Markie Post
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{short description|American actress (1950–2021)}}
{{Distinguish|Marjorie Merriweather Post}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Markie Post
| image = Markie Post (2092445708) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Post at the 1988 Emmy Awards
| birth_name = Marjorie Armstrong Post
| birth_date = {{birth date|1950|11|4}}
| birth_place = Palo Alto, California, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|8|7|1950|11|4}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| alma_mater = Lewis & Clark College (BA)
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1978–2019
| known_for = The Fall Guy
Night Court
Hearts Afire
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Stephen Knox|1971|1972|end=div}}
- {{marriage|Michael A. Ross|1982}}}}
| children = 2
| father = Richard F. Post
| relatives = Descendants of Robert Coe
}}
Marjorie Armstrong Post (November 4, 1950 – August 7, 2021), known professionally as Markie Post, was an American actress. Her best known roles include bail bondswoman Terri Michaels in The Fall Guy on ABC from 1982 to 1985; public defender Christine Sullivan on the NBC sitcom Night Court from 1985 to 1992; Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire from 1992 to 1995; and Barbara ‘Bunny’ Fletcher, the mother of Detective Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush), on the NBC drama series Chicago P.D. from 2014 to 2017.
Early life
Post was born in Palo Alto, California, on November 4, 1950.{{Cite news |title=The Almanac |date=November 4, 2009 |agency=United Press International|url=http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2008/11/04/The-almanac/UPI-88221225787400/}}{{cite news |last=Vigdor |first=Neil |date=August 8, 2021 |title=Markie Post, 'Night Court' Actress, Dies at 70 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/08/arts/television/markie-post-dead.html |access-date=September 15, 2023}} Her father, Richard F. Post, worked as a physicist; her mother, Marylee (Armstrong) Post, was a poet.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oIS-OkQPkjUC&q=Richard+Freeman+Post+1918+marylee|title=The Historical Volume and Reference Works, Los Angeles County|last1=Studer|first1=Robert Paul|year=1962}} The second of the couple's three children, she and her two siblings were raised in Stanford and Walnut Creek. She attended Las Lomas High School where she was a cheerleader. Post then attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and briefly attended Pomona College in California before returning to Lewis & Clark to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree.{{cite web |last1=Grant |first1=James |title=Though She Plays a Lawyer on Night Court, Markie Post Can't Help Feeling Guilty |url=https://people.com/archive/though-she-plays-a-lawyer-on-night-court-markie-post-cant-help-feeling-guilty-vol-25-no-9/ |website=People |access-date=February 18, 2022 |language=en}}
Career
Prior to acting, Post worked on several game shows. She began her career with the production crew of the Tom Kennedy version of Split Second. She also served as associate producer of CBS's Double Dare and as a card dealer on NBC's Card Sharks. Later, after achieving fame as an actress, she played various game shows as a celebrity guest, including The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour, Super Password, The (New) $25,000 Pyramid, and The $100,000 Pyramid. She helped a contestant win the $100,000 grand prize in a November 1987 tournament episode of The $100,000 Pyramid.
