Wikipedia / Nancy Lenehan
Wikipedia / Nancy Lenehan
Nancy Lenehan (born April 26, 1953) is an American actress. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1980 action comedy film Smokey and the Bandit II and later had supporting roles in films She's Having a Baby (1988), Pleasantville (1998), and Catch Me If You Can (2002). Better known for her television appearances, Lenehan was regular cast member in a number of short-lived sitcoms, including Great Scott! (1992), The Faculty (1996), Married to the Kellys (2003–04), Worst Week (2008–09), How to Be a Gentleman (2011), and People of Earth (2016–17). She also had recurring roles on Grace Under Fire, My Name Is Earl, Caroline in the City, Ellen, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Veep.
Early life and education
Lenehan was born on Long Island, New York. She attended Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota.
Career
Lenehan made her screen debut appearing in the 1979 made-for-television movie When She Was Bad... starring Cheryl Ladd and later guest-starred on Alice. She made her big screen debut in the 1980 action comedy film Smokey and the Bandit II playing the supporting role. The following years, Lenehan appeared in films The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981), Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again (1982), Stoogemania (1986), Like Father Like Son (1987), She's Having a Baby (1988) and The Great Outdoors (1988). On television, Lenehan guest-starred on both comedy and dramas including Hill Street Blues, Family Ties, The Facts of Life, Fame, The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, The Tracey Ullman Show, Murphy Brown, Roseanne, The Golden Girls and Seinfeld. She provided the speaking and singing voice of Helen Henny from Chuck E Cheese's Pizza Time Theater restaurants from 1977 to 1980, then again from 1983-1986.
In 1992, Lenehan starred in the Fox short-lived sitcom Great Scott!. From 1993 to 1998 she had a recurring role in the ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire playing Audrey Sheffield. In 1996 she was regular cast member on the Meredith Baxter' sitcom The Faculty. She also had a recurring role on the ABC sitcom Ellen during its fourth season, playing the title character's realtor, Margaret Reed. She starred as Sandy Kelly, the matriarch in the ABC sitcom Married to the Kellys (2003–2004), and had a recurring role on My Name Is Earl (2005–2008) as Earl and Randy's mother, Kay Hickey. From 2008 to 2009, she co-starred on the short-lived CBS sitcom Worst Week.
Lenehan has appeared in featured, recurring and guest roles in more than 100 television shows, including Malcolm in the Middle, Everybody Loves Raymond, How I Met Your Mother, Judging Amy, Gilmore Girls, Caroline in the City (playing office manager Plum in two episodes in Season 4), Dharma & Greg, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 3rd Rock from the Sun, ER, Boy Meets World, The Nanny, Quantum Leap, Just Shoot Me!, Ally McBeal, That '70s Show, Nip/Tuck, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Middle, Black-ish, Superstore, Bless This Mess and Grace and Frankie. From 2014 to 2019 she had a recurring role as Nancy Ryan in the HBO comedy series, Veep. In 2023, she played Senator Jennings in the Amazon political thriller Jack Ryan.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1980 | Ramona | ||
1986 | Connie Smoynek | ||
1988 | Cynthia | ||
Waitress | |||
1992 | Vegas Motel 9 Desk Clerk | ||
Miss Clayton | |||
1998 | Marge Jenkins | ||
1999 | Lady On Plane | ||
2001 | Puff's Mother | ||
2002 | Woman on Plane | ||
Kaufman's Mother | |||
Carol Strong | |||
2005 | Mrs. Struggs | ||
2007 | Counselor | ||
2011 | Mrs. Donnelley | ||
2014 | Linda | ||
2017 | Billie's Mom | ||
2022 | That's Amor | Lainie | |
2023 | Laurie | ||
2024 | Kay |
Television
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
