ActressAmericanCanadianAlumni

Cynthia Stevenson

American actress Cynthia Stevenson is known for her roles in TV series like 'My Talk Show', 'Dead Like Me', and films such as 'The Player'.

1. Overview

Cynthia Stevenson (born August 2, 1962) is an American actress known for her extensive work in both television and film. She gained prominence with her leading role in the syndicated parody comedy series My Talk Show (1990-1991) and continued to star in several notable sitcoms, including Bob (1992-1993), Hope & Gloria (1995-1996), and Oh Baby (1998-2000). Stevenson made her feature film debut in Robert Altman's 1992 satirical film The Player. Her filmography also includes appearances in popular movies such as Forget Paris (1995), Home for the Holidays (1995), Happiness (1998), the Air Bud film series, and the Agent Cody Banks series. In television drama, she is recognized for her roles in the Showtime comedy-drama Dead Like Me (2003-2004) and the ABC comedy-drama Men in Trees (2006-2008).

2. Early Life and Background

Cynthia Stevenson's early life saw her move between California and British Columbia, shaping her upbringing and educational path.

2.1. Birth and Upbringing

Stevenson was born on August 2, 1962, in Oakland, California, United States. She spent her childhood in Piedmont, California, a small city of 1.7 mile2 that is enclaved within Oakland. When she was 10 years old, her family relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where she resided until the age of 20.

2.2. Education

Following her move to Canada, Stevenson pursued her academic studies at the University of Victoria, located in British Columbia.

3. Career

Stevenson's career spans several decades, encompassing a wide range of roles in television series, miniseries, and feature films, establishing her as a versatile actress.

3.1. Debut and Early Career

Stevenson began her professional acting career in 1986, making her television debut as a cast member in the syndicated sketch comedy show Off The Wall. The following year, in 1987, she appeared in an episode of the television series Max Headroom. She further expanded her early work by starring in the made-for-television movies A Father's Homecoming and Double Your Pleasure. In 1989, she played a leading role alongside Suzie Plakson in the pilot for Married to the Mob. Also in 1989, she appeared in two episodes of the popular sitcom Cheers, portraying Doris, the high-strung secretary of the character Norm Peterson.

3.2. 1990s

The 1990s marked a period of significant television and film roles for Stevenson. From 1990 to 1991, she held a leading role as Jennifer Bass in the syndicated comedy series My Talk Show. In 1992, she was cast alongside Bob Newhart and Carlene Watkins in the CBS sitcom Bob, which ran for two seasons. That same year, Stevenson made her big screen debut in the comedy film The Player, directed by Robert Altman. She subsequently appeared in several other comedy films, including Watch It (1993), Forget Paris (1995), Home for the Holidays (1995), Live Nude Girls (1995), Happiness (1998), and Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998), which led to her involvement in its sequels. From 1995 to 1996, Stevenson starred as Hope Davidson, a high-strung television producer, in the NBC sitcom Hope and Gloria, which aired for two seasons and 35 episodes. In 1998, she portrayed Jane Conrad, the former wife of astronaut Pete Conrad, in the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. Later that year, Stevenson began starring in the Lifetime comedy series Oh Baby, playing Tracy Calloway, a single working woman who decides to have a child through artificial insemination. The series concluded in 2000.

3.3. 2000s-present

Stevenson's career continued with a diverse array of roles in the 2000s and beyond. In film, she played the mother of Frankie Muniz's character in the 2003 spy comedy Agent Cody Banks and its 2004 sequel, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London. From 2003 to 2004, she was a regular cast member in the Showtime dark comedy-drama series Dead Like Me, portraying Joy Lass, the mother of the lead character George (Ellen Muth). She reprised her role in the 2009 sequel film, Dead like Me: Life After Death. In April 2006, Stevenson filmed a sitcom pilot for CBS titled You've Reached the Elliotts, where she starred opposite Chris Elliott as his wife, though the series was not picked up by the network. She held a recurring role on the Showtime drama series The L Word and co-starred with Judy Davis in the 2006 comedy-drama film A Little Thing Called Murder. Her television appearances during this period also included episodes of Six Feet Under, Monk, and multiple episodes of According to Jim. Additional film credits include Neverwas (2005), Full of It (2007), Will You Marry Me? (2008), I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009), Case 39 (2009), Reunion (2009), and Jennifer's Body (2009).

From 2006 to 2008, Stevenson starred as Celia Bachelor in the ABC comedy-drama series Men in Trees, which was filmed in Vancouver, her former childhood home. In April 2009, she co-starred with Bob Saget in the short-lived ABC sitcom Surviving Suburbia. In 2010, she had a recurring role as Laverne Cassidy, the mother of Shiri Appleby's character, on The CW drama series Life Unexpected. Also in 2010, she appeared in the music video for the song "Fuckin' Perfect" by the artist Pink.

