Bailey Alford Episode: "Love Thy Neighbor" & "Pregnant Pause" Laney Roosevelt TV movie Death Benefit Sylvia Guzman TV movie Geraldine TV movie 1997 Cosby Penny Episode: "Brave New Hilton" Elizabeth Episode: "Pilot" 1998–1999 ER Lynette Evans Supporting cast (season 5) 1999 The Test of Love Hope TV movie 2000 Family Law Christine Webber Episode: "Family Values" Roscoe Dellums TV movie Deliberate Intent Laura Harmon TV movie 2001 Dr. Hellura Lyle Episode: "Medusa" Atty. Laura Garrett Episode: "Awakenings" Citizen Baines Denise Willis Episode: "A Day Like No Other" 2001–2004 24 Sherry Palmer Recurring role (seasons 1 & 3), main cast (season 2) 2002 Touched by an Angel Eleanor Episode: "The Impossible Dream" 2003 Frasier Carol Episode: "Maris Returns" DC 9/11: Time of Crisis Condoleezza Rice TV movie 2004 Secrets of the International Spy Museum Guest TV movie 2005–2006 Eve Beverly Williams Recurring role (season 3) 2006 Law & Order Ms. Booker Episode: "Choice of Evils" 2007 Rebecca Parrish Recurring role (season 4) 2007–2008 October Road Dean Leslie Etwood Recurring role 2009–2010 NCIS Joanne Torrence Episode: "Endgame" & "Flesh and Blood" 2010 Bones Rachel Adams Episode: "The X in the File" Tyler Perry's House of Payne Maxine Recurring role (season 6) 2011–2015 Castle Capt. Victoria Gates Main cast (seasons 4-7) 2015 Gods and Monsters Chronicles President Amanda Waller Episode: "Bomb" (voice role) 2017 Media Jackie Jones TV movie 2017–2022 The Orville Dr. Claire Finn Main cast 2018 Sideswiped Cynthia Episode: "The Rock Star" 2024 Ted Principal Episode: "Just Say Yes" & "Desperately Seeking Susan"