Mary McDonnell

American actress celebrated for two Academy Award nominations and iconic roles across film, television, and stage spanning four decades.

Mary McDonnell - Personal Information

  • Name: Mary McDonnell
  • Date of Birth: April 28, 1952
  • Place of Birth: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Gender: Female
  • Job Title: Actor

Biography

Mary Eileen McDonnell (born April 28, 1952) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She received Academy Award nominations for her roles as Stands With A Fist in Dances With Wolves and May-Alice Culhane in Passion Fish. McDonnell is well known for her performances as President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica, First Lady Marilyn Whitmore in Independence Day, and Rose in Donnie Darko. She was featured as Captain Sharon Raydor during seasons 5–7 of the TNT series The Closer and starred as Commander Sharon Raydor in the spin-off series Major Crimes on the same network. In 2023, she played Madeleine Usher in the miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix.

Selected Filmography

A selection of Mary McDonnell's most notable screen appearances across film and television.

  • Twelve Dates 'Til Christmas (TV - 2025) as Delilah
  • Broke (2025) as Kathy Brandywine
  • The Fall of the House of Usher (TV - 2023) as Madeline Usher
  • The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021) as Lady Zerbst (voice)
  • Rebel (TV - 2021) as Helen
  • Rebel (TV - 2021) as Helen Peterson
  • Fargo (TV - 2014) as Ruby Goldfarb
  • Major Crimes (TV - 2012) as Captain Sharon Raydor
  • Margin Call (2011) as Mary Rogers
  • Scream 4 (2011) as Kate Roberts

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