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Debi Mazar

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Debi Mazar
Mazar in 2009
Born
Deborah Anne Mazar

(1964-08-13) August 13, 1964 (age 60)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1981–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2002)​
PartnerPaul Reubens (1993–1999)
Children2

Deborah Anne Mazar Corcos (/ˈmeɪzɑːr/;[1] born August 13, 1964) is an American actress and television personality, known for playing sharp-tongued women. She began her career with supporting roles in Goodfellas (1990), Little Man Tate (1991) and Singles (1992), followed by lead roles on the legal drama series Civil Wars and L.A. Law. She is known for her role as press agent Shauna Roberts on the HBO series Entourage. She also starred as Maggie Amato on TV Land's longest running original series, Younger and alongside her husband Gabriele Corcos in the Cooking Channel series Extra Virgin.

Mazar is also known for her long term friendship with Madonna.[2]

Early life

Mazar was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, the daughter of Nancy and Harry Mazar (Harija Fogelmanis[3]). Her father was born in German-occupied Latvia to a Jewish family. She had no knowledge of her father's ancestry until her twenties as he practiced Catholicism.[4] Mazar's parents annulled their marriage shortly after she was born,[5] and she spent her early life in the country in upstate New York with her mother.[5] As a teenager, she relocated to Long Island, where she lived with her godparents.[5]

Mazar worked various odd jobs, including selling jewelry at Fiorucci with Linda Ramone and Joey Arias, later as a dental assistant, and at a nightclub.[6]

Career

While working at Danceteria, Mazar met Madonna,[5] who hired Mazar to do her makeup for the music video for "Everybody". Mazar also originated the hair and makeup for the play Speed-the-Plow.[6]

Mazar began her career as a hip hop b-girl in New York City. Her first television appearance was on the pilot for a hip hop television dance show, Graffiti Rock in 1984.[7] She appeared in five of Madonna's music videos[8] – "Papa Don't Preach", "True Blue" (both 1986), "Justify My Love" (1990), "Deeper and Deeper" (1992) and "Music" (2000).[9]

Mazar has played a number of minor supporting roles in a variety of films, including Sandy, a friend of Henry Hill's mistress in Goodfellas (1990); The Doors (1991); a small role in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992); Bullets Over Broadway (1994); and as Spice (of Sugar and Spice, with Drew Barrymore as Sugar) in Batman Forever (1995). She gained her first real following from playing a character on Civil Wars in the early 1990s. When that series was cancelled her character was brought over as a recurring role between the 1993 and 1994 seasons of the TV drama L.A. Law.[9]

She played the villain Regina, a modern-day Cruella de Vil, in the family film Beethoven's 2nd (1993). She has appeared in independent films Inside Monkey Zetterland and Nowhere and her short-lived sitcom, Temporarily Yours. She appeared as the genie in the Space Monkeys' music video, "Sugarcane".[9]

Mazar appeared on a Friends episode in its eighth season ("The One Where Rachel Has a Baby, Part One"). Mazar played "Doreen, the Evil Bitch," a crazed pregnant woman who shares a hospital room with Rachel.[10] In the 1999 docudrama film The Insider she played character Lowell Bergman's assistant Debi. From 2000-02 she played Jackie on the television drama That's Life. She provided the voice of Maria Latore in the video games Grand Theft Auto III (2001) and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004).[11][12] Also in 2004, she made a cameo appearance in the movie Collateral in which she played the passenger while arguing with her boyfriend (Bodhi Elfman) while the movie's main protagonist, Max Durocher (Jamie Foxx), is driving them to their destination.

