Mary Gross

Mary Gross
Gross, c. 1981
Born (1953-03-25) March 25, 1953 (age 73)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationsActress, comedian, voice actress
Years active1980–2012
RelativesMichael Gross (brother)
Ron Masak (cousin)

Mary Gross (born March 25, 1953) is an American actress and comedian known for her four-year stint on Saturday Night Live from 1981 to 1985 and her recurring role as Sabrina Spellman (Melissa Joan Hart)'s favorite teacher, Mrs. Quick in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch from 1997 to 2000. Her credits also include roles on Animaniacs, Boston Legal, That's So Raven and Six Feet Under.

Early life

Gross was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1953. She is the youngest of three children born to William Oscar Gross, a tool designer, and Virginia Ruth (née Cahill), a telephone operator (the eldest being actor Michael Gross). She attended Madonna High School—an all-girls Catholic school, since demolished—and Loyola University, where she majored in English. While in high school, Gross made her performing debut—singing, in character, as France's Louis XIV, to the tune of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "I Feel Pretty"—alongside fellow Madonna alumna Marilu Henner. Gross worked for five years as a secretary for the American Dental Association.

Career

Early career

Gross answered an ad for a comedy workshop for the Reification Company, where she went to learn about writing comedy sketches. While there, she ended up performing and soon began performing in local productions. In 1979, she joined the Second City comedy troupe.

Saturday Night Live (1981–1985)

Gross joined Saturday Night Live in 1981, during the show's seventh season, which was retooled extensively after the sixth season proved a critical failure. She became co-anchor with Brian Doyle-Murray of the Weekend Update segment (renamed SNL Newsbreak) during her first season. She and the rest of the cast left in 1985 following executive producer Dick Ebersol's departure from the show at the end of the tenth season.

Recurring characters

Celebrity impersonations

Personal life

Gross has never married, but as of June 1982, Chicago-based photographer Jay King was referred to as "her longtime boyfriend" in a profile/interview of Gross penned by Chicago Sun-Times writer Michael Davis. Duration aside, their relationship was also reported that year by the Chicago Tribune's Jon Anderson and several years later by researcher-author Mary Unterbrinker.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Club Paradise Jackie
1987 Baby Boom Charlotte Elkman
1988 The Couch Trip Vera Maitlin
Casual Sex? Ilene
Big Business Judy
Hot to Trot Ms. French
Feds Janis Zuckerman
1989 Troop Beverly Hills Annie Herman
1992 There Goes the Neighborhood Mrs. Bratesman
1993 Public Enemy #2 Marcey
1994 The Santa Clause Ms. Daniels
1998 Practical Magic Debbie
2001 Tremors 3: Back to Perfection Tourist Mom
2002 40 Days and 40 Nights Bev Sullivan
2003 A Mighty Wind Ma Klapper

