Born: March 25, 1960
Age: 64
Birthplace: Brightwood, Oregon, U.S.
Brenda Lee Strong (born March 25, 1960) is an American actress and yoga instructor. She began her career appearing in guest starring and recurring roles on television shows, include Twin Peaks, Party of Five, Seinfeld, and Sports Night, and was regular cast member in short-lived sitcoms Scorch (1992), and The Help (2004).
Strong had supporting roles in a number of films, include Starship Troopers (1997), Black Dog (1998), The Deep End of the Ocean (1999), Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004) and The Work and the Glory (2004). She is best known for her role as Mary Alice Young in the ABC television comedy-drama series, Desperate Housewives (2004-2012), for which she was nominated for two Emmy Awards. Strong later starred as Ann Ewing in the TNT prime time soap opera, Dallas (2012-2014).
Strong was born in Brightwood, Oregon, and grew up near Portland, Oregon, graduating in 1978 from Sandy Union High School in Sandy, Oregon. She later moved to Arizona to attend college, and graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Music in musical theater. Strong was crowned Miss Arizona in 1980; she is 6'0" (1.83 m) tall.
Her first break after college was a spot in Billy Crystal's 1984 music video "You Look Marvelous". Her first television appearances came in 1985 with brief stints on St. Elsewhere, MacGyver, and Cheers. She also made guest appearances on Hotel, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Matlock, Murphy Brown, Herman's Head, and Blossom. In 1990, she had a recurring role in the cult-classic ABC series, Twin Peaks. She made her film debut in 1986 comedy film Weekend Warriors, before supporting part in Spaceballs (1987).
In 1992, Strong starred in the short-lived CBS sitcom Scorch. She spent the following decade playing recurring and guest starring roles in many dramatic and comedic shows. From 1996 to 1998, she appeared as Elaine's nemesis Sue Ellen Mischke, the "bra-less wonder" and "Oh Henry!" candy bar heiress, on several episodes of NBC sitcom, Seinfeld. She also had the recurring roles on Party of Five, 7th Heaven and Everwood, and guest starred on 3rd Rock from the Sun, ER, Picket Fences, Silk Stalkings, Dawson's Creek, Any Day Now, Ally McBeal, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Nip/Tuck. From 1998 to 2000, she played Sally Sasser, the nemesis of Felicity Huffman's Dana Whitaker, in the ABC comedy-drama, Sports Night. In early 2004, she starred as wealthy Arlene Ridgeway in The WB short-lived sitcom, The Help.
Strong had roles in a number of films, include My Life, Malice and The Craft, before was cast as Captain Deladier in the 1997 science fiction action film Starship Troopers. Her character died in the original film, but she returned in a different role in the second film, Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation. In 1998, she starred opposite Patrick Swayze in the action film Black Dog, playing his wife. The following year, she played Michelle Pfeiffer' character's best friend in the drama film, The Deep End of the Ocean. In 2000, she appeared in the horror anthology Terror Tract, and in 2002 had a short part in Red Dragon.
Strong starred, mostly off-screen, on Desperate Housewives, opposite Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria and Teri Hatcher from 2004 to 2012, during the show's run. She plays the deceased Mary Alice Young, who narrates the events of her friends' and neighbors' lives from beyond the grave. Her narrations yielded an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 2011 and 2012. Along with the cast, she received two Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2005 and 2006. Strong's character has narrated all but two episodes of the series. One of the two exceptions is the Season 3 episode narrated by Steven Culp, after his character, Rex Van de Kamp, is killed by George Williams and he observes the lives of the men on the street. The other episode is during Season 5 and is narrated by Nicollette Sheridan, in which her character, Edie Britt, dies.
Strong has appeared several times in flashbacks and in a dream episode in which Lynette struggles to understand why she could not stop Mary Alice's suicide. She played another deceased wife on the television series Everwood, appearing mainly in flashback sequences as the late Julia Brown. Coincidentally, Marcia Cross played Dr. Linda Abbott, a love interest for Brown's widower, during the second season of Everwood. Both Strong and Cross appear in Season 9 of Seinfeld (episodes 9 and 8 respectively).
In addition to her role on Desperate Housewives, Strong starred as Mary Ann Steed in the movie trilogy The Work and the Glory, based on a bestselling nine-volume series of the same name by Gerald N. Lund. She starred in the 2006 Lifetime movie Family in Hiding. Also in 2006, she played Ted Danson's love interest in the short-lived ABC comedy series, Help Me Help You. She also guest starred on Curb Your Enthusiasm playing love interest of Larry David, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Boston Legal, and Rizzoli & Isles.
