Mary McDonnell
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- April 28, 1952 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA
- Active Years
- 1944–2026 (83 Years)
- Total Credits
- 64 credits in database
Biography
Mary Eileen McDonnell was born on April 28, 1952, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States. She is an American film, stage, and television actress with 61 known acting credits listed on the Movie Database. Her film and television career features a wide range of roles. She played Stands With A Fist in Dances With Wolves and May-Alice Culhane in Passion Fish. Other notable film and television appearances include playing First Lady Marilyn Whitmore in Independence Day, Rose in Donnie Darko, and President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica. She was also featured as Captain Sharon Raydor during seasons five through seven of the TNT series The Closer and starred as Commander Sharon Raydor in the spin-off series Major Crimes, before playing Madeleine Usher in the 2023 Netflix miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher.
Career overview
Mary Eileen McDonnell is an American film, stage, and television actress born on April 28, 1952, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Throughout her career, she has accumulated 61 known acting credits on The Movie Database.
Her extensive film work includes notable appearances as Stands With A Fist in Dances With Wolves, May-Alice Culhane in Passion Fish, First Lady Marilyn Whitmore in Independence Day, and Rose in Donnie Darko.
In television, McDonnell is well known for her performances as President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica and as Captain Sharon Raydor during seasons five through seven of the TNT series The Closer. She continued the latter role as Commander Sharon Raydor in the spin-off series Major Crimes on the same network. In 2023, she played Madeleine Usher in the Netflix miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
64 titles- The Boroughs (2026) as The Duchess
- VisionQuest (2026)
- Broke (2025) as Kathy Brandywine
- Twelve Dates 'Til Christmas (2025) as Delilah
- The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) as Madeline Usher
- Rebel (2021) as Helen Peterson
- Rebel (2021) as Helen
- The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021) as Lady Zerbst (voice)
- Fargo (2014) as Ruby Goldfarb
- Major Crimes (2012) as Captain Sharon Raydor
- Scream 4 (2011) as Kate Roberts
- Margin Call (2011) as Mary Rogers
- Hostile Makeover (2009) as Rose Smithsonian
- Battlestar Galactica: Razor (2007) as President Laura Roslin
- Mrs. Harris (2006) as Vivian Schulte
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Virginia Dixon
- The Closer (2005) as Captain Sharon Raydor
- The Closer (2005) as Sharon Raydor
- The Closer (2005) as Sharon Raydor (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Veronica Mars (2004) as Jane
- Battlestar Galactica (2004) as Laura Roslin
- Crazy Like a Fox (2004) as Amy Banks
- Battlestar Galactica (2003) as President Laura Roslin
- The Making of ‘Sneakers’ (2003) as Self
- Nola (2003) as Margaret Langworthy
- Dances with Wolves: The Creation of an Epic (2003) as Self
- The Locket (2002) as Helen Staples
- Donnie Darko (2001) as Rose Darko
- A Father's Choice (2000) as Susan Shaw
- For All Time (2000) as Laura Brown
- Ryan Caulfield: Year One (1999) as Rachel Caulfield
- Mumford (1999) as Althea Brockett
- Behind the Mask (1999) as Mary Shushan
- Replacing Dad (1999) as Linda Marsh
- You Can Thank Me Later (1998) as Diane
- Evidence of Blood (1998) as Dora Overton
- 12 Angry Men (1997) as Judge
- Two Voices (1997) as Sybil Goldrich
- Independence Day (1996) as Marilyn Whitmore
- Woman Undone (1996) as Teri Hansen
- Mariette in Ecstasy (1996) as Prioress
- Independence Day: The ID4 Invasion (1996) as Self
- The Making of 'Independence Day' (1996) as Self
- High Society (1995) as Dott Emerson
- ER (1994) as Eleanor Carter
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Sister Theodore Claire
- Blue Chips (1994) as Jenny
- The American Clock (1993) as Rose Baumler
- Sneakers (1992) as Liz
- Passion Fish (1992) as May-Alice Culhane
- Grand Canyon (1991) as Claire
- Dances with Wolves (1990) as Stands With A Fist
- The Making of 'Dances with Wolves' (1990) as Herself
- American Experience (1988) as Narrator (voice)
- Tiger Warsaw (1988) as Paula Warsaw
- Matewan (1987) as Elma Radnor
- Courage (1986) as Gabriella Estrada
- E/R (1984) as Eve Sheridan
- Garbo Talks (1984) as Lady Capulet
- Money on the Side (1982) as Terri
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Helen Staples
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self
- One Second After as Jen
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Mary McDonnell best known for?
Mary McDonnell is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Boroughs (2026), VisionQuest (2026), Broke (2025), Twelve Dates 'Til Christmas (2025).
When and where was Mary McDonnell born?
Mary McDonnell was born on April 28, 1952 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA.
How many credits does Mary McDonnell have?
Mary McDonnell has accumulated over 64 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2026.
What is Mary McDonnell's background in cinema and television?
Mary Eileen McDonnell was born on April 28, 1952, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States. She is an American film, stage, and television actress with 61 known acting credits listed on the Movie Database. Her film and television career features a wide range of roles. She played Stands With A Fist in Dances With Wo...
Mary McDonnell by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Helen Staples — aged about 0
- Fargo (2014) as Ruby Goldfarb — aged about 62
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Virginia Dixon — aged about 53
- Battlestar Galactica (2004) as Laura Roslin — aged about 52
- Battlestar Galactica (2003) as President Laura Roslin — aged about 51
- The Closer (2005) as Captain Sharon Raydor — aged about 53
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