Mary Birdsong
{{short description|American actress}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=January 2011}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mary Birdsong
| image = Mary Birdsong Photo Op GalaxyCon Richmond 2025 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Birdsong at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2025
| birth_name = Mary Evans Birdsong
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|4|18}}
| birth_place = Florida, U.S.
| alma_mater = New York University (BFA)
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|comedian|writer|singer|puppeteer}}
| years_active = 1996–present
}}
Mary Evans Birdsong (born April 18, 1968) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and singer. In addition to her work in theater and voice acting, she was a regular cast member on Reno 911! and appeared in the HBO series Succession.
Early life
Birdsong was born in Florida and grew up on Long Beach Island, New Jersey,{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/6545/mary-birdsong/|title=Mary Birdsong|website=Broadway.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-21}} one of five sisters. She graduated from Southern Regional High School in 1986.Weaver, Donna. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AC&p_theme=ac&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=117E9212EA360F90&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D "TV / Long Beach Island Woman Finds Fame With Role On Reno 911!"], The Press of Atlantic City, March 15, 2007. Accessed January 20, 2020. "Birdsong graduated from Southern Regional High School in 1986."
Birdsong is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where she earned a BFA in acting.{{Cite web |title=Mary Birdsong |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0083487/ |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}
Career
= Film and television =
Birdsong made her on-screen debut in the 1996 TV film Live On Tape. She is best known as Deputy Cherisha Kimball on the comedy series Reno 911! (2005–2007, 2020–2022) and its two spin-off movies in 2007 and 2021. She is also known for playing Nancy McDonald in Rob Zombie's Halloween II and Kai Mitchell opposite George Clooney in the Alexander Payne film The Descendants. She appeared alongside Adrien Brody in the stoner comedy High School (2010), playing Mrs. Gordon, a high school dean's promiscuous wife. She has also made numerous cameos on film and television, including in the major productions Made of Honor and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and the psychological thriller Buried. She is a former correspondent on The Daily Show and Crossballs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/34-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-correspondents-and-contributors-photos/|title=The Wrap - 34 'Daily Show with Jon Stewart' Correspondents and Contributors|website=www.thewrap.com|date=6 August 2015 |access-date=2019-02-21}}
As a voice actress, she has appeared in animated series such as Goldie and Bear, Stroker and Hoop, Little Bill (as Dorado's mom in the episode "New Foods"), Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law, Tak & the Power of Juju, T.U.F.F. Puppy and Stroker and Hoop, as well as the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, and animated film Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.
Birdsong appeared in season 1 (2018) and season 4 (2023) of the HBO series Succession. She played Marianne Hirsch, the mother of fan favorite Greg Hirsch (played by Nicolas Braun), and niece of family patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox).
=Broadway and live theater=
From July 2006 to January 2007, Birdsong performed in the Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me comedy musical, alongside Martin Short, Marc Shaiman, Nicole Parker, Brooks Ashmanskas, and Capathia Jenkins, winning a Theatre World Award for her performance.{{cite web |url=http://www.tcg.org/publications/at/awards_listing.cfm?ID=21&vbyear=9 |title=Awards Listings: Theatre World Awards 2007 |publisher=Theatre Communications Group |access-date=September 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912211830/http://www.tcg.org/publications/at/awards_listing.cfm?ID=21&vbyear=9 |archive-date=September 12, 2014 }} On January 29, 2008, Birdsong joined the Broadway cast of the musical, Hairspray. She played the role of Velma Von Tussle, the bigoted, pushy stage mother and television producer. Birdsong left the production on April 6, 2008. She then performed her one-woman show 3 Days in the Tub: A Mama Drama in Los Angeles at Comedy Central Stage (September 2010) & the Fake Gallery (November 2010),{{cite web |first=Callie |last=Miller |url=http://laist.com/2010/11/17/pencil_this_in_460.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106041102/http://laist.com/2010/11/17/pencil_this_in_460.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 6, 2017 |title=Pencil This In: Mama Drama, Stoned Lit, Cake Boss Demo and Possible Film Annihilation |publisher=LAist.com |date=November 17, 2010 }} and in New York City at Joe's Pub (January 2011).{{cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Joes-Pub-Announces-Mary-Birdsongs-3-Days-in-the-Tub-Robi-Hager-More-20101222 |title=Joe's Pub Announces Mary Birdsong's 3 Days in the Tub, Robi Hager & More |publisher=Broadway World |date=December 22, 2010 }} before going to San Francisco to play Mona Ramsey in ACT's adaptation of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. She is also known for her Judy Garland impression.
