Mary Page Keller

Last updated
Mary Page Keller
Born (1961-03-03) March 3, 1961 (age 61)
Alma mater University of Maryland
Boston Conservatory of Music
Occupation
  • Actress
  • writer
  • producer
Years active1982–present
Known for Ryan's Hope
Another World
Duet
Baby Talk
Chasing Life
Spouse
(m. 1991)
Children2

Mary Page Keller (born March 3, 1961) [1] [2] is an American actress known for roles on television. Keller began her career on the daytime soap operas Ryan's Hope (1982–1983) and Another World (1983–1985) and later starred in a number of television sitcoms. She starred as Laura Kelly in the Fox comedy series Duet (1987-1989) and in the show's spin-off, Open House (1989–1990). Keller later had lead roles in the short-lived sitcoms Baby Talk (1991–1992), Camp Wilder (1992–1993), and Joe's Life (1993).

Contents

In film, Keller is known for her performance in the comedy-drama Beginners (2010). In the 2000s, she had recurring and guest-starring roles in a number of television dramas. From 2014 to 2015, Keller starred as the mother of the lead character in the ABC Family drama series Chasing Life .

Early life

Keller trained at the University of Maryland and the Boston Conservatory of Music before entering the medium of television on the ABC television show, Ryan's Hope in 1982. [3] During her times at university, she performed in a number of musical theatre productions, first in Washington D.C. and later in New York. She later moved to Los Angeles, California. [4]

Career

As a child, Keller participated in productions at Toby's Dinner Theatre under the direction of director Toby Orenstein. [5] She later began her acting career on daytime soap operas. She played Amanda Kirkland (1982–1983) on Ryan's Hope and Sally Frame (1983–85) on Another World . Moving to primetime, she played the part of Laura Kelly on two Fox sitcoms, Duet (1987–89) and its spinoff Open House (1989–90). [6] In 1992, Keller was lead actress in Season 2 of the ABC comedy series Baby Talk . She also starred in another short-lived ABC sitcom, Camp Wilder (1992–93). [7] In 1993, she starred in Joe's Life , also on ABC. During the same years, Keller acted in a number of television films and had a dramatic role in Life Goes On .

As of mid-1990s, Keller has made many guest appearances on television series, including Ellen , The Practice , NCIS , Criminal Minds , 24 , Mad Men , Castle , The Closer , CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , Supernatural , Pretty Little Liars and Scandal . She had recurring roles in Cybill , JAG , NYPD Blue , Nip/Tuck , Commander in Chief and Hart of Dixie . [8] She also was regular on Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane (1999) and starred as Johnny Kapahala's mother in the Disney Channel original movies Johnny Tsunami (1999) and Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board (2007). She played the lead character's mother in the 2010 comedy-drama film Beginners . [9]

In 2011, Keller was cast as the lead character's mother in the ABC Family drama pilot Chasing Life . [10] In April 2013, ABC Family picked up the pilot to series, for airing in 2014. [11] She co-wrote the family dance school drama, 'The Dunnings' with her husband Thomas Ian Griffith. [12]

Personal life

Keller has been married to her former Another World costar Thomas Ian Griffith since 1991. They have two sons, Conner and Eamon. [13]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987Scared StiffKate Christopher
1988A Place to HideUnknown
1989 Those She Left Behind Sue GrimesTelevision film
1990Revealing Evidence: Stalking the Honolulu StranglerSydney WestinTelevision film
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter Cassie WoodfieldTelevision film
1991Deception: A Mother's SecretAmanda MilnerTelevision film
1992Ulterior MotivesErica
1995 The Colony Leslie KnowltonTelevision film
1995 Picture Perfect Vicky Walters-Thomas
1997Any Place But HomeRoberta Dempsey
1998Dirty Little SecretEllie RamerTelevision film
1998 The Negotiator Lisa Sabian
1999 Johnny Tsunami Melanie KapahalaTelevision film
2000Father Can't CopeRobinTelevision film
2001 Venomous Dr. Christine Edmonton Henning DVD Exclusive Award for Best Actress
2003 Timecop: The Berlin Decision "Doc"
2007 Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board Melanie KapahalaTelevision film
2008 Gigantic Marguerite Lolly
2009SpoonerJoanne Conlin
2010 Beginners Georgia Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982–1983 Ryan's Hope Amanda Kirkland
1983–1985 Another World Sally Spencer Frame Hobson Ewing
1986 Kate & Allie HollyEpisode: "Lucky 13"
1987–1989 Duet Laura Kelly54 episodes
1989–1990 Open House Laura Kelly24 episodes
1990–1991 Life Goes On Gina GiordanoEpisodes: "Libby's Sister" and "Head Over Heels"
1991–1992 Baby Talk Maggie Campbell23 episodes
1992–1993 Camp Wilder Ricky Wilder19 episodes
1993 Joe's Life Sandy Gennaro11 episodes
1996 Ellen SarahEpisode: "Bowl, Baby, Bowl"
1997 Cybill Julia Bishop4 episodes
1999 Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane Mrs. Bean13 episodes
2000 Providence Monica Lang3 episodes
2001 Emerill Nora Lagasse4 episodes
2002 The Practice Melissa HalpernEpisodes: "Privilege" and "Convictions"
2002–2003 JAG Commander Beth O'Neil / Beth O'Neil3 episodes
2004 NCIS Commander Michaela 'Micki' ShieldsEpisode: "Terminal Leave"
2004–2005 NYPD Blue Brigid Scofield5 episodes
2004–2005 Nip/Tuck Andrea Hall3 episodes
2005 Commander in Chief Grace Bridges5 episodes
2006 Criminal Minds Supervisory Special Agent Katherine ColeEpisode: "P911"
2009 24 SarahEpisodes: "Day 7: 5:00 a.m.-6:00 a.m." and "Day 7: 6:00 a.m.-7:00 a.m."
2009 Mad Men Annabelle MathisEpisode: "The Gypsy and the Hobo"
2010 Castle Rebecca DaltonEpisode: "Almost Famous"
2011 The Closer Emily DixonEpisode: "Repeat Offender"
2011 NCIS: Los Angeles Angela TullyEpisode: "The Debt"
2012 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Leslie ClybornEpisode: "Seeing Red"
2012 Supernatural Joyce BicklebeeEpisode: "Out with the Old"
2012 Grimm Dr. HigginsEpisode: "The Other Side"
2012 Hart of Dixie Emily Chase4 episodes
2012, 2013, 2017 Pretty Little Liars Dianne Fitzgerald3 episodes
2013 Scandal Susan OsborneEpisode: "Molly, You in Danger, Girl"
2014-2015 Chasing Life Sara34 episodes
2015 Bosch Christine Waters3 episodes