Post's early acting credits include a 1979 appearance as a red spandex wearing femme fatale in the science-fiction series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. She also appeared on a 1979 episode of the detective show Barnaby Jones, the pilot episode of Simon & Simon in 1981, the season two premiere of The Greatest American Hero, two episodes of The A-Team (as two different characters: the 1983 episode "The Only Church in Town" and the 1984 episode "Hot Styles"), and a guest spot on the popular ABC Saturday night romance drama The Love Boat. She appeared as Diane Chambers' best friend in the sitcom Cheers, before eventually becoming a regular on the ABC action drama The Fall Guy.{{Cite news|title='Fall Guy' stunt crash hurts nine|agency= Associated Press|newspaper=The Free Lance-Star|date=April 30, 1983| url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FnUQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s4sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2662,4642318&dq=markie-post&hl=en}} She left The Fall Guy, for her most popular role as Christine Sullivan, the tightly wound public defender on the NBC TV comedy series Night Court; the character was the foil to John Laroquette's misogynistic assistant district attorney, Dan Fielding, and the eventual love interest for Judge Harry Stone (Harry Anderson). She remained with the show from the third season until the end in 1992. {{Cite news|newspaper=Kentucky New Era|date=June 5, 1986| first= Jay| last= Carman| title= Markie Post likes being the 'Night Court' jester| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0fYrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GW0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2296,5045276&dq=markie-post&hl=en}}
She played Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on the comedy series Hearts Afire, co-starring John Ritter.{{Cite news |newspaper= The Tuscaloosa News|first=Frazier|last=Moore|title=Can you beat that? 'Hearts Afire' is back|date=April 2, 1994| agency= Associated Press| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qzcdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vKUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4682,723041&dq=markie-post&hl=en}}{{Cite news|agency= Associated Press |title= TV Topics|newspaper=The Day|date=March 21, 2002|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QYMjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ynMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2081,4005595&dq=markie-post&hl=en}} Post also had recurring guest-star roles on The District and on Scrubs as the mother of Dr. Elliot Reid.
Her film credits include There's Something About Mary (1998), in which Post played Mary's mother.
{{Cite news|title=There's Something About Mary (1998)|date=July 15, 1998|first=Janet|last=Maslin|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DE7D61131F936A25754C0A96E958260|work=The New York Times}} She played a call girl and dominatrix in the 1988 TV movie Tricks of the Trade opposite Cindy Williams, and a singer in Glitz with Jimmy Smits, based on the novel by Elmore Leonard.{{Cite news |newspaper= Ocala Star-Banner|date=October 20, 1988|title=Markie Post wants to do more movies|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DysTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0AYEAAAAIBAJ&dq=markie%20post&pg=5509%2C2637171}} She also had a starring role in NBC's 1995 movie Visitors in the Night.
{{Cite news|newspaper=Daily News|title=Post, great FX light up NBC's 'Night Visitors'|first=David|last=Bianculli|date=November 27, 1995|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1995/11/27/1995-11-27_post__great_fx_light_up_nbc_.html|location=New York}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} She appeared as reporter Christine Merriweather in the 2007 improvisational comedy film (released in 2017) Cook Off!. She appeared in the 30 Rock episode "The One with the Cast of Night Court" playing herself when Harry Anderson, Charles Robinson, and she staged a mock reunion of the Night Court cast.{{Cite magazine|title='30 Rock': The Mad Hatter| magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Jeff|last=Labrecque|date= November 14, 2008|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20240448,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120111040/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20240448,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2008}}
