Nancy Lenehan

Nancy Lenehan Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: April 26, 1953

Age: 72 years old

Birth Place: Long Island, New York

Veteran character actor Nancy Lenehan is best known for playing unflappably cheerful soccer moms and school administrators on series television. Featured in recurring and guest roles on numerous programs since the early '80s, Lenehan may not be a household name, but her perfectly perky beam is a familiar one to fans of sitcoms.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Lenehan attended school in South Dakota and, after graduating, relocated to San Francisco, where she briefly joined a comedy troupe. Her rise in Hollywood came slowly; and after countless faintly remembered TV and film roles as the sweet-natured girl-next-door, in 1996 she was cast as a recurring character on the Emmy-nominated comedy series "Ellen."

Lenehan resurfaced as a series regular on several more comedies, including the Brett Butler-starring "Grace Under Fire," the short-lived "Married to the Kellys," and the wildly popular NBC series "My Name Is Earl," in which she made a memorable appearance as Kay Hickey, the mother of title character Earl Hickey.

Credits

Night SwimStream

Actor
Kay
Movie
2024
19%

Extended FamilyStream

Guest Star
Rose Oliver
Series
2023

That's Amor

Actor
Lainie
Movie
2022

American AutoStream

Guest Star
Winnie
Series
2021
100%

Bless This MessStream

Guest Star
Deb
Series
2019
82%

Tom Clancy's Jack RyanStream

Actor
Senator Jennings
Series
2018
78%

Soundtracks: Songs That Defined HistoryStream

Actor
Billie's Mom
Series
2017

Man With a PlanStream

Guest Star
Alice
Series
2016

People of EarthStream

Actor
Margaret Flood
Series
2016

SuperstoreStream

Guest Star
Judy
Series
2015
93%

Sex TapeStream

Actor
Linda
Movie
2014
16%

VeepStream

Guest Star
Mrs. Ryan
Series
2012
93%

How To Be A GentlemanStream

Actor
Diane
Series
2011
26%

ConanStream

Guest
Talk
2010

The MiddleStream

Guest Star
Penny
Series
2009

Accidentally on PurposeStream

Guest Star
Series
2009
30%

Worst Week

Actor
Angela Clayton
Show
2008

Studio 60 on the Sunset StripStream

Guest Star
Mrs. Jeter
Series
2006
74%

The New Adventures of Old ChristineStream

Guest Star
Series
2006

Close to Home

Guest Star
Show
2005

My Name Is EarlStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
82%

How I Met Your MotherStream

Guest Star
Cheryl
Series
2005
84%

Peace

Actor
Show
2005

Married to the Kellys

Actor
Sandy Kelly
Show
2003

Joan of Arcadia

Guest Star
Series
2003
96%

Nip/TuckStream

Guest Star
Sue Alderman
Series
2003
74%

What I Like About YouStream

Guest Star
Linda
Series
2002

Door to Door

Actor
Movie
2002

The Bernie Mac ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

Gilmore GirlsStream

Guest Star
LaDawn
Series
2000

Yes, Dear

Guest Star
Series
2000

Malcolm in the MiddleStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

FelicityStream

Guest Star
Faye Rotundi
Series
1998

That '70s ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1998

Two Guys and a Girl

Guest Star
Dr. Peel
Series
1998
33%

Working

Guest Star
Show
1997

Dharma & Greg

Guest Star
Karen Love
Series
1997

Hiller and Diller

Guest Star
Show
1997

George and Leo

Guest Star
Series
1997
70%

Ally McBealStream

Guest Star
Series
1997
61%

Buffy the Vampire SlayerStream

Guest Star
Pat
Series
1997
85%

Just Shoot MeStream

Guest Star
Bunny
Series
1997

The PracticeStream

Guest Star
Series
1997

Ink

Guest Star
Show
1996

Townies

Guest Star
Series
1996
30%

Everybody Loves RaymondStream

Guest Star
Pamela
Series
1996

The Faculty

Actor
Daisy Skelnick
Series
1996

Caroline in the City

Guest Star
Series
1995

Mystery Dance

Actor
Colleen Wilson
Show
1995

ERStream

Guest Star
Edie Harvell
Series
1994

EllenStream

Guest Star
Margaret
Series
1994

Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight

Actor
Radio Show Hostess
Movie
1994

Grace Under FireStream

Guest Star
Series
1993

Boy Meets WorldStream

Guest Star
Susan Kalliback
Series
1993

Great Scott!

Actor
Beverly Melrod
Show
1992

Mad About YouStream

Guest Star
Dr. Wallach
Series
1992

Civil Wars

Guest Star
Paula Richardson
Show
1991

Runaway Father

Actor
Blanche
Movie
1991

Quantum LeapStream

Guest Star
Colleen McBain
Series
1989

Parent Trap Hawaiian Honeymoon

Actor
Mrs. Harris
Movie
1989

Guns of Paradise

Guest Star
Series
1988

RoseanneStream

Guest Star
Series
1988
76%

Rock 'n' Roll Mom

Actor
Connie
Movie
1988

Mamá Rockera

Actor
Movie
1988

Beverly Hills Buntz

Guest Star
Mrs. Fairchild
Series
1987

Beauty and the Beast

Guest Star
Lucy
Series
1987

Mr. President

Guest Star
Lenore
Show
1987

The Tracey Ullman Show

Guest Star
Series
1987

My Sister Sam

Guest Star
Series
1986

ALFStream

Guest Star
Laverne Litwak
Series
1986

Assassin

Actor
Grace Decker
Movie
1986

The Golden GirlsStream

Guest Star
Nun
Series
1985

V: The SeriesStream

Guest Star
Science Frontiers Scientist
Series
1984
67%

Empire

Guest Star
Show
1984

Newhart

Guest Star
Series
1982

Family TiesStream

Guest Star
Series
1982

Fame

Guest Star
Series
1982

Hill Street BluesStream

Guest Star
Katy Moore
Series
1981
97%

It's a LivingStream

Guest Star
Phylis Caruso
Series
1980

The Facts of LifeStream

Guest Star
Customer
Series
1979

AliceStream

Guest Star
Series
1976