Wendy Makkena

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Wendy Makkena
Born
Wendy Rosenberg Makkena

(1958-10-04) October 4, 1958 (age 66)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Education Juilliard School
OccupationActress
Years active1982–present
Spouse
Bob Krakower
​
(m. 1997)​
Children1
MotherDiana K. Rosenberg

Wendy Rosenberg Makkena ( /məˈkiːnə/ mə-KEE-nə; born October 4, 1958) [1] is an American actress best known for playing Sister Mary Robert in the film Sister Act (1992) and its sequel Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) and numerous other roles in film and television. She has appeared regularly on stage since the 1980s. Her other film credits include Air Bud (1997), State of Play (2009), and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019).

Contents

Early life

Makkena was born in Manhattan, New York City, and attended the Juilliard School. [2] Her mother, Diana K. Rosenberg, was an astrologer specializing in various fields therein including Western and Indian astrology. [3]

Career

In 1987, she made her Broadway debut in a production of Pygmalion starring Peter O'Toole. [2] [4] She later appeared in Lend Me a Tenor and Side Man . [5] In 1988, she made her film debut appearing in Eight Men Out .

In 1992, Makkena had a supporting role opposite Whoopi Goldberg in the musical comedy film Sister Act as the shy but talented singing nun Sister Mary Robert, a role she reprised in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit the following year. In both films, singer Andrea Robinson provided the actual vocals. [6] In 1994, she co-starred opposite Christopher Lloyd in the comedy film Camp Nowhere , and in 1997 appeared in Air Bud . In 1998, she played a leading role in the LGBT-related independent comedy-drama Finding North . [7] On television, she starred in the short-lived CBS sitcom A League of Their Own in 1993 and later had recurring roles on NYPD Blue , Judging Amy and NCIS . She also had regular roles on the short-lived The Job (2001–02), Oliver Beene (2003–04), Listen Up (2004–05) and The Mob Doctor (2012–13).

Personal life

Makkena has been married to Bob Krakower, an acting coach, since 1997 and they have a child together.[ citation needed ]

Filmography

Film

Key
†Denotes works that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 Eight Men Out Kate Jackson
1992 Sister Act Sister Mary Robert
1993 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Sister Mary Robert
1994 Camp Nowhere Dr. Celeste Dunbar
1995 Napoleon Napoleon's Mom
The Whiskey HeirMaggieShort film
1997The PeopleJean Leary
Air Bud Jackie Framm
1998 Finding North Rhonda Portelli
19994 a.m.: Open All NightWomanShort film
2004NoiseDel
2009 State of Play Greer Thornton
2017 The Discovery Mom
2018 Wanderland Sandy Tanner
2019 The Tomorrow Man Beverly St. Michaels
Fair Market ValueJessica
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Dorothy Vogel
2021 Spiked Margaret
2024Sunday StripsMrs. TomasShort film
2025Whispers of Freedom†Karin Gueffroy
TBA Sister Act 3: Kicking the Habit †Sister Mary Robert

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986 Santa Barbara Katie TimmonsTV series
1989 Dream Street Harry's Ex-WifeEpisode: "True Love"
1991 Monsters Maggie PriceEpisode: "Desirable Alien"
1991Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus FaraceBrendaTV movie
1991 Law & Order Officer Nicki SandovalEpisode: "A Death in the Family"
1992Black MagicSally RoweTV movie
1993 Class of '96 Margaret ParsonsEpisode: "The Accused"
1993 A League of Their Own Mae Mordabito6 episodes
1994 NYPD Blue Det. Sharon LaSalle3 episodes
1994 Touched by an Angel Robin DunwoodyEpisode: "The Heart of the Matter"
1995 Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story Mary NewcombeTV movie
1995 Strange Luck Louise BrooksEpisode: "The Box"
1996Death BenefitWynn BurkholderTV movie
1996On Seventh AvenueNadine JacobsTV movie
1997Lies He ToldPattyTV movie
1997C-16: FBIMelanie HarmonEpisode: "Orange Kid"
1997 Dellaventura Episode: "Fathers"
1998 Trinity Episodes: "No Secrets", "Hang Man Down"
1999–2000 Judging Amy Susie Nixon8 episodes
2001–2002 The Job Karen McNeil6 episodes
2002 Law & Order Janet WestonEpisode: "Born Again"
2002 Philly Amanda RoyceEpisode: "San Diego Padre"
2003–2004 Oliver Beene Charlotte Caraline Beene24 episodes
2004–2005 Listen Up Dana Kleinman18 episodes
2006 Ghost Whisperer Jean GodfreyEpisode: "A Grave Matter"
2007 House Dr. Julie WhitnerEpisode: "Needle in a Haystack"
2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Doris BabinkianEpisode: "Ending Happy"
2007 The Nine SuzanneEpisode: "Confessions"
Episode: "Man of the Year"
2007 Chuck National Intelligence DirectorEpisode: "Chuck Versus the Intersect"
2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ellen Van KurenEpisode: "Transitions"
2009 Desperate Housewives Fran SchulmanEpisode: "Marry Me a Little"
2009 Without a Trace JubileeEpisode: "True"
2009–2010 Numb3rs Kath BerryEpisodes: "Shadow Markets", "Growin' Up"
2010 The Deep End Judge Joan AndersonEpisode: "An Innocent Man"
2010 Miami Medical DidiEpisode: "What Lies Beneath"
2011 Melissa & Joey Suzanne RebackEpisode: "Going the Distance?"
2011, 2012
2014		 NCIS Dr. Rachel Cranston4 episodes
2012–2013 The Mob Doctor Daniella Devlin13 episodes
2014 Alpha House Molly P. Andresun2 episodes
2015 Rizzoli & Isles IAB Agent HitchcockEpisode: "The Platform"
2018 The Last O.G. KrystalEpisode: "Swipe Right"
2019 Bull Sherri GibsonEpisode: "Security Fraud"
2023 Rabbit Hole Debra