Post was the voice of June Darby on the animated robot superhero TV series Transformers: Prime. She appeared as recurring character Barbara 'Bunny' Fletcher in the first four seasons of Chicago P.D.[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/sophia-bush-leaving-chicago-pd-1007813 Stanhope, Kate. "Sophia Bush Leaving 'Chicago P.D.' After Four Seasons," The Hollywood Reporter, Thursday, May 25, 2017.] Retrieved July 25, 2020
Personal life
From 1971 to 1972, Post was first married to Stephen Knox, whom she met at Lewis & Clark College.{{cite web |last1=Bandyopadhyay |first1=Alakananda |title=Who is Markie Post's husband? Michael Ross thought wife was a 'huge phony' when they first met |url=https://meaww.com/who-is-markie-posts-husband-michael-ross-thought-wife-was-a-huge-phony-when-they-first-met |website=meaww.com |publisher=Raptive |access-date=October 17, 2024 |language=en |date=August 8, 2021}} She later married actor and writer Michael A. Ross, with whom she had two daughters.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/cast/markie-post |title=Markie Post as Aunt Addie on Backyard Wedding | Hallmark Channel |access-date=August 8, 2021 |archive-date=July 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706144859/http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/cast/markie-post}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20110128192914/http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/backyardwedding/cast/Markie_Post] Markie Post - Cast- Backyard Wedding | Hallmark Channel]
Death
Post died aged 70 at her home in Los Angeles, on August 7, 2021; she had been suffering from cancer.[https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/markie-post-night-court-actress-dies-at-70/ Markie Post, ‘Night Court’ actress, dies at 70]{{cite web |title=Markie Post Dies: Actress Known For Night Court, The Fall Guy & More Was 70 |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/markie-post-dead-night-court-actress-was-70-1234811055/ |website=Deadline |date=August 8, 2021 |access-date=August 8, 2021}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1978
|''Frankie and Annette: The Second Time Around |Denise |TV movie |
| 1979
|Roberta |Episode: "Rally 'Round the Bank" |
| 1979
|Linda Woods |Episode: "Master of Deception" |
| 1979
|Pamela Norris |Episode: "The Confession" |
| 1979
|The Lazarus Syndrome{{cite news|title='Night Court,' 'Hearts Afire' star Markie Post dead at 70|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2021/08/08/markie-post-dies-night-court/8551628423558/|first=Karen|last=Butler|date=August 8, 2021|access-date=August 9, 2021|agency=United Press International}} |Lauren Place |Episode: "A Brutal Assault" |
| 1979
|Buck Rogers in the 25th Century |Joella Cameron |2 episodes |
| 1979
|Sandy |Episode: "Cop Out" |
| 1980
|Valerie Wood |Episode: "Siege" |
| 1980
|Linda |Episode: "A Slight Case of Quarantine" |
| 1980
|Kerry |Episode: "The Commitment" |
| 1980
|Barbara Jane Bookman |4 episodes |
| 1981
|The Gangster Chronicles{{cite news|title='Night Court' Star Markie Post Dies At 70|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcberman1/2021/08/08/night-court-star-markie-post-dies-at-70/|first=Marc|last=Berman|date=August 8, 2021|accessdate=August 9, 2021|magazine=Forbes}} |Chris Brennan |Television Miniseries; 13 episodes |
| 1981
|Deborah Dante |Episode: "The Two-Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Fast Ball" |
| 1981
|Carolyn Perry |Episode: "Details at Eleven" |
| 1981
|McClain's Law{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zu44AAAAIAAJ&q=%22McClain%27s+Law%22+markie+post|title=TV Guide|volume=30|publisher=Triangle Publications|year=1982|page=22|isbn=}} |Linda Smith |Episode: "Requiem for a Narc" |
| 1982
|Julie Ramsdell |Television movie |
| 1982
|Jan Thacker |Television movie |
| 1982–1983
|Doris Holden/Dee Dee/Donna Baker |2 episodes |
| 1982–1985
|Terri Michaels |Series regular; 64 episodes (1982–1985) |
| 1983
|Sally Leadbetter |Television movie |
| 1983
|Matt Houston{{cite news|title=TV listings|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99647381/|page=249|date=March 12, 2000|access-date=August 9, 2021|newspaper=Detroit Free Press}} |Courtney Garner |Episode: "A Novel Way to Die" |
| 1983
|Heather Landon |Episode: "Just Three Friends" |
| 1983
