Laurie O'Brien (born ) is an American actress, playwright, and former psychologist. She is best known for voicing Baby Piggy on the Saturday morning cartoon Jim Henson's Muppet Babies and the CTW animated series Cro as Ivana.
Early years Born in Denver, Colorado, O'Brien paid her way for attending the University of Colorado Boulder (UC) by working in a juvenile detention center, in a mental hospital, and with asthmatic children at the National Jewish Hospital in Denver. O'Brien developed a program of bibliotherapy by teaching asthmatic children while reading aloud with them. She also taught theater to people with schizophrenia and worked with unwed mothers, as well as people addicted to drugs, having "deeply psychotic" symptoms and profound hearing loss, and being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and autism.
Taking all theater courses she could attend, O'Brien graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Because she was not able to transition to a double major, she returned to the university in the mid-1970s and graduated with an interdisciplinary master's degree in theater, although they were fashioned from courses in literature, psychology, and theater. She described the combination of courses as "Reader's Theater".
Prior to moving to Los Angeles, O'Brien started to suffer depression from work and wanted a professional career as an actress. She left the job sometime in late 1980 and moved to Los Angeles in November 1980. O'Brien originally planned to move to New York City, but felt that she did not want to live in the city.
Career After O'Brien moved to Los Angeles, O'Brien spent the first three months watching theater performances, taking classes for voice and movement, and studying the Equity Waiver Plan. O'Brien was one of 400 people who showed up to audition for parts in Mary Barnes, a theater play based on the autobiography Mary Barnes: Two Accounts of a Journey Through Madness. Director Rons Sossi initially considered her for the role of patient Angie, but after repeated callbacks and auditions, he selected her to portray Barnes. Her first role in Los Angeles, O'Brien initially turned the role down because a dramatic scene involving nudity frightened her, but Sossi convinced her to take a risk, stating to her that it would be okay to risk herself. O'Brien received L.A. Drama Critics Circle and LA Weekly awards for her performance of the role. O'Brien reprised the role in the revival of Mary Barnes in Odyssey Theatre in 1995. In 1984, O'Brien, along with six other actors, was nominated for the category of Ensemble Performance for the performance of the ensemble in Quilters at the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards. Her work on stage also included winning two major awards for her lead roles in Savage in Limbo and Times Like These.
As an on-camera actress, O'Brien has guest starred on the soap opera Santa Barbara as a hooker as well as other numerous TV series including Trapper John, M.D., NYPD Blue, Matlock, Chicago Hope, ER, CSI, CSI Miami, 7th Heaven, Reasonable Doubts, Shark, Three Rivers, Detroit 1-8-7, and L.A. Law on which she played a woman on trial for killing her rapist. TV movies include The Defiant Ones, Too Young to Die?, Infidelity, Children of the Night, Convicted, and One More Mountain. Movies include Bottle Shock in which she played Christopher Pine's mother.
Personal life In 1973, O'Brien met a doctor while working at National Jewish Hospital. Being supportive of her remedial work, he was married to O'Brien in 1976. The marriage was later filed for a divorce in late 1980. Later, she married actor Carl Weintraub. The couple had one son named Cory, who was born in 1989 or 1990.
Acting credits Theater Year(s)TitleRoleVenueNotes1982–83Mary BarnesMary BarnesOdyssey Theatre, Los AngelesProfessional debut; leading roleL.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Performance/Leading RoleLA Weekly award1983Strawberry EnvyKentucky Froth BelleLos Angeles City College, Los AngelesIncluded in the second bill of Louis B. Mayer Playwright's Workshop FestivalWhere I LiveItchey Foote, Los AngelesBased on Tennessee Williams' essays1983–84QuiltersGarrett's daughterMusic Center Plaza, Los AngelesNominated - L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Ensemble Performance1984Vampire GutsLouisePilot Theatre, Los AngelesGardeniaLydie BreezeLos Angeles Actors' Theatre, Los AngelesSecond chapter of Lydie Breeze seriesWomen and WaterFourth chapter of Lydie Breeze series1986The History of FearVictory Theatre, BurbankInside OutBeverly Hills Playhouse, Beverly HillsSolo role; also playwright1987Savage in LimboDenise SavageThe Cast Theatre, Los AngelesLeading roleL.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Lead Performance1993JulietOdyssey Theatre, Los AngelesCan CanThe Love Suicide at Schofield Barracks1995Mary BarnesMary BarnesLeading role; revival1999The GreeksHelen2003Times Like TheseOviation Award for the performance of the role2006First Monday in OctoberRuth Loomis2012I Am ChrissieHerselfPromenade Playhouse, Los AngelesLeading role; also playwright2017Pie in the SkyDoryVictory Theatre, Burbank