Stage

YearTitleRole(s)VenueRef.
1987 Pygmalion Teamaid Plymouth Theatre, Broadway [4]
1988 The Birthday Party Lulu Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway [8]
1988The Debutante BallBliss White New York Stage and Film, New York [9]
1989The Loman Family PicnicMarsha Manhattan Theatre Club Stage II, Off-Broadway [10]
1989 Mountain Language Young Woman Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway [11]
The Birthday Party Lulu
1989 Lend Me A Tenor Maggie (replacement) Royale Theatre, Broadway [12]
1990PrinMelanie City Center Stage I, Off-Broadway [13]
1991 The American Plan Lili Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway [14]
1996 The Shawl Stella Jewish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway [15]
1997The Water ChildrenMegan Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway [16]
1998 The Matrix Theatre Company, Los Angeles [17]
1998 Side Man Terry Criterion Center Stage Right, Off-Broadway [18]
John Golden Theatre, Broadway [19]
2007Harm's WayJournalist Hayworth Theatre, Los Angeles [20]
2008 45th Street Theatre, Off-Broadway [21]
2013 Bronx Bombers Carmen Primary Stages, Off-Broadway [22]

References

  1. ↑ "Wendy Makkena profile". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Wendy Makkena | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  3. ↑ Diana K. Rosenberg. astro.com.
  4. 1 2 Rich, Frank (27 April 1987). "THEATER: O'TOOLE AND PLUMMER IN 'PYGMALION'". New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "Wendy Makkena Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed November 11, 2015
  6. ↑ "'Sister Act' Cast Get Back in the Habit for 25th Anniversary Performance". EW.com.
  7. ↑ "Finding North (1998)" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  8. ↑ Gussow, Mel (18 April 1988). "Review/Theater; In 'The Birthday Party,' Pinter's Daily Terrors". New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  9. ↑ Henley, Beth (1997). The Debutante Ball. Dramatists Play Service. p. 4. ISBN   9780822215837 . Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  10. ↑ Gussow, Mel (22 June 1989). "Review/Theater; Grim Doings Around a Bar Mitzvah". New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  11. ↑ Rich, Frank (9 November 1989). "Review/Theater; A Pinter Double Bill of Evil and Bleakness". New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  12. ↑ "Lend Me a Tenor – Broadway Play – Original". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  13. ↑ Rich, Frank (7 June 1990). "Review/Theater; Arrogant Academic With a Midlife Crisis Has a Disastrous Day". New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  14. ↑ Disch, Thomas M. (11 February 1991). "The American Plan". The Nation. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  15. ↑ Brantley, Ben (21 June 1996). "THEATER REVIEW;Huddling Beneath Memory's Burdens". New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  16. ↑ Daniels, Robert L. (9 November 1997). "The Water Children". Variety. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  17. ↑ Martinez, Julio (4 May 1998). "The Water Children". Variety. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  18. ↑ Marks, Peter (26 June 1998). "THEATER REVIEW; Blues Riffs Blown on a Broken Heart". New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  19. ↑ Marks, Peter (9 November 1998). "THEATER REVIEW; A New Drama on Broadway And a New Son in Turmoil". New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  20. ↑ Nichols, David C; Foley, F. Kathleen; Brandes, Philip; Heffley, Lynne (7 December 2007). "A poignant tribute to 'Heroes'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  21. ↑ Stehlin (15 September 2008). "Full Cast, Creative Team Announced for Harm's Way and Man.gov". TheatreMania. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  22. ↑ Gold, Daniel M. (9 October 2013). "Oh Boy, Looks Like Reggie and Billy Are at It Again". New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
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