Born: August 14, 1968
Age: 56
Birthplace: London
Catherine Lisa Bell (born August 14, 1968) is an American actress and producer known for her roles as Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie of the television series JAG from 1997 to 2005, Denise Sherwood of the series Army Wives from 2007 to 2013, and Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale of Hallmark's The Good Witch film and television series (2008-2015).
Catherine Bell was born in London to Scotsman Peter Bell and Iranian Mina Ezzeti who'd traveled to London to study nursing. After her parents' divorce at age 2, she moved with her mother shortly to Iran and then to United States at age 3.
One of Bell's first modeling jobs was a four-month assignment in Japan. When she returned to California, she studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas. She also worked as a massage therapist, and her clients included singer Peter Gabriel. Her first television acting role was one line spoken to Gabriel on the short-lived 1990 sitcom Sugar and Spice.
Bell served as Isabella Rossellini's body double for the 1992 film Death Becomes Her where she "showed her butt only".
In 1996, Bell began her role as Marine Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie of the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Office in the series JAG. She continued in this role until 2005. Prior to being cast as Sarah, Bell had appeared as a murder victim in a season 1 episode titled "Skeleton Crew", which was never aired (nor, as it was intended as the first part of a two-part episode, properly concluded) during the original run due to the show's cancellation by NBC (it was shown in the US by the USA Network in 1999, and the season 3 episode "Death Watch" used much footage from the episode).
Beginning in 2007, Bell starred in Lifetime's ensemble drama series Army Wives as Denise Sherwood, the wife of a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, who endured domestic violence at the hands of her teenage son during the show's first season.
Bell also recently played the role of Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale, the main character of Hallmark's The Good Witch (2008), and its sequels The Good Witch's Garden (2009), The Good Witch's Gift (2010), The Good Witch's Family (2011), The Good Witch's Charm (2012), The Good Witch's Destiny (2013) and The Good Witch's Wonder (2014); she was also an executive producer of all of the movies. She also starred in another Hallmark movie titled Last Man Standing.
Bell is to star in a movie "Love Finds Its Way".
Bell is fluent in Persian and English. She is fond of motorcycling, skiing, snowboarding and kick-boxing, which she has been practicing for over 10 years. Her hobbies include cross-stitching and making model cars, which she has done since age 8.
In a survey of 70 celebrities by The Sporting News just before the 2002 Super Bowl, she correctly predicted that the New England Patriots would beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI 20 to 17. In actuality the article was written after the NFC and AFC championship games; Bell correctly guessed the score, but the teams were already decided.
She met actor-production assistant Adam Beason on the set of the 1992 film Death Becomes Her; they were married on May 8, 1994. Together, they have a daughter and a son. The couple divorced in 2011.
Bell was the grand marshal of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on June 3, 2007.
During the Hollywood writers' strike, Bell took flying lessons in a Cirrus SR22.
Bell was raised Roman Catholic and attended an all-girls Catholic school (Our Lady of Corvallis High School in Los Angeles). She is also a practicing Scientologist. Bell has attested to attaining the Scientology state of Clear. She has supported Scientology's Hollywood Education and Literacy Project. In December 2005 Bell helped promote the gala opening of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death" museum.
In February 2006 Bell appeared in a Scientology music video called "United". The film includes cameo performances by Isaac Hayes, Erika Christensen, Jenna Elfman, and Lynsey Bartilson, and promotes human rights with a rap song.