From 2004 to 2011, she had a supporting role on Entourage as press agent Shauna Roberts. She also had a recurring role on the sitcom Living with Fran, playing Fran Drescher's character's cousin, Merrill. She did a two-episode stint on the television series Ugly Betty as fraudster Leah Stillman.[13]

Mazar was a contestant on the ninth season of Dancing With the Stars. She was partnered with Maksim Chmerkovskiy and finished in twelfth place, eliminated in the third week (October 6, 2009).[14] In 2012, Mazar played Jessica, a glamorous, leather-clad villainess in Home Alone: The Holiday Heist.[15]

Mazar began appearing on the Cooking Channel cooking/reality show television series Extra Virgin in January 2011. She, her husband Gabriele Corcos and their two daughters starred in the series, which depicted their lives and showcased their own recipes. The show was scripted and lasted five seasons. In 2015, Mazar and her husband started another series on the Cooking Channel entitled Extra Virgin Americana where they travel the U.S., road trip style, with their children and family friend searching for great food.[16]

From 2015 to 2021, Mazar starred in Younger with Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff as Maggie Amato. The series met critical acclaim and was renewed for a seventh season in 2019, making it the longest running original series in the "TV Land" network's history.[17]

Mazar appeared in the second season of The $100,000 Pyramid reboot on ABC on August 6, 2017. In the main game, she helped her contestant get 7 clues in only 15 seconds causing host Michael Strahan to say, "I think that's the quickest round we've ever had, 15 seconds!"[18]

In 2018 she played Ava Gardner in the Spanish period comedy-drama television series Arde Madrid, telling the story of the period which the American actress spent in Madrid during Francoist Spain.

Personal life

Prior to her marriage, Mazar dated actor Paul Reubens for several years beginning in 1993. Reubens has since credited Mazar with ending his depression resulting from his 1991 arrest.[19]

She married Gabriele Corcos on March 16, 2002, in a ceremony officiated by Ellen Burstyn.[20] They have two daughters, Giulia and Evelina. As of 2005, the family divided their time between Brooklyn and a 15th-century home outside of Florence, Italy, that was given to them as a wedding present by Mazar's in-laws.[20]

Mazar and Corcos formerly hosted an internet show focused on Tuscan cuisine, Under The Tuscan Gun.[21] The family formerly lived in Los Angeles but moved to Brooklyn, New York in 2009. On January 19, 2011, Mazar and her husband Gabriele began hosting the cooking show Extra Virgin on the Cooking Channel, and released a cookbook, Recipes & Love From Our Tuscan Kitchen, in 2014.[22][23][24]

Mazar and her husband both appeared on an episode of the ABC talk show The Chew in 2014 to promote their show, Extra Virgin.[25] Between 2020-2021 the couple ran a cafe/restaurant called Tuscan Gun in the Windsor Terrace neighborhood of Brooklyn.[26] Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic Mazar and her family relocated to their Florence villa.[27]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1981 Downtown 81 Peppermint Lounge Dancer a.k.a. New York Beat Movie
Uncredited
1990 Goodfellas Sandy
1991 The Doors Whiskey Girl
1991 Jungle Fever Denise
1991 Little Man Tate Gina
1992 In the Soup Suzie
1992 Love Is Like That Delores
1992 Inside Monkey Zetterland Daphne
1992 Singles Brenda
1992 Malcolm X Peg
1992 Toys Nurse Debbie
1993 So I Married an Axe Murderer Susan
1993 Money for Nothing Monica Russo
1993 Beethoven's 2nd Regina
1994 Bullets over Broadway Violet
1995 Batman Forever "Spice"
1995 Empire Records Jane
1996 Things I Never Told You Diane
1996 Girl 6 Girl #39
1996 Trees Lounge Crystal
1996 Red Ribbon Blues Darcy
1996 Space Truckers Cindy
1997 Meet Wally Sparks Sandy Gallo
1997 Nowhere "Kozy"
1997 She's So Lovely Georgie
1997 The Deli Teresa
1997 Casper: A Spirited Beginning Angie Lyons Video
1997 Trouble on the Corner Ericca Rice
1998 Marry Me or Die
1998 Frogs for Snakes Simone
1998 Hush Lisa
1998 There's No Fish Food in Heaven Rosie
1999 The Insider Debbie De Luca
1999 House on Haunted Hill Jennifer Jenzen Scenes deleted[28]
2000 More Dogs Than Bones Mary
2000 Held for Ransom Rita
2002 Ten Tiny Love Stories "Six"
2002 The Tuxedo CSA Agent Steena
2003 Who Killed the Idea? Mysterious Woman Short film
2003 Deception Janet Steiner
2004 Collateral Young Professional Woman
2004 My Tiny Universe Bonnie
2005 Be Cool Marla
2005 Edmond Matron
2005 Wait Joanne Short film
2006 Lies & Alibis Detective Bryce a.k.a. The Alibi
2006 Red Riding Hood Red's Mother
2008 A Beautiful Life Susan
2008 The Women Tanya
2013 Lovelace Dolly Sharp
2013 Return to Babylon Gloria Swanson
2014 She's Funny That Way Vickie
2015 Entourage Shauna Roberts
2017 The Only Living Boy in New York Anna
2017 Wonder Wheel Birthday Party Guest

