Catherine Bell (actress)

Last updated

Catherine Bell
Catherine Bell 2012.jpg
Bell on the set of Army Wives in Charleston, South Carolina (2012)
Born
Catherine Lisa Bell

(1968-08-14) 14 August 1968 (age 56)
London, England
NationalityBritish, Iranian
CitizenshipBritish, American
Education Our Lady of Corvallis High School
Alma mater University of California, Los Angeles
Beverly Hills Playhouse
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1991–present
Known for
Spouse
Adam Beason
​
​
(m. 1994;div. 2011)​
PartnerBrooke Daniells (2012–present)
Children2
Website catherinebell.com

Catherine Lisa Bell (born 14 August 1968) is a British-American [1] actress and model known for her roles as Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie in the television series JAG from 1997 to 2005, Denise Sherwood in the series Army Wives from 2007 to 2013, and Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale in Hallmark's The Good Witch films and television series from 2008 to 2021.

Contents

Early life

Catherine Lisa Bell [2] was born on 14 August 1968 [3] [4] in London to a Scottish father, Peter Bell, and an Iranian mother, Mina Ezzati. [4] Peter was working as an architect under contract to an oil company in Iran; Mina had travelled to London to study nursing. Bell's parents divorced when Catherine was two years old. She was raised by her mother and maternal grandparents. The family eventually moved to California's San Fernando Valley [4] where Bell was exposed to diverse influences. The family spoke Persian at home. In her teenage years, Catherine came under the influence of her California surroundings: "I am definitely a Valley Girl. I was a tomboy. I liked to skateboard, play football, and push the envelope a little bit". [4] Catherine enrolled at UCLA, where she considered a career in medicine or research. However, when she was offered a modelling job in Japan, where advertisers value "American beauty", she dropped out during her second year. [4]

Career

Bell at The Pentagon in 2008 Bell, Catherine (2008).jpg
Bell at The Pentagon in 2008

When Bell returned to the United States, she decided to try acting. [4] She studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas. She also worked as a massage therapist for eight years at the Peninsula Hotel, [5] and her clients included singer Peter Gabriel. Bell's first television acting role was one line spoken to Gabriel on the short-lived 1990 sitcom Sugar and Spice. [6]

Among her first parts was Isabella Rossellini' body double for the 1992 film Death Becomes Her . [4]

In 1994, Bell starred in the Dolph Lundgren film Men of War . While filming the movie in Thailand, Bell and her co-star Trevor Goddard bonded over contracting amoebic dysentery. Goddard would play Bell's off-and-on love interest Mic Brumby the following year on JAG . They remained friends until Goddard's death from a drug overdose in June 2003, an event that the bereaved Bell described as "horrible". [6]

In 1995, she obtained a three-line role in one episode of the NBC TV series JAG , which centers on the work of the United States Department of the Navy's Judge Advocate General office. NBC canceled the show after which it was picked up by CBS, which restructured the series, incorporating a female Marine Corps lawyer character, Sarah MacKenzie. Bell auditioned for that role and won it. She continued in this role until the series ended in 2005. [7]

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, [8] who endures domestic violence at the hands of her teenage son during the show's first season. [9]

Bell 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 a co-executive producer of all of the movies. [10] She also starred in the Lifetime movie titled Last Man Standing (2011). [11]

In 2015, it was reported that Bell would star in the movie Love Finds Its Way, which would begin filming in 2016. [12] Production began on the film in March 2017, with Vancouver as the filming location, and 9 July 2017 as the date for the film's premiere on the Hallmark Channel. [13]

On 2 April 2019, CBS announced that Bell would be reprising her JAG role of Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie alongside former co-star David James Elliott for a multi-episode arc in the tenth season of NCIS: Los Angeles . [14]

In 2022, Bell starred in the Lifetime film Jailbreak Lovers as part of its "Ripped from the Headlines" feature film which tells the story of how Toby Dorr snuck inmate John Manard out of prison in a dog crate which sparked a manhunt. [15]

Personal life

Bell at military concert at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California in 2000 Catherine Bell by Kozaryn.jpg
Bell at military concert at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California in 2000

