Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
arts

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Lauren Holly

American-Canadian actress (born 1963)


American-Canadian actress (born 1963)

FieldValue
nameLauren Holly
imageLauren Holly lf.jpg
altHolly, with her red-gold hair cut just above her shoulder and her bangs pushed to her right, wearing a red top and dangling earrings ending in a red bead: She's glancing to her left and smiling slightly.
image_upright0.9
captionHolly in 2007
alma_materSarah Lawrence College
birth_nameLauren Michael Holly
birth_date
birth_placeBristol, Pennsylvania, U.S.
citizenship
occupationActress
years_active1984–present
spouse
children3
motherMichael Ann Holly
website

Lauren Michael Holly (born October 28, 1963) is an American-Canadian actress. She has played the roles of Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart in the television series Picket Fences, NCIS Director Jenny Shepard in the series NCIS, and Dr. Betty Rogers on Motive. In film, she portrayed Mary Swanson in Dumb and Dumber (1994), Bruce Lee's wife Linda Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993), Darian Smalls in Beautiful Girls (1996), and Gigi in What Women Want (2000).

Early life

Holly was born in Bristol, Pennsylvania. Her mother, Michael Ann Holly, is an art historian and the Starr Director of Research and Academic Program at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, and former professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Her father, Grant Holly, was a screenwriter and professor of literature at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. She had two younger brothers: Nick Holly and Alexander Innes Holly. Holly attended Sarah Lawrence College in New York.

Career

Holly's acting career began at the age of 20 when she appeared as Carla Walicki in two episodes of Hill Street Blues. She was also in one episode of Spenser: For Hire. At age 23, she joined the cast of the ABC television soap opera All My Children as Julie Rand Chandler (1986–1989). She portrayed the comic book character Betty Cooper in the TV movie Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again in 1990.

In 1992, Holly's big break came when she was cast as small-town Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart opposite veteran movie actor Tom Skerritt on CBS's Picket Fences for four seasons, appearing in every episode except one. She portrayed Linda Lee Cadwell, the wife of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, in 1993's Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. She appeared as Mary Swanson, Lloyd Christmas's love interest, in the 1994 Jim Carrey comedy Dumb and Dumber; a doctor in Sydney Pollack's 1995 remake of Sabrina; and Lieutenant Emily Lake in the 1996 comedy Down Periscope with Kelsey Grammer. In 1999, she starred in the film Any Given Sunday as the wife of the Sharks quarterback, played by Dennis Quaid.

Holly appeared in the music video for Dixie Chicks' single "Goodbye Earl" (2000). She was a member of the cast of NCIS as Director Jenny Shepard from 2005 to 2008, reuniting with her former Chicago Hope co-stars Mark Harmon and Rocky Carroll. Holly portrayed the "worldly and stunning" lead medical examiner Dr. Betty Rogers, a regular character on the CTV series Motive. In 2014, she was reunited with her Picket Fences co-star, Tom Skerritt, in the film Field of Lost Shoes. In 2015, Holly starred in Oz Perkins' horror film The Blackcoat's Daughter.

In 2018, Holly was cast in a recurring role in the third season of Netflix's Designated Survivor as Lynn Harper.

Personal life

Holly has been married three times. Her first marriage was to actor Danny Quinn. The two married in 1991, and divorced two years later in 1993. In 1993, she met Jim Carrey during auditions for Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. She did not get offered the part, but the two developed a relationship while working together during the filming of Dumb and Dumber. In 1996 they were married. The marriage lasted less than a year, and they divorced in 1997. In 2001, she married Francis Greco, a Canadian-born investment banker. The couple adopted three children, sons Henry, George, and Alexander Holly-Greco. In 2008, while married to Greco, Holly became a Canadian citizen. The couple divorced in 2014.

Holly lives in Oakville, Ontario with her three children.

In 1992, Holly, her father Grant, and their families established the "A" Fund at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in memory of her brother, Alexander, about whom Holly said, "He was a boy filled with dreams, hopes, and plans. Although he was only 14 when he died, he had traveled extensively in Europe and Central America, lived in New York City and Los Angeles, and these experiences produced in him a fascination for architecture and archaeology."

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985Seven Minutes in HeavenLisa
1986Band of the HandNikki
1990The Adventures of Ford FairlaneJazz
1992Live WireSuzie Bryant
1993Dragon: The Bruce Lee StoryLinda Lee
1994Dumb and DumberMary SwansonMTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (with Jim Carrey)
1995SabrinaElizabeth Tyson
1996Beautiful GirlsDarian Smalls
Down PeriscopeLt. Emily Lake
1997TurbulenceTeri Halloran
A Smile Like YoursJennifer Robertson
1998No Looking BackClaudia
1999EntropyClaire
Any Given SundayCindy Rooney
2000The Last ProducerFrances Chadway
What Women WantGigi
2002PavementDetective Buckley Clark
Spirited AwayYūko OginoVoice role (English dub)
2004In Enemy HandsMrs. Rachel Travers
2005The ChumscrubberBoutique Owner
Down and DerbyKim Davis
The Godfather of Green BayMolly Mahoney
2006FatwaMaggie Davidson
The Pleasure DriversDaphne Widesecker
Raising FlaggRachel Purdy
2009The Least Among YouKate Allison
Crank: High VoltagePsychiatristUncredited
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' RollLiza Genson
2010You're So Cupid!Audrey Valentine
The Final StormGillian Grady
Chasing 3000Marilyn
2013AbductedSuzanne Hollingsworth
Field of Lost ShoesMrs. Clinedinst
2014The Town That Came A-CourtinAbby Houston
2015Marshall the Miracle DogSusan
HooveyRuth
After the BallElise Adams Kassell
The Blackcoat's DaughterLinda
2017Dead ShackNeighbor
2018My Perfect RomanceAdele
Ultra LowHerself
2019Tammy's Always DyingIlana Wiseman
The CubanNurse Baker
2024Hot FrostyJane Miller
2025Loathe Thy NeighborWanda Bellarose