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Graffiti Rock The Dancer Unsold TV pilot
1991–1993 Civil Wars Denise Iannello Main role (36 episodes)
1993–1994 L.A. Law Denise Iannello Main Role (22 episodes)
1994 Witch Hunt The Manicurist TV film
1995 Burke's Law Rachel Davis Episode: "Who Killed the Motor Car Maverick?"
1997 Temporarily Yours Deb DeAngelo Main role (6 episodes)
1998 Witness to the Mob Deborah Gravano TV film
David and Lisa Maggie TV film
1998–1999 Working Liz Tricoli Regular role (17 episodes)
1999 The Wild Thornberrys Mongoose (voice) Episode: "Darwin Plays the Palace"
The Sissy Duckling Mother Duck 2 (voice) TV film
Providence Vonda Vickers Episodes: "Thank You, Providence: Parts 1 & 2"
2000 Get Real Kate Harris Episode: "Saved"
2000–2002 That's Life Jackie O'Grady Main role (34 episodes)
2002 Friends Doreen, The Evil Bitch Episode: "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby: Part 1"
The Groovenians Yalda, Swirly, Cuckoo Bird (voice) TV short (unknown episodes)
2003 Wanda at Large Jenny Hawkins Episode: "Unaired Pilot"
2003–2004 7th Heaven Nurse Kelly 2 episodes
All of Us Alex / Debi Recurring role (7 episodes)
2004 The Practice Gigi Coley 2 episodes
CSI: Miami Rebecca Briggs Episode: "Speed Kills"
2004–2011 Entourage Shauna Roberts 50 episodes
2005 NYPD Blue Maxine Annunziato Episode: "Lenny Scissorhands"
2005–2006 Living With Fran Cousin Merrill 4 episodes
2006 Ghost Whisperer Josie Episode: "The Woman of His Dreams"
Ugly Betty Leah Feldman 2 episodes
2008 Privileged Debra Episode: "Pilot"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Peggy Bernardi Episode: "Babes"
2009 Burn Notice Amy Episode: "Friends Like These"
Castle Paula Haas Episode: "When the Bough Breaks"
Dancing With The Stars Herself Contestant; eliminated 4th, 12th/16
2010 The Life & Times of Tim Rochelle (voice) Episode: "Rodney Has a Wife?"
Hell's Kitchen Herself Episode: "12 Chefs Compete Part 1"
Hawthorne Donna Alberghetti Episode: "Hidden Truths"
Jonas Mona Klein Recurring role (7 episodes)
2011 Good Vibes Barbara "Babs" Brando (voice) Main role (12 episodes)
2011–2015 Extra Virgin Herself Series regular (68 episodes)
2012 Melissa & Joey Harper Quinn Episode: "The Knockout"
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist Jessica TV film
Happily Divorced Jan Episode: "The Back-Up Fran"
2014 The Chew Herself 1 episodes
2015–2021 Younger Maggie Amato Series regular (81 episodes)
2016 Elementary Detective Cosa Episode: "It Serves You Right"
2017 The Untitled Action Bronson Show Herself 1 episode
2017–2019 Happy! Isabella Scaramucci 6 episodes
2018 The Simpsons Minnie Szyslak (voice) Episode: "King Leer"
Arde Madrid Ava Gardner 8 episodes
2020 Power Auntie Doloris 2 episodes
Katy Keene Herself Episode: "Chapter Twelve: Chain of Fools"
At Home with Amy Sedaris Jo "Jo-Jo" Episode: "First Dates"
2021 The Other Two Herself Episode: "Pat Connects with Her Fans"
2022 The Pentaverate Patty Davis 6 episodes