Bell is fluent in Persian and English. She is fond of motorcycling, skiing, snowboarding and kickboxing. Her hobbies include cross-stitching and making model cars, which she has done since age eight. [16]

During the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, Bell took flying lessons in a Cirrus SR22. [17]

Bell met actor-production assistant Adam Beason on the set of the 1992 film Death Becomes Her. They were married on 8 May 1994. They are the parents of two children. [18] [19] They lived in a nearly 5,700 square feet (530 m2) faux-Tuscan-style mini-mansion in Calabasas, California. [20] The couple sold the house in 2010 [20] and publicly confirmed that they had separated sometime before September 2011. [21] They eventually divorced in 2011. [22]

Since 2012, Bell has lived with fellow Scientologist, photographer and party planner Brooke Daniells, together with their children, in Los Angeles. [23] [24] In 2014, Bell paid US$2.05 million for a single-story ranch house on a 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) lot in the gated Hidden Hills community in the western suburbs of Los Angeles. [20] She later moved to Clearwater Beach, Florida. [25]

Scientology

Bell was raised Roman Catholic and attended an all-girls Catholic school (Our Lady of Corvallis High School in Los Angeles). She is a practicing Scientologist. [26] Bell has attested to attaining the Scientology state of Clear. [27] She has supported Scientology's Hollywood Education and Literacy Project. [28] In December 2005, Bell helped promote the gala opening of the "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death" museum of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (a Scientology supported group). [29] In February 2006, Bell appeared in a Scientology music video called "United". [30]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992 Death Becomes Her Lisle's Body Double
1994 Men of War Grace Lashield
1996Crash DiveLt. Cmdr. Lisa Stark
1998 Black Thunder Lisa
2003 Bruce Almighty Susan Ortega
2005 Babak and Friends: A First NoroozLayla (voice)
2007 Evan Almighty Susan OrtegaUncredited
2016The Bandit HoundJoanne
The Do-Over Dawn DiFazio

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991 True Colors DonnaEpisode: "Brotherly Love"
1993 Mother of the Bride ChastityTelevision film
1994 Dream On Kay MeadowsEpisode: "Those Who Can't, Edit"
1995 Vanishing Son Kelly / RachelEpisodes "Miracle Under 34th Street" / "Long Ago and Far Away"
Alien Nation: Body and Soul CopTelevision film
Friends RobinEpisode: "The One with the Baby on the Bus"
The Naked Truth Un­knownEpisode: "Comet Nails Star and Vice Versa!"
1996 JAG Lt. Diane SchonkeSeason 1/Episode 22: "Skeleton Crew"
1996–2005 JAG Maj./Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie Main role (season 2–10)
As Lieutenant Junior Grade Diane Schonke, episodes: "Skeleton Crew" (1996),
"We the People" (1997) (archive footage), "Death Watch" (1998) (archive footage)
As Jenny Lake, episode: "Ghosts of Christmas Past" (1999)
As Mrs. Alexander MacKenzie, episode: "Mutiny" (2001)
As Ensign Beverly Tromatore, episode: "Each of Us Angels" (2003)
1996 Hot Line CatEpisode: "The Brunch Club"
1997 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys CyneaEpisode: "The Lady and the Dragon"
1998–1999 Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular Herself2 episodes
1998Cab to CanadaSandyTelevision film
1999 Thrill Seekers Elizabeth WinternTelevision film
2003 Waking the Dead Sam JamesEpisode: "Final Cut"
2005 The Triangle Emily PattersonMiniseries
2006Company TownMaggie ShaunessyUnaired pilot
Threshold Dr. Daphne LarsonEpisode: "Outbreak"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Naomi ChealesEpisode: "Choreographed"
2007 Still Small Voices Michael SummerTelevision film
2007–2013 Army Wives Denise Sherwood Main role
2008 The Good Witch Cassandra "Cassie" NightingaleTelevision film; leading role and co-executive producer
2009 The Good Witch's Garden Cassandra "Cassie" NightingaleTelevision film; leading role and co-executive producer
2010 The Good Witch's Gift Cassandra "Cassie" NightingaleTelevision film; leading role and co-executive producer
2011Last Man StandingAbby CollinsTelevision film; leading role and producer
The Good Witch's Family Cassandra "Cassie" NightingaleTelevision film; leading role and co-executive producer
Good Morning, KillerFBI Special Agent Ana GrayTelevision film; leading role; shown as part of TNT's Mystery Movie Night series
2012 The Good Witch's Charm Cassandra "Cassie" NightingaleTelevision film; leading role and co-executive producer
2013 King & Maxwell Joan Dillinger2 episodes
The Good Witch's Destiny Cassandra "Cassie" NightingaleTelevision film; leading role and co-executive producer
2014 The Good Witch's Wonder Cassandra "Cassie" NightingaleTelevision film; leading role and co-executive producer
2015–2021 Good Witch Cassandra "Cassie" NightingaleLeading role and co-executive producer
2017Home for Christmas DayJane McKendrickTelevision film; leading role and executive producer [31]
High-Rise RescueBeth DavisTelevision film; leading role and executive producer
Christmas in the AirLydia EvansTelevision film; leading role and co-executive producer
2018A Summer to RememberJessica TuckerTelevision film; leading role and executive producer
2019–2020 NCIS: Los Angeles Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzieRecurring role; 3 episodes; original main character from JAG
2020Meet Me at ChristmasJoanTelevision film
2022 Jailbreak Lovers TobyTelevision film [15]
2023Christmas on Cherry LaneReginaTelevision film
2024Happy Holidays From Cherry LaneReginaTelevision film [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andie MacDowell</span> American actress and model (born 1958)

