Mary Kay Place

Mary Kay Place Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: September 23, 1947

Age: 77 years old

Birth Place: Tulsa, Oklahoma

A versatile and multi-talented performer on film and in television, Emmy winner Mary Kay Place essayed free-thinking, often eccentric women in projects ranging from "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (syndicated, 1976-77) and "The Big Chill" (1983) to "Being John Malkovich" (1999) and "Big Love" (HBO, 2006-11). Her knack for gentle comedy and singing caught the eye of both Tim Conway and Norman Lear, who provided her first breaks in the early 1970s; a brief stint as an Emmy-nominated writer preceded stardom as Loretta Haggers, would-be country singer on "Mary Hartman," leading to the recording of a successful album as Haggers in 1976.

In the 1980s and 1990s, she was a capable character actress, switching deftly from comedy to drama while honing a second career as a TV director. "Big Love" gave her the choicest role of her later career as the Lady Macbeth-like wife of a polygamist leader; her chameleon qualities as an actress, as well as her impressive body of credits, ensured her steady work and admiration from her peers and fans.

Born Sept. 23, 1947 in Tulsa, OK, she was the daughter of Bradley Place, an art professor at the University of Tulsa, which later became her alma mater. Acting was a passion from a very young age, and after graduating from Tulsa with a degree in speech, she lit out for Los Angeles with just $300 and the number for the human resources department at CBS Studios. There, she landed a job as a receptionist, where she flailed in earnest to learn the intricacies of the job; her natural good cheer, however, caught the eye of comedian Tim Conway, who hired her as an assistant on his short-lived sketch comedy series, "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour" (CBS, 1970).

After that show's demise, she became secretary to producer Norman Lear, who overheard her singing an original composition in the office and immediately cast her as a protest singer who serenades Archie Bunker with "If Communism Comes Knocking At Your Door, Don't Answer It" on "All in the Family" (CBS, 1971-1991). This led to more guest shots on CBS series like "M*A*S*H" (CBS, 1972-1983), though Place was working more as a writer during the early-'70s than an actress. She teamed with Linda Bloodworth-Thomas for three episodes of "M*A*S*H*;" one of which - 1974's "Hot Lips and Empty Arms" - was nominated for an Emmy. She also penned episodes of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (CBS, 1970-77) and "Phyllis" (CBS, 1975-77) along with Oscar-nominated actress-writer, Valerie Curtin.

Place's career bloomed in 1976 when she earned an Emmy Award as the eternally cheerful Loretta Haggers, best friend to Louise Lasser's title character on "Mary Hartman." An aspiring country singer, Loretta refused to let anything stand in the way of her dream, even after becoming paralyzed or giving birth to quintuplets. Place would later record Tonite! At the Capri Lounge Loretta Haggers, an entire album of country songs sung in character. An impressive showcase for her singing abilities, the LP yielded a Grammy nomination and a Top 10 hit, "Baby Boy," and featured backing vocals by no less than Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Anne Murray. A second album, 1977's Aimin' to Please, included a second Top 10 hit, "Something to Brag About," which saw Place duetting with Willie Nelson.

Place continued to play Loretta after Lasser left "Hartman," but her recording success necessitated that the producers eliminate her character, which was done in a typically bizarre fashion: Loretta uttered an anti-Semitic comment on Dinah Shore's syndicated talk show "Dinah!" (1974-1980), which brought her career to a spectacular close.

The exposure afforded to her career by "Mary Hartman" led to her feature film debut in Hal Ashby's "Bound for Glory" (1976), a biopic of the pioneering folk singer Woody Guthrie. More film work soon followed, which frequently cast her as offbeat fringe types or Loretta-esque beacons of happiness; she was the burnt-out saloon singer who replaces Liza Minnelli in Martin Scorsese's "New York, New York" (1976), while "Private Benjamin" (1980) and "Modern Problems" (1981) traded on her comedy background. "The Big Chill" (1983) was perhaps her most significant movie role. As Meg, a former 1960s counterculture child-turned-corporate lawyer who pines for a child, Place received a terrific showcase for her pixyish charm, as well as a previously unseen knack for drama. She would divide her time between the genres for the better part of the next two decades.

In 1988, Place added directing to her growing list of credits by helming an episode of the short-lived sitcom, "Baby Boom" (NBC, 1988-89). She soon added more substantive programs, including "Friends" (NBC, 1994-2004) and "The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman" (IFC, 2006-07), on which she also played the mother of Laura Kightlinger's eponymous screenwriter. Television would be a regular showcase for Place, most notably as Camille Cherski, best friend and confidante to Bess Armstrong's Patty Chase on "My So-Called Life" (ABC, 1994-95) and society columnist Prue Giroux in "Tales of the City" (PBS, 1993) and "Further Tales of the City" (PBS, 2001). From 2001 to 2004, she had a recurring guest role on "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006) as the U.S. Surgeon General, whose friendship with President Josiah Bartlett (Martin Sheen) is put to the test over controversial comments.