Title | Date | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Love Finds Its Way | |||
Flashover | Beth Davis | Leading role | |
The Do Over | 2016 | ||
The Bandit Hound | 2015 | Joanne | |
Good Witch | 2015-present | Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale | Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer |
The Good Witch's Wonder | 2014 | Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale | Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer |
Los Angeles, RIGHT NOW | 2014 | K-PUB's station manager | Episode #5 The Bully |
The Good Witch's Destiny | 2013 | Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale | Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer |
King & Maxwell | 2013 | Joan Dillinger | Episodes #1.05 and #1.10 |
The Good Witch's Charm | 2012 | Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale | Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer |
Good Morning, Killer | 2011 | FBI Special Agent Ana Gray | Leading role; shown as part of the TNT Mystery Movie Night series |
The Last Man Standing | 2011 | Abby Collins | Leading role |
The Good Witch's Family | 2011 | Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale | Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer |
The Good Witch's Gift | 2010 | Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale | Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer |
The Good Witch's Garden | 2009 | Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale | Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer |
The Good Witch | 2008 | Cassandra Nightingale | Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer |
Army Wives | 2007-2013 | Denise Sherwood | Series Regular |
Evan Almighty | 2007 | Susan Ortega (Uncredited) | |
Still Small Voices | 2007 | Michael Summer | |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 2006 | Naomi Cheales | Episode #8.09 - "Choreographed" |
Company Town | 2006 | Maggie Shaunessy | unaired pilot |
Threshold | 2006 | Dr. Daphne Larson | Episode #1.11 - "Outbreak" |
The Triangle | 2005 | Emily Patterson | |
Babak and Friends A First Norooz | 2005 | Layla | Voice |
JAG | 1996-2005 | Maj./Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie | Leading Role Episode #1.22 - "Skeleton Crew" (1996) as Lieutenant Junior Grade Diane Schonke, Episode #3.19 - "Death Watch" (1998) as Lieutenant Junior Grade Diane Schonke (archive footage), Episode #5.11 - "Ghosts of Christmas Past" (1999) as Jenny Lake, Episode #6.23 - "Mutiny" (2001) as Mrs. Alexander MacKenzie, Episode #8.14 - "Each of Us Angels" (2003) as Ensign Beverly Tromatore |
Bruce Almighty | 2003 | Susan Ortega | |
Thrill Seekers | 1999 | Elizabeth Wintern | |
Cab to Canada | 1998 | Sandy | |
Black Thunder | 1998 | Lisa | |
Sin City Spectacular | 1998-1999 | Episode #1.10 and #1.16 | |
Crash Dive | 1997 | Lt. Cmdr. Lisa Stark | |
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | 1997 | Cynea | Episode #3.10 - "The Lady and the Dragon" |
Hot Line | 1996 | Cat | Episode "The Brunch Club" aka Hotline Volume 3 (VHS release title) |
The Naked Truth | 1995 | Episode #1.11 - "Comet Nails Star and Vice Versa!" | |
Friends | 1995 | Robin | Episode #2.06 - "The One with the Baby on the Bus" |
Alien Nation: Body and Soul | 1995 | Cop | |
Vanishing Son | 1995 | Episode #2.06 - "Miracle Under 34th Street" as Kelly, Episode #2.12 - "Long Ago and Far Away" as Rachel |
|
Men of War | 1994 | Grace Lashield | |
Dream On | 1994 | Kay Meadows | Episode #5.09 - "Those Who Can't, Edit" |
Mother of the Bride | 1993 | Chastity | |
Death Becomes Her | 1992 | Lisle's Body Double | Isabella Rossellini |
True Colors | 1991 | Donna | Episode #2.08 - " Brotherly Love" |
Title | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|
Rachael Ray | 23 April 2010 | |
Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 1 August 2008 | |
The View | 16 June 2008 | |
Live with Regis and Kelly | 2 June 2008 | |
Martha | 17 January 2008 | |
Live with Regis and Kelly | 16 January 2008 | |
Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 8 August 2007 | |
The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet | 1 August 2007 | |
Live with Regis and Kelly | 31 July 2007 | |
Late Show with David Letterman | 30 July 2007 | |
Sci Fi Inside: The Triangle | 2005 | |
United | 2005 | |
Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 23 May 2003 | |
The View | 13 May 2003 | |
DVD Exclusive Awards | 2003 | Presenter |
CBS at 75 | 2003 | |
Yes, Dear | 2003 | Episode #3.14 - "Let's Get Jaggy with It" |
Sidewalks Entertainment | 2002 | Episode #13.1 - "Wedding Planner (Special Edition)" |
The Howard Stern Show | 24 July 2002 | |
Hollywood Squares | 24 September 2001 | |
The Rosie O'Donnell Show | 15 January 2001 | |
Celebrity Jeopardy! | May 1999 |
In 2006, Bell was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her role in The Triangle.
Charities
Catherine Bell supports the following charitable cause: Children.