Marcella Lowery

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Marcella Lowery
Occupation actress
Years active1972–present

Marcella Lowery is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Geoffrey Owens' mother, Francine Tibideaux, on The Cosby Show , Jamal Jenkins' grandmother on Ghostwriter from 1992 to 1995, Anna Eldridge in the 1996 film, The Preacher's Wife and as Principal Karen Noble on the NBC sitcom City Guys .

Contents

Early years

Lowery graduated from Malverne High School, where she was captain of the varsity girls' basketball team. She saved money that she earned as a babysitter and used it to attend Broadway plays, telling her parents that she was going to basketball practice. [1]

Career

Lowery had a recurring role on The Cosby Show as Francine Tibideaux, the mother of Elvin Tibideaux and mother-in-law of Sondra Huxtable, as well as a brief role in What About Bob? . She was also in The Preacher's Wife and guest-starred in four episodes of Law & Order .

Lowery's work in commercials includes portraying Donovan McNabb's mother in Campbell's Chunky Soup commercials. [2] Lowery has also appeared on the commercials for Colonial Penn.

She also played Maybelle in the Off-Broadway premiere of Before It Hits Home .

Lowery's Broadway credits include portraying Sis Laura in The Member of the Wedding (1975) and Louise in Lolita (1981). [3]

Personal life

Lowery has a daughter. [1]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
1981 Arthur Harriet
1983 Without a Trace Sgt. Rocco
1989 Lean on Me Mrs. Richards
1989 Fletch Lives Selma
1991 New Jack City Woman in hallway
1991 What About Bob? Betty
1996 Vibrations Nurse
1996 The Preacher's Wife Anna Eldridge
1996Rescuing DesireJane
2004Second BestNurse
2005 12 and Holding Nurse
2006Waltzing AnnaNurse Hardaway
2006 School for Scoundrels Mrs. Washington
2008 Uncertainty Duty officer #1
2016 Wiener-Dog Yvette
2018 Can You Ever Forgive Me? Guest at party
2021 Thunder Force Grandma Norma

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying SmittyTelevision film
19793 by CheeverRubyMiniseries; episode: "The Sorrows of Gin"
1988–1989 The Cosby Show Francine Tibideaux4 episodes
1988 Monsters MomEpisode: "My Zombie Lover"
1989 A Man Called Hawk Prof. LoweryEpisode: "Life After Death"
1991 Law & Order Nurse (Miss Johnson)Episode: "Sonata for Solo Organ"
1992–1995 Ghostwriter CeCe JenkinsMain role
1993 Strapped Fast food customerTelevision film
1994 ABC Afterschool Special Ms. RoseEpisode: "Just Chill"
1994Law & OrderSheridanEpisode: "Breeder"
1994Law & OrderVan Buren's attorneyEpisode: "Competence"
1995 New York Undercover Postal workerEpisode: "Mama Said Knock You Out"
1995 The Cosby Mysteries Miss CrilleyEpisode: "Big Brother Is Watching"
1995 Guiding Light Judge GordonEpisode dated August 18, 1995
1997–2001 City Guys Principal Karen NobleMain role
2003Law & OrderLois BarkerEpisode: "Sheltered"
2007 Gossip Girl Ostroff nurseEpisode: "Dare Devil"
2008 Life on Mars Nurse Winnie EllwoodEpisode: "Tuesday's Dead"
2009 The Unusuals Sheila Trunk2 episodes
2009 Sherri Taller church ladyEpisode: "There's No "I" in Church"
2010 The Good Wife NurseEpisode: "Painkiller"
2010 30 Rock Postal employeeEpisode: "Don Geiss, America and Hope"
2010 Gravity Selma JonesEpisode: "Namaste MF"
2010 Running Wilde CarolEpisode: "Oil & Water"
2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Margaret HolmesEpisode: "Branded"
2011 Suits Dr. ShragerEpisode: "Pilot"
2012 Blue Bloods Mrs. GreerEpisode: "Family Business"
2013 The Carrie Diaries DMV employeeEpisode: "Dangerous Territory"
2014 Girls LiseEpisode: "Dead Inside"
2015 The Jim Gaffigan Show ReceptionistEpisode: "Pilot"
2016 Royal Pains DeeEpisode: "Home Sick"
2017 Elementary Diner patron #1Episode: "Over a Barrel"
2017 The Detour Elderly womanEpisode: "The City"
2017 Broad City BettyEpisode: "Witches"
2019 Mindhunter Lakewood womanSeason 2, episode 6
2019 First Wives Club Odessa2 episodes

Stage

Theatre credits
YearTitleRoleVenueRefs.
1972JamimmaJameenaNew Federal Theater, Off-Broadway [4]
1973Miracle PlayBeatie RoscoePlayhouse II Theater, Off-Broadway [5]
1974 The Member of the Wedding Sis Laura Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway [6]
1975Welcome to Black RiverLou Mae St. Mark's Playhouse, Off-Broadway [7]
1981 Lolita Louise Brooks Atkinson Theater, Broadway [8]
1982Baseball WivesJanelleAmerican Renaissance Theater, Off-Off-Broadway [9]
Harold Clurman Theater, Off-Broadway [10]
1989LadiesAllegroTheatre at St. Clements, Off-Broadway [11]
1990Sugar HillBlanca Stromburg-CarlsonTheater at St. Peter's Church, New York [12]
1992 Before It Hits Home Maybelle The Public Theater, Off-Broadway [13]
1995Your Obituary Is A DanceNella Rae Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky [14]
2002Voice of Good HopeBarbara JordanLuna Stage, New Jersey [15]

References

  1. 1 2 Kaufman, Bill (September 18, 1981). "Marcella Lowery says hello 'Louis'". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). New York, Melville. p. Part II, page 15. Retrieved June 27, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "And here's the souper bowl mom". Philadelphia Daily News. January 15, 2002. p. 86. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  3. "Marcella Lowery". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  4. Kerr, Walter (May 28, 1972). "Where Did They Put That Tree?". New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  5. Gussow, Mel (January 1, 1974). "Oates 'Miracle Play' Depicts Violence". New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  6. Barnes, Clive (January 3, 1975). "'Member of the Wedding' Wears Well". New York Times. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  7. Gussow, Mel (May 22, 1975). "Theater: 'Black River'". New York Times. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  8. Rich, Frank (March 20, 1981). "STAGE: ALBEE'S ADAPTATION OF 'LOLITA' OPENS". New York Times. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  9. Corry, John (May 15, 1982). "THEATER: A TRIO OF 'BASEBALL WIVES'". New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  10. Shepard, Richard F. (October 1, 1982). "STAGE: 'BASEBALL WIVES'". New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  11. Gussow, Mel (April 7, 1989). "Dramatizing the Plight of Homeless Women, in 'Ladies'". New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  12. Holden, Stephen (April 28, 1990). "Review/Theater; Dynastic Musical Of Harlem". New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  13. Rich, Frank (March 11, 1992). "Review/Theater; A Black Family Confronts AIDS". New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  14. Smith, Marisa (1995). Humana Festival '95: The Complete Plays. Smith and Kraus. p. 30. ISBN   9781880399927 . Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  15. Siegel, Naomi (November 24, 2002). "THEATER REVIEW; She Had a Voice That Resonates Still". New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2025.