Awards and nominations

Awards
YearAwardCategoryProductionResult
2003 DVD Exclusive Awards Best Actress Venomous Nominated
2011 Gotham Independent Film Awards Best Ensemble Performance Beginners Won

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie Potts</span> American actress

Anne Hampton Potts, known as Annie Potts, is an American actress. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Corvette Summer (1978) and won a Genie Award for Heartaches (1981), before appearing in Ghostbusters (1984), Pretty in Pink (1986), Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), Who's Harry Crumb? (1989), and Ghostbusters II (1989). She voiced Bo Peep in the first, second and fourth films of the Toy Story franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith Light</span> American actress (born 1949)

Judith Ellen Light is an American actress. She made her professional stage debut in 1970, before making her Broadway debut in the 1975 revival of A Doll's House. Her breakthrough role was in the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live from 1977 to 1983, where she played the role of Karen Wolek; for this role, she won two consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Light starred as Angela Bower in the long-running ABC sitcom Who's the Boss? from 1984 to 1992, and was featured in many other television sitcoms, dramas, and films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katherine Helmond</span> American actress (1929–2019)

Katherine Marie Helmond was an American actress. Over her five decades of television acting, she was known for her starring role as Jessica Tate on the sitcom Soap (1977–1981) and her co-starring role as Mona Robinson on Who's the Boss? (1984–1992). Helmond also appeared in a 1993 episode of The Upper Hand, the British version of Who's the Boss?. She also played Doris Sherman on Coach and Lois Whelan on Everybody Loves Raymond. She also appeared as a guest on several talk and variety shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelley Long</span> American actress and comedian (born 1949)

Shelley Lee Long is an American actress, singer and comedian. Long is best known for playing Diane Chambers on the hit sitcom Cheers, for which she received five Emmy nominations, winning in 1983 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She won two Golden Globe Awards for the role. Long reprised her role as Diane Chambers in three episodes of the spin-off Frasier, for which she received an additional guest star Emmy nomination. In 2009, she began playing a recurring role as DeDe Pritchett on the ABC comedy series Modern Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivica A. Fox</span> American actress and producer

Vivica Anjanetta Fox is an American actress, producer, and television host. Fox began her career on Soul Train (1982–1983). She eventually continued her career with roles on the daytime television soap operas Days of Our Lives (1988) and Generations (1989–1991), subsequently shifting to the prime-time slot, starring opposite Patti LaBelle, in the NBC sitcom Out All Night (1992–1993). Fox's breakthrough came in 1996, with roles in two box-office hit films, Roland Emmerich's Independence Day and F. Gary Gray's Set It Off.

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

Susan Victoria Lucci is an American actress, television host, author and entrepreneur, 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 Lucci 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, she 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; beginning in the late 1980s her status as a perpetual nominee for the award attracted significant media attention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie Bowen</span> American actress (born 1970)

Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer is an American actress. She is best known for starring as Claire Dunphy in the ABC sitcom Modern Family (2009–2020), for which she received critical acclaim and six nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning in 2011 and 2012.

