Mary Claire "Mimi" Kennedy (born September 25, 1948) is an American actress, author, and activist. Best known for her roles in television sitcoms, Kennedy co-starred in numerous short-lived sitcoms before her role as Ruth Sloan on '' Homefront'' (1991–93). She received wider recognition with her roles in the

Chuck Lorre Charles Michael Lorre (; born Charles Michael Levine; October 18, 1952) is an American film & television director, writer, producer, composer and actor. Called the "King of Sitcoms", he has created/co-created and produced sitcoms including ''G ...

created sitcoms; ''

Dharma & Greg ''Dharma & Greg'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1997, until April 30, 2002, for 119 episodes over five seasons. The show starred Jenna Elfman and Thomas Gibson as Dharma and Greg Montgomery, a ...

'' (1997–2002), and '' Mom'' (2013–2021). For her performance in the latter, Kennedy received a nomination for the

Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series The Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series is one of the award categories presented annually by the Critics' Choice Television Awards (BTJA) (US) to recognize the work done by television actors. It was introduce ...

. Kennedy has also appeared in various films, including; '' Pump Up the Volume'' (1990), ''

Erin Brockovich Erin Brockovich (née Pattee; born June 22, 1960) is an American legal clerk, consumer advocate, and environmental activist who, despite her lack of education in the law, was instrumental in building a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Compan ...

'' (2000), '' In the Loop'' (2009), ''

Due Date ''Due Date'' is a 2010 American black comedy road film directed by Todd Phillips, who wrote the screenplay with Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland, and Adam Sztykiel. The film follows a man (Robert Downey Jr.) who must get across the country to Los An ...

'' (2010), ''

Midnight in Paris ''Midnight in Paris'' is a 2011 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in Paris, the film follows Gil Pender (Owen Wilson), a screenwriter, who is forced to confront the shortcomings of his relationship with his materialis ...

'' (2011), and ''

The Five-Year Engagement ''The Five-Year Engagement'' is a 2012 romantic comedy film written, directed, and produced by Nicholas Stoller. Produced with Judd Apatow and Rodney Rothman, it is co-written by Jason Segel, who also stars in the film with Emily Blunt as a couple ...

'' (2012).

Early life

Kennedy was born in

Rochester, New York Rochester () is a City (New York), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, the county seat, seat of Monroe County, New York, Monroe County, and the fourth-most populous in the state after New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffalo, ...

, the daughter of Nancy Helen (née Colgan) and Daniel Gerald Kennedy. She got her start in theater with the

Rochester Community Players The Rochester Community Players (RCP), the oldest community theatre in New York State, is a local theater group in Rochester, Monroe County, New York, in the United States. Incorporated in 1923, its first production, '' Wedding Bells,'' by play ...

, appearing in

Agatha Christie Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictiona ...

's ''Spider Web'' in October 1960 when she was 12 years old. She was raised in Rochester, where she graduated in 1966 from Our Lady of Mercy High School. In the 1970s, she was in the musical ''Rhinegold'', featuring songs by her friend

Jim Steinman James Richard Steinman (November 1, 1947 – April 19, 2021) was an American composer, lyricist and record producer. He also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer. His work included songs in the adult contemporary, rock, dance, pop, mus ...

. She attended

Smith College Smith College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smith (Smith College ...

Career

Kennedy was a member of the cast of ''The National Lampoon Show'', directed by

John Belushi John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known for being one of the seven original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL''). Throughout his ca ...

, who also starred in it. She auditioned for ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves a ...

'', but lost to

Jane Curtin Jane Therese Curtin (born September 6, 1947) is an American actress and comedian. First coming to prominence as an original cast member on the hit TV comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' in 1975, she went on to win back-to-back Emmy Awards for ...

. She appeared in the Broadway musical '' Grease'', and in 1977 landed a part in the short-lived variety series '' 3 Girls 3'', with

Debbie Allen Deborah Kaye Allen (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, singer-songwriter, director, producer, and a former member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She has been nominated 20 times for an ...

and

Ellen Foley Ellen Foley (born 1951) is an American singer and actress who has appeared on Broadway and television, where she co-starred in the sitcom '' Night Court'' for one season. In music, she has released five solo albums but is best known for her colla ...