During her final year on Desperate Housewives, Strong signed on to play Ann Ewing, the third wife of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) and new matriarch of Southfork Ranch, in the TNT series Dallas, the revival of long-running CBS prime time soap opera of the same name. Strong previously made a guest appearance in the original series in 1987 as Cliff's One Night Stand. The show premiered on June 13, 2012, and was cancelled after three seasons in 2014. During her Dallas years, she began hosting Investigation Discovery series Blood Relatives, and played Joan Reston, the wife of Governor Samuel Reston, in the two episodes of Shonda Rhimes' political series, Scandal.
After Dallas, Strong guest starred in an episode of NBC comedy procedural The Mysteries of Laura. In 2015, she joined the cast of the third season of The CW post-apocalyptic drama series, The 100, playing the role of Nia, Queen of the Ice Nation.
A certified yoga instructor and fertility expert, Strong has experience teaching at UCLA's Mind/Body Institute. She is working on a book about yoga and the woman's journey.
Strong married Tom Henri in July 1989; they have a child, Zakery Henri. She filed for divorce on January 14, 2011. In May, 2015, she married director-actor John Farmanesh-Bocca.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Weekend Warriors | Danielle | |
1987 | Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues | Desiree | Television film |
1987 | Spaceballs | Nurse Gretchen | |
1989 | Skin Deep | Real Estate Agent | Uncredited |
1990 | People Like Us | Brenda Primrose | Television film |
1992 | Stepfather III | Lauren Sutliffe | Television film |
1993 | My Life | Laura | |
1993 | Malice | Claudia | |
1994 | Island City | Dr. Sammy Helding | Television film |
1996 | The Craft | Doctor | |
1997 | Starship Troopers | Captain Deladier | |
1998 | Get a Job | Emily LaCrosse | |
1998 | Black Dog | Melanie | |
1998 | Undercurrent | Renee Rivera | |
1999 | The Deep End of the Ocean | Ellen | |
2000 | Terror Tract | Dr. Helen Corey | |
2002 | Teddy Bears' Picnic | Jackie Sloane Chevron | |
2002 | Red Dragon | Dinner Guest | |
2003 | Missing Brendan | Joyce Calden | |
2003 | Exposed | Susan Andrews | |
2004 | Going to the Mat | Patty Newfield | Television film |
2004 | The Work and the Glory | Mary Ann Steed | |
2004 | Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation | Sgt. Dede Rake | |
2005 | The Work and the Glory II: American Zion | Mary Ann Steed | |
2005 | The Kid & I | Bonnie Roman | |
2006 | Family in Hiding | Carol Peterson | Television film |
2006 | The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided | Mary Ann Steed | |
2007 | A Plumm Summer | Viv | |
2008 | Ocean of Pearls | Mary Stewart | |
2009 | You | Paula | |
2010 | Privileged | Mrs. Carrington | |
2012 | An Engagement | Mom | Short film |
2014 | Teacher of the Year | Ellen Behr | |
2014 | I Can See You | Marnie | Short film |
2015 | Road to Redemption | Abigail | |
2015 | The Leisure Class | HBO's Project Greenlight season 4 film | |
2016 | Love By Chance | Helen | Television film |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | St. Elsewhere | Nadine Aurora | Episode: "The Naked and the Dead" |
1985 | Misfits of Science | Miss Speedway | Episode: "Twin Engines" |
1985 | Shadow Chasers | Angela Taylor | Episode: "The Many Lies of Johnathan" |
1986 | MacGyver | Lila | Episode: "The Assassin" |
1986 | Cheers | Vicki | Episode: "The Cape Cad" |
1986 | Sledge Hammer! | Miss Hotchkins | Episode: "Miss of the Spiderwoman" |
1987 | Dallas | Cliff's One Night Stand | Episode: "Cat and Mouse" |
1987 | Hotel | Hilary Sinclair | Episode: "Revelations" |
1988 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Rashella | Episode: "When the Bough Breaks" |
1989 | Midnight Caller | Kristen | Episode: "No Exit" |
1989 | Hooperman | Nun | Episode: "The Nun and I" |
1989 | Matlock | Jan Sinclair | Episode: "The Model" |
1990 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Miss Cantrell/O'Grady | Episode: "The Perfect Cover Mystery" |
