Merrin Dungey
| Merrin Dungey | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 6, 1971 Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse(s) | Matthew Drake (2007-present) |
| Partner(s) | Travis Fimmel (?-2003) |
| Children | 2 daughters |
Merrin Dungey (born August 6, 1971) is an American film and television actress, known for her roles on the television series The King of Queens, Alias and Summerland. She currently appears as Ursula the Sea Witch in the ABC series Once Upon a Time.
Early life
Dungey was born and raised in Sacramento, California,[1] the daughter of Don Dungey, a general services manager.[2] 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. She earned a degree of Bachelor of Arts from UCLA in 1993.[3] Merrin Dungey has one sister, Channing Dungey, who is also deeply involved in the film industry. Channing Dungey has worked for various studios including Steven Seagal's Steamroller Productions, Warner Bros. Productions, and is currently Senior VP of Drama Development at ABC Entertainment.[4]
Career
Dungey had small roles in Hollywood films such as EDtv and Deep Impact and on television series such as Martin, before landing the role of Kelly Palmer on the CBS television series The King of Queens, on which she starred from 1999 to 2007. She appeared in every season in the series except for the 2002-2003 season.
Dungey is also well known for her role as Francie Calfo on the drama series Alias,[5] on which she starred from 2001 to 2003 (with an appearance in 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 Kernaban. At one point in 2001, Dungey was appearing in all three shows (King of Queens, Malcolm in the Middle and Alias) at the same time.[4]
Dungey then 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 the pilot of the series Private Practice but was replaced by actress Audra McDonald for the actual series.[6]
Most recently, Dungey guest-starred on the ABC sitcom's Surviving Suburbia starring Bob Saget, Better Off Ted starring Portia de Rossi, Castle starring Nathan Fillion and HBO's Hung starring Thomas Jane.[7] She portrayed Ellie on the Nick at Nite television series Hollywood Heights in 2012 and the recurring role of Alissa Barnes on ABC's Betrayal in 2013.[4] She will appear in a featured role opposite Pierce Brosnan in How to Make Love Like an Englishman. In 2014 she began portraying the recurring role of Ursula the sea witch on ABC's Once Upon a Time.[5]
Personal life
Dungey briefly dated fashion model Travis Fimmel in the early 2000s before breaking up in 2003.[8] Merrin married Matthew Drake in a Mariachi style wedding ceremony in Cancun, Mexico in May 2007. She gave birth to their first daughter in June 2008, and a second daughter in 2011.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Deep Impact | Sheila Bradley | |
| 1999 | EDtv | Ms. Seaver | |
| 2001 | Sky Is Falling, TheThe Sky Is Falling | Sheila | |
| 2001 | Odessa or Bust | Disgruntled Diner | Short film |
| 2002 | Scream at the Sound of the Beep | Jill | |
| 2011 | L!fe Happens | Hester | |
| 2014 | How to Make Love Like an Englishman |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Martin | Monique | Episode: "Girlfriend" |
| 1996 | Babylon 5 | Security Guard #2 | Episode: "Messages from Earth" |
| 1996 | Living Single | Laura | Episode: "Woman to Woman" |
| 1996 | Party Girl | Wanda | 4 episodes |
| 1997 | Caroline in the City | Female Prostitute | Episode: "Caroline and the Buyer" |
| 1997 | ER | Daphina | Episode: "When the Bough Breaks" |
| 1997 | Murphy Brown | Woman | Episode: "From the Terrace" |
| 1998 | Seinfeld | Cashier | Episode: "The Bookstore" |
| 1999 | Tracey Takes On... | Nancy | Episode: "Drugs" |
| 1999 | Saved by the Bell: The New Class | Coach Williams | Episode: "Prescription for Trouble" |
| 1999 | West Wing, TheThe West Wing | Daisy | Episode: "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc" |
| 1999 | G vs E | Rebecca Clemens | Episode: "Cliffhanger" |
| 1999–2007 | King of Queens, TheThe King of Queens[4] | Kelly Palmer | 39 episodes |
| 2000 | Jesse | Rosemary | Episode: "Kurt Slips, Niagara Falls" |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Mrs. Lombard | Episode: "Deliver the Male" |
| 2000 | Friends | Hildy, museum official | Episode: "The One Where Paul's the Man" |
| 2000–01 | Grosse Pointe | Joan | 4 episodes |
| 2000–01 | Malcolm in the Middle[4] | Kitty Kenarban | 6 episodes |
| 2001 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Amy | Episode: "The Doll" |
| 2001–03, 06 | Alias[4][5] | Francie Calfo/Allison Doren | 47 episodes |
| 2004–05 | Summerland | Susannah Rexford | 26 episodes |
| 2006 | Beyond | Debbie Sprague | TV movie |
| 2007 | Boston Legal | Sandy Zionts | Episode: "Angel of Death" |
| 2007 | Private Practice | Dr. Naomi Bennett | Episode: Pilot |
| 2009 | Masterwork | Rachel West | TV movie |
| 2009 | Surviving Suburbia | Mrs. Devore | Episode: "Nothing for Money" |
| 2009–10 | Better Off Ted | Sheila | 4 episodes |
| 2010 | Castle[5] | Monica Finch | Episode: "Den of Thieves" |
| 2010 | Closer, TheThe Closer | Ms. Reed | Episode: "Heart Attack" |
| 2010 | Hung | Liz | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Outlaw | Alison Mills | Episode: "In Re: Curtis Farwell" |
| 2012 | Revenge[4] | Barbara Snow | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Hollywood Heights[4] | Ellie Moss | Contract role |
| 2013 | 90210 | Therapist | Episode: "Brother From Another Mother" |
| 2013 | How to Live with Your Parents | Morgan | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Betrayal[4][5] | Alissa Barnes | 5 episodes |
| 2014 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Terry's Wife | Recurring role |
| 2014 | Episodes | Tonight Show Producer | Episode: "Episode Four" |
| 2014 | Trophy Wife | Agent Dawn Johansen | Episode: "The Wedding, Part 1" |
| 2014 | Shameless[5] | Nurse | Episode: "Lazarus" |
| 2014 | Rizzoli & Isles | Nurse | Episode: "It Takes a Village" |
| 2014–present | Chasing Life | Dr. Susan Hamburg | 6 episodes |
| 2014-2015 | Once Upon a Time[5] | Ursula | Recurring role 2014-15 |
References
- ↑ Stafford, Nikki (September 1, 2004). Uncovering Alias: An Unofficial Guide. ECW Press. 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.
- ↑ Merrin Dungey Biography
- ↑ "NOTABLE ALUMNI ACTORS". UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Nelson, Valerie J. (June 4, 2014). "Sister, Sister". Emmy. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Abrams, Natalie (November 19, 2014). "Once Upon a Time casts Alias vet Merrin Dungey". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
- ↑ Ausiello, Michael (March 12, 2007). "Big Scoop! Grey 's 2.0 Adds Alias Grad and "Amy"". TV Guide. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
- ↑ TV.com Merrin Dungey Credits
- ↑ Famous Hookups dating reference