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Mary Gross

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Mary Gross
Born (1953-03-25) March 25, 1953 (age 71)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
EducationLoyola University Chicago
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian, voice actress
Years active1980–2012
RelativesMichael Gross (brother)
Ron Masak (cousin)

Mary Gross (born March 25, 1953)[1] is an American voice actress, comedian, and actress known for her four-year stint on Saturday Night Live from 1981 to 1985 and her recurring role as Sabrina's favorite teacher, Mrs. Quick in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch from 1997 to 2000. Her credits also include minor roles on Animaniacs, Boston Legal, That's So Raven, and Six Feet Under.

Early life

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A Chicago native, Gross is the youngest of three children born to William Oscar Gross, a tool designer, and Virginia Ruth (née Cahill), a telephone operator (the eldest being actor Michael Gross).[2][3] She attended Madonna High School—an all-girls Catholic school, since demolished[2]—and Loyola University.[4] While in high school, Gross made her performing debut—singing, in character, as France's Louis XIV, to the tune of Bernstein and Sondheim's "I Feel Pretty"—alongside fellow Madonna alumna Marilu Henner.[2][4][5]

Career

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Early career

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She is an alumna of the Second City comedy troupe. Before becoming part of the group she was a secretary with the American Dental Association.[6]

Saturday Night Live (1981–1985)

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Gross joined SNL in 1981, during the show's 7th season following the show's disastrous sixth season, when the show was nearly canceled.[7] She became co-anchor of SNL's Weekend Update segment (renamed SNL Newsbreak) during her first season. She and the rest of the cast left in 1985 following executive producer Dick Ebersol's departure from the show.

Recurring characters

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  • Alfalfa, from SNL's recurring parody of The Little Rascals and skits regarding the murder of Eddie Murphy's Buckwheat character.[8]
  • Siobhan Cahill, an Irish woman who reports on Irish events on Saturday Night News (Weekend Update's name when Brad Hall was cast as anchor). Coincidentally, Saturday Night Live would have Siobhan Fallon and Beth Cahill as cast members in the 1990s.
  • Chi Chi, a Hispanic woman who hosts two fake public-access television cable TV shows (The Ghostbusters Show and Let's Watch TV) with her best friend, Consuela (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus)[9]
  • Celeste, a repressed woman married to an equally repressed man (played by Tim Kazurinsky)[10]

Celebrity impersonations

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Personal life

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Gross has never married, but as of June 1982, Chicago-based photographer Jay King was referred to as "her longtime boyfriend" in a profile/interview of Gross penned by Chicago Sun-Times writer Michael Davis.[4] Duration aside, their relationship was also reported that year by the Chicago Tribune's Jon Anderson and several years later by researcher-author Mary Unterbrinker.[5][11]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 Club Paradise Jackie
1987 Baby Boom Charlotte Elkman
1988 The Couch Trip Vera Maitlin
1988 Casual Sex? Ilene
1988 Big Business Judy
1988 Hot to Trot Ms. French
1988 Feds Janis Zuckerman
1989 Troop Beverly Hills Annie Herman
1992 There Goes the Neighborhood Mrs. Bratesman
1993 Public Enemy #2 Marcey
1994 The Santa Clause Ms. Daniels
1998 Practical Magic Debbie
2001 Tremors 3: Back to Perfection Tourist mom
2002 40 Days and 40 Nights Bev Sullivan
2003 A Mighty Wind Ma Klapper

