Debra Mooney is an American character actress, well known for her role as Edna Harper on The WB (now The CW) drama series Everwood (2002–06). Mooney is also known for her recurring roles in Scandal, Grey's Anatomy and The Originals.
Life and career Mooney was born Debra Vick in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and grew up in Ellendale, North Dakota.https://www.inforum.com/content/neighbors-tennessee-williams-impressed-u-m She was married to stage manager, producer, and director Porter Van Zandt until his death in 2012.
Mooney is best known for her role as Edna Harper on The WB drama series Everwood. The series aired from 2002 to 2006. She has appeared in many stage productions and played roles of over 80 films and TV shows. Her notable film credits include Chapter Two opposite Marsha Mason, and Tootsie, Dead Poets Society and Domestic Disturbance.
On television she also starred of short-lived series Dream Street, Davis Rules and Kirk. Mooney guest-starred as the oblivious plutocrat Meg Wellman on Roseanne. She also appeared in Seinfeld, ER, Everybody Loves Raymond, Grey's Anatomy, Bones and Weeds. From 2012 to 2013, she played the role of Supreme Court Justice Verna Thornton in the second season of ABC drama series Scandal created by Shonda Rhimes.
In 2014, she had a recurring role in the Netflix comedy series, Arrested Development. That same year, she joined the cast of The CW series, The Originals in a recurring role as Mary Dumas. In 2016, she starred in the ABC drama pilot The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez, starring Gina Torres in a title role, with Eric Close, Melora Hardin, and Christina Pickles.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1979Chapter TwoMarilyn1982TootsieMrs. Mallory1982SupervisorsMs. BarnesShort1986Agent on IceMrs. Kirkpatrick1989Dead Poets SocietyMrs. Anderson1994SchemesRubyVideo1995NapoleonCatVoice (U.S. Dub)1997AnastasiaActressVoice2001Domestic DisturbanceTheresa2010Sister Theresa2016Those Left Behind2017We Don't Belong HereGrandma
Television Year Title Role Notes1976DelvecchioDr. PetrieEpisodes: "The Silent Prey", "APB: Santa Claus"1983Vangie LewisTV film1985ABC Afterschool SpecialMrs. AndersonEpisode: "Don't Touch"1989Dream StreetLillian DeBeauMain role1990RoseanneMrs. WellmanEpisodes: "Hair", "I'm Hungry", "Fender Bender", "Happy Birthday"1990Empty NestMrs. BiermanEpisode: "The Tortoise & the Harry"1991L.A. LawMarsha HendersonEpisode: "The Gods Must Be Lawyers"1991Tales from the CryptEllenEpisode: "Easel Kill Ya"1991–92Davis RulesMrs. RushMain role1992Nurse PettyEpisode: "Ill Will"1993Flying BlindJoanEpisode: "The Long Goodbye"1993SeinfeldMrs. SweedlerEpisode: "The Bris"1993Grace Under FirePegEpisode: "Grace in the Middle"1993–94Murphy BrownLee LarkinEpisodes: "Trickster, We Hardly Knew Ye", "Anything But Cured"1994Breathing LessonsMrs. StuckeyTV film1994Herman's HeadHerman's MotherEpisode: "Bedtime for Hermo"1994RosemarieEpisode: "George Destroys a Way of Life"1994One West WaikikiSarah GainesEpisode: "Along Came a Spider"1994–95Something WilderMrs. ThorntonEpisodes: "Holy Water", "Hanging with Mr. Cooper"1995Northern ExposureJane Stowe O'ConnellEpisode: "The Mommy's Curse"1995Step by StepNurse DeckersEpisode: "One Truck, Al Dente"1995Pig StyKashaEpisode: "Mr. Nice Guy"1995Party of FiveGloria MetzlerEpisode: "Brother's Keeper"1995Mad About YouSister DorotheaEpisode: "Mad Without You"1995–96KirkSallyMain role1996SistersPaulette BrownEpisode: "Taking a Gamble"1996Touched by an AngelMrs. ShawEpisode: "Flesh and Blood"1996ChampsProf. CarnovskyEpisode: "To Be There or Not to Be There"1996EllenBarbaraEpisode: "Not So Great Expectations"1996Boston CommonMrs. TaggertEpisode: "Coming Clean"1997EleanorEpisode: "He Ain't Famous, He's My Brother"1997Caroline in the CityEleanor CassidyEpisode: "Caroline and the Decanter"1998House RulesMother SuperiorEpisode: "Twisted Sister"1998Maggie WintersIdahEpisode: "Suburban Myth"1999Silk HopeVioletTV film1999, 2009ERLeila Morgan, Barbara FeingoldEpisodes: "Rites of Spring", "Getting to Know You", "Love Is a Battlefield"2000Will & GraceSister RobertEpisode: "Sweet (and Sour) Charity"2000Just Shoot Me!Ellen GelmanEpisode: "Blinded by the Right"2001Judging AmyMarjorie LandsdownEpisode: "Adoption Day"2000–2003Judge P. SpindleGuest role (seasons 4–6, 8)2002PhillyBrenda PaganoEpisode: "Lies of Minelli"2002–03Everybody Loves RaymondLeeEpisodes: "The Skit", "Thank You Notes", "Home from School"2002–2006EverwoodEdna HarperMain role2004Joan of ArcadiaRuth WashingtonEpisode: "Silence"2006KatTV film2006Elaine DonahueEpisodes: "Serving the King: Parts 1 & 2"2007PsychMrs. LassiterEpisode: "Poker? I Barely Know Her"2007Private PracticeSylvieEpisode: "In Which Addison Has a Very Casual Get Together"2007–08Boston LegalJudge Patrice WebbEpisodes: "Nuts", "The Good Lawyer", "The Bride Wore Blood", "Rescue Me"2008Pushing DaisiesCallista CodEpisode: "Frescorts"2008Cold CaseBetty Sue BakerEpisode: "Pin Up Girl"2009Eleventh HourPete HammerEpisode: "Pinocchio"2009–10, 2015–2021, 2026Grey's AnatomyEvelyn HuntGuest role (seasons 5, 7, 11–12, 14–18, 22)2010Den BrotherAllie JacklitzTV film2010HawthorneMaureenEpisode: "No Exit"2011BonesAllison RoseEpisode: "The Change in the Game"2011WeedsShelby KeeneEpisodes: "Game-Played", "Synthetics"2011Lydia BibbEpisode: "Blood and Sand"2012–13Theresa WeaverEpisodes: "Thanksgiving Is for the Bird-Kersees", "Thanksgiving Is No Schmuck Bait"2012–13, 2017ScandalVerna ThorntonRecurring role (season 2), guest (season 6)2013Save MeRubyEpisode: "WWJD"2013Jodi Arias: Dirty Little SecretCarolineTV film2013, 2018Arrested DevelopmentJoan BarkGuest role (seasons 4–5)2014Parks and RecreationRosie DemarcoEpisode: "Anniversaries"2014IntelligenceMary VaughnEpisode: "Being Human"2014RakeDorothy CopelyEpisode: "Mammophile"2015, 2017Mary DumasRecurring role (seasons 2 & 4), guest (season 3)2016ChanceDr. Myra CohenEpisodes: "Camera Obscura", "Fluid Management"2016ClaraTV film2017This Is UsMrs. PeabodyEpisode: "Moonshadow"2020BatwomanMabel CartwrightEpisode: "Off With Her Head"2021Grace and FrankieJudge McavoyEpisode: "The Arraignment"2022Inventing AnnaJudgeEpisodes: "Life of a VIP", “Cash on Delivery”, “Dangerously Close”2024WalkerMaybelline Episodes: "Maybe it’s Maybelline" 2025Doctor OdysseyJuneEpisodes: "Casino Week"
Theater Year Title Role Notes1972Fiddler on the Roof 1972Blanche DuBois19751977Chapter TwoFaye Medwick / Jennie MaloneReplacement Broadway debut1980Talley's FollySally TalleyReplacement1984Death of a SalesmanLindaUnderstudy1985MickeyReplacement1986Sally1989Joyce1992Esther Franz1998Getting and SpendingMary Phillips
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