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Mimi Kennedy

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Mimi Kennedy
Born
Mary Claire Kennedy

(1948-09-25) September 25, 1948 (age 76)
Rochester, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, writer
Years active1970s-present
Spouse(s)Larry Dilg (May 27, 1978–present; 2 children)

Mary Claire "Mimi" Kennedy (born September 25, 1948)[1] is an American actress, author, and activist, best known for her performances in television comedies. She co-starred in a number of short-lived sitcoms, before her role as Ruth Sloan on the ABC drama series, Homefront (1991—93).

Kennedy is best known for her role as Abby O'Neil in the ABC sitcom, Dharma & Greg (1997—2002). In film, Kennedy appeared in Pump Up the Volume (1990), Erin Brockovich (2000), In the Loop (2009), Due Date (2010), Midnight in Paris (2011), and The Five-Year Engagement (2012).

She is currently a series regular on the sitcom, Mom, for which she received a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination.

Early life

Kennedy was born in Rochester, New York, the daughter of Nancy Helen (née Colgan) and Daniel Gerald Kennedy.[2][3] She got her start in theater with the Rochester Community Players, appearing in Agatha Christie's Spider Web in October 1960 when she was 12 years old. She was raised in Rochester, where she graduated in 1966 from Our Lady of Mercy High School. In the 1970s she was in a musical production, Rhinegold, featuring songs by her friend Jim Steinman. She attended Smith College.[1]

Career

Kennedy began her career appearing in the Broadway musical Grease, and in 1977 landed a part in the short-lived NBC variety series 3 Girls 3, with Debbie Allen and Ellen Foley.[4] She later played the role of Stockard Channing's sister, character name Victoria, in the short-lived CBS sitcom, Stockard Channing in Just Friends (1979), and was a regular on The Big Show (1980). During the 1980s, she starred in a number of short-lived sitcoms, including The Two of Us (1981–82), Spencer (1984-85), and Family Man (1988). She also co-starred in the sitcom Joe's Life (1993).[4]

After starring in several unsuccessful sitcoms, Kennedy made her dramatic turn with a supporting role in the critically acclaimed ABC drama series, Homefront.[4] The series ran from 1991 to 1993. She later was a regular on The WB prime time soap opera, Savannah (1996—97), playing the rich socialite mother of Shannon Sturges' character. After the series was canceled, she was cast in another Aaron Spelling-produced soap, Pacific Palisades. This series also was canceled after a single season. In 1997, Kennedy returned to comedy roles playing Dharma's mother, Abby O'Neil, on the ABC sitcom, Dharma & Greg (1997—2002).

During the 2000s, Kennedy had many guest-starring roles on television, appearing on Grey's Anatomy, House, ER, Scandal, In Plain Sight, Drop Dead Diva, and Veep. She also had a number of supporting film roles, appearing in Man in the Chair, In the Loop, Due Date, Midnight in Paris and The Five-Year Engagement. In 2013, Kennedy joined the cast of the CBS sitcom Mom playing Marjorie, the twelve-step sponsor of the lead characters. She received Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for her performance on the show.[5] She upped to series regular as of second season.[6]

Personal life

Kennedy and her husband, Larry Dilg, were matched by the first known computer dating program "Operation Match" in 1966. They wed in 1978 and have two children.

Kennedy is involved in several progressive activist causes, including Progressive Democrats of America for which she serves as Chairperson of the Board. Her mid-life memoir, Taken To The Stage: The Education of an Actress, was published by Smith&Kraus in 1996 with praise from advice columnist Abigail "Dear Abby" Van Buren and playwright Wendy Wasserstein, who called it "one of the great theatrical memoirs."[1]

Kennedy is a signatory to the 9/11 Truth Statement. She was a charter member of Artists United to Win Without War and a leading supporter of Dennis Kucinich’s anti-war presidential campaign in 2004. Kennedy has worked on human rights, environmental and labour issues.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Getting Married Jenny Television film
1981 Thin Ice Arlene Television film
1987 Baby Girl Scott Jane
1989 Chances Are Sally
1989 Immediate Family Eli's Mom
1990 Pump Up the Volume Marla Hunter
1990 A Promise to Keep Annie Television film
1990 Sins of the Mother Karen Turner Television film
1992 Death Becomes Her Second Woman
1994 Flashfire Kate Cantrell
1996 Once You Meet a Stranger Connie Television film
1997 Taken Judy Gold Short film
1997 Buddy Mrs. Bunny Bowman
1998 Reasons of the Heart Celia Barton
2000 Erin Brockovich Laura Ambrosino
2007 Man in the Chair Judy Kincaid Method Fest Independent Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Cast
2008 A Single Woman Storyteller
2009 In the Loop Karen Clark
2009 The Three Gifts Rita Green Television film
2010 Due Date Sarah's Mom
2011 Life of Lemon Louise Phillips
2011 Midnight in Paris Helen Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Acting
2012 The Five-Year Engagement Carol Solomon
2013 Expecting Dr. Grayson
2013 In Sickness and in Health Carol
2014 Squatters Judge Janovich

Television

  • The Brink .... Susan Buckley, (4 episodes, 2015)

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1993 American Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series Homefront Nominated
1993 Viewers for Quality Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series Homefront Nominated
2007 Method Fest Best Ensemble Cast Man in the Chair Won
2011 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Ensemble Cast Midnight in Paris Nominated
2014 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Mom Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b c "Mimi Kennedy". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  2. ^ Marriage announcement of Mimi Kennedy's parents, fultonhistory.com; accessed February 20, 2014.
  3. ^ Mimi Kennedy profile, filmreference.com; accessed February 17, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Mimi Kennedy". Yahoo Movies Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Critics' Choice TV Awards 2014: And the nominees are..." Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  6. ^ "CBS' 'Mom' Promotes Mimi Kennedy to Series Regular (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
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