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Mary Louise Parker bio, relationships, career, and more

Who is Mary-Louise Parker?

Mary-Louise Parker is an actress and writer. She was born on  August 2, 1964. Parker made her Broadway debut in Prelude to Kiss in 1990 after which she received a Tony Award Nomination. Apart from this, Parker is known for her appearance in many films such as Grand Canyon, Fried Green Tomatoes, A Place for Annie, Boys on the Side, The Client, and The Maker. 

Table of Contents

Quick facts

Birth nameMary-Louise Parker
BirthdayAugust 2, 1964
Age59 years old
Sun signLeo
Place of birthFort Jackson, South Carolina, U.S.
EducationUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)

Early life, upbringing, and education

Mary-Louise Parker was born in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Her mother’s name is Caroline Morell, and her father’s name is John Morgan Parker. She has three older siblings. Her father, John Morgan Parker, was a judge who worked for the US Army. Due to the nature of his profession, the Parkers often moved from one place to another. Mary-Louise Parker spent her childhood in many places, such as Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Germany, and France. 

The actress finished her high school education at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Arizona. After this, she joined the University of North Carolina School of Arts. She graduated from there in 1986 with a degree in Drama. 

Relationships and dating history

Parker was in a relationship with actor Billy Crudup in the past. They separated in 2003 after Crudup left Parker for actress Claire Danes amidst Parker’s pregnancy. Their child, William Atticus Parker, was born in 2004. A few years later, Parker began dating her Weeds co-star, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Although they got engaged in February 2008, the couple ended their engagement just a few months later. In 2007, Parker adopted a child from Ethiopia. Since 2009, Parker has been in a relationship with singer-songwriter Charlie Mars. 

Mary-Louise Parker career

Parker made her acting debut in the soap opera Ryan’s Hope. Likewise, she made her Broadway debut in Craig Lucas’ Prelude to a Kiss. Her portrayal of Rita helped her win the Clarence Derwent Award. Similarly, she was nominated for a Tony Award. 

In the 1990s, Parker’s film career blossomed. She had important roles in many movies, including Grand Canyon, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Client, Bullets over Broadway, Boys on the Side, Reckless, The Portrait of a Lady, and The Maker. In addition, Parker appeared on the How I Learned to Drive Off-Broadway in 1997. She was honored with the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Actress and the Obie Award. 

In 2003, Parker played the role of Harper Pitt in HBO’s adaptation of the  Broadway play Angels in America. Her exceptional performance earned her a Golden Globe Award and Primetime Emmy Award.  

The actress appeared in the comedy Saved! and the Broadway play Reckless in 2004. Her work in Reckless earned her another Tony Award nomination. In 2006, Parker was awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy for her work in Weeds. 

In 2010, Parker starred opposite Bruce Willis in the film Red. The following year, she became the host of the documentary series Independent Lens. In the late 2010s, Parker appeared in many Broadway plays, such as The Snow Geese and The Sound Inside at Studio 54. She went on to be nominated for a Tony Award for her work in the latter. 

Films:

YearTitleRole
1989Signs of LifeCharlotte
1989Longtime CompanionLisa
1991Fried Green TomatoesRuth Jamison
1991Grand CanyonDee
1993Mr. WonderfulRita
1993Naked in New YorkJoanne White
1994Bullets over BroadwayEllen
1994The ClientDianne Sway
1995RecklessPooty
1995Boys on the SideRobin Nickerson
1996The Portrait of a LadyHenrietta Stackpole
1997Murder in MindCaroline Walker
1997The MakerOfficer Emily Peck
1998Goodbye LoverPeggy Blane
1999Let the Devil Wear BlackJulia Hirsch
1999The Five SensesRona
2002Red DragonMolly Graham
2002The Quality of MercySarah Richardson
2002Pipe DreamToni Edelman
2004Saved!Lillian Cummings
2004The Best Thief in the WorldSue Zaidman
2006Romance & CigarettesConstance Murder
2007The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert FordZee James
2008The Spiderwick ChroniclesHelen Grace
2009Solitary ManJordan Karsch
2010HowlGail Potter
2010RedSarah Ross
2013R.I.P.D.Mildred Proctor
2013Red 2Sarah Ross
2013Christmas in ConwaySuzy Mayor
2014Behaving BadlyLucy Stevens
2014Jamesy BoyTracy Burns
2016Chronically MetropolitanAnnabel
2017Golden ExitsGwendolyn
2018Red SparrowStephanie Boucher