While many actresses found it difficult to land roles of merit as they entered their fourth and fifth decades, Place continued to work steadily in features throughout the 1980s and 1990s, frequently in rich character roles. Standard-issue mom parts like her housewife in the dreary comedy "Captain Ron" (1992) with Kurt Russell and Martin Short were balanced by films like Francis Ford Coppola's "The Rainmaker" (1997), which provided her the choice role of the mother of a terminally ill child who sues her insurance carrier after it denies them coverage. She also earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination in 1996 as a baby store clerk kidnapped by two foster children in "Manny & Lo," and impressed as a fiery evangelical who tries to prevent wild child Laura Dern from aborting her baby in "Citizen Ruth" (1996). Comedy was naturally never far behind; most notably in a small but amusing turn as a perpetually confused receptionist in "Being John Malkovich" (1999), and as Reese Witherspoon's kind-hearted trailer park mother in "Sweet Home Alabama" (2002). She shared a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination with her "Malkovich" castmates in 2000.

In 2006, Place joined the large ensemble cast of HBO's drama "Big Love" as Adaleen Grant, fourth wife and trusted confidante to polygamist sect leader Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton) and mother to Nicki Grant (Chl Sevigny). Though the role played on one of Place's acting strengths - limitless good cheer - Adaleen was also a formidable and even deadly figure who was not above sending Nicki to tamper with evidence against Roman and even placing a hit on her son, Alby (Matt Ross). After Roman's murder, Alby has his revenge on Adaleen by sending her to Nicki's first husband, the loathsome J.J. (Zeliko Ivanek), who impregnates Adaleen through a monstrous inbreeding program. However, Adaleen strikes back by setting fire to a fertility clinic with J.J. trapped inside. For her work on the eccentric series, Place was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in 2010.

Place was also briefly top-billed opposite Lily Tomlin in "12 Miles of Bad Road" (HBO, 2007), a dark comic series from her old writing partner, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason about a highly dysfunctional group of wealthy Texans. The cable network unceremoniously dumped the show after negative reviews, and she soon returned to "Big Love." Her versatile voice could also be heard in several features and TV series; most notably as Amy Adams' mother in "Julie & Julia" (2009) and as the Guard Witch in "Shrek Ever After" (2010).

