Mary Walsh (actress)

Last updated

Mary Walsh
CM
Mary Walsh in London, UK.jpg
Walsh in 2008
Born
Mary Cynthia Walsh

(1952-05-13) May 13, 1952 (age 72)
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian, writer
Years active1973–present
Awards Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress (2021)

Mary Cynthia Walsh CM [1] (born May 13, 1952) is a Canadian actress, comedian, and writer. [2] She is known for her work on CODCO and This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Contents

Early life

Walsh was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, the daughter of Mary and Leo Walsh. Leo was a merchant marine turned firefighter on commercial vessels. She is the seventh of eight children, and is of Irish ancestry. [3] She is a past member of Girl Guides of Canada. [4]

Career

Walsh studied theatre in Toronto at Ryerson University but dropped out to work with the CODCO comedy troupe on a series of stage shows, which eventually evolved into a sketch comedy series. [5] The CODCO series ran from 1988 to 1993 on CBC Television.

This Hour Has 22 Minutes

In 1992, she began to work with former co-star Rick Mercer and former CODCO co-stars Cathy Jones and Greg Thomey to create a new television series called This Hour Has 22 Minutes . [5] The show was a parody of the nightly news, and poked fun at Canadian and international politics. 22 Minutes received strong ratings during its earlier seasons and Walsh's character Marg Delahunty became famous for buttonholing politicians and submitting them to satirical interviews. [6] Usually Marg Delahunty would recite a scripted piece intended to humiliate the politician, often by providing criticism and "grandmotherly" advice. Sometimes Marg appeared as "Marg, Princess Warrior", a parody of the title character of Xena: Warrior Princess portrayed by Lucy Lawless. Walsh is also noted for her comical segment chronicling the Canadian Auto Workers Union's tense blockade of the Volvo Halifax Assembly plant in 1998. In 2007, she revived Marg Delahunty for the Royal Canadian Air Farce's 300th episode. On October 24, 2011, Walsh was once again in the spotlight as she reprised the role of Marg Delahunty conducting an ambush interview of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford at his home. Ford's reaction and alleged verbal abuse directed at a 911 operator made national headlines. [7] She also reprised Marg, Princess Warrior for an episode of the 25th season of 22 Minutes in December 2017.

In 2020, Walsh reprised her longtime 22 Minutes character of Miss Eulalia in the CBC Gem web series Broad Appeal: Living with E's , [8] for which she received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Lead Performance in a Web Program or Series at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022. [9]

Other work

Walsh's other television work included the short-run sitcoms Dooley Gardens (1999); Hatching, Matching and Dispatching (2006); [5] [10] and a guest starring role as Miranda Cahill on the CBC television series Republic of Doyle . [11] She currently has a recurring role on CBC's Little Dog. [12] She created the CBC program Mary Walsh: Open Book , a talk show about books and literature, in 2003. [5] Walsh revived the Fury family from Hatching, Matching, and Dispatching by writing and starring in A Christmas Fury [13] in 2017.

Besides TV acting, she has worked on movies such as Mambo Italiano , [5] Geraldine's Fortune , [14] Rain, Drizzle and Fog, [15] Buried on Sunday , The Divine Ryans , Young Triffie,Violet, [16] and The Grand Seduction.[ citation needed ] [17]

2004 saw Walsh host a segment on the CBC documentary series The Greatest Canadian , in which she championed the case for Sir Frederick Banting (the Nobel prize-winning discoverer of insulin) as the greatest Canadian who ever lived. [5]

In June 2007, she hosted the Pride Toronto Gala & Awards ceremony.

On December 15, 2007, Walsh made national news with a story about her upcoming special, Nudity, Sexuality, Violence and Coarse Language, in which a large group of people who went and stripped naked standing next to St. John's Harbour in −11 °C (12 °F) weather to be filmed as a part of the show's closing. Walsh herself did not go nude. [18]

In 2017, Walsh published her debut novel, Crying for the Moon. [19]

Directing

Walsh made her feature directorial debut with the 2007 movie Young Triffie . [20] She was the first Newfoundlander in six years to have a film in general release across Canada.

Personal life

Walsh has battled alcoholism. [21] [22] The Toronto Star reported that the end of CODCO coincided with the end of Walsh's active alcoholism, with Walsh stating "which was a damn good thing because I could have never done This Hour Has 22 Minutes if I'd been drinking." [23]

Honours

Performing arts

She won Best Supporting Actress at the Atlantic Film Festival in 1992 for her performance in Mike Jones' Secret Nation . [2]

On November 4, 2006, Walsh and Ed MacDonald picked up a Gemini Award for the best writing in a comedy or variety program for their work in Hatching, Matching and Dispatching. [24]

She has won 18 Gemini Awards. [25] She won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021, for the film Happy Place . [26]

Walsh received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, in 2012. [27]

Charity and activism

A sufferer of macular degeneration, [28] she has served from time to time as a spokesperson for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).