1982 | Katy Moore | 2 episodes | |
1982 | Roberta | 1 episode | |
1983 | Paulette | 1 episode | |
1984 | Georgette | 1 episode | |
1985 | Brenda Haskell | 1 episode | |
1985 | Lyda | 1 episode | |
1986 | Linda Kilmer | 1 episode | |
1986 | Phylis Caruso | 1 episode | |
1987 | Mrs. Warren, Courtney's Mom | 2 episodes | |
1987 | Judy | 1 episode | |
1987 | Vivian | 1 episode | |
1987 | Lenore | 1 episode | |
1987 | Lucy | 1 episode | |
1987 | Mrs. Barton | Television film | |
1988 | Kristi Castetter | 1 episode | |
1988 | Mrs. Fairchild | 1 episode | |
1989 | Laverne Litwak | 1 episode | |
1989 | Marti Brandt | 1 episode | |
1989 | Ms. Abrams | 1 episode | |
1989 | Mrs. Crenshaw | 1 episode | |
1989 | Mrs. Harris | Television film | |
1990 | Nun | 1 episode | |
1990 | Sydney | 1 episode | |
1990 | Happy Customer | 1 episode | |
1990 | Mrs. Williams | 1 episode | |
1990 | Harriet Alvena Baum Neal | Television film | |
1991 | Joy Zimmer | 2 episodes | |
1991 | Cheryl Pinson | 1 episode | |
1991 | Colleen McBain | 1 episode | |
1992 | Paula Richardson | 1 episode | |
1992 | Beverly Melrod | Main role, 7 episodes | |
1993 | Nancy | 1 episode | |
1993 | Susan Thomas | 1 episode | |
1993 | Volunteer | 1 episode | |
1993 | Amy Baker | 1 episode | |
1993–1998 | Audrey Sheffield | Recurring role, 12 episodes | |
1994 | Mrs. Tubman | 1 episode | |
1995 | Dr. Wallach | 1 episode | |
1996 | Daisy Skelnick | Main role, 13 episodes | |
1996 | Lila | 1 episode | |
1996 | Sister Faith | Television film | |
1996–1997 | Margaret Reed | 4 episodes | |
1997 | Susan Kalliback | 1 episode | |
1997 | Mrs. St. Clair | 1 episode | |
1997 | Nancy Milford | 1 episode | |
1997 | Nurse MacKenzie | 1 episode | |
1997 | Mimi | 1 episode | |
1998 | Meredith Hirsh | 1 episode | |
1998 | Mrs. Erlich | 1 episode | |
1998 | Plum | 2 episodes | |
1998 | Pat | Episode: "Dead Man's Party" | |
1999 | Edie Harvell | 1 episode | |
1999 | Karen Love | 2 episodes | |
1999 | Mrs. Needles | 1 episode | |
1999 | Jane | 1 episode | |
1999 | Bunny | 1 episode | |
1999–2000 | Dr. Peel | 2 episodes | |
1999–2001 | Faye Rotundi | 3 episodes | |
2000 | Judy | 1 episode | |
2000 | Christie / Helen | 2 episodes | |
2001 | Dr. Gibson | 1 episode | |
2001 | Mrs. Hoeller | 1 episode | |
2001 | LaDawn | 1 episode | |
2001 | Jan | 1 episode | |
2002 | Principal Deborah Harkness | 2 episodes | |
2002 | Faye | 1 episode | |
2002 | Pamela | 1 episode | |
2003 | Linda | 1 episode | |
2003 | Nina's Mom | 1 episode | |
2003 | Mrs. Hadley | Television film, uncredited | |
2003–2004 | Sandy Kelly | Main role, 20 episodes | |
2004 | School Secretary | 1 episode | |
2005 | Erica Marx | 1 episode | |
2005 | Patty | 2 episodes | |
2005 | Sue Alderman | 1 episode | |
2005 | Sister Lane | 1 episode | |
2005–2008 | Recurring role, 10 episodes | ||
2006 | Mrs. Jeter | 1 episode | |
2006–2010 | Principal Marcie Nunley | Recurring role, 6 episodes | |
2007 | Eileen | 1 episode | |
2008 | Kelly Pincher | 3 episodes | |
2008–2009 | Angela Clayton | Main role, 16 episodes | |
2009 | Lara | 1 episode | |
2011–2012 | Diane Carlson | Main role, 9 episodes | |
2012 | Penny | 1 episode | |
2013–2014 | Cheryl | 2 episodes | |
2014–2019 | Mrs. Ryan | Recurring role, 11 episodes | |
2016–2017 | Margaret Flood | Main role, 20 episodes | |
2018–2020 | Alice | 2 episodes | |
2018 | Maureen | 1 episode | |
2018 | Heather Jacoby | 1 episode | |
2019 | Barbara Piermont | 1 episode | |
2019–2020 | Deb | Recurring role, 13 episodes | |
2020 | Judy | 1 episode | |
2021 | Nonna | 1 episode | |
2022 | Rosemary | 1 episode | |
2022 | Vivienne | 2 episodes | |
2023 | Winnie | 1 episode | |
2023 | Senator Jennings | 4 episodes | |
2023 | Camille Park | 2 episodes | |
2024 | Rose | 1 episode | |
2024 | Dr. Barbara Findley | 2 episodes | |
2025 | Ann | Recurring role, 5 episodes | |
2026 | Gerrie Doyle | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
References
External links