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Merrin Dungey

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Merrin Dungey
Born
Merrin Melissa Dungey

(1971-08-06) August 6, 1971 (age 53)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
EducationRio Americano High School[1]
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles (BA)
OccupationActress
Years active1995–present
Spouses
Matthew Drake
​
​
(m. 2007; div. 2021)​
Kevin Ryder
​
(m. 2023)​
Children2
RelativesChanning Dungey (sister)

Merrin Melissa Dungey[1][2] (born August 6, 1971[3]) is an American film and television actress, known for her roles on the television series The King of Queens, Alias, Malcolm in the Middle, Summerland, Conviction, The Resident and The Fix. She also appeared as Ursula on Once Upon a Time. From 2022 to 2023, Dungey played series regular Kam in Shining Vale.

Early life and education

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Dungey, who is of African American heritage, was born and raised in Sacramento, California,[4] the younger daughter of Don Dungey, a general services manager and Judith Dungey.[citation needed] As a child, she was active in ballet and dance as well as piano. Dungey was also an accomplished ice skater. Dungey graduated in 1989 from Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California. After high school, Dungey earned a degree of Bachelor of Arts from UCLA in 1993.[5] Dungey has a sister, Channing Dungey[6] who was president of ABC Entertainment and is the CEO of Warner Bros. Television Studios.[7]

Career

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Dungey had small roles in Hollywood films such as EDtv and Deep Impact and on television series such as Martin, before landing the recurring role of Kelly Palmer on the CBS television series The King of Queens, in which she starred from 1999 to 2007.[6] She appeared in each season of the series except for the 2002–03 season. Dungey is also well known for her role as Francie Calfo on the drama series Alias[6][8] from 2001 to 2003, as well as making an appearance on the 2006 series finale episode All the Time in the World. She also had a recurring role on the FOX sitcom Malcolm in the Middle as Stevie's mother, Kitty Kenarban.[6] At one point in 2001, Dungey was appearing in all three shows (The King of Queens, Malcolm in the Middle, and Alias) at the same time.[6] Dungey portrayed Susannah in the WB drama series Summerland from 2004 to 2005. She has also guest-starred on various TV series including Living Single, ER, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld, Friends, The West Wing, Babylon 5, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Dungey appeared in two episodes of Grey's Anatomy that served as a backdoor pilot for Private Practice,[9] but was replaced by actress Audra McDonald for the series.

Dungey guest-starred on the ABC sitcoms Surviving Suburbia starring Bob Saget, Better Off Ted starring Portia de Rossi, Castle starring Nathan Fillion,[8] and HBO's Hung starring Thomas Jane.[10] She portrayed Ellie on the Nick at Nite television series Hollywood Heights in 2012[6] and had a recurring role as Alissa Barnes on ABC's Betrayal in 2013.[6][8] In 2014 she appeared in a featured role opposite Pierce Brosnan in Some Kind of Beautiful. Also in 2014, she began portraying the recurring roles of Ursula on ABC's Once Upon a Time[8] and Sharon Jeffords on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.[11] Dungey played investigator Maxine Bohen on the ABC legal drama Conviction from October 2016 to May 2017.[12][13] In September 2017, she joined the cast of the medical drama The Resident as Claire Thorpe.[14] Dungey next appeared as C.J. Bernstein in the ABC legal drama The Fix.[15]

In February 2021, Dungey was cast in the series regular role of Kam in the Starz series Shining Vale.[16] The series premiered in March 2022,[17] and was later picked up for a second season in May 2022.[18]

Personal life

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In May 2007, Dungey married Matthew Drake in a mariachi-style wedding ceremony in Cancun, Mexico. She gave birth to their first daughter in June 2008, and a second daughter in 2011. Dungey and Drake separated in 2018 and divorced in 2021.[19] In 2023, Dungey announced her engagement to Kevin Ryder, a member of the Radio Hall of Fame and NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame for his work on Kevin and Bean.[20] They married on December 31, 2023.[21]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1998 Deep Impact Sheila Bradley
1999 EDtv Ms. Seaver
2000 The Sky Is Falling Sheila
2001 Odessa or Bust Disgruntled Diner Short
2002 Scream at the Sound of the Beep Jill
2006 Beyond Debbie Sprague TV movie
2009 Masterwork Rachel West TV movie
2011 L!fe Happens Hester
2014 Some Kind of Beautiful Angela
2015 The Diabolical Mrs. Dana Wallace
48 Hours 'til Monday Mary Johansson TV movie
2017 CHiPs Joy Jackson
Brothered Up Desiree Williams TV movie
2020 Greenland Major Breen
2021 The Madness Inside Me Madison