Stevenson has frequently appeared in Shonda Rhimes-produced dramas, including Grey's Anatomy in 2010, Off the Map and Private Practice in 2011, and Scandal in 2013. From 2018 to 2020, she played Pam Walsh, Connor's mother, on How to Get Away with Murder. In 2014, she played the villainous housekeeper Emma Granger in the Lifetime television film Killing Daddy. In 2015, she starred alongside Ed Begley Jr. as Jan in the TBS comedy series Your Family or Mine. Other roles from this period include Kingdom (2014), Sleepy Hollow (2014), Tim & Eric's Bedtime Stories (2015), Supergirl (2018), and The Good Doctor (2021).

3.4. Filmography

Stevenson's acting credits include numerous roles in both film and television.

3.4.1. Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991To the Moon, AlicePerky GirlShort film
1992The PlayerBonnie Sherow
1993Watch ItEllen
1995Forget ParisLiz
1995Home for the HolidaysJoanne Larson Wedman
1995Live Nude GirlsMarcy
1998HappinessTrish MaplewoodNational Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble
1998Air Bud: Golden ReceiverJackie Framm
2002Air Bud: Seventh Inning FetchJackie FrammDVD Exclusive Award for Best Supporting Actress
2003Agent Cody BanksMrs. Banks
2003Air Bud Spikes BackJackie Framm
2004Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination LondonMrs. Banks
2005NeverwasSally
2006Air BuddiesJackie Framm
2007Full of ItMrs. Leonard
2008Snow BuddiesJackie Framm
2009Dead Like Me: Life After DeathJoy Lass
2009ReunionEmily
2009I Love You, Beth CooperMrs. C
2009Case 39Nancy
2009Jennifer's BodyChip's Mom
2012Tiger EyesBitsy Kronick
2018BajaJosey Johnson

3.4.2. Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986Off the WallVariousSyndicated sketch comedy show
1988A Father's HomecomingToniTelevision movie
1989NewhartNancyEpisode: "Shoe Business Is My Life"
1989Married to the MobMarie ScarlottiUnsold television pilot
1989Double Your PleasureNicoleTelevision movie
1989CheersDorisEpisodes: "The Two Faces of Norm" and "Feeble Attraction"
1990BookerPennyEpisode: "Hacker"
1990Empty NestAmyEpisode: "Everything But Love"
1990-1991My Talk ShowJennifer BassMain role, 59 episodes
1991Major DadAnitaEpisode: "Flying Solo"
1992-1993BobTrisha McKayMain role, 28 episodes
1995Dream OnAbby KaplowEpisode: "Off-Off Broadway Bound"
1995-1996Hope and GloriaHope DavidsonMain role, 35 episodes
1998From the Earth to the MoonJane ConradTelevision miniseries
1998Ally McBealHayley ChisolmEpisode: "Alone Again"
1998-2000Oh BabyTracy CallowayMain role, 44 episodes
2003-2004Dead Like MeJoy LassMain role, 28 episodes
2005Six Feet UnderJoy SolomonEpisode: "The Silence"
2005Joan of ArcadiaWoman at Joan's Award CeremonyEpisode: "The Rise & Fall of Joan Girard"; uncredited
2006You've Reached the ElliottsTracy ElliottUnsold television pilot
2006A Little Thing Called MurderBeverly BatesTelevision movie
2006The L WordRoberta Collie3 episodes
2006MonkDianne BrooksEpisode: "Mr. Monk and the Class Reunion"
2003-2007According to JimCindy Devlin4 episodes
2006-2008Men in TreesCelia BachelorMain role, 27 episodes
2008Will You Merry Me?Marilyn KringleTelevision movie
2009Surviving SuburbiaAnne PattersonMain role, 13 episodes
2010Grey's AnatomyRuthie CarlinEpisode: "Blink"
2010Life UnexpectedLaverne Cassidy5 episodes
2011Off the MapCharleneEpisode: "Hold on Tight"
2011ChaosViolet GreenEpisode: "Defending Sophia"
2011Private PracticeKarenEpisode: "Step One"
2012The Soul ManCarolynEpisode: "How to Be a Church Lady"
2013ScandalMary NesbittEpisode: "Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington"
2014Killing DaddyEmma GrangerTelevision movie
2014KingdomMarilyn WheelerEpisode: "Please Refrain from Crying"
2014Sleepy HollowGina LambertEpisode: "Mama"
2015Your Family or MineJanMain role
2015Tim & Eric's Bedtime StoriesMatt's motherEpisode: "Tornado"
2018SupergirlMrs QuellerEpisode: "Shelter from the Storm"
2018-2020How to Get Away with MurderPam WalshRecurring role, 5 episodes
2021The Good DoctorSenator Marian ClarkEpisode: "Letting Go"

4. Personal Life

Cynthia Stevenson is married to director Tom Davies. The couple first met in 1991 on the set of the film The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag, where Stevenson had a brief uncredited appearance. They married in 1992. From 2001 to 2008, Stevenson returned to reside in Vancouver, one of her childhood hometowns, while working there.

5. Awards and Recognition

Cynthia Stevenson has received critical acclaim for her performances, including the National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble for her role in the 1998 film Happiness. She also earned a DVD Exclusive Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the 2002 film Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch.