Mary Elizabeth McDonough

Mary Elizabeth McDonough Headshot

Actress • Writer

Birth Date: May 4, 1961

Age: 63 years old

Birth Place: Van Nuys, California

Best known as oft love-struck Erin of "The Waltons" clan, Mary Elizabeth McDonough grew up in front of a national audience, having been cast on the family drama at age 10. During the series' nine-season run, little Erin developed, fell in love easy and often, graduated high school, got a job, and married. When the show came to a close in 1981, McDonough was 20 years old, and ready to move on. She appeared in a string of forgettable films like the undercover cheerleader revenge drama, "Lovely but Deadly," the Mozart-fueled horror movie, "Mortuary," and the raunchy comedy "Snowballing."

To bolster her transition from child actress to sexy starlet, McDonough elected to have cosmetic breast augmentation performed. Infamously, she later blamed the implants when she was diagnosed with Lupus erythematosus. The bad press hurt her reputation, and while she went on to appear on such popular programs as "Picket Fences," "ER," "The West Wing," and "Will & Grace," it was rare she was cast in roles that extended beyond one episode. In 2006, she snagged a recurring role on Julia Louis-Dreyfus's sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine," but the show was cancelled in May of 2010.

Credits

Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story

Actor
Movie
2024

A Biltmore ChristmasStream

Actor
Director
Movie
2023

Christmas on Honeysuckle LaneStream

Actor
Caroline Reynolds
Movie
2018

Christmas at Cadillac Jack's

Actor
Show
2007

The New Adventures of Old ChristineStream

Guest Star
Series
2006

Where There's a Will

Actor
Dr. Burton
Movie
2006

Boston LegalStream

Guest Star
Series
2004
86%

Will & GraceStream

Guest Star
Mom
Series
1998

Ally McBeal

Guest Star
Series
1997
61%

A Walton EasterStream

Actor
Erin Walton Northridge
Movie
1997

A Walton Wedding

Actor
Erin Walton Northridge
Movie
1995

Heaven Sent

Actor
Kathy Chandler
Movie
1995

Diagnosis MurderStream

Guest Star
Series
1993

Walker, Texas RangerStream

Guest Star
Series
1993

A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion

Actor
Erin Walton Northridge (uncredited)
Movie
1993

Picket FencesStream

Guest Star
Series
1992
82%

Bodies of Evidence

Guest Star
Series
1992

Mom

Actor
Alice
Movie
1991

Funland

Actor
Kristin Cumming
Movie
1987

HunterStream

Guest Star
Vera Donovan
Series
1984

Snowballing

Actor
Karen Reed
Movie
1984

Mortuary

Actor
Christie Parson
Movie
1983

A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain

Actor
Erin Walton Northridge
Movie
1982

Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain

Actor
Erin Walton
Movie
1982

A Wedding on Walton's Mountain

Actor
Erin Walton
Movie
1982

Midnight Offerings

Actor
Robin Prentiss
Movie
1981

Sortilèges dans la nuit

Actor
Movie
1981

Circus of the Stars

Self
Show
1980

A Decade of the Waltons

Actor
Erin Walton
Show
1980

The WaltonsStream

Actor
Erin Walton
Series
1972

The Homecoming: A Christmas StoryStream

Actor
Erin
Movie
1971

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