Film Year(s)TitleRoleNotes1982Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle SwannTerryFilm debut1986The Adventures of the American RabbitBunny O' Hare (voice)1987Harry and the HendersonsScreaming Woman1992Gas Food LodgingThelma2001Mockingbird Don't SingBeverly Glazer2002American GunMartin's Mother2004Around the BendRuth2005InvasionReporter2006Little ChenierFaye2008Bottle ShockLauraDisfiguredSheila2022Pie in the SkyDoryFilm adaptation of the live show of the same name
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1983DynastyMaidTelevision debutEpisode: "Reunion in Singapore"St. ElsewhereMrs. MorgenEpisode: "Working"Knight RiderLinda GrovesEpisode: "Nobody Does It Better"1983–85Dungeons & DragonsAdditional voices27 episodes1984LegmenMary SmithEpisode: "I Shall Be Re-Released"Calamity JaneMamieTelevision filmSaturday's the Place!HerselfTelevision film1984–91Muppet BabiesBaby Piggy, Captain Crochette Hook (voice)107 episodes1985Obsessed with a Married WomanGaliTelevision filmSanta BarbaraHooker2 episodesThe TransformersAstoria Carlton-Ritz (voice)Episode: "The Girl Who Loved Powerglide"Shadow ChasersVicki PasternackEpisode: "Spirit of St. Louis"The GLO Friends Save ChristmasAdditional voicesTelevision film1986The Defiant OnesPaulineTelevision filmTrapper John, M.D.OlivaEpisode: "Life, Death, and Dr. Christmas"Cagney & LaceyLinda DonnerEpisode: "Extradition"ConvictedAudrey DelaneyTelevision film1987Deadly CareGloriaTelevision filmInfidelityEileenTelevision filmThe Real GhostbustersVanna (voice)Episode: "The Cabinet of Calamari"1988OharaRuth BrittonEpisode: "Sign of the Times"L.A. LawMegan PennyEpisode: "Belle of the Bald"1989ABC Weekend SpecialLewis' Mom, Trashy's SisterEpisode: "The Monster Bed"1990Too Young to Die?Wanda Bradley SledgeTelevision filmCartoon All-Stars to the RescueBaby Piggy, Mom (voice)Television filmGabriel's FireKathy DanubeEpisode: "To Catch a Con: Part 2"1991The AntagonistsAlyEpisode: "Brother to Brother"1992Reasonable DoubtsEsther NicholsEpisode: "Maggie Finds Her Soul"1993Beyond SuspicionPatTelevision film1993–94CroIvanna (voice)14 episodes1994One More MountainElizabeth GravesTelevision film1995Vanishing SonSandra GarbettEpisode: "Sweet Sixteen"Picket FencesSara HynesEpisode: "The Song of Rome"Live ShotMarilyn Maitland2 episodes1996The Lazarus ManCharlotte BowerEpisode: "The Conspirator"Walker, Texas RangerBecky StantonEpisode: "A Ranger Christmas"1996, 1999Chicago HopeMyra Delaney, Antonia White2 episodes1997Crisis CenterMrs. ThomasEpisode: "Where Truth Lies"7th HeavenCarolEpisode: "I Love You"1997, 2001NYPD BlueMrs. Pierson, Dr. Rosen2 episodes1998Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionPaula MyrtleSeason 2, Episode 5Segment: "The Land"Credited as Laurie O' BrianERMrs. RichardsEpisode: "The Miracle Worker"2000Boston PublicMelanie FitzgeraldEpisode: "Chapter Six"2001Strong MedicineArlene BillingsEpisode: "Impaired"2002The Zeta ProjectPaulaEpisode: "Eye of the Storm"Presidio MedDenise DembryEpisode: "This Baby's Gonna Fly"2003CSI: MiamiMary HinkleEpisode: "Double Cap"2004The DivisionConnie HicksEpisode: "Be Careful What You Wish For"2005CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMrs. MeyersEpisode: "Shooting Stars"2006SmithBarbara CollinsEpisode: "Two"2007SharkAmanda MortonEpisode: "Wayne's World 2: Revenge of the Shark"2009Three RiversRuthEpisode: "Ryan's First Day"2010Detroit 1-8-7June BurkeEpisode: "Pharmacy Double/Bullet Train"2013SusannaDr. Anderson3 episodes2014Complete WorksDeborah Hünterschmidt5 episodes
Awards L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for the category of Performance/Leading Role for the role of Mary Barnes in Mary Barnes, 1983 LA Weekly award for the role of Mary Barnes in Mary Barnes, 1983 L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for the category of Lead Performance for the role of Denise Savage in Savage in Limbo, 1987 Ovation Award, Times Like These, 2003
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