In 1993, Walsh was chosen to deliver the prestigious Graham Spry lecture which was broadcast nationally on CBC Radio. [2]

In 1994, Walsh addressed the United Nations Global Conference on Development in New York. She has also served as a spokesperson for Oxfam, Canada's human rights campaign, and in 2010 received Oxfam's Spirit of Change Award, in recognition of her years of dedication to eradicating poverty and ensuring public services for all. [29]

On May 29, 1998, Mary Walsh received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Trent University. [30]

McGill University honoured Walsh with an honorary doctorate during the November 2008 convocation ceremony. [31] Her speech to the class of 2008 focused on political satire. [32]

National Honours

Mary Walsh was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada on 27 April 2000. [33] This gave her the Post Nominal Letters "CM" for Life. She was awarded the Canadian Version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. [34] She was awarded the Canadian Version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. [35]

Filmography

Film

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1976Dolly CakeN/AShort film
Writer
1983 Stations
1986 The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood Heady NolanProduction manager
Casting director
1992 Buried on Sunday 2nd Biker
Secret Nation Oona Vokey
1998 Extraordinary Visitor Marietta
1998Rain Drizzle and FogHerselfDocumentary
1999 New Waterford Girl Cookie Pottie
The Divine Ryans Aunt Phil Ryans
2000 Violet Violet O'Brien
2001The Frank TruthHerselfDocumentary
Tommy... A Family Portrait HerselfDocumentary
2003 Behind the Red Door Anna
Mambo Italiano Lina Paventi
2004 Geraldine's Fortune Rose Owens
2005 Bailey's Billion$ N/ACo-writer
2007 Young Triffie Aunt Millie BishopAlso known as:Young Triffie's Been Made Away With
Director
Producer
2009 Crackie Bride
Grown Up Movie Star Receptionist
2010 Poor No More Herself/host
2012Imaginary HeroineShort film
Writer
2013 The Grand Seduction Vera
Incident at Elysian FieldsYvonneShort film
2014 How to Be Deadly Dot Power
2015 Closet Monster Allison
2016The Inn Of OldeSadieShort Film
2019RadicalShort film
Apocalyptic RantMarg DelahuntyShort film
2020 Happy Place Mildred
2021Dad and the Fridge BoxN/AWriter
Producer
2023 Sweetland Queenie
2024 Deaner '89 May

Television

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1974Cod on a StickVarious
1975 Peep Show VariousPart of CODCO
1978The Root SellerVarious6 episodes
Writer - 6 episodes
1980 Up at Ours Verna BallMiniseries
1980-1983 Wonderful Grand Band Various
1986–1989 CODCO Various35 episodes
Writer - 35 episodes
Producer - 21 episodes
1992 The Boys of St. Vincent: 15 Years Later Lenora PardyMiniseries
1993–2013 This Hour Has 22 Minutes Various122 Episodes
1995-1997 The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon Willomena / Princess3 episodes
1996 Genie Awards Herself/hostTV special
1997 The New Adventures of Robin Hood Police Guard #1Season 2 episode 9: "Outlaw Express"
Major CrimePatty RecklesTV movie
1998 Emily of New Moon Miss PickSeason 2 episode 6: "By the Rivers of Babylon"
1998–1999 The Rosie O'Donnell Show N/AWriter - 193 Episodes
1999LexxHeediaSeason 2 episode 13: "Twilight"
Dooley Gardens Marilyn Benoit7 Episodes
Life and Times HerselfSeason 4 episode 1: "Mary Walsh: Princess Warrior
2000Our Daily BreadEdna BarkhouseTV movie
2002The Joke's on Us: 50 Years of CBC SatireHerselfDocumentary
Bleacher Bums RoseTV movie
Random Passage Mrs. ArmstrongMiniseries
2003 The Strategic Humour Initiative Herself/co-host
2003-2004 Mary Walsh: Open Book HostWriter
Producer
2004 The Greatest Canadian HerselfAdvocate for Sir Frederick Banting
2005–2006 Hatching, Matching and Dispatching Mamie Lou FureyWriter
Producer
2006 The Wind in the Willows WasherwomanTV movie
2007 Who Do you Think You Are? HerselfEpisode 7: "Mary Walsh"
2008 Sophie Sarah SloaneSeason 1 episode 12: "Read the Signs"
GossipCarolyn Johnson WrightTV movie
The Quality of LifeKatherine GreenborneTV movie
2009 Murdoch Mysteries Sally SmootSeason 2 episode 6: "Shades of Grey"
2010Great Canadian BooksHerself2 episodes
2010–2014 Republic of Doyle Miranda Cahill2 episodes
2012 Little Mosque on the Prairie Mayor Glenda BeckfordSeason 6 episode 8: "Finders Weepers"
2014–2016 Sensitive Skin Sarah Thorn2 episodes
2015 Rookie Blue OdelleSeason 6 episode 3: "Uprising"
2016 Slasher Verna McBrideSeason 1: The Executioner
Episode 1: "An Eye for an Eye"
2017A Christmas FuryMamie Lou FurTV movie
Writer
2018 Little Dog Tucker12 episodes
2020 Hudson & Rex Vicky GumbleSeason 2 episode 13: "In Pod We Trust"
Canada's Drag Race Herself/Guest HostSeason 1 episode 5: "Snatch Game"
2020–present Broad Appeal: Living with E's Miss Eulalia
2021–present The Missus Downstairs The MissusWriter
Producer
Director

Bibliography

Crying for the Moon: A Novel (April 18, 2017 HarperCollins, ISBN   9781443410380)

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