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Grand Theft Auto III Maria Latore Voice
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Voice

Music videos

References

  1. ^ Debi Mazar (October 6, 2009). "Dancing with the Stars" round three: results show (Television). United States: ABC. Event occurs at 41:30. I've just been going by /ˈmeɪzɑːr/ for all these years, but it's probably /məˈzɑːr/.
  2. ^ "Debi Mazar reacts to Julia Fox possibly playing her in Madonna biopic". Entertainment Weekly.
  3. ^ Search word for Fogelmanis: Harija Aka Harry Fogelmanis Aka Mazar and Nancy Kapies, 1964, Queens, New York City, New York, United States;Marriage, Queens, New York City, New York, United States, from Reclaim the Records, The NYC Marriage Index [http://www.nycmarriageindex.com} citing New York City Clerk's Office.
  4. ^ "Debi Mazar". Biography.com. The Biography Channel. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d Posen, Zac (June 4, 2015). "Debi Mazar's History of New York". Interview. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Debi Mazar". intothegloss.com. May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  7. ^ "Debi Mazar Recounts 6 Close Encounters with Hip Hop in the '80s". egotripland.com. August 15, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  8. ^ "Debi Mazar: My Kids Have Play Dates With Madonna". UsMagazine.com. November 4, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c "Debi Mazar Biography". Filmreference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  10. ^ "Friends S08E23 TOW Rachel Has A Baby (Parts 1&2) – video dailymotion". Dailymotion. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  11. ^ Time stamp- 3:05, Debbi Mazar as Maria, GTA 3 - End Credits (HD), retrieved July 18, 2022{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Time stamp- 3:38, Maria- Debi Mazar, GTA San Andreas - End Credits, retrieved July 18, 2022{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Ugly Betty (TV Series 2006–2010), retrieved March 10, 2018
  14. ^ Bosland, Katie; Ferran, Lee (September 21, 2009). "Dancing With the Stars Double Elimination: Tom Delay and Debi Mazar Go Down". ABC News. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  15. ^ Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (TV Movie 2012), retrieved March 10, 2018
  16. ^ Extra Virgin Americana, retrieved March 10, 2018
  17. ^ "Younger: Charles Michael Davis Promoted to Series Regular". TVLine. February 21, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  18. ^ "The $100,000 Pyramid: Bobby Moynihan vs Debi Mazar and Wendie Malick vs Jesse Palmer – Watch Season 2 Episode 08". ABC. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  19. ^ "Paul Reubens: Playboy Interview". Playboy. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  20. ^ a b "Debi Mazar in Entourage – Back in the Public Eye". Newyorkmetro.com. June 6, 2005. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
  21. ^ "Under The Tuscan Gun". November 3, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
  22. ^ "Extra Virgin with Debi Mazar & Gabriele Corcos". Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  23. ^ Rochlin, Margy (February 2, 2011). "Debi Mazar Hits the Kitchen on Extra Virgin". TV Guide. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  24. ^ Pace, Gina (April 20, 2014). "'Entourage' actress Debi Mazar and family test out their Easter feast for the Daily News". New York Daily News.
  25. ^ "The Chew" Extra Value Friday: Baconfest (TV Episode 2014) – IMDb, retrieved February 17, 2021
  26. ^ Kaufman, Joanne (March 18, 2016). "Debi Mazar, Star of 'Younger,' at Home in Brooklyn". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  27. ^ https://www.digitalmarketnews.com/debi-mazar-pays-tribute-to-ray-liotta/
  28. ^ Kelly, Dan. "DVD Review – The House on Haunted Hill (1999)". The Digital Bits. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
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