. She later played the role of

Stockard Channing Stockard Channing (born Susan Antonia Williams Stockard; February 13, 1944) is an American actress. She is known for playing Betty Rizzo in the film '' Grease'' (1978) and First Lady Abbey Bartlet in the NBC television series ''The West Wing'' ( ...

's sister in the short-lived ''

Stockard Channing in Just Friends ''Just Friends'', billed as ''Stockard Channing in Just Friends'' on the title card, is an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS from March 4, 1979 to June 24, 1979. Stockard Channing, an accomplished stage actress who had entered ...

'' (1979), and she was a regular on '' The Big Show'' (1980). During the 1980s, she starred in a number of short-lived sitcoms, including ''

The Two of Us ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1981–82), '' Spencer'' (1984–85), and '' Family Man'' (1988). She also co-starred in the sitcom ''

Joe's Life ''Joe's Life'' is an American sitcom which aired on ABC from September 29, 1993, until December 15, 1993. The series was created by Bob Myer, and produced by a.k.a. Productions and Bob Myer Productions in association with Buena Vista Television. ...

'' (1993). Kennedy made her dramatic turn with a supporting role in the critically acclaimed '' Homefront''. The series ran from 1991 to 1993. She later was a regular on ''

Savannah A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the Canopy (forest), canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to rea ...

'' (1996–97), playing the rich socialite mother of

Shannon Sturges Shannon Sturges is an American actress and acting coach, best known for her role as Reese Burton in The WB Television Network, The WB primetime soap opera ''Savannah (TV series), Savannah''. Life and career Sturges was born in Hollywood, Californ ...

' character. After the series was canceled, she was cast in '' Pacific Palisades''. This series also was canceled after a single season. In 1997, Kennedy returned to comedy roles playing Dharma's mother, Abby O'Neil, on the sitcom ''

'' (1997-2002). During the 2000s, Kennedy had many guest-starring roles on television, appearing on ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into se ...

'', ''

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

'', '' ER'', ''

Scandal A scandal can be broadly defined as the strong social reactions of outrage, anger, or surprise, when accusations or rumours circulate or appear for some reason, regarding a person or persons who are perceived to have transgressed in some way. Th ...

'', ''

In Plain Sight ''In Plain Sight'' is an American drama television series that premiered on the USA Network on June 1, 2008. The series revolves around Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack), a Deputy United States Marshal attached to the Albuquerque, New Mexico, office ...

'', ''

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'', and ''

Veep ''Veep'' is an American political satire comedy television series that aired on HBO from April 22, 2012, to May 12, 2019. The series was created by Armando Iannucci as an adaptation of his sitcom ''The Thick of It''. The protagonist of ''Veep'' ...

''. She also had a number of supporting film roles, appearing in '' Man in the Chair'', '' In the Loop'', ''

'', ''

'' and ''

''. In 2013, Kennedy joined the cast of the sitcom '' Mom'' playing Marjorie, the twelve-step sponsor of the lead characters. She received a

Critics' Choice Television Award The Critics' Choice Television Awards are accolades that are presented annually by the Critics Choice Association (CCA). They were established in 2011, and the first ceremony was held on June 20, 2011, and streamed live on VH1.com. The fourt ...

nomination for her performance on the show. She became a series regular on the second season. Early in 2022, Kennedy posted a video in which she and spouse Larry Dilg recall their friendships with Jim Steinman and, by extension, with Meatloaf. In the video, Kennedy shares details of her months touring with the National Lampoon Show.

Personal life

Kennedy is involved in several progressive activist causes, including

Progressive Democrats of America Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is a progressive political organization and grassroots political action committee operating primarily within the Democratic Party of the United States. The group has established chapters in 32 states and te ...

for which she serves as chairperson of the board. She is a regular contributor to the ''LA Progressive''. Her mid-life memoir ''Taken to the Stage: The Education of an Actress'' was published by Smith & Kraus in 1996,

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
LA Progressive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Mimi 1948 births 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses American film actresses American television actresses Living people Writers from Rochester, New York Smith College alumni Actresses from Rochester, New York California Democrats New York (state) Democrats