Together with author Justin Halpern (Shit My Dad Says) and comic Jen Kober (American Reunion), Birdsong performed as a member of the May 2012 cast of Don't Tell My Mother!, an LA-based comedy showcase.{{cite web |last=Vilaro |first=Yira Melissa |url=http://www.yandp.tv/2012/04/dont-tell-my-mother/ |title=Don't Tell My Mother! Some Funny Sh*t You Won't Wanna Keep Quiet About |publisher=Young & Pretty |date=2012-04-28 |access-date=2012-05-30 |archive-date=2012-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502081732/http://www.yandp.tv/2012/04/dont-tell-my-mother/ |url-status=dead }}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1996
|Live on Tape |Various |Television film |
| 1998
|Above Freezing |Esther | |
| rowspan="2" |1999
|Sneakered Businesswoman | |
| Zoey's Zoo
|Mom |Television film |
| 2003
|Replay |Nicola | |
| 2005
|Siobhan | |
| rowspan="3" |2006
|Le Chase |Mary Long |Short film |
| The Last Request
|Marlene | |
| Beer League
|Rhonda |Also known as Artie Lange's Beer League |
| 2007
|Deputy Cherisha Kimball | |
| 2008
|Sharon at Bridal Shower | |
| rowspan="2" |2009
|Francy | |
| Halloween II
|Nancy McDonald | |
| rowspan="4" |2010
|411 Female Operator (voice) |Credited as Mary Songbird |
| High School
|Mrs. Gordon | |
| Killers
|Jackie Vallero | |
| It's Kind of a Funny Story
|Bobby's Ex | |
| rowspan="2" |2011
|Kai Mitchell | |
| Angry White Man
|Maxine | |
| rowspan="2" |2013
|Where Does It Go from Here |Mom |Short film |
| Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
|Gray Sister #1 | |
| rowspan="2" |2014
|Manager |Barbra |Short film |
| Lucky Stiff
|Maid | |
| rowspan="4" |2015
|Park City |Ticket Girl | |
| Staten Island Summer
|Bianca Manicucci | |
| Freeheld
|Carol Andree | |
| Kids vs Monsters
|Maxine | |
| 2017
|A Happening of Monumental Proportions |Melissa Brickman | |
| 2019
|Stormchaser |Bonnie Blue |Short film |
| rowspan="3" |2020
|I Hate the Man in My Basement |Lita Bronze | |
| Flip the Switch
|Bonnie Blue |Short film |
| American Reject
|Miriam | |
| 2021
|Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon |Deputy Cherisha Kimball |Television film |
| rowspan="2" |2022
|Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe |Reporter (voice) | |
| Reno 911!: It's a Wonderful Heist
|Deputy Cherisha Kimball |Television film |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1999
|Mom (voice) |Episode: "ChalkZone: Rapunzel / Zoey's Zoo: Lots of Ocelots / My Neighbor Was a Teenage Robot" |
| 2000
|Meredith |Episode: "About Taking It Like a Man" |
| 2000–2001
|Connie |Main role; 14 episodes |
| 2002
|Late Friday |Janet Lamé |Episode: "#2.6" |
| rowspan="2" |2003
|Valencia (voice) |Episode: "New Foods / Elephant Tricks" |
| Ed
|Lisa Barnes |Episode: "Business as Usual" |
| rowspan="2" | 2004–2022
| rowspan="2" | Reno 911! | Lisa the Masseuse | Episode: "British Law" |
| Deputy Cherisha Kimball
| Main role (season 3–5; 7–8); 75 episodes |
| 2004
|Various characters |Recurring role; 15 episodes |
| rowspan="2" |2005
|Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law |Chibo / Tana (voice) |Episode: "Beyond the Valley of the Dinosaurs" |
| Stroker & Hoop
|Keith / various characters (voice) |Recurring role; 8 episodes |
| 2007
