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Debra Monk

American actress (born 1949)


American actress (born 1949)

FieldValue
nameDebra Monk
imageDebra Monk - 2022.jpg
captionMonk in 2022. Photo by Tess Steinkolk.
birth_date
birth_placeMiddletown, Ohio, U.S.
educationFrostburg State University (BA)
Southern Methodist University (MFA)
years_active1982–present
occupation

Southern Methodist University (MFA)

Debra Monk (born February 27, 1949) is an American actress, singer, and writer, best known for her performances on the Broadway stage. She is the recipient of a Tony Award (1993), two Drama Desk Awards (1988, 2007), the Helen Hayes Award (1994), the Obie Award (2000) and an Emmy Award (1999) for her work.

Life and career

Monk was born in Middletown, Ohio on February 27, 1949. She was voted "Best Personality" by her graduating class at Wheaton High School in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Monk garnered first attention in theatrical circles as one of the co-writers and co-stars of the musical Pump Boys and Dinettes (1982). She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for performance in Redwood Curtain (1993). She was nominated for a Tony Award for roles in Picnic (1994), Steel Pier (1997), and Curtains (2007). In 2000, she won an Obie Award for The Time of the Cuckoo. She returned to the stage in Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of Visiting Edna by David Rabe in September 2016.

Monk appeared on the Food Channel cooking show Barefoot Contessa, where she cooked Roasted Chicken, Arugula and Bread Salad, and Tri-Berry Crumble.

Monk has appeared in over 30 films since the early 1990s. She made her film debut in the movie version of Prelude to a Kiss, playing Aunt Dorothy. She later appeared in The Bridges of Madison County (1995) and The Devil's Advocate (1997). On television, she has won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for a recurring role as Katie Sipowicz in the ABC series, NYPD Blue. She also guest-starred on Law & Order, Desperate Housewives, The Closer, and Girls. Monk had recurring roles in A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001–02), Grey's Anatomy (2006–11), and Damages (2007–12).

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992Prelude to a KissAunt Dorothy
1993For Love or MoneyMrs. Wegman
1993FearlessAlison
1994Quiz ShowKintner's Secretary
1995Redwood CurtainGenevaTelevision film
1995The Bridges of Madison CountyMadge
1995JeffreyMom
1995RecklessTherapist
1996Bed of RosesMrs. Farrell
1996Mrs. WinterbourneLieutenant Ambrose
1996The Substance of FireMartha Hackett
1996The First Wives ClubJilted Lover
1996Extreme MeasuresDr. Judith Gruszynski
1997KnitWitsCatherineShort film
1997In & OutMrs. Lester
1997The Devil's AdvocatePam Garrety
1997Ellen FosterAunt NadineTelevision film
1998BulworthHelen
2000Center StageNancy
2003Briar PatchOfficer Avon
2003The Music ManMrs. ParooTelevision film
2003Milwaukee, MinnesotaEdna Burroughs
2003Eloise at the PlazaMaggieTelevision film
2003Eloise at ChristmastimeMaggieTelevision film
2004PalindromesMama Sunshine
2005Dark WaterDahlia's Teacher
2005The ProducersLick Me-Bite Me
2007The SavagesNancy Lachman
2008The Great Buck HowardDoreen
2009Love and Other Impossible PursuitsLaura
2011Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!PetuniaTelevision film
2012One for the MoneyMrs. Plum
2012The Brass TeapotTrudy
2013Ass BackwardsPawn Shop Owner
2013Reaching HomeJanetShort film
2014This Is Where I Leave YouLinda
2015DemolitionDavis' Mom
2019Standing Up, Falling DownJeanie Rollins

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989One Life to LiveNurse Medford1 Episode
1990American PlayhousePsychiatristEpisode: "Women & Wallace "
1992LovingSandra Thorpe1 episode
Lifestories: Families in CrisisKaren BellEpisode:"Public Law 106: The Becky Bell Story "
1994Law & OrderKathleen O'BrienEpisode: "Coma"
1996–2001NYPD BlueKatie Sipowicz17 episodes (1999 – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series)
1998DellaventuraMadison HarcourtEpisode: "Made in America"
LateLineClare CunninghamEpisode: "Requiem for a Horse"
2001–02A Nero Wolfe MysteryVarious roles8 episodes
2002Law & OrderDr. Madelyn StahlEpisode: "Born Again"
2003The Wonderful World of DisneyMaggie2 episodes
FrasierNurse KarenEpisode: "No Sex Please We're Skittish"
2005Law & OrderJudge G. ProctorEpisode: "In God We Trust"
2006–11Grey's AnatomyLouise O'Malley7 episodes
2006Desperate HousewivesMarcellaEpisode: "Children and Art"
2007–12DamagesDenise Parsons12 episodes
2007Notes from the UnderbellyAndrew's MomEpisode: "Mother's Milk "
2007Law & Order: Criminal IntentWarden PellisEpisode: "Untethered "
2009GleeMrs. SchuesterEpisode: "Acafellas"
The CloserMary SummerEpisode: "Blood Money "
Ghost WhispererAnne SullivanEpisode: "Till Death Do Us Start "
2010Brothers & SistersAlexandra KirbyEpisode: "Call Mom"
2012White CollarMrs. MitchellEpisode: "Pulling Strings"
2014GirlsDr. Stern2 episodes
2014Hot in ClevelandLorettaEpisode: "Win Win"
2014–18Mozart in the JungleBetty Cragdale26 episodes
2014RecklessJudge Gertrude Moss5 episodes
2015Madam SecretaryMary Lou BorisEpisode: "The Ninth Circle"
2015The Jack and Triumph ShowYoung June2 episodes
2015Difficult PeopleBunny TackEpisode: "Difficult Christmas"
2015BlindspotColonel PowersEpisode: "A Stray Howl"
2015–17Sneaky PeteConnie Persikof2 episodes
2016–17Mercy StreetDr. Foster's Mother2 episodes
2016CrowdedLindaEpisode: "Come Back"
2016The Good WifeTracy MintzEpisode: "Judged"
2016The CharactersKimEpisode: "John Early "
2017Barefoot Contessa: Back to BasicsHerselfEpisode: “Dinner Party 101”
NCIS: New OrleansCEO Sarah LarocheEpisode: “Hell on the High Water”
Mr. MercedesCapt. Brooke Hockney2 episodes
2018DietlandMrs Kettle5 episodes
2018–19Tell Me a StoryEsther Thorn4 episodes
2019At Home with Amy SedarisMrs. BjornsonEpisode: “Thanksgiving”
2019InstinctJudge GillespieEpisode: “Finders Keepers”
2019–23New AmsterdamKaren Brantley16 episodes
2022The Gilded AgeArmstrongSeries Regular (2023 – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series nomination)
2023American Horror Story: DelicateVirginia Harding4 episodes

Stage

Broadway

  • Pump Boys and Dinettes - 1982 (also co-author and co-director)
  • Prelude to a Kiss - 1990
  • Nick & Nora - 1991
  • Redwood Curtain - 1993 - Tony Award
  • Picnic - 1994 - Tony Award nomination
  • Company - 1995
  • Steel Pier - 1997 - Tony Award nomination
  • Ah, Wilderness! - 1998
  • Thou Shalt Not - 2001
  • Chicago - 2005
  • Curtains - 2007 - Tony Award nomination
  • Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - 2012

Off-Broadway

  • The Time of the Cuckoo - Obie Award
  • Ancestral Voices
  • The Seagull
  • Death Defying Acts - 1995
  • Three Hotels - 1993
  • Oil City Symphony - 1986 (co-author, Drama Desk Award)
  • Assassins - 1990

References

References

  1. "Debra Monk Biography". Tvguide.com.
  2. "Debra Monk".
  3. Hischak, Thomas S.. (2008-06-02). "The Oxford Companion to the American Musical: Theatre, Film, and Television". Oxford University Press.
  4. "Debra Monk | Movies and Biography - Yahoo Movies". Movies.yahoo.com.
  5. The Broadway League. "Debra Monk | IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information". IBDB.
  6. "Lortel Archives-The Internet Off-Broadway Database". Lortel.org.
  7. (June 22, 2016). "Debra Monk to replace Rondi Reed in play at Steppenwolf this fall". Chicago Tribune.
  8. "Cooking for Jeffrey: Dinner Party 101".
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