Rosalie Anderson MacDowell is an American actress and former fashion model. MacDowell is known for her starring film roles in romantic comedies and dramas. She has modeled for Calvin Klein and has been a spokeswoman for L'Oréal since 1986.

<i>JAG</i> (TV series) American legal drama television series (1995–2005)

JAG is an American legal drama television series with a U.S. Navy theme, created by Donald P. Bellisario, and produced by Belisarius Productions in association with Paramount Network Television. The series originally aired on NBC for one season from September 23, 1995, to May 22, 1996, and then on CBS for an additional nine seasons from January 3, 1997, to April 29, 2005. The first season was co-produced with NBC Productions and was originally perceived as a Top Gun meets A Few Good Men hybrid series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Goddard</span> English actor (1962–2003)

Trevor Joseph Goddard was an English actor. He was best known for playing Kano in the martial arts film Mortal Kombat, a live action adaptation of the popular video game series. Lieutenant Commander Mic Brumby in the television series JAG and main villain Keefer in the action film Men of War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Boston</span> American actress

Rachel Boston is an American actress. She has had leading roles in a number of independent films, and was a regular cast member in several television series. She starred in the NBC drama series, American Dreams as Beth Mason from 2002 to 2005, in the short-lived CBS sitcom The Ex List in 2008, and on the USA Network series In Plain Sight from 2011 to 2012. From 2013 to 2014, Boston starred as Ingrid Beauchamp in the Lifetime fantasy-drama series, Witches of East End.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Lucci</span> American actress (born 1946)

Susan Victoria Lucci is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Erica Kane on the ABC daytime drama All My Children during that show's entire network run from 1970 to 2011. The character is considered an icon, and she was called "Daytime's Leading Lady" by TV Guide, with The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times citing her as the highest-paid actor in daytime television. As early as 1991, her salary had been reported as over $1 million a year. During her run on All My Children, Lucci was nominated 21 times for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She won only once, in 1999, after the 19th nomination; her status as a perpetual nominee for the award had attracted significant media attention since the late 1980s.

Kelli Renee Williams is an American actress and director. She is known for her roles as lawyer Lindsay Dole on the ABC legal drama The Practice, psychologist and deception expert Dr. Gillian Foster on the Fox series Lie to Me, Jackie Clarke on the Lifetime series Army Wives, and Margaret Reed on the NBC drama series Found.