Credits

Music

Actor
Millie
Movie
2021

The PromStream

Actor
Grandma Bea
Movie
2020
54%

The RomanoffsStream

Actor
Marilyn Hopkins
Series
2018
49%

State Like Sleep

Actor
Elaine
Movie
2018

Diane

Actor
Diane
Movie
2018

ImpostersStream

Guest Star
Marsha Bloom
Series
2017
93%

Lady DynamiteStream

Actor
Marilyn Bamford
Series
2016
97%

Grace and FrankieStream

Guest Star
Amanda
Series
2016
90%

The Hollars

Actor
Pam
Movie
2016

Youth in Oregon

Actor
Estelle Engersol
Movie
2016

I'll See You in My DreamsStream

Actor
Rona
Movie
2015
93%

The InternStream

Actor
Jules's Mom
Movie
2015
59%

The Breakup Girl

Actor
Joan Baker
Movie
2015

Rake

Guest Star
Judge Cunningham
Show
2014

Miss Meadows

Actor
Mrs. Davenport
Movie
2014

Last Weekend

Actor
Jeannie
Movie
2014

A Country Christmas Story

Actor
Sarah
Movie
2013

You're in Charge

Actor
Penny Guidry
Movie
2013

Holidaze

Actor
Elaine
Movie
2013

Milo

Actor
Beatrice
Movie
2013

The New Normal

Guest Star
Show
2012

Smashed

Actor
Rochelle
Movie
2012

SuburgatoryStream

Guest Star
Series
2011
91%

Shrek Forever AfterStream

Voice
Guard Witch
Movie
2010
57%

Youth in Revolt

Actor
Mrs. Saunders
Movie
2009

It's ComplicatedStream

Actor
Joanne
Movie
2009
59%

The MentalistStream

Guest Star
Series
2008

City of Ember

Actor
Mrs. Murdo
Movie
2008

War Eagle, Arkansas

Actor
Jessie
Movie
2008

Pushing DaisiesStream

Guest Star
Series
2007
96%

CalifornicationStream

Guest Star
Series
2007
57%

Grace Is Gone

Actor
Woman at Funeral
Movie
2007

Big LoveStream

Actor
Adaleen Grant
Series
2006
80%

Big LoveStream

Guest Star
Adaleen Grant
Series
2006
80%

The Complete Tales of the City

Actor
Show
2006

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

NUMB3RSStream

Guest Star
Hester Stirling
Series
2005

Lonesome Jim

Actor
Sally
Movie
2005

Nine Lives

Actor
Alma Morgan
Movie
2005

Evergreen

Actor
Susan
Movie
2004

Silver City

Actor
Grace Seymour
Movie
2004

Latter Days

Actor
Sister Gladys Davis
Movie
2004

Death and Texas

Actor
Mrs. Kim
Movie
2004

Killer Diller

Actor
Dr. Gwen Bradley
Movie
2004

The Handler

Guest Star
Show
2003

Sweet Home AlabamaStream

Actor
Pearl
Movie
2002
38%

Citizen Baines

Guest Star
Show
2001

UndeclaredStream

Guest Star
Series
2001
93%

Further Tales of the City

Actor
Prue Giroux
Movie
2001

My First Mister

Actor
Patty
Movie
2001

The Safety of Objects

Actor
Helen Christianson
Movie
2001

Human NatureStream

Actor
Nathan's Mother
Movie
2001
48%

Nailed

Actor
Fern Romano
Movie
2001

Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story

Actor
Movie
2000

Committed

Actor
Psychiatrist
Movie
2000

The West WingStream

Guest Star
Surgeon General Millicent Griffith
Series
1999
81%

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Hope Garrett
Series
1999
78%

Family GuyStream

Guest Voice
Lady
Series
1999

Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story

Actor
Jan Martinez
Movie
1999

Being John MalkovichStream

Actor
Floris
Movie
1999
94%

Girl, InterruptedStream

Actor
Barbara Gilcrest
Movie
1999
53%

The Wild ThornberrysStream

Guest Voice
Series
1998

How to Make The Cruelest Month

Actor
Movie
1998

Pecker

Actor
Joyce
Movie
1998

Point Last Seen

Actor
Coreen Davis
Movie
1998

Naturally Native

Actor
Madame Celeste
Movie
1998

King of the HillStream

Guest Voice
Melly-Anne
Series
1997

Love in Another Town

Actor
Sam
Movie
1997

The RainmakerStream

Actor
Dot Black
Movie
1997
82%

Eye of God

Actor
Claire Spencer
Movie
1997

Leslie's Folly

Actor
Show
1996

Manny & Lo

Actor
Elaine
Movie
1996

My Very Best Friend

Actor
Molly Butler
Movie
1996

For My Daughter's Honor

Actor
Betty Ann Dustin
Movie
1996

Citizen RuthStream

Actor
Gail Stoney
Movie
1996
81%

My So-Called LifeStream

Guest Star
Camille Cherski
Series
1994
94%

Directed By

Actor
Show
1994

In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance

Actor
Norma Williams
Movie
1994

Teresa's Tattoo

Actor
Nora
Movie
1994

Telling Secrets

Actor
Show
1993

Bed of Lies

Actor
Jean Daniel Murph
Movie
1992

Captain RonStream

Actor
Katherine Harvey
Movie
1992
26%

Crazy From the Heart

Actor
Merrilee Playton
Movie
1991

Samantha

Actor
Marilyn
Movie
1991

Bright Angel

Actor
Judy
Movie
1990

Out on the Edge

Actor
Sondra Evetts
Movie
1989

Baby Boom

Director
Show
1988

A New Life

Actor
Donna
Movie
1988

Portrait of a White Marriage

Actor
Joyce Harrison
Movie
1988

thirtysomething

Guest Star
Patsy Klein
Series
1987
83%

The Girl Who Spelled Freedom

Actor
Prissy Thrash
Movie
1986

ExplorersStream

Actor
Mrs. Crandall (uncredited)
Movie
1985
72%

Smooth TalkStream

Actor
Katherine
Movie
1985
92%

For Love or Money

Actor
K.K.
Movie
1984

Waltz Across Texas

Actor
Movie
1983

The Big ChillStream

Actor
Meg
Movie
1983
71%

Modern Problems

Actor
Lorraine
Movie
1981

Act of Love

Actor
Becky Wiggins
Movie
1980

Private BenjaminStream

Actor
Pvt. Mary Lou Glass
Movie
1980
83%

Starting Over

Actor
Marie
Movie
1979

More American GraffitiStream

Actor
Teensa
Movie
1979
20%

New York, New York

Actor
Bernice Bennett
Movie
1977
57%

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

Actor
Loretta Haggers
Series
1976

Saturday Night LiveStream

Host
Series
1975

Paper Moon

Writer
Series
1974

M*A*S*HStream

Guest Star
Lt. Louise Simmons
Series
1972

All in the FamilyStream

Guest Star
Series
1971

The Mary Tyler Moore ShowStream

Guest Star
Sally Jo Hochkiss
Series
1970

The Mary Tyler Moore ShowStream

Writer
Series
1970

Today

Guest
News
1952