Mary T. Mara (September 21, 1960 – June 26, 2022) was an American television and film actress known for her main role as Inspector Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges and appearances on primetime dramas ER and Law & Order. She also appeared in Mr. Saturday Night.

Early life and education Mara was born in Syracuse, New York, on September 21, 1960. Her father, Roger, worked as the director of special events for the New York State Fair; her mother, Lucille, was an accountant. Mara had a brother and two sisters. She attended Corcoran High School in Syracuse. After graduating, she studied at San Francisco State University and the Yale School of Drama, obtaining a Master of Fine Arts from the latter institution.

Career Mara made her film debut in the 1989 television film The Preppie Murder. In the same year, she participated in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of Twelfth Night, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Goldblum and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. She later featured in Mr. Saturday Night (1992), starring alongside Billy Crystal as his character's estranged daughter.

Mara's breakthrough role came on ER, which was the most popular medical drama airing on prime time television during the mid-1990s. She played Loretta Sweets, a patient with cervical cancer, in nine episodes from 1995 to 1996. This helped spur her into the starring role of Inspector Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges from 1996 to 1997. When reflecting on that role several years later, she noted that it was a "male-dominated show", adding that although the writers "started to write for me really well about halfway through the season", the producers "were afraid I would stand out too much." She also featured on shows such as Law & Order, NYPD Blue, and Ally McBeal around this time.

During the later part of her career, Mara appeared as a recurring character in Dexter (2009) as Valerie Hodges and Ray Donovan (2013) as Mrs. Sullivan. She also starred in the horror film Prom Night (2008). Her final role was in the 2020 film Break Even. After appearing in the film, Mara retired from acting.

Personal life and death Mara lived a bicoastal life in New York City and Southern California. According to Jon Lindstrom, she underwent chemotherapy for cancer in 2008, when they performed together in the play In Heat by Malcolm Danare. Following her retirement from acting, she returned to Syracuse. She resided in Cape Vincent, New York, at the time of her death. Mara had a stepdaughter.

Mara drowned on the morning of June 26, 2022, in Cape Vincent while swimming in the St. Lawrence River. She was 61. Tributes to Mara were posted on social media by Billy Crystal, Annette O'Toole, and Jon Lindstrom. Her death was ruled an accident.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1989 The Preppie Murder Susan Bird Television filmFilm debut 1990 Blue Steel Wife1991 The Hard Way Detective China True Colors Sophia Palmeri Out of the Rain Trisha1992 Mr. Saturday Night Susan Love Potion No. 9 Marisa1995 Just Looking Alicia Indictment: The McMartin Trial Detective Jane Hoag1996 Bound Sue the Bartender What Kind of Mother Are You? Marcy Hackman Television film 1998 A Civil Action Kathy Boyer 1999 Switched at Birth Judy Television film2001 Stranger Inside Tanya Television film Lloyd JoAnn K-PAX Abby 2002 Saint Sinner Munkar Television film 2006 Undoing Kasawa Gridiron Gang Kenny's mom 2008 Prom Night Mrs. Waters 2020 Break Even Molly

Television Year Title Role Notes 1993, 1999 Law & Order Mrs. Sharkey/Sally Knight 2 episodes 1994, 1998 NYPD Blue Linda Walker/Theresa Carlin 2 episodes 1995–96 ER Loretta Sweet 9 episodes 1996–97 Nash Bridges Inspector Bryn Carson Main character, seasons 1–21997 Dellaventura Anne Morgan Episode: "Clean Slate" Spicy City Alice / Geisha Voice 1998 The Visitor Magnolia Vale Episode: "The Chain"1999 Ally McBeal Julie Stall Episode: "Angels and Blimps" Farscape Lyneea Episode: "I, E.T." Profiler Mrs. Atkins Episode: "Infidelity" G vs E Leona Episode: "Evilator"2001 The Practice Dr. Jane Lefkowitz 2 episodes Gideon's Crossing Dr. Jane Lefkowitz 2 episodes Becker Beth Episode: "Really Good Advice" Judging Amy Deborah Mahaffey Episode: "Hold on Tight" The West Wing Sherri Wexler Episode: "On the Day Before" Third Watch Mrs. Jensen 2 episodes2002 Boston Public Pauline Campbell Episode: "Chapter Thirty-Two" Philly Melissa Cannon Episode: "Meat Me in Philly" Crossing Jordan Denise Tremaine Episode: "Lost and Found" 2003–04 The Handler Camille 3 episodes2004 The Guardian Alison Scanlon Episode: "The Watchers" Star Trek: Enterprise Sphere Builder Presage 3 episodes Without a Trace Mrs. Corcoran Episode: "In the Dark" 7th Heaven Nurse Episode: "Gratitude" Joan of Arcadia Sarah Polonsky Episode: "The Book of Questions"2005 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Carlene Ballentine Episode: "Pure" Monk Treesa Crane Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Kid" Nip/Tuck Natalie Holden Episode: "Sal Perri" 2006 Bones Helen Bronson Episode: "The Woman in the Tunnel"2009 Dexter Valerie Hodges 3 episodes Lost Jill 2 episodes Lie to Me Krentz Episode: "Control Factor" Saving Grace Zoe Episode: "She's a Lump"2013 Ray Donovan Mrs. Sullivan 4 episodes Shameless Nance 2 episodes2014 Criminal Minds Judith Anderson Episode: "Mr. and Mrs. Anderson"General Hospital Selma

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