Renée Pilar Estevez is an American former actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teryl Rothery</span> Canadian actress

Teryl Rothery is a Canadian actress of stage, television, and film. She is best known for portraying Dr. Janet Fraiser in the TV series Stargate SG-1. She co-starred as Grace Sherman in Cedar Cove, and has had major roles as Muriel in Virgin River, Jean Loring in Arrow and Celia Hudson in Nancy Drew. She has been involved in a number of television movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kellie Martin</span> American actress (born 1975)

Kellie Martin is an American actress. Her roles have included Rebecca "Becca" Thatcher in Life Goes On (1989–1993), Lucy Knight on ER (1998–2000), Samantha Kinsey in the Mystery Woman TV film series (2003–2007), and as Hailey Dean in the Hailey Dean Mysteries (2016–2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Hicks</span> American actress (born 1951)

Catherine Mary Hicks is an American retired actress. She played the character Annie Camden on the long-running television series 7th Heaven. Other roles included Dr. Faith Coleridge on the soap opera Ryan's Hope (1976–1978), her Emmy Award-nominated performance as Marilyn Monroe in Marilyn: The Untold Story (1980), Dr. Gillian Taylor in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Carol Heath in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), and Karen Barclay in Child's Play (1988).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Mary Stewart</span> Canadian actress (born 1959)

Catherine Mary Stewart is a Canadian actress. Her film roles include The Apple, Night of the Comet, The Last Starfighter and Weekend at Bernie's. She was also the original Kayla Brady in Days of Our Lives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brigid Brannagh</span> American actress

Brigid Brannagh is an American actress. She has been credited as Brigid Brannagh, Brigid Brannah, Brigid Brannaugh, Brigid Walsh, and Brigid Conley Walsh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torrey DeVitto</span> American actress (born 1984)

Torrey Joël DeVitto is an American actress, singer-songwriter, and former fashion model. Her first starring role was as Karen Kerr on the ABC Family drama series Beautiful People (2005–2006). She followed this up with recurring roles as Carrie in The CW drama series One Tree Hill (2008–2009), as Melissa Hastings in the ABC Family/Freeform mystery drama series Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017), and as Dr. Meredith Fell in The CW fantasy drama series The Vampire Diaries (2012–2013). DeVitto went on to star as Maggie Hall in the final season of Lifetime's drama series Army Wives (2013) and as Dr. Natalie Manning in the NBC medical drama series Chicago Med (2015–2021).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Denton</span> American actor

James Denton is an American film and television actor. He is known for playing Mike Delfino on ABC's comedy drama series Desperate Housewives (2004–2012) and Dr. Sam Radford on Hallmark Channel's fantasy series Good Witch (2015–2021).

<i>The Good Witch</i> 2008 Canadian film

The Good Witch is a television film that aired on the Hallmark Channel on January 19, 2008. It stars Catherine Bell as Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale and Chris Potter as chief of police Jake Russell. The film has spawned a franchise of six followup television films and the television series Good Witch.

<i>JAG</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of JAG premiered on CBS on January 3, 1997, and concluded on April 18, 1997. The season, starring David James Elliott and Catherine Bell, was produced by Belisarius Productions in association with Paramount Television.

The Good Witch's Destiny is a 2013 Canadian-American television film and Hallmark Channel original movie written by Annie Young Frisbie and directed by Craig Pryce. The film stars Catherine Bell, Chris Potter, Hannah Endicott-Douglas, Matthew Knight, Peter MacNeill, Catherine Disher, Robin Dunne, and Elizabeth Lennie. Destiny is the sixth film in the Good Witch film series. The film premiered on Hallmark Channel October 26, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erin Krakow</span> American actress

Erin Krakow is an American actress and producer. She appeared in the Lifetime TV series Army Wives, and stars as Elizabeth Thatcher in the Hallmark TV series When Calls the Heart.

Good Witch is a fantasy comedy drama series that is based on, and a continuation of, the television film series of the same name. Produced by Whizbang Films in association with ITV Studios and the Hallmark Channel, the series premiered on February 28, 2015, and ran for seven seasons, ending on July 25, 2021.

Good Witch is a Hallmark Channel media franchise that is centered on a series of films and a television series. The franchise is centered upon Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale, the titular "good witch" who uses her abilities to bring positive change in the lives of those around her.