|The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour{{cite news|title=Markie Post death: Night Court actress dies of cancer at 70|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/night-court-markie-post-cause-death-b1899245.html|first=Peony|last=Hirwani|date=August 8, 2021|access-date=August 9, 2021|newspaper=The Independent|location=London}} |Herself |5 episodes |
| 1983–1984
|Amy Marshall/Doreen Murphy |2 episodes |
| 1983-1984
|Rina/Leslie Becktall/Sister Teresa |2 episodes |
| 1983-1988
|Herself |Recurring role; 80 episodes |
| 1984
|Barbara Nelson |Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1984
|Courtney Hollander |Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1984–1985
|Anne Crowley/Jill Stanton |2 episodes |
| 1984–1992
|Christine Sullivan |Guest appearance in season 2, "Daddy for the Defense"; Series regular as of Season 3; 159 episodes |
| 1985
|Herself |5 episodes |
| 1985–1987
|Herself |Recurring role; 20 episodes |
| 1986
|Delia Langtree |Television movie |
| 1988
|Linda Moon |Television movie |
| 1988
|Marla |Television movie |
| 1991
|Herself |Television special |
| 1991
|Sharon Dancey |Television movie |
| 1992–1995
|Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman |Series regular; 54 episodes |
| 1993
|Joyce |Television movie |
| 1994
|Laurie Philips |Television movie |
| 1995
|VR.5{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pQIDAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA361|title=Science Fiction Television Series, 1990–2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows|publisher=McFarland|date=September 27, 2013|last1=Garcia|first1=Frank|last2=Phillips|first2=Mark|page=361|isbn=9780786491834}} |Alexis Miller |Episode: "The Many Faces of Alex" |
| 1995
|Judith English |Television movie |
| 1996
|Gwen Kessler |Television movie |
| 1996
|Lisa McCauley |Episode: "Falling" |
| 1997
|Horse |Television movie; voice role |
| 1997
|Amy Hoffman |Television movie |
| 1998
|Rosemary Zoltanne |Television movie |
| 1999-2000
|Julia Whitney |Series regular; 13 episodes |
| 2000
|Nancy Waldron/Peggy McIntrye |Episode: "It's a Hard Knock Life" |
| 2000
|Hollywood Squares{{cite news|title=Markie Post, 'Night Court' Actress, Dead at 70|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/markie-post-night-court-actress-dead-obit-1209252/|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|date=August 8, 2021|access-date=August 9, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone}} |Herself |5 episodes |
| 2001
|Virginia Corbett |Television movie |
| 2001
|unknown |Television movie |
| 2002–2006
|Lily Reid |3 episodes |
| 2003–2004
|Audrey Livingston/Simone Fairgate/Audrey Livermore |2 episodes |
| 2006
|Diana Lassiter |Episode: "The Woman of His Dreams" |
| 2007
|Katherine Chandler |Television movie |
| 2008
|Herself |Episode: "The One with the Cast of Night Court" |
| 2010
|Aunt Addie |Television movie |
| 2010–2013
|June Darby |Series regular; 15 episodes; Voice role |
| 2011
|Linda |Episode: "Acceptance" |
| 2013
|Lilly |Television movie |
| 2014–2017
|Barbara "Bunny" Fletcher |Recurring role; 18 episodes |
| 2017
|Tawney |Television movie |
| 2017
|Four Christmases and a Wedding |Anna Taylor |Television movie |
| 2018
|Becky |Episode: "Coyote in Yoga Pants" |
| 2018–2019
|Helen Portollo | 4 episodes |
| 2019
|Mrs. Kassem | Episode: "Track 2: Joanna and Nellie" |
| 2019
|Tay Griffin | Television movie |
Awards and nominations
- 1994 CableACE Award for Children's Program Special - 6 and Young (Presidential Inaugural Celebration for Children) – Won{{cite web|title=Markie Post as Aunt Addie on Backyard Wedding|url=https://www.hallmarkdrama.com/backyard-wedding/cast/markie-post|access-date=August 9, 2021|publisher=Hallmark Drama}}{{Cite web|title=Markie Post|url=https://sites.google.com/view/markie-post/|access-date=August 10, 2021|via=Google Sites|language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|markie_post}}
- {{IMDb name|id=0692850|name=Markie Post}}
- {{TCMDb name|Markie-Post}}
- {{rotten-tomatoes-person|markie_post}}
- {{TV Guide person|3030255629}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Post, Markie}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from Palo Alto, California
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:American voice actresses
Category:Deaths from cancer in California
Category:Lewis & Clark College alumni