1991 | Anything but Love | Unknown | Episode: "My New Best Friend" |
1991 | Twin Peaks | Jones | 4 episodes |
1991-1992 | Blossom | Diane | 2 episodes |
1991 | Murphy Brown | Janine | Episode: "Eldin Inmates Life" |
1992 | Rachel Gunn, R.N. | Sheila | Episode: "I Dream of Squidhead" |
1992 | Scorch | Allison King | Series regular, 6 episodes |
1992 | Sibs | Unknown | Episode: "Warren and the Married Woman" |
1992 | Grapevine | Allison | Episode: "The Allison and Ken Story" |
1992 | Dark Justice | Jessica Sadler | Episode: "Happy Mothers Day" |
1992-1993 | Herman's Head | Dr. Holland | 2 episodes |
1993 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | Beatrice Kaufman | Episode: "Young Indian Jones and the Scandal of 1920" |
1993 | The Second Half | Heather | Episode: "Guess Who's Channeling Dinner?" |
1993 | Picket Fences | Sarah Evans | Episode: "Unlawful Entries" |
1993 | Silk Stalkings | Candy Grayson | Episode: "Ladies Night Out" |
1994 | ER | Sally Niemeyer | Episode: "Into that Good Night" |
1996 | Murphy Brown | Tara Baker | Episode: "Casa Nova" |
1996 | The John Larroquette Show | Christine Taylor | Episode: "The Master Class" |
1996 | Party of Five | Kathleen Isley | 6 episodes |
1996-1997 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Miss Frost | 2 episodes |
1996-1997 | Seinfeld | Sue Ellen Mischke | 4 episodes |
1997 | Roar | Megan | Episode: "Traps" |
1997 | Chicago Sons | Nina | Episode: "Infrequent Flyers" |
1998-2000 | Sports Night | Sally Sasser | 7 episodes |
1998 | The Closer | Susan Bend | Episode: "The Rebound" |
1999 | Odd Man Out | Kasey Morton | Episode: "Good Will Hunting" |
1999 | Any Day Now | Jana Durham | Episode: "It's Not You, It's Me" |
1999 | Safe Harbor | Marilyn Conray | Episode: "Older Women, Younger Men" |
2000 | Get Real | Olivia Clark | Episode: "Guilt" |
2000 | The Michael Richards Show | Beth | Episode: "Discrimination" |
2000-2002 | 7th Heaven | Mrs. Carmen Mackoul | 8 episodes |
2001 | Ally McBeal | Jerry Hill | Episode: "Mr. Bo" |
2001 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dr. Leigh Sapien | Episode: "Overload" |
2001 | Thieves | Loretta | Episode: "Liver Let Die" |
2001 | Gilmore Girls | Eva | Episode: "Like Mother, Like Daughter" |
2001 | Dawson's Creek | Kay Liddell | Episode: "High Anxiety" |
2002 | Bram and Alice | Theresa | Episode: "Scribbling Rivalry" |
2002 | The Court | Marsha Palmer | 4 episodes |
2002 | Malcolm in the Middle | Amelia | Episode: "Family Reunion" |
2002-2005 | Everwood | Julia Brown | 5 episodes |
2003 | A.U.S.A. | Judge Kimberly Flynn | Episode: "The Joint Report...A Love Story" |
2003 | Nip/Tuck | Irish | 2 episodes |
2003 | The Lyon's Den | Rebecca McCandless | Episode: "Things She Said" |
2004 | The Help | Arlene Ridgeway | Series regular, 7 episodes |
2004-2012 | Desperate Housewives | Mary Alice Young | Series regular, 179 episodes Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance |
2006 | Just Legal | Liza Lynch | Episode: "The Bar" |
2006-2007 | Help Me Help You | Linda | 4 episodes |
2007 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Dr. Flomm | Episode: "The N Word" |
2007 | Shark | Olivia Hartnell | Episode: "In Absentia" |
2008 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Kathy Jarrow | Episode: "Betrayed" |
2008 | Boston Legal | Judge Judy Beacon | Episode: "True Love" |
2010 | Scoundrels | Penny Priest | Episode: "Birds of a Feather Flock Together" |
2010 | Rizzoli & Isles | Mel Gaynor-Randle | Episode: "I Kissed a Girl" |
2012-2014 | Dallas | Ann Ewing | Series regular, 40 episodes |
2012 / 2014 | Scandal | Joan Reston | Episodes: "All Roads Lead to Fitz", "The Fluffer" |
2012-present | Blood Relatives | Narrator | 32 episodes |
2014 | The Mysteries of Laura | Margot Preston | Episode: "The Mystery of the Mobile Murder" |
2015 | Bones | Senator Hayley Winters | Episode: "The Senator in the Street Sweeper" |
2016 | The 100 | Queen Nia | Episodes: "Ye Who Enter Here" and "Watch the Thrones" |