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran" . Retrieved 10 November 2023. Catherine Lisa Bell is an American actress
  2. ↑ Cohen, Aryeh Dean (19 December 2008). "Off-base on Iraq". Jerusalem Post. p. 74. ProQuest   319670346.
  3. ↑ "Catherine Bell". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Catherine Bell now acting less, playing mom more" Iran Times International 27 September 2013.
  5. ↑ Cutler, Jacqueline (3 June 2019). "Catherine Bell of "Good Witch" Says it Takes More than Spells to Succeed". Media Village. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  6. 1 2 Knutzen, Eirik (15 June 2007). "TV Close-Up: Catherine Bell". Bend Weekly. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
  7. ↑ "Season 10, Episode 22: Fair Winds and Following Seas" TV Guide Retrieved 30 April 2017
  8. ↑ Owen, Rob (31 May 2007). "Tuned In: 'Army Wives' is soap du jour". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  9. ↑ Newman, Emily L.; Witsell, Emily (28 March 2016) The Lifetime Network: Essays on 'Television for Women' in the 21st Century McFarland & Company. p. 86. Archived at Google Books Retrieved 30 April 2017
  10. ↑ "Catherine Bell Credits" TV Guide Retrieved 30 April 2017
  11. ↑ Radish, Christina (6 June 2011) "Catherine Bell Exclusive Interview LAST MAN STANDING and ARMY WIVES" Collider
  12. ↑ "Jennifer Aspen Segues From Screen to Hallmark Exec Producer". Deadline Hollywood . 12 August 2015
  13. ↑ "Catherine Bell and Victor Webster Begin Production on "Love Finds Its Way" A Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Original World Premiere July 9" The Futon Critic, 20 March 2017
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2 April 2019). "Catherine Bell To Reprise Her "Mac" Character On "NCIS: Los Angeles"; Could "JAG" Reboot Be In the Cards?". Deadline. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  15. 1 2 "Lifetime's Ripped-From-the-Headlines Summer Movie Slate Revealed (Exclusive)". The Wrap. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  16. ↑ Betsy Model (October 1999). "Ma'am Yes Ma'am!". Orange Coast . pp. 32–37.
  17. ↑ "Lifetime's 'Army Wives' star Catherine Bell takes flying lessons during writers' strike" The Goshen News
  18. ↑ Wihlborg, Ulrica; Michaud, Sarah (22 August 2010) "Catherine Bell Welcomes a Son" People
  19. ↑ "Catherine Bell" TV Guide Retrieved 28 March 2014
  20. 1 2 3 David, Mark (23 January 2015) "Catherine Bells Settles in Hidden Hills" Variety
  21. ↑ Jordan, Julie (23 September 2016). "Catherine Bell and Husband Separate" People
  22. ↑ Donnellan, Sara (7 May 2021). "'The Good Witch' Star Catherine Bell Got Divorced After 17 Years". Heavy.com. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  23. ↑ "SCIENTOLOGY’S TOP 20 CELEBRITIES — in order of those most likely to defect" (26 September 2016) Retrieved 14 September 2017
  24. ↑ Bosun, Bosun (29 June 2021). "Catherine Bell biography: The Good Witch movies, Brooke Daniells and net worth". Sidomex Entertainment. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  25. ↑ King, Anne (11 October 2024). "Hallmark Star Catherine Bell Did Not Evacuate Her Florida Home As Hurricane Milton Hit". Celebrating Soaps. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  26. ↑ Zokaei, Mayar (Spring 2005). "Bell Hop". NYLA Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  27. ↑ Interview with Catherine Bell, Celebrity (Magazine of the Scientology Celebrity Centre Los Angeles), Issue 347 (April 2003)
  28. ↑ Bell, Catherine. "Giving Back: This Month". Catherine Bell's Official Website. Archived from the original on 20 April 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
  29. ↑ Gumbel, Andrew (12 January 2006). "Scientology vs. Science". Los Angeles CityBeat . Southland Publishing. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
  30. ↑ Weisman, Aly (27 October 2015). "19 famous Church of Scientology members". Business Insider. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  31. ↑ "Home for Christmas Day". Crown Media Holdings . Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  32. ↑ Thompson, Avery (25 October 2024). "Hallmark+ 2024 Holiday Schedule: All the New Movies & TV Shows". TV Insider. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.