Television

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Year Film Role Notes
1995 Martin Monique Episode: "Girlfriend"
1996 Babylon 5 Security Guard #2 Episode: "Messages from Earth"
Living Single Laura Episode: "Woman to Woman"
Party Girl Wanda Main Cast
1997 Caroline in the City Female Prostitute Episode: "Caroline and the Buyer"
ER Daphina Episode: "When the Bough Breaks"
Murphy Brown Woman Episode: "From the Terrace"
1998 Seinfeld Cashier Episode: "The Bookstore"
1999 Tracey Takes On... Nancy Episode: "Drugs"
Saved by the Bell: The New Class Coach Williams Episode: "Prescription for Trouble"
The West Wing Daisy Episode: "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc"
G vs E Rebecca Clemens Episode: "Cliffhanger"
1999–2007 The King of Queens Kelly Palmer Recurring cast
2000 Jesse Rosemary Episode: "Kurt Slips, Niagara Falls"
City of Angels Mrs. Lombard Episode: "Deliver the Male"
Friends The Museum Official Episode: "The One Where Paul's the Man"
2000–01 Grosse Pointe Joan Recurring cast
2000–04 Malcolm in the Middle Kitty Kenarban Guest: Seasons 1 & 3 & 6, Recurring cast: Season 2
2001 Curb Your Enthusiasm Amy Episode: "The Doll"
2001–06 Alias Francie Calfo / Allison Doren Main Cast: Season 1-2, Recurring cast: Season 3, guest: Season 5
2004–05 Summerland Susannah Rexford Main Cast
2007 Boston Legal Sandy Zionts Episode: "Angel of Death"
Grey's Anatomy Dr. Naomi Bennett Episode: "The Other Side of This Life, Part 1 & 2"
2009 Surviving Suburbia Mrs. Devore Episode: "Nothing for Money"
2009–10 Better Off Ted Sheila Guest: Season 1, Recurring cast: Season 2
2010 Castle Monica Finch Episode: "Den of Thieves"
The Closer Ms. Reed Episode: "Heart Attack"
Hung Liz Recurring cast: Season 2
Outlaw Alison Mills Episode: "In Re: Curtis Farwell"
2012 Revenge Barbara Snow Recurring cast: Season 1
Hollywood Heights Ellie Moss Recurring cast
2013 90210 Court Appointed Therapist Episode: "Brother From Another Mother"
How to Live with Your Parents Morgan Episode: "How to Have a Playdate" & "How to Be Gifted"
Betrayal Alissa Barnes Recurring cast
2014 Episodes Tonight Show Producer Episode: "Episode Four"
Trophy Wife Agent Dawn Johansen Episode: "The Wedding, Part 1"
Shameless Nurse Episode: "Lazarus"
Rizzoli & Isles Gwen Miller Episode: "It Takes a Village"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Twyla Owens Episode: "Road to Recovery"
2014–15 Once Upon a Time Ursula Recurring cast: Season 4
Chasing Life Dr. Susan Hamburg Recurring cast
Brooklyn Nine-Nine Sharon Jeffords Guest: Seasons 1-2, Recurring cast: Season 3
2015 Backstrom Eleanor Deering Episode: "Enemy of My Enemies"
2016 Con Man Jess Episode: "What Goes Up..."
2016–17 Conviction Maxine Bohen Main Cast
2017 You're the Worst Candace Recurring cast: Season 4
2017–19 Big Little Lies Detective Adrienne Quinlan Recurring cast
2018 The Resident Claire Thorpe Main Cast: Season 1
2019 Grace and Frankie Elena Episode: "The Highs"
The Fix C.J. Bernstein Main Cast
2020 Star Trek: Picard Interviewer Episode: "Remembrance"
Man with a Plan Dr. Felicia Episode: "Couples Therapy" & "Adam's Not Sorry"
2020–present Star Trek: Lower Decks Solvang First Officer/Ensign Wendy (voice) 2 episodes
2021 Bad Vibes Melinda Episode: "Shifter"
American Horror Stories Dr. Andi Grant Recurring cast: Season 1
Lucifer Officer Sonja Harris Recurring cast: Season 6
Bob's Burgers Judith (voice) Episode: "Driving Big Dummy"
2022–23 Shining Vale Kam Main Cast
TBA In Between [22]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Entertainment Greats Saluted At Gala". Sacramento Observer. September 28, 2017. p. A3. ProQuest 1949560718. Sisters Merrin and Channing Dungey have made Hollywood their own and locals have taken notice. The Dungeys, both alumni of Rio Americano High School, were honored last week by the San Juan Education Foundation, by induction onto the foundation's STARS (Science Technology, Arts and Reading For Students) Hall of Fame.