|Killjoy Juju (voice) |Episode: "The Three Chiefs / The Party" |
| rowspan="2" |2010
|Madeline |Episode: "Throw Mama Back on the Plane" |
| T.U.F.F. Puppy
|Snowflake (voice) |Episode: "Chilly Dog / The Doomies" |
| rowspan="2" |2011
|Kelly |Episode: "Baby, You Can Drive My Car" |
| Shake It Up
|Squitza Hessenheffer |Episode: "Vatalihootsit It Up" |
| 2012
|Sherman's in Sanity |Virginia Wahlroos Pfinger |2 episodes |
| 2012–2016
|Marlene Ludlow |3 episodes |
| 2012–2013
|Mayor Suzie Hellmann |2 episodes |
| 2012
|Cheryl Corvis |Episode: "Lovesick" |
| 2012–2014
|Mel Bernstein |Recurring role; 22 episodes |
| 2013
|Deanne |Episode: "Gone Fishin'" |
| rowspan="3" |2014
|Justine |Episode: "Oscar Party" |
| The Knick
|Fionnula Sears |Episode: "Get the Rope" |
| Franklin & Bash
|Erica Boyd |Episode: "Falcon's Nest" |
| rowspan="2" |2015
|Olive and Mocha |Liz Dimpfle |Episode: "Rock n' Roll" |
| Review
|Shampoo |Episode: "Curing Homosexuality, Mile High Club" |
| 2015–2018
|Mama Bear (voice) |Recurring role; 11 episodes |
| rowspan="5" |2016
|Jean Bart |Episode: "Bisexual Because of Meth" |
| Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn
|Mrs. Gressle |Episode: "The Tell-Tale Art" |
| Masters of Sex
|Maude Raines |Episode: "Freefall" |
| Loosely Exactly Nicole
|Madison |Episode: "Green Card" |
| Scream Queens
|Penelope Hotchkiss |Episode: "Channel Pour Homme-icide" |
| 2017
|Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television |Dorothy Montclair |Episode: "Hungry for Justice" |
| 2018; 2023
|Marianne Hirsch |3 episodes |
| rowspan="2" |2021
|Jane Tyler |Episode: "I'm a Good Person" |
| Generation
|Mrs. Culpepper |Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2022–2023
|Various characters (voice) |6 episodes |
| 2023
|Elenor McGovern |2 episodes |
= Awards and nominations =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Award !Category !Nominated work !Result |
| 2011
|Best Ensemble Performance {{Small|(shared with the cast)}} |{{Nominated}} |
| 2020
|Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema |Best Actress Featurette |Stormchaser |{{Nominated}} |
| 2022
|Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon |{{Nominated}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0083487}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080209100401/http://www.wickedinfo.com/content/view/185/1/ Interview with WickedInfo.com]
{{The Daily Show}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birdsong, Mary}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:20th-century American comedians
Category:20th-century American women singers
Category:20th-century American singers
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:21st-century American singers
Category:Actresses from Florida
Category:Actresses from New Jersey
Category:American comedy musicians
Category:American film actresses
Category:American impressionists (entertainers)
Category:American musical theatre actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:American voice actresses
Category:American women comedians
Category:Actors from Ocean County, New Jersey
Category:Southern Regional High School alumni
Category:Theatre World Award winners
Category:American women rock singers