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984Hill Street BluesCarla Walicki2 episodes
1985Love Lives OnTracyTelevision film
1986Spenser: For HireEmily BrownEpisode: "Home Is the Hero"
1986–1989All My ChildrenJulie ChandlerUnknown episodes
Nomination: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series (1988)
1990Archie: To Riverdale and Back AgainBetty CooperTelevision film
1990My Two DadsAllison Novack2 episodes
1991The AntagonistsKate WardEpisode: "Con Safos"
1992Fugitive Among UsSuzie BryantTelevision film
1992–1996Picket FencesMaxine Stewart{{Plainlist
1994Dangerous HeartCarolTelevision film
1998VigMarybethTelevision film
1999Fantasy IslandHeather FinnEpisode: "The Real Thing"
1999–2000Chicago HopeDr. Jeremy HanlonMain role (season 6)
2001DestinyUnknownTelevision film
Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of CamelotEthel KennedyTelevision film
Nominated for Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
BeckerLauraEpisode: "The Buddy System"
2002ProvidenceDarla RosarioEpisode: "The Heart of the Matter"
King of TexasMrs. Rebecca Lear HighsmithTelevision film
Living with the DeadJames' WifeTelevision film
Santa Jr.Susan FlynnTelevision film
2003CSI: MiamiHayley WilsonEpisode: "Grand Prix"
2004Just DessertsGrace CarpenterTelevision film
Caught in the ActJodie ColterTelevision film
2005Bounty HuntersTessTelevision film
2005–2008NCISNCIS Director Jenny ShepardMain role (seasons 3–5)
2009LeverageMs. Tobey EarnshawEpisode: "The Juror #6 Job"
Before You Say I DoMary BrownTelevision film
Too Late to Say GoodbyeHeatherTelevision film
2010Covert AffairsMadeline JarvisEpisode: "Houses of the Holy"
FlashpointJill HastingsEpisode: "Acceptable Risk"
The Town Christmas ForgotAnnie BensonTelevision film
Mrs. Miracle 2: Miracle In ManhattanLindy LoweTelevision film
2010–2012The Adventures of Chuck and FriendsHaulieRecurring voice role, 14 episodes
2011Rookie BlueSuperintendent Elaine PeckEpisode: "In Plain View"
Scream of the BansheeProf. Isla WhelanTelevision film
2012Lost GirlSadieEpisode: "Midnight Lamp"
AlphasSenator Charlotte Burton3 episodes
LayoverSuzanne HollingsworthTelevision film
Do No HarmDr. ThorneTelevision film
2013–2016MotiveDr. Betty RogersMain role
2015A Country WeddingMargaretTelevision film (Hallmark)
2016My Summer PrinceDeidre KellyTelevision film (Hallmark)
2017LuciferRoxie PaglianiEpisode:"Vegas with Some Radish"
2018Good WitchMelanie AndersonEpisode: "How To Make A Middleton Quilt"
My Perfect RomanceAdeleTelevision film
Christmas CatchCaptain BennettTelevision film
2019Designated SurvivorLynn HarperRecurring role (season 3)
2020Tiny Pretty ThingsMonique DuboisMain role
2021–presentFamily LawJoanne KowalskiMain role (season 2-) Recurring role (season 1)
2022The LakeMimsy8 episodes
Country Roads ChristmasSkye's motherTelevision film
2023The IrrationalMayorSeries 1, Episode 1
2024Christmas Under the Northern LightsLauraTelevision film

References

References

  1. (2011). "Contemporary Theatre, Film & Television". [[Gale (publisher).
  2. "Lauren Holly".
  3. (October 28, 2018). "Famous birthdays for Oct. 28: Gwendoline Christie, Brad Paisley". UPI.
  4. "ABOUTABOUT". Lauren Holly.
  5. "Research & Academic Program". The Clark (Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute).
  6. "Grant I. Holly - Professor of English". Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
  7. (November 29, 2022). "Nick Holly, Co-Creator of 'Sons & Daughters,' Dies at 51". Hollywoodreporter.
  8. "Lauren Holly Biography". TV Guide.
  9. "Lauren Holly - Motive - Cast Bios, Cast Biographies - CTV".
  10. (June 4, 2013). "David Arquette, Lauren Holly Join Civil War Drama 'Field of Lost Shoes' | Hollywood Reporter".
  11. (February 25, 2015). "February Casting News! Demons Run Rampant in All Girls' Prep School! - Dread Central".
  12. Petski, Denise. (November 15, 2018). "'Designated Survivor': Lauren Holly & Benjamin Watson To Recur In Season 3 On Netflix". Deadline.
  13. Errico, Marcus. (July 30, 1997). "Holly Seeks Divorce from Carrey". [[E!]].
  14. ABC News. (January 5, 2006). "Lauren Holly Weds in Canada". ABC News.
  15. The Canadian Press. (March 2, 2013). "Holly has a pretty good motive for moving to Canada". The Hamilton Spectator.
  16. Sally says. (March 28, 2015). "Lauren Holly: The Momterview".
  17. "Lauren Holly official website Career". LaurenHolly.com.
  18. "The 'A' Fund".
  19. "1988 Emmy Winners & Nominees". [[American Media (publisher).
  20. Petski, Denise. (August 6, 2019). "Netflix Orders 'Tiny Pretty Things' Ballet Drama Series Based On Book; Sets Main Cast".
  21. (September 25, 2023). "The Irrational". Simon-Binx Productions, Samuel Baum Productions, Off the Cliff Entertainment.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Lauren Holly — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report