Mo Collins

Last updated
Mo Collins
Born
Maureen Ann Collins

(1965-07-07) July 7, 1965 (age 58)
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian
Years active1996–present
Spouse
(m. 2013)

Maureen Ann Collins (born July 7, 1965) [1] is an American actress and comedian who was a member of the ensemble on FOX's sketch comedy series Mad TV . Collins became well known for several characters during her tenure on the show.

Contents

She was a cast member from the 4th season (1998) through the 9th season (2004); she only appeared in fourteen episodes during season nine due to contractual reasons. She returned to Mad TV in the 10th season for one episode, and again when she made an appearance on the 300th episode doing her popular character Lorraine Swanson. Her best known role following her departure from Mad TV was as morning talk show host Joan Callamezzo on the sitcom Parks and Recreation .

The nickname Mo was first given to Collins by the football/drama coach of her junior high school whom she credits with introducing her to improv comedy. [2]

Career

Mad TV

Collins joined the cast of Mad TV at the beginning of season four and stayed until the end of season nine, though only appeared in 14 episodes during the ninth season. Her popular stint on the show led her to come back to guest star in 2005 during Season 10, in 2007 during the 300th episode on season 13, the final episode of season 14 in 2009 and the 20th anniversary reunion special in 2016.

Her most featured and arguably most popular characters were Doreen, the screechy-voiced mother of overgrown toddler Stuart (when Mo Collins left the show, Doreen was written off as being asleep after her latest alcoholic bender or never mentioned); the odd, annoying, confused middle-aged woman Lorraine, and the perpetually unlucky Trina.

Collins also did a multitude of celebrity impressions, including Pamela Anderson, Sandra Bullock, Barbara Bush, Bobbie Battista, Cher, Hillary Clinton, Courteney Cox, Paige Davis, Celine Dion, Melissa Etheridge, Judy Garland (as Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz ), Jennifer Garner, Jenilee Harrison, Mary Hart, Teri Hatcher, Goldie Hawn, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Anne Heche, Catherine Hicks (as Annie from 7th Heaven ), Paris Hilton, Kate Hudson, Allison Janney, Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Jenny Jones, Jane Kaczmarek (as Lois on a Malcolm in the Middle parody called Malcolm X in the Middle), Alex Kingston, Andrea Koppel, Jewel, Dina Lohan, Andie MacDowell, Madonna, Penny Marshall (as herself and as Laverne DeFazio from Laverne & Shirley ), Audrey Meadows, Mary Tyler Moore (in several "modern-day spin" parodies of The Mary Tyler Moore Show ), Alanis Morissette, Cynthia Nixon, Sharon Osbourne, Pink, Diane Sawyer, Maria Shriver, Shakira, Martha Stewart, Emily Strayer, Vonda Shepard, Sally Struthers, Concetta Tomei, Marisa Tomei, Shania Twain, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tina Wesson.

Other work

Personal life

While attending St. Catherine University for visual arts, Collins was asked to leave in response to an act of graffiti she and her fellow art program friends had committed. [2]