Television:

YearShowRole
1988Too Young the HeroPearl Spencer
1994A Place for AnnieLinda Marsten
1995SugartimePhyllis McGuire
1998Saint MaybeLucy Dean Bedloe
1998LegaleseRica Martin
1999The Simple Life of Noah DearbornDr. Valerie Crane
2000Cupid & CateCate DeAngelo
2001–06The West WingAmy Gardner
2002Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen StoryBonnie Hanssen
2003Angels in AmericaHarper Pitt
2004Miracle RunCorrine Morgan-Thomas
2005Vinegar HillEllen Grier
2005–2012WeedsNancy Botwin
2007The Robber BrideZenia Arden
2014The BlacklistNaomi Hyland
2017When We RiseRoma Guy
2017BillionsGeorge Minchak
2017Mr. MercedesJaney Patterson
TBAWeeds 4.20Nancy Botwin

Theatre credits:

Year(s)ProductionRoleLocationCategory (Venue)
1989–1990The Art of SuccessJane HogarthNew York City Center Stage IOff-Broadway
1990–1991Prelude to a KissRita BoyleHelen Hayes TheatreBroadway
1993Four Dogs and a BoneBrendaNew York City Center Stage IIOff-Broadway
1996Bus StopCherieCircle in the Square TheatreBroadway
1997How I Learned to DriveLi’l BitVineyard TheatreOff-Broadway
2000–2001ProofCatherine LlewellynWalter Kerr TheatreBroadway
2004RecklessRachel FitzsimonsSamuel J. Friedman TheatreBroadway
2008Dead Man’s Cell PhoneJeanPlaywrights HorizonsOff-Broadway
2009Hedda GablerHedda TesmanAmerican Airlines TheatreBroadway
2013The Snow GeeseElizabeth GaeslingSamuel J. Friedman TheatreBroadway
2015HeisenbergGeorgie BurnsNew York City Center Stage IIOff-Broadway
2016HeisenbergGeorgie BurnsSamuel J. Friedman TheatreBroadway
2018The Sound InsideBella BairdWilliamstown Theatre FestivalRegional
2019–2020The Sound InsideBella BairdStudio 54 TheatreBroadway

Mary-Louise Parker awards and nominations:

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
1990Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Actress in a PlayPrelude to a KissNominated
1990Tony AwardsBest Actress in a PlayPrelude to a KissNominated
1990Theatre World AwardsN/APrelude to a KissWon
2000Genie AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleThe Five SensesNominated
2001Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Actress in a PlayProofWon
2001Drama League AwardsOutstanding Actress in a PlayProofWon
2001Outer Critics Circle AwardsDistinguished PerformanceProofWon
2001Tony AwardsBest Actress in a PlayProofWon
2002Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThe West WingNominated
2003Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe West WingNominated
2004Golden Globe AwardsBest Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television FilmAngels in AmericaWon
2004Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or MovieAngels in AmericaWon
2004Satellite AwardsBest Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television FilmAngels in AmericaNominated
2004Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television MovieAngels in AmericaNominated
2005Satellite AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyWeedsWon
2005Tony AwardsBest Actress in a PlayRecklessNominated
2006Golden Globe AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyWeedsWon
2006Satellite AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyWeedsNominated
2006Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy SeriesWeedsNominated
2007Golden Globe AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyWeedsNominated
2007Monte-Carlo Television FestivalOutstanding Actress – Comedy SeriesWeedsNominated
2007Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesWeedsNominated
2007Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or MovieThe Robber BrideNominated
2007Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy SeriesWeedsNominated
2007Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesWeedsNominated
2008Golden Globe AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyWeedsNominated
2008Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesWeedsNominated
2008Satellite AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyWeedsNominated
2008Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy SeriesWeedsNominated
2009Golden Globe AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyWeedsNominated
2009People’s Choice AwardsChoice TV Drama DivaWeedsNominated
2009Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesWeedsNominated
2009Satellite AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyWeedsNominated
2009Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy SeriesWeedsNominated
2009Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesWeedsNominated
2010Satellite AwardsBest Actress – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyRedNominated
2010Satellite AwardsBest Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyWeedsNominated
2020Tony AwardsBest Actress in a PlayThe Sound InsidePending
2020Outer Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Actress in a PlayThe Sound InsideHonoree

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Update: 2024-05-04