Kali Rocha (born December 5, 1971) is an American actress."Kali Rocha". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved April 25, 2016. She is known for portraying Karen Rooney, the mother of the four Rooney children and the school's vice principal, on the Disney Channel sitcom Liv and Maddie.Quinn, Marie (September 8, 2014). "We talk to Kali Rocha (the mom on) Liv and Maddie on the Disney Channel Set Visit" . RedCarpetReportTV.com. Retrieved February 10, 2017. She also co-wrote four episodes of the show.Half Crazy Mama (March 26, 2015). "New Liv and Maddie Episode co-written by Kali Rocha!". HalfCrazyMama.com. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
Early life Rocha was born on December 5, 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee and grew up in Rhode Island,. graduating from Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in 1993.Staff (September 1, 2015). "Alumni on the Small Screen". Carnegie Mellon University. R12, 2017.
Career Rocha's career began on stage in the August 1993 revival of the Jane Bowles play In the Summer House at the Vivian Beaumont Theater."In the Summer House". Playbill. Retrieved September 19, 2016. Since then she has been in multiple Broadway and Off-Broadway productions including Noises Off and Nicky Silver's comedy The Altruists where she created the role of Cybil.Shapiro, Marjorie (March 5, 2000). "Marge Says: The Altruists". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
Her on-screen debut was in the 1996 cinematic adaptation of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, as Mercy Lewis. She stood out when she played the Atlantic American flight attendant who argued with Ben Stiller's character at the airport in the 2000 comedy Meet the Parents, a role she reprised in the sequel Meet the Fockers."Greg Has to Wait – Meet the Parents Movie Clip". YouTube. Retrieved February 10, 2017. She also had a recurring role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Anya's vengeance demon friend, Halfrek, and appeared as William the Bloody's love interest, Cecily. Rocha played Stonewall Jackson's wife, Anna in Ron Maxwell's Gods and Generals, an epic drama about the first two years of the American Civil War. Other films include The Object of My Affection, Autumn in New York, White Oleander, When Billie Beat Bobby, and Ready? OK!.
She has appeared on the Will & Grace episode "Strangers With Candice", as a straight woman who flirts with Will. In spring 2006, Rocha began acting in the short-lived NBC sitcom Teachers. She guest-starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Cindy Marino, an aggressive TV reporter. Also, she appeared on an episode of Bones as a victim's mother. Rocha has also played the character of a fourth-year resident surgeon, Dr. Sydney Heron, at Seattle Grace Hospital in the ABC TV series Grey's Anatomy.
In 2009, Rocha appeared with fellow Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum Emma Caulfield in the film TiMER.Genzlinger, Neil (May 14, 2010). "TiMER: A Sci-Fi Love Story". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2011. Rocha starred in the first and only season of Sherri starring Sherri Shepherd from The View which was loosely based on Shepherd's life. She played Summer, Sherri's boss and eventual friend. It aired on the Lifetime Network.
In 2016, Rocha was cast as Marcy Burns, a recurring character on the CBS sitcom Man with a Plan. In 2018, she was upgraded to a series regular for the third season.
Personal life In January 2008, Rocha announced that she was pregnant.TV Guide News (January 31, 2008). "Grey's Anatomy Doc Expecting". TV Guide. Retrieved March 27, 2011. She gave birth to her son Barlow Aix Krikorian on August 4, 2008, and her daughter Savria Dune Krikorian on January 25, 2011.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1996Mercy Lewis1998Melissa Marx2000Autumn in New YorkShannonMeet the ParentsFlight Attendant2002White OleanderSusan Valeris2003Gods and GeneralsAnna Morrison Jackson2004StuckSashaShort filmMeet the FockersFlight Attendant2005Confessions of an Action StarBethBam Bam and CelesteAngelaSeagullKali2006Falling for GraceCarlaIra & AbbyTracy2007Dead WriteSamanthaRipple EffectAlex2008Over Her Dead BodyAngelReady? OK!Hallie HintonJohn's HandTerryShort film2009TiMERPattyStolenCoral2010Video NightKaliVideo short2011Mr. StacheNarratorShort filmSerenity HouseMarnieShort film2012Brake911 Operator2014Space Station 76DonnaMimi Landry2016Lend a Hand for LoveErnestineShort filmGary Got Involved!NeighborShort film
Television Year Title Role Notes1997Liberty! The American RevolutionEliza WilkinsonTV miniseries1998Flossy WhitcombTV film2001When Billie Beat BobbyConnieTV filmCursed (aka The Weber Show)SophieEpisode: "...And Then Jack Had Two Dates"BeckerKaylaEpisode: "Psycho Therapy"2002Family LawKelly GilbertEpisode: "Alienation of Affection"HackJoyceEpisode: "All Night Long"2000–2002Buffy the Vampire SlayerCecily Addams/Halfrek7 episodes2003Crossing JordanFelix TateEpisode: "Sunset Division"Will & GraceStephanieEpisode: "Strangers with Candice"2005Family PlanStacyTV filmWithout a TraceLiz MurrayEpisode: "Party Girl"2006TeachersPrincipal Emma WigginsAll 6 episodesStandoffLeanne BensonEpisode: "Partners in Crime"BonesJackie SwansonEpisode: "The Girl with the Curl"2006–2007, 2024Grey's AnatomyDr. Sydney Heron9 episodes2007Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCindy MarinoEpisode: "Haystack"Boston LegalAllison LovejoyEpisode: "Duck and Cover"Wendy 'The Wolf' WolframTV film2008Notes from the UnderbellyPaige BartlettEpisode: "Friends and Neighbors"2009MonkMaria ScheterEpisode: "Mr. Monk Fights City Hall"SherriSummer DickieAll 13 episodes2010$#*! My Dad SaysRobertaEpisode: "You Can't Handle the Truce"2011Drop Dead DivaDr. Audrey FoleyEpisode: "You Bet Your Life"DeannaEpisode: "An Inconvenient Tooth"2012Modern FamilyParty PlannerEpisode: "Leap Day"CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMs. FowlerEpisode: "Altered Stakes"Puppy LoveGailTV filmBits and PiecesJodiTV film (Liv and Maddie original pilot)2013–2017Liv and MaddieKaren RooneyMain role2016–2020Man with a PlanMarcy BurnsRecurring: seasons 1–2;Main: seasons 3–42019Harvey Street KidsMarie CurieGuest voice2023Waco: The AftermathRuth RiddleMain role2024That Girl Lay LayDr. HirtEpisode: Toothaches and CHOFMA Breaks"
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