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Nancy Lenehan | |
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![]() Lenehan with Worst Week co-star Kurtwood Smith in 2008 | |
Born | |
Alma mater | Yankton College |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1979–present |
Nancy Lenehan (born April 26, 1953) is an American actress who has appeared in film and television since the 1980s. She is best known for playing Audrey in Grace Under Fire (1993-1998), Kay Hickey in My Name Is Earl (2005-2008), Angela in Worst Week (2008-2009), and recurring and guest-starring roles in many other TV shows, including playing Plum in Caroline in the City and Margaret Reed in Ellen .
Lenehan was born in Long Island, New York. She attended Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota.
She co-starred on the short-lived sitcom Worst Week . She also co-starred as Sandy Kelly, the matriarch in the sitcom Married to the Kellys , and had a recurring role on My Name Is Earl as Earl and Randy's mother, Kay Hickey. She also had a recurring role on the sitcom Ellen during its fourth season, playing the title character's realtor, Margaret Reed. [1] [2]
She has appeared in featured, recurring and guest roles in many television shows and television movies, and feature films, including Malcolm in the Middle , Everybody Loves Raymond , How I Met Your Mother , Judging Amy , Gilmore Girls , Caroline in the City (playing office manager Plum in two episodes in Season 4), Dharma & Greg , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , 3rd Rock from the Sun , ER , Boy Meets World , The Nanny , Quantum Leap , Roseanne , Grace Under Fire , V , The Facts of Life , Hill Street Blues , Veep and Alice . [1] [2]
She provided the speaking and singing voice of Helen Henny from Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theater restaurants from 1983 to 1991.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | Smokey and the Bandit II | Ramona | |
1986 | Stoogemania | Connie Smoynek | |
1988 | She's Having a Baby | Cynthia | |
The Great Outdoors | Waitress | ||
1992 | Roadside Prophets | Vegas Motel 9 Desk Clerk | |
Out on a Limb | Miss Clayton | ||
1998 | Pleasantville | Marge Jenkins | |
1999 | The Limey | Lady On Plane | |
2001 | Human Nature | Puff's Mother | |
2002 | Full Frontal | Woman on Plane | |
Adaptation | Kaufman's Mother | ||
Catch Me If You Can | Carol Strong | ||
2005 | Beauty Shop | Mrs. Struggs | |
2007 | The Savages | Counselor | |
2011 | A Better Life | Mrs. Donnelley | |
2014 | Sex Tape | Linda | |
2017 | Battle of the Sexes | Billie's Mom | |
2024 | Night Swim | Filming |
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | Hill Street Blues | Katy Moore | 2 episodes |
1982 | Family Ties | Roberta | 1 episode |
1983 | We Got It Made | Paulette | 1 episode |
1984 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Georgette | 1 episode |
1985 | Fame | Brenda Haskell | 1 episode |
1985 | Tall Tales & Legends | Lyda | 1 episode |
1986 | Heart of the City | Linda Kilmer | 1 episode |
1986 | It's a Living | Phylis Caruso | 1 episode |
1987 | My Sister Sam | Judy | 1 episode |
1987 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Vivian | 1 episode |
1987 | Mr. President | Lenore | 1 episode |
1987 | Beauty and the Beast | Lucy | 1 episode |
1987 | Student Exchange | Mrs. Barton | Television film |
1988 | Newhart | Kristi Castetter | 1 episode |
1988 | Beverly Hills Buntz | Mrs. Fairchild | 1 episode |
1989 | ALF | Laverne Litwak | 1 episode |
1989 | Paradise | Marti Brandt | 1 episode |
1989 | Night Court | Ms. Abrams | 1 episode |
1989 | Sister Kate | Mrs. Crenshaw | 1 episode |
1989 | Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon | Mrs. Harris | Television film |
1990 | The Golden Girls | Nun | 1 episode |
1990 | Murphy Brown | Sydney | 1 episode |
1990 | Roseanne | Happy Customer | 1 episode |
1990 | Dear John | Mrs. Williams | 1 episode |
1990 | The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story | Harriet Alvena Baum Neal | Television film |
