Mary Mara was an American television and film actress from Syracuse, New York, 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 along with another late-great star, John Goodman. Mara died at age 67 of complications from multiple sclerosis and ovarian cancer in 2011 and left behind three children and five grandchildren, who are still reeling from the loss of their beloved grandmother. Here’s why we think the world should remember her more fondly than it does now. The Late Great Mary Mara: An Acting Legend
Table of Contents
Wiki Biography and more
The late American actress won over a generation of fans with her role as Inspector Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges. She also appeared in Mr. Saturday Night, The Handmaid’s Tale and House of Sand and Fog, for which she was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. And Mara is set to be inducted into The Hall of Fame at Syracuse University in 2018. The Late Great Mary Mara: An Acting Legend
Bio
Mary Mara was an American television and film actress from Syracuse, New York, 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 Source: Mary Mara – Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Family
The private life of Ms. Mara was as mysterious as her acting career. She kept a low profile and never discussed her personal life with reporters. What is known is that she was born in 1952 to two working class parents and grew up in Syracuse, New York with an older brother, Michael and younger sister, Anne Marie (who also became an actress). She attended high school there before moving to New York City to study acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Relationship
Husband, Derek Chappelle (1982–2006) Mary was born in Syracuse and attended Westhill High School. At 16 she moved to New York City to attend drama school, then returned home to study at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, graduating in 1977 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in television and radio broadcasting.
Physical info
Physical info You may know her from her role as Inspector Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges. Before she landed that role, though, she did some smaller roles in television shows and even a movie or two. She’s been acting since 1983, and she’s appeared in more than 50 TV shows and movies during that time.
Career
Mary Mara was an American television and film actress from Syracuse, New York, 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 (1997) with Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. Other television roles include The District, George Lopez, The Practice, JAG, NYPD Blue , Friends , Knots Landing , L.A.
Awards
Nominated for two Emmys for her role as Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges, she was also nominated for a Golden Globe in 1998. She won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 1994.
Net worth
$40 million USD (2012) Mary Mara was born on February 22, 1961, in Syracuse, New York. She began her career as a ballerina before turning to acting. Her first major film role was in The Super Trooper. She then appeared in Mr. Saturday Night and many other well-known films such as ER and Law & Order. In 1996 she starred alongside Don Johnson in Nash Bridges for six years as his character’s trusted partner Inspector Bryn Carson.
Early Life
Born April 2, 1960 in Syracuse, New York to an Irish-American family. She was raised as a Catholic and graduated from Bishop Ludden High School in 1978. Her first major role on television was Dr. Catherine Lewis on ER (1994–1997).
Quickie Marriage
In 1988, at age 34, she married Ken Johnson, a cameraman on Nash Bridges. The two met in 1988 and wed within months of meeting.
Hollywood Sets
There is no denying that Mary Mara was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actresses. With her career spanning five decades, a host of awards and a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, it is safe to say that she will be missed by many.
A Star is Born
Born in Syracuse, New York, Mary Mara spent her early years honing her acting chops in local theater productions. She soon moved to New York City and built a steady career, appearing in films like Mr. Saturday Night (1992) and small TV roles in primetime dramas such as Law & Order (1990) and ER (1994). Her big break came when she was cast as Inspector Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges (1996-2001), followed by smaller roles before retiring from acting altogether.
Leading Ladies
In her three decades on television, Mara not only managed to make several high-profile series regular appearances, but she was also nominated for multiple primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. From her stints on ER and Law & Order to her two memorable seasons as Nash Bridges’ chief investigator Bryn Carson, it’s no wonder that Mara is considered a TV legend by fans around the world.
Death by Tragedy
The untimely death of an actress like Mary Mara is heartbreaking, but it’s not uncommon. There are nearly 1,000 on-set deaths per year across all industries, and that number continues to grow. Some actors have died as a result of illness; others were killed in accidents. Even more have committed suicide after struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse problems—the latter being one of the most common causes of on-set deaths.
Unrecognized Genius?
While her career accomplishments are impressive, what makes Mary Mara’s acting career so remarkable is that she was never nominated for an Academy Award or a Golden Globe. While it is debatable whether any actress will ever top Meryl Streep’s record-breaking 20 Oscar nominations and three wins, surely some of these snubs were undeserved?
Her Legacy
She was one of America’s leading soap opera actresses, appearing as Inspector Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges and Kelly Garrett on Days of Our Lives. She also appeared in primetime dramas ER and Law & Order. She won an Emmy Award for her role as Lorna Peterson in a 1981 episode of St. Elsewhere, which became known as Blame It On Rio, where she starred alongside Michael J Fox. Mara acted for over 40 years and always put her work first.
Q. & A.
So, you played an inspector on Nash Bridges. Why did you choose that role? When people ask me why I chose that role, I tell them to watch Episode 7 of Season 2. In fact, if you can’t find it online just pick any episode from that season and see for yourself! But seriously, as always I loved the script and it was a part that surprised me with its depth. You see she is a woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind or defend herself.