  2. ^ "Graduation '89: Rio Americano High School". The Sacramento Bee. May 25, 1989. p. 15A. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "Almanac: Today's Birthdays". The Citizen's Voice. August 6, 2023. ProQuest 2846836466. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan (SHAH'-mah-lahn) is 53. Actor Merrin Dungey is 52. Singer Geri Halliwell Horner is 51. Actor Jason O'Mara is 51. Actor Vera Farmiga is 50. Actor Ever Carradine is 49. Actor Soleil (soh-LAY') Moon Frye is 47. See also:
    • "Almanac: Today's Birthdays". Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. August 6, 2005. p. D4. ProQuest 368522292. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan is 35. Actress Merrin Dungey is 34. Singer Geri Halliwell is 33. Singer-actor David Campbell is 32. Actress Ever Carradine is 31. Actress Soleil Moon Frye is 29.
  4. ^ Stafford, Nikki (September 1, 2004). Uncovering Alias: An Unofficial Guide. ECW Press. ISBN 9781550226539. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
    • a "Born on August 6, 1971, in Sacramento, California..." — Pg. 125, ¶ 3.
    • b "After graduating from Rio Americano High School in 1989..." — Pg. 126, ¶ 3.
  5. ^ "NOTABLE ALUMNI ACTORS". UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Nelson, Valerie J. (June 4, 2014). "Sister, Sister". Emmy. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 17, 2016). "ABC Shakeup: Paul Lee Out As President, Channing Dungey To Succeed Him". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d Abrams, Natalie (November 19, 2014). "Once Upon a Time casts Alias vet Merrin Dungey". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  9. ^ Ausiello, Michael (March 12, 2007). "Big Scoop! Grey's 2.0 Adds Alias Grad and "Amy"". TV Guide. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  10. ^ "Merrin Dungey Credits". TV.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  11. ^ Crump, Andy (November 23, 2015). "Brooklyn Nine-Nine: 'Ava'". Paste. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 12, 2016). "Conviction Picked Up To Series By ABC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  13. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 11, 2017). "Imaginary Mary Among Several Freshman Series Canceled By ABC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 26, 2017). "The Resident: Merrin Dungey Joins As New Regular, Moran Atias Changes Roles". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  15. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (May 11, 2018). "Legal Thriller The Fix, From Attorney Marcia Clark, Gets Series Order at ABC". TVLine. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 5, 2021). "Mira Sorvino & Merrin Dungey Join Starz's Horror Comedy Pilot Shining Vale". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  17. ^ Petski, Denise (November 16, 2021). "'Shining Vale': Starz Sets Premiere Date For Horror Comedy Series Starring Courteney Cox, Greg Kinnear & Mira Sorvino". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  18. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 10, 2022). "'Shining Vale' Renewed For Season 2 By Starz". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  19. ^ @RealMerrinD (July 6, 2021). "Hi @Wikipedia and @IMDb, it's me, Merrin" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Alias Star Merrin Dungey Is Engaged! See Her Ring — and Sweet Message from Costar Jennifer Garner". Yahoo News. February 3, 2023.
  21. ^ https://x.com/RealMerrinD/status/1741977535150444958?s=20 [bare URL]
  22. ^ White, Peter (5 December 2021). "Merrin Dungey To Star In Therapist Drama 'In Between' In The Works At NBC From Mayim Bialik & Liz Vassey". Deadline Hollywood.
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