1991 | Sisters | Joy Zimmer | 2 episodes |
1991 | Nurses | Cheryl Pinson | 1 episode |
1991 | Quantum Leap | Colleen McBain | 1 episode |
1992 | Civil Wars | Paula Richardson | 1 episode |
1992 | Great Scott! | Beverly Melrod | Main role, 7 episodes |
1993 | Dudley | Nancy | 1 episode |
1993 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Susan Thomas | 1 episode |
1993 | Bakersfield P.D. | Amy Baker | 1 episode |
1993–1998 | Grace Under Fire | Audrey Sheffield | Recurring role, 12 episodes |
1994 | Step by Step | Mrs. Tubman | 1 episode |
1995 | Mad About You | Dr. Wallach | 1 episode |
1996 | The Faculty | Daisy Skelnick | Main role, 13 episodes |
1996 | Townies | Lila | 1 episode |
1996 | The Cherokee Kid | Sister Faith | Television film |
1996–1997 | Ellen | Margaret Reed | 4 episodes |
1997 | Boy Meets World | Susan Kalliback | 1 episode |
1997 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Mrs. St. Clair | 1 episode |
1997 | Ink | Nancy Milford | 1 episode |
1997 | The Practice | Nurse MacKenzie | 1 episode |
1997 | George and Leo | Mimi | 1 episode |
1998 | Working | Meredith Hirsh | 1 episode |
1998 | The Tony Danza Show | Mrs. Erlich | 1 episode |
1998 | Caroline in the City | Plum | 2 episodes |
1998 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Pat | Episode: "Dead Man's Party" |
1999 | ER | Edie Harvell | 1 episode |
1999 | Dharma & Greg | Karen Love | 2 episodes |
1999 | Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane | Mrs. Needles | 1 episode |
1999 | Providence | Jane | 1 episode |
1999 | Just Shoot Me! | Bunny | 1 episode |
1999–2000 | Two Guys and a Girl | Dr. Peel | 2 episodes |
1999–2001 | Felicity | Faye Rotundi | 3 episodes |
2000 | Yes, Dear | Judy | 1 episode |
2000 | Malcolm In the Middle | Christie / Helen | 2 episodes |
2001 | FreakyLinks | Dr. Gibson | 1 episode |
2001 | Judging Amy | Mrs. Hoeller | 1 episode |
2001 | Gilmore Girls | LaDawn | 1 episode |
2001 | Men, Women & Dogs | Jan | 1 episode |
2002 | Ally McBeal | Principal Deborah Harkness | 2 episodes |
2002 | Titus | Faye | 1 episode |
2002 | Everybody Loves Raymond | Pamela | 1 episode |
2003 | What I Like About You | Linda | 1 episode |
2003 | That '70s Show | Nina's Mom | 1 episode |
2003 | Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off | Mrs. Hadley | Television film, uncredited |
2003–2004 | Married to the Kellys | Sandy Kelly | Main role, 20 episodes |
2004 | Jack & Bobby | School Secretary | 1 episode |
2005 | Joan of Arcadia | Erica Marx | 1 episode |
2005 | Close to Home | Patty | 2 episodes |
2005 | Nip/Tuck | Sue Alderman | 1 episode |
2005 | The Bernie Mac Show | Sister Lane | 1 episode |
2005–2008 | My Name Is Earl | Kay Hickey | Recurring role, 10 episodes |
2006 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | Mrs. Jeter | 1 episode |
2006–2010 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Principal Marcie Nunley | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
2007 | My Boys | Eileen | 1 episode |
2008 | Little Britain USA | Kelly Pincher | 3 episodes |
2008–2009 | Worst Week | Angela Clayton | Main role, 16 episodes |
2009 | Accidentally on Purpose | Lara | 1 episode |
2011–2012 | How to Be a Gentleman | Diane Carlson | Main role, 9 episodes |
2012 | The Middle | Penny | 1 episode |
2013–2014 | How I Met Your Mother | Cheryl | 2 episodes |
2014–2019 | Veep | Mrs. Ryan | Recurring role, 11 episodes |
2016–2017 | People of Earth | Margaret Flood | Main role, 20 episodes |
2018–2020 | Man with a Plan | Alice | 2 episodes |
2018 | Champions | Maureen | 1 episode |
2018 | Jack Ryan | Senator Joan Henshaw | 1 episode |
2018 | Forever | Heather Jacoby | 1 episode |
2019 | Black-ish | Barbara Piermont | 1 episode |
2019–2020 | Bless This Mess | Deb | Recurring role, 13 episodes |
2020 | Superstore | Judy | 1 episode |
2021 | Generation | Nonna | 1 episode |
2022 | Grace and Frankie | Rosemary | 1 episode |
2022 | A League of Their Own | Vivienne | 2 episodes |
2023 | American Auto | Winnie | 1 episode |
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