Debra Monk

Debra Monk Headshot

Actress • Singer • Writer

Birth Date: February 27, 1949

Age: 75 years old

Birth Place: Middletown, Ohio

Debra Monk was born in Ohio and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. She always knew she wanted to be an actress. After earning her Bachelor's degree from Frostburg State University in Maryland, she went on to study theater at the prestigious fine arts program at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas.

Upon earning her MFA from SMU, Monk set out to become an actress. She relocated to New York and worked a myriad of odd jobs, including waitressing and as a rockabilly singer, while appearing in various Off Broadway plays by night. Unhappy with the lack of progress in her career, Monk and a few friends decided to write their own musical.

"Pump Boys and Dinettes," which was co-written by and starring Monk, debuted Off Broadway in 1981. The musical was an immediate success and the following year it premiered on Broadway to rave reviews, thus giving Monk's fledgling career the break it needed.

Over the next several years Monk would go on to appear in numerous Broadway plays, even winning a 1993 Tony Award for her role in "Redwood Curtain." With her stage acting career on the rise, Monk also began gravitating towards film and television work by the early 90s. Some of her more notable film roles of the 1990s include "Quiz Show" (1994), "The First Wives Club" (1996), "The Devil's Advocate" (1997), and "Bulworth" (1998).

Additionally, Monk also began appearing regularly on TV, beginning with her recurring role as Katie Sipowicz on "NYPD Blue." By the 2010s she began nabbing regular work on TV shows like "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 2005- ), "Damages" (FX, 2007-2012) and "Mozart in the Jungle." In 2018 Monk began appearing as Mrs. Kettle on the AMC comedy-drama series "Dietland." The series, which was adapted from the bestselling novel by Sarai Walker, premiered on the network in June of 2018 but ran for only a single season.

Credits

American Horror Story: DelicateStream

Guest Star
Virginia Harding
Series
2023

The Gilded AgeStream

Actor
Mrs. Armstrong
Series
2022
86%

New AmsterdamStream

Guest Star
Karen Brantley
Series
2018

InstinctStream

Guest Star
Judge Gillespie
Series
2018
54%

BullStream

Guest Star
Sandy Harper
Series
2016

CrowdedStream

Guest Star
Series
2016
32%

Difficult PeopleStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
96%

DemolitionStream

Actor
Davis' Mom
Movie
2015
54%

NCIS: New OrleansStream

Guest Star
Series
2014

Madam SecretaryStream

Guest Star
Mary Lou Boris
Series
2014

Reckless

Guest Star
Show
2014

Mozart in the JungleStream

Actor
Betty
Series
2014
94%

This Is Where I Leave YouStream

Actor
Linda Callen
Movie
2014
44%

GirlsStream

Guest Star
Dr. Sterns
Series
2012
89%

One for the Money

Actor
Mrs. Plum
Movie
2012

The Brass Teapot

Actor
Trudy
Movie
2012

Good Luck Charlie: It's Christmas!Stream

Actor
Petunia
Movie
2011

Hot in ClevelandStream

Guest Star
Loretta
Series
2010

White CollarStream

Guest Star
Series
2009
96%

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Tracy Mintz
Series
2009
93%

GleeStream

Guest Star
Mrs. Schuester
Series
2009
70%

Love and Other Impossible Pursuits

Actor
Laura
Movie
2009

The Great Buck Howard

Actor
Doreen
Movie
2008

Brothers & SistersStream

Guest Star
Alexandra Kirby
Series
2006
79%

Ghost WhispererStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

The CloserStream

Guest Star
Mary Summers
Series
2005
83%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

The ProducersStream

Actor
Lick Me-Bite Me
Movie
2005
51%

Desperate HousewivesStream

Guest Star
Marcella
Series
2004
72%

Palindromes

Actor
Mama Sunshine
Movie
2004

The Music ManStream

Actor
Mrs. Paroo
Movie
2003
40%

Eloise at the Plaza

Actor
Maggie
Movie
2003

Eloise at ChristmastimeStream

Actor
Maggie
Movie
2003

Briar Patch

Actor
Officer Avon
Movie
2003

Milwaukee, Minnesota

Actor
Edna Burroughs
Movie
2003

Law & Order: Criminal IntentStream

Guest Star
Warden Pellis
Series
2001

Kristin

Guest Star
Show
2001

Center StageStream

Actor
Nancy Cummings
Movie
2000
41%

Dellaventura

Guest Star
Show
1997

Ellen Foster

Actor
Aunt Nadine
Movie
1997

The Devil's AdvocateStream

Actor
Pam Garrety
Movie
1997
63%

Bed of RosesStream

Actor
Lewis' Mom
Movie
1996

Mrs. WinterbourneStream

Actor
Lieutenant Ambrose
Movie
1996
15%

Extreme Measures

Actor
Dr. Judith Gruszynski
Movie
1996

Cama de Rosas

Actor
Movie
1996

New York News

Guest Star
Show
1995

Redwood Curtain

Actor
Geneva
Movie
1995

The Bridges of Madison CountyStream

Actor
Madge
Movie
1995
90%

Cortina de Secuoyas

Actor
Movie
1995

NYPD BlueStream

Guest Star
Katie Sipowicz
Series
1993
83%

FrasierStream

Guest Star
Nurse Karen
Series
1993
95%

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

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