<i>Duet</i> (TV series)

Duet is an American sitcom that aired on Fox from April 19, 1987, to August 20, 1989. Originally, the story centered on the romance of a novelist and a caterer, but gradually the focus shifted to their yuppie friends and the show was rebranded as Open House. The series was created by Ruth Bennett and Susan Seeger, and was produced by Paramount Television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcia Cross</span> American actress

Marcia Anne Cross is an American actress. She acted in daytime soap operas such as The Edge of Night, Another World, and One Life to Live before moving to primetime television with a recurring role on Knots Landing. From 1992 to 1997, she starred as Kimberly Shaw on Melrose Place. Cross played the role of the housewife Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives (2004–12), for which she was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She had a recurring role as President Claire Haas on the ABC series Quantico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyra Sedgwick</span> American actress, producer and director

Kyra Minturn Sedgwick is an American actress, producer and director. She is best known for her starring role as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson on the TNT crime drama The Closer. For her portrayal of Johnson, Sedgwick won a Golden Globe Award in 2007 and an Emmy Award in 2010. The series ended on August 13, 2012, following the completion of its seventh season. Sedgwick is also known for her recurring role as Madeline Wuntch on the sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Strong</span> American actress (born 1960)

Brenda Lee Strong is an American actress. She began her career in television, including guest starring appearances in Twin Peaks, Party of Five, Seinfeld, Scandal, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Blossom and Sports Night. She was a regular cast member in the sitcoms Desperate Housewives (2004–2012), Scorch (1992), and The Help (2004).

Amy Pietz is an American actress, known for her roles on television. She received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series nomination for her role as Annie Spadaro in the NBC sitcom Caroline in the City (1995-1999). She later had starring roles in the short-lived sitcoms Cursed, Rodney, and Aliens in America.

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

Natalie Zea is an American actress known for her performances on television. Zea began her acting career in theatre. Her first major role was on the NBC daytime soap opera Passions (2000–2002), where she played the role of Gwen Hotchkiss. Her breakout role was on the ABC primetime soap opera Dirty Sexy Money as socialite Karen Darling, where she starred from 2007 to 2009. Zea also has made many guest appearances on television, starred in a number of independent and made-for-television movies, and had recurring roles in The Shield, Hung, Californication, and The Unicorn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connie Britton</span> American actress

Constance Elaine Britton is an American actress. Britton made her feature film debut in the independent comedy-drama film The Brothers McMullen (1995), and the following year, she was cast as Nikki Faber on the ABC sitcom Spin City. She later starred in the short-lived sitcoms The Fighting Fitzgeralds (2001) and Lost at Home (2003), and appeared in several films, most notably the sports drama film Friday Night Lights (2004) and the thriller film The Last Winter (2006).

Cynthia Stevenson is an American actress. She first played a leading role in the syndicated parody comedy series My Talk Show (1990–91), before starring in a number of sitcoms, including Bob, Hope & Gloria, and Oh Baby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valerie Mahaffey</span> American actress (born 1953)

Valerie Mahaffey is an American character actress and producer. She began her career starring in the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors (1979–81), for which in 1980 she was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Alice Hirson is an American actress best known for her roles on television. She began her career on stage, before roles on daytime soap operas. She is best known for her roles as Mavis Anderson in the CBS prime time soap opera Dallas and as Lois Morgan, the mother of the title character on the ABC sitcom Ellen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ana Ortiz</span> American actress and singer (born 1971)

Ana Ortiz is an American actress and singer. Having pursued a career in ballet and singing from a young age, she eventually attended University of the Arts. Ortiz began her acting career in theatre, in early 2000s starred in the short-lived NBC sitcoms Kristin (2001) and A.U.S.A. (2003), and had recurring roles on Over There and Boston Legal.

Annette Ngozi Ilonzeh is a Nigerian-American actress. From 2010 to 2011, she played Maya Ward on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital, and later starred as Kate Prince in the short-lived ABC reboot of Charlie's Angels. She later had a recurring roles on shows such as Arrow, Drop Dead Diva and Empire. In 2017, Ilonzeh played Kidada Jones in the biographical drama film All Eyez on Me, and starred in the thriller 'Til Death Do Us Part. In 2018, she started co-starring as Emily Foster in the NBC drama Chicago Fire.

Virginia Williams is an American actress known for playing C.J Hargenberger in the Netflix sitcom Fuller House.

References

  1. "Mary Page Keller". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016.
  2. "Today in History" Forbes.com 03 March 2011
  3. "Mary Page Keller". TCM. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  4. "Who is Mary Page Keller". TheBiography.org. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  5. Shird, Shannon (2009-03-06). "Toby Barbara Orenstein". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  6. Bernstein, Fred (1987-06-29). "That Bubbly Soap Charmer Mary Page Keller Gets Pressed into Beefing Up Duet's Tv Ratings". People.com. Retrieved 2014-06-03.
  7. "Mary Page Keller Takes On Extended Family" The Item - Oct 2, 1992
  8. "Mary Page Keller Credits". Tvguide.com. Retrieved 2014-06-03.
  9. Lim, Dennis (27 May 2011). "'Beginners,' Mike Mills's Autobiographical Film". The New York Times.
  10. "Soap Vet Mary Page Keller Joins ABC Family Pilot 'Terminales'". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (24 April 2013). "ABC Family Pilot 'Terminales' Picked Up - Titled 'Chasing Life'". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  12. "NBC buys". NBC Buys Family Dance School Drama. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  13. "Mary Page Keller Looks Ageless". Mary Page Looks Ageless at 59. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 2022-08-25.