Collins is in remission from a rare form of cancer known as gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). She was diagnosed in spring 2011 when she noticed an odd lump in her abdomen. Collins said, "I would have done nothing about it. I was 44, feeling healthy, everything was going great for me, but my fiancé, Alex said, ‘You need to get it checked out’". Collins learned she had a primary tumor in her duodenum and was able to find a doctor who knew enough about GIST to know that she needed to see a specialist. [7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996 Jingle All the Way Mother on Phone
2003Detective FictionJennifer Hannan
2004 Jiminy Glick in Lalawood Sharon
2005 The 40-Year-Old Virgin Gina
2006 Danny Roane: First Time Director Deidra Fennigan
Puff, Puff, Pass Linda
2007 Cook Off! Van Rookle Farms Housewife
Knocked Up Female Doctor
Cougar Club Cindy Conrad
Carts Hilda
2009 Flying By Kate
2011Division III: Football's FinestGeorgia Anne Whistler
2014 Break Point Barry's Mom
2015 Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts Dispatch / Distinguished WomanDirect-to-video
2016 Dirty Grandpa Officer Finch
2017McDickMolten Lava
2021My Babysitter the Super HeroKatePost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998–2016 Mad TV Various155 episodes
2000 The Geena Davis Show TammyEpisode: "What I Like About You"
As Told by Ginger NurseEpisode: "Hello Stranger"
2000–2010 Family Guy Little Girl / Ms. Hobson / Kim Cattrall4 episodes
2001 Just Shoot Me! RobinEpisode: "The Gift Piggy"
Ally McBeal Flight AttendantEpisode: "The Getaway"
Primetime Glick Various
2001–2003 Invader Zim Zita / RoboMom / Dib's Computer13 episodes
2003 Less than Perfect Toni St. GeorgeEpisode: "Claude the Terminator"
2004 Girlfriends Naisa JohnsonEpisode: "New York Unbound"
The Fairly OddParents Ma SpeevakEpisode: "Crash Nebula"
Six Feet Under Nancy FreymireEpisode: "Can I Come Up Now?"
Fat Actress Female Prison GuardEpisode: "Holy Lesbo Batman"
2004–2005 Arrested Development Starla5 episodes
2005 Joey Ms. LaffertyEpisode: "Joey and the ESL"
7th Heaven EllenEpisode: "Chicken Noodle Heads"
Higglytown Heroes Science Fair JudgeEpisode: "Kip Gets Swing Fever/Wayne's Pieces of Gold"
2005, 2017 Curb Your Enthusiasm The Nurse / Lisa Thompson2 episodes
2005–2008 King of the Hill Ella / Melinda / Ms. Clark4 episodes
2006–2007 Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide iTeacher5 episodes
2007 Californication VictoriaEpisode: "Turn the Page"
2007FrangelaDr. Judy GreenTelevision film
2008 Pushing Daisies Sister LarueEpisode: "Bad Habits"
2008 Chocolate News Cindy ChamberlainEpisode #1.5
2008 According to Jim Emily4 episodes
2008David's SituationCelineTelevision film
2009 The Goode Family Checker / LucyEpisode: "Pilot"
2009 Modern Family DeniseEpisode: "En Garde"
2009–2020 Parks and Recreation Joan Callamezzo20 episodes
2010–2011 Men of a Certain Age Laura5 episodes
2011 Love Bites Nurse SueEpisode: "Too Much Information"
2011 Suburgatory Trish ShayEpisode: "Thanksgiving"
2011 Chuck Colonel Caroline HaimEpisode: "Chuck Versus the Santa Suit"
2012 The Life & Times of Tim Police OfficerEpisode: "Pudding Boy/The Celebrity Who Shall Remain Nameless"
2012 Phineas and Ferb Additional voicesEpisode: "The Mom Attractor/Cranius Maximus"
2012Ave 43Joy Maybower5 episodes
2013 Pound Puppies Jen / Lenore / Pat2 episodes
2014 The Greatest Event in Television History RuthEpisode: "Bosom Buddies"
2014 Sullivan & Son LillyEpisode: "Everybody Loved Frank"
2014–2015 Sheriff Callie's Wild West Various30 episodes
2015 Other Space Helen Woolworth2 episodes
2015 Pig Goat Banana Cricket Feral Ann / Sally Salad / Beautiful WomanEpisode: "Gauntlet of Humiliation"
2015 Fresh Off the Boat ChristaEpisode: "The Big 1-2"
2015Clash-A-Rama!Villager / Healer / Female Wallbreaker4 episodes
2015–2021 F Is for Family Various39 episodes
2016–2017 Lady Dynamite Susan14 episodes
2017 Workaholics Bianca ToroEpisode: "Bianca Toro"
2017Cassandra French's Finishing SchoolJudi4 episodes
2017 Downward Dog KimEpisode: "Pilot"
2017 Ghosted Monica YatesEpisode: "The Machine"
2017, 2019 The Stinky & Dirty Show Tractor-Sue2 episodes
2017–2022 Puppy Dog Pals Various29 episodes
2018 American Dad! Darlene McKinnonEpisode: "The Census of the Lambs"
2018 Ghostwriter PublisherEpisode: "Change Everything"
2018Please Understand MeMaureenEpisode: "Fred & Mo"
2018 Teachers TanyaEpisode: "Step by Stepsister"
2018 Happy Together Alarm SystemEpisode: "Home Insecurity"
2018–2020 Dream Corp LLC Patient 302 episodes
2018–2022 Fear the Walking Dead Sarah Rabinowitz28 episodes
2020 Single Parents Lucy CooperEpisode: "The Angle-Man"
2020LorraineLorraine5 episodes
2020 Close Enough JojoEpisode: "Prank War/Cool Moms"
2023 Not Dead Yet Jane MarvelEpisode: "Not a Tiger Yet"
2023 Grey's Anatomy Jessica's MotherEpisode: "Training Day"
2024 Spidey and His Amazing Friends Poppy2 episodes

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References

  1. 1 2 "Mo Collins". AllMovie . Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Logan Cummins (July 13, 2021). "The Lull Isn't a Bad Place to Be ft. Mo Collins". The Fast Friends Podcast (Podcast). Event occurs at 5:54; 7:33; 9:07. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  3. "Comedy Central Stage at the Hudson". Comedy Central. June 2004. Archived from the original on June 6, 2004. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  4. "SNL, MADtv acts among 110 performing at eighth annual Chicago Improv Festival now through May 1". | Reel Chicago - At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production. 2005-04-22. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  5. "WPT HOLLYWOOD HOME GAME IV".
  6. "MO COLLINS". WPT. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  7. Kristoff, Erin (April 1, 2013). "Who's laughing now? Actress Mo Collins uses humor in her battle with GIST". liferaftgroup.org. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2014.