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1981–1985 Saturday Night Live Herself / Various Cast member
1985 Tales of the Unexpected Woman on beach Episode: "Scrimshaw"
1986 Amen Nurse Kenningston Episode: "After the Fall"
1988 Channel 99 Fifi Kurtz TV film
1989 The People Next Door Abigail MacIntyre Kellogg Main role
1992 Billy Phoebe Trillman Recurring role
1992 Murphy Brown Chris Manheim Episode: "He-Ho, He-Ho, It's Off to Lamaze We Go"
1993 Jack's Place Rosemary Episode: "Faithful Henry"
1993–1997 Animaniacs Katie's Mom Voice, recurring role[12]
1994 The Larry Sanders Show Mary Gross Episode: "Next Stop Bottom"
1995 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Nell Newtrich Episode: "Ultra Woman"
1995 The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat Voices Recurring role
1997 Something So Right Polly Episode: "Something About Cold Storage"
1997 The Jeff Foxworthy Show Aunt Jane Episode: "Twister of Fate"
1997 The Angry Beavers Deer / Bird Voice, episode: "Deranged Ranger"
1997–2000 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Mrs. Quick Recurring role
1997–2002 Hey Arnold! School Nurse Shelley Voice, 3 episodes[12]
1999 Detention Patsy Wickett Voice, 2 episodes[12]
2000 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Elise Voice, episode: "The Frog Princess"
2000 Jailbait Patti Fisher TV film
2000 Lost Cat Nancy Mouse Voice, TV film
2000 What a Cartoon! Nancy Mouse Voice, episode: "Lost Cat"[12]
2001 Providence Martha Blankenship Episode: "Love Story"
2001 Six Feet Under Floral Instructor Episode: "The Trip"
2001 Off Centre Roberta Flack / Mrs. Platt Episode: "Swing Time"
2002 Dharma & Greg Mary Episode: "This Diamond Ring"
2002 As Told by Ginger Bobbie Lightfoot Voice, episode: "Family Therapy"
2003 A Minute with Stan Hooper Harriet Episode: "Stan Hooper Goes to Washington"
2003 Judging Amy Marta Episode: "Tricks of the Trade"
2003 According to Jim Cynthia Episode: "Paintball"
2004 All About the Andersons Mrs. Dyer Episode: "Get Out of Dodge... Ball"
2004 I'm with Her Donna Kincade Episode: "Winners & Losers & Whiners & Boozers: Part 2"
2004 Rock Me, Baby Ginger Episode: "Not-So-Grand Parents"
2005 Malcolm in the Middle Evelyn Episode: "Chad's Sleepover"
2005 Twins Judy Episode: "Sister's Keeper"
2005 That's So Raven Miss Patterson Episode: "Cake Fear"
2006 The New Adventures of Old Christine Mrs. Orr Episode: "Oh God, Yes"
2007–08 Boston Legal Leigh Swift Recurring role
2008 According to Jim Lisa Episode: "Cheryl Goes to Florida"
2008 General Hospital Aunt Raylene Recurring role
2009 Life Maude Paxton Episode: "Canyon Flowers"
2009 Californication Principal Green Episode: "Mr. Bad Example"
2010 In Gayle We Trust Beth Episode: "Gayle and the Salon"
2011 The Defenders Judy Baker Episode: "Nevada v. Doug the Mule"
2011 Hart of Dixie Old Lady #3 2 episodes
2012 Pound Puppies Mrs. Beasley Voice, episode: "Lucky Gets Adopted"[12]
2012 Adopting Terror Laura TV film
2012 Raising Hope Denise Jenkins Episode: "What Up, Bro?"

References

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  1. ^ "Celebrity Birthdays". Asheville Citizen-Times. March 25, 2023. p. 5C. ProQuest 2792347897. Actor Paul Michael Glaser is 80. Musician Elton John is 76. Actor Bonnie Bedelia is 75. Actor-comedian Mary Gross is 70. Actor James McDaniel ('NYPD Blue') is 65. See also:
    • "Today in History: Today's Birthdays". Daily Breeze. March 25, 2003. p. B5. ProQuest 338554978. Actor Paul Michael Glaser is 60. Singer Elton John is 56. Actress Bonnie Bedelia is 55. Singer Nick Lowe is 54. Actress-comedian Mary Gross is 50. Actor James McDaniel is 45.
  2. ^ a b c Caro, Mark (March 17, 2011). "Hollywood's Fickle; Family Ties Endure". Chicago Tribune. Sec. 3, pp. 1, 3. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  3. ^ "Obituaries". Chicago Tribune. March 22, 2005. p. 6. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Davis, Michael (Chicago Sun-Times). "'Saturday Night Live' Mary Gross on a Roll". The Jersey Journal. June 10, 1982. p. 32. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Anderson, Jon (March 11, 1982). "Second City pays off for 'ditsy' Mary Gross". Chicago Tribune. Sec. 4, p. 1. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  6. ^ The Curious Case of Tim Kazurinsky, September 3, 2021, archived from the original on December 13, 2021, retrieved September 20, 2021
  7. ^ Doumanian's failed hires
  8. ^ SNL Archives | Character Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ SNL Archives | Character Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ SNL Archives | Character Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Unterbrink, Mary (1987). Funny Women: American Comediennes, 1860-1985. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 173. ISBN 0899502261.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Mary Gross (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 19, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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Media offices
Preceded by Weekend Update anchor
with Brian Doyle-Murray
1981 		Succeeded by
Brian Doyle-Murray as solo anchor
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