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1981–1985 Saturday Night Live Herself / Various Cast member
1985 Tales of the Unexpected Woman on beach Episode: "Scrimshaw"
1986 Amen Nurse Kenningston Episode: "After the Fall"
1988 Channel 99 Fifi Kurtz TV film
1989 The People Next Door Abigail MacIntyre Kellogg Main role
1992 Billy Phoebe Trillman Recurring role
Murphy Brown Chris Manheim Episode: "He-Ho, He-Ho, It's Off to Lamaze We Go"
1993 Jack's Place Rosemary Episode: "Faithful Henry"
1993–1997 Animaniacs Katie's Mom Voice, recurring role
1994 The Larry Sanders Show Mary Gross Episode: "Next Stop Bottom"
1995 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Nell Newtrich Episode: "Ultra Woman"
The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat Voices Recurring role
1997 Something So Right Polly Episode: "Something About Cold Storage"
The Jeff Foxworthy Show Aunt Jane Episode: "Twister of Fate"
The Angry Beavers Deer / Bird Voice, episode: "Deranged Ranger"
1997–2000 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Mrs. Quick Recurring role
1997–2002 Hey Arnold! School Nurse Shelley Voice, 3 episodes
1999 Detention Patsy Wickett Voice, 2 episodes
2000 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Elise Voice, episode: "The Frog Princess"
Jailbait Patti Fisher TV film
Lost Cat Nancy Mouse Voice, TV film
What a Cartoon! Nancy Mouse Voice, episode: "Lost Cat"
2001 Providence Martha Blankenship Episode: "Love Story"
Six Feet Under Floral Instructor Episode: "The Trip"
Off Centre Roberta Flack / Mrs. Platt Episode: "Swing Time"
2002 Dharma & Greg Mary Episode: "This Diamond Ring"
As Told by Ginger Bobbie Lightfoot Voice, episode: "Family Therapy"
2003 A Minute with Stan Hooper Harriet Episode: "Stan Hooper Goes to Washington"
Judging Amy Marta Episode: "Tricks of the Trade"
According to Jim Cynthia Episode: "Paintball"
2004 All About the Andersons Mrs. Dyer Episode: "Get Out of Dodge... Ball"
I'm with Her Donna Kincade Episode: "Winners & Losers & Whiners & Boozers: Part 2"
Rock Me, Baby Ginger Episode: "Not-So-Grand Parents"
2005 Malcolm in the Middle Evelyn Episode: "Chad's Sleepover"
Twins Judy Episode: "Sister's Keeper"
That's So Raven Miss Patterson Episode: "Cake Fear"
2006 The New Adventures of Old Christine Mrs. Orr Episode: "Oh God, Yes"
2007–2008 Boston Legal Leigh Swift Recurring role
2008 According to Jim Lisa Episode: "Cheryl Goes to Florida"
General Hospital Aunt Raylene Recurring role
2009 Life Maude Paxton Episode: "Canyon Flowers"
Californication Principal Green Episode: "Mr. Bad Example"
2010 In Gayle We Trust Beth Episode: "Gayle and the Salon"
2011 The Defenders Judy Baker Episode: "Nevada v. Doug the Mule"
Hart of Dixie Old Lady #3 2 episodes
2012 Pound Puppies Mrs. Beasley Voice, episode: "Lucky Gets Adopted"
Adopting Terror Laura TV film
Raising Hope Denise Jenkins Episode: "What Up, Bro?"

References

  1. ↑ "Celebrity Birthdays". Asheville Citizen-Times. March 25, 2023. p. 5C. ProQuest 2792347897. Actor Paul Michael Glaser is 80. Musician Elton John is 76. Actor Bonnie Bedelia is 75. Actor-comedian Mary Gross is 70. Actor James McDaniel ('NYPD Blue') is 65. See also:
    • "Today in History: Today's Birthdays". Daily Breeze. March 25, 2003. p. B5. ProQuest 338554978. Actor Paul Michael Glaser is 60. Singer Elton John is 56. Actress Bonnie Bedelia is 55. Singer Nick Lowe is 54. Actress-comedian Mary Gross is 50. Actor James McDaniel is 45.
  2. ↑ Unterbrink, Mary (1987). Funny women : American comediennes, 1860-1985. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 170. ISBN 9780899502267.
  3. 1 2 3 Caro, Mark (March 17, 2011). "Hollwood's fickle; family ties endure". Chicago Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Virginia Ruth Gross". Chicago Tribune. March 22, 2005. pp. 2–6. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Davis, Michael (June 10, 1982). "'Saturday Night Live' Mary Gross on a roll". The Jersey Journal. p. 32. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Meade, Peter (November 5, 1982). "Mary: not cut out to be cut up". Baraboo News Republic. p. 21. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Anderson, Jon (March 11, 1982). "Mary Gross: Another Second City Ex Succeeds on 'SNL'". Chicago Tribune. p. 35. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ Unterbrink, Mary (1987). Funny women : American comediennes, 1860-1985. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. pp. 170–171. ISBN 9780899502267.
  9. ↑ "SNL and The Curse of the Transitional Season". Splitsider. October 13, 2010. Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  10. ↑ SNL Archives | Character Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ SNL Archives | Character Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ SNL Archives | Character Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Unterbrink, Mary (1987). Funny Women: American Comediennes, 1860-1985. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 173. ISBN 978-0-89950-226-7.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mary Gross (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 19, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.