Miriam Flynn
{{short description|American voice actress}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1979–present
| spouse = Will Aldis
| children = 2
}}
{{external media|image1=[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/mediaviewer/rm704923136 Miriam Flynn IMDb photo]}}
Miriam Flynn is an American voice and character actress. She is best known as Cousin Catherine in the National Lampoon's Vacation films and Grandma Longneck in The Land Before Time franchises. She has acted in other films and in several television series, the latter including a recurring role as Sister Helen on the Fox/WB sitcom Grounded for Life.
Career
= Second City =
Before breaking into television, Flynn was a member of the Second City improv troupe in 1975. She appeared on stage alongside Shelley Long, George Wendt, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, and James Belushi.{{Citation needed |date=August 2024}}
= Film and television =
Flynn was a regular cast member in The Tim Conway Show, a comedy-variety show that aired on CBS from March 1980 through summer 1981, acting in sketch comedy in each episode.{{cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim|last2=Marsh|first2=Earl|author-link1=Tim Brooks (television historian)|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present |edition=8th|year=2003|publisher=Ballantine Books|location=New York|isbn=0-345-45542-8 }}{{rp|1203}} She then starred in her own sitcom, Maggie, on ABC, but the show was short-lived, airing in October and November 1981 and in April–May 1982 before being cancelled.{{rp|720}} She appeared in the Cheers episode "Love Thy Neighbor" as Phyllis Henshaw, Norm and Vera Peterson's next-door neighbor. In fall 1988, she co-starred in the short-lived CBS sitcom Raising Miranda.{{rp|977}}
In 1995, she was the voice of Maa the Ewe in the hit film, Babe. In 1996–1997, she was a regular cast member in Malcolm & Eddie, playing Kelly, a bar owner and landlord to the main characters, for the program's first season.{{rp|726}}
From 2001 to 2005 she played the recurring character Sister Helen on the Fox/WB sitcom Grounded for Life. In 2004, she played Coop's mom in Megas XLR. Flynn also appeared in an episode of George Lopez "George VS. George" (2003) episode. In that episode she played the role of Brenda, a bank employee.
As a voice artist, Flynn has been featured in The Land Before Time series, as Grandma Longneck after Linda Gary's death in 1995; on both Taz-Mania and What-a-Mess as the title character's mother, Jean; as Poil in The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper; and in Family Guy as well as Rudy's mother, Millie Tabootie on the Nickelodeon show, ChalkZone and Aunt Vera on the Cartoon Network show, Ben 10.
Her best known film role is as Cousin Catherine in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), Vegas Vacation (1997) and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2 (2003). Her other acting roles include First Family (1980), National Lampoon's Class Reunion (1982), Mr. Mom (1983), Family Ties (1986), For Keeps (1988), 18 Again! (1988), Stealing Home (1988), Lonely Hearts (1991), Evolution (2001), Wieners (2008), About Fifty (2011) and Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011).
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1980
|Feebleman's Secretary | |
| 1982
|National Lampoon's Class Reunion |Bunny Packard | |
| 1983
|Annette | |
| 1983
|Cousin Catherine | |
| 1988
|Donna Elliot | |
| 1988
|Betty Watson | |
| 1988
|Mrs. Parks | |
| 1989
|National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation |Cousin Catherine Johnson | |
| 1991
|Helen | |
| 1995
|Babe |Maa |
| 1996
|Costume Dresser | |
| 1996
|Franklin's Mom |
| 1997
|Cousin Catherine | |
| 1997
|The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island | rowspan="2" |Grandma Longneck | rowspan="7" |Voice |
| 1998 |
| 2000
|Bussler Waitress |
| 2000
|The Best of Dr. Seuss |Yookie-Ann Sue / Teacher |
| 2000
|Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman |Principal Milliken |
| 2000 |
| 2000
|Piñata Lady |
| 2001
|Grace | |
| 2001
|The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze |Grandma Longneck |
| 2002
|The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water |Grandma Longneck, Diplodocus Mom |
| 2003
|The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration | rowspan="4" |Grandma Longneck |
| 2005 |
| 2006 |
| 2007 |
| 2008
|Ben's Mom | |
| 2009
|Nowhere to Hide |Priscella | |
| 2011
|Nancy | |
| 2011
|Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star |Debbie Larson | |
| 2014
|All Stars |Miriam Carson | |
| 2016
|The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave |Grandma Longneck |
| 2016
|Taking Liberty |Mrs. Batesome | |
| 2019
|Extracurricular Activities |Mrs. Reed | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1979
|Ms. Collins |Episode: "Good News, Bad News" |
| 1981–1982
|Maggie Weston |8 episodes |
| 1983
|Mrs. Brandt |Episode: "Glenlawn Street Blues" |
| 1983
|Full House |Boobie Hall | rowspan="3" |Television film |
| 1984
|Her Life as a Man |Sheila |
| 1984
|Mr. Success |Helen Silt |
| 1984
|Myrna Lippincottleman |Episode: "Twas the Night Before Christmas" |
| 1984, 1991
|Helen Liptz / Phyllis Simon |2 episodes |
| 1985
|Jan Morgan |Episode: "The Uh-Oh Feeling" |
| 1985
|Additional voices |Episode: "Snorkitis Is Nothing to Sneeze At/The Whole Toot and Nothing But..." |
| 1985
|Phyllis Henshaw |Episode: "Love Thy Neighbor" |
| 1985
|Marian Flynn |Episode: "Robin and Marian" |
| 1986
|Mrs. Carpenter |Episode: "My Buddy" |
| 1986
|Christmas Every Day |Helen / Franny / Will |Television film |
| 1986–1990
|Gandra Dee / Helen |3 episodes |
| 1986–1987
|Additional voices |16 episodes |
| 1987, 1988
|Cookie Lippman / Betty |2 episodes |
| 1988
|Additional voices |4 episodes |
| 1988
|Joan Hoodenpyle |9 episodes |
| 1988, 1989
|Miss Clark / Jill | rowspan="2" |2 episodes |
| 1988, 1993
|Edie Moffit / Madeleine |
| 1989
|Hound Town |Sasha |Television film |
| 1989
|Penny |Episode: "The Other Group" |
| 1989
|Yookie-Ann Sue |Voice, television film |
| 1989–1990
|Gandra Dee |Voice, 7 episodes |
| 1990
|Miss Barr |Voice, episode: "Moaning Lisa" |
| 1990
|Vi |Episode: "Murder -- According to Maggie" |
| 1990
|Luann |Episode: "Murray's Monster" |
| 1990
|The Flockens |Patricia Flocken |Television film |
| 1991
|Ellen Smith |Episode: "The Smiths Go to Washington" |
| 1991–1995
|Various voices |40 episodes |
| 1991–1996
|Additional voices |7 episodes |
| 1992
|Dr. Nina Bergstrom |Episode: "That's What Friends Aren't For" |
| 1992
|Adrienne Stone / Arlene Stone |5 episodes |
| 1992
|Real Estate Agent |Episode: "Doogie Doesn't Live Here Anymore" |
| 1993
|Alice Freeman |Episode: "Bad Moons Rising" |
| 1993
|Dr. Pleasance |Episode: "A Liver Runs Through It" |
| 1993
|Professor MacDougall |Voice, episode: "Werewolves of Dunneglen" |
| 1994
|Rachel |Episode: "Far and Awry" |
| 1994
|''Duckman |Additional voices |Episode: "It's the Thing of the Principal" |
| 1994
|Country Club Manager |Episode: "I Don't Remember Mama" |
| 1994
|Lorraine |Episode: "Jack Has Left the Building" |
| 1994–1995
|Charles' Mother |Voice, 4 episodes |
| 1995
|Indictment: The McMartin Trial |Judge Bobb | rowspan="3" |Television film |
| 1995
|From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler |Evelyn Kincaid |
| 1995
|Letter to My Killer |Personnel Director |
| 1995
|Dr. Rose |Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Trim" |
| 1995
|Robin Zeitlin |Episode: "Chapter Eight" |
| 1995
|Aunt Mimi |Voice, episode: "The Fourth Thursday in November" |
| 1995
|Saleswoman |Episode: "Fourteen Minutes?" |
| 1995
|Mother |
| 1996
|The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries |Greta |
| 1996
|Mrs. Robinson |Voice, episode: "The Unusual Suspects" |
| 1996–1997
|Kelly |6 episodes |
| 1996–1997
|The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper |Poil |Voice, 16 episodes |
| 1997
|Lonely Sue |
| 1997
|Mary Stokes |Episode: "Part IV" |
| 1997
|Mother Superior |Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1997
|Woman |
| 1998
|Karen Poole |Episode: "The Playing Field" |
| 1998
|Suzie Martin |Episode: "Stuck with Dick" |
| 1998
|Dee / Alison Williams |Episode: "Cinnamon Buns" |
| 1998
|Mrs. Frank |Episode: "I Only Have Eyes for You" |
| 1998
|Zaftig Lady |
| 1998
|Jasmine |Episode: "Unarmed and Dangerous" |
| 1998
|Midwife |Episode: "Covenant" |
| 1998
|Customer, Party Goer |
| 1999
|Newscaster |
| 2001
|Cooking Teacher |Episode: "Reese Cooks" |
| 2001
|Ms. Pettibone |
| 2001
|Mrs. Bobo |Voice, television short |
| 2001
|Mrs. Hartford |Episode: "You Can Count on Me" |
| 2001
|Gayle Stephenson |Episode: "Destiny Turns on the Radio" |
| 2001–2005
|Sister Helen |22 episodes |
| 2002, 2003
|Winkie |2 episodes |
| 2002–2008
|Millie Tabootie |
| 2003
|Brenda |Episode: "George vs. George" |
| 2003
|Drixeen |
| 2003
|National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2 |Catherine Johnson |Television film |
| 2004
|Barb |Episode: "Rules and Girls" |
| 2004
|Judge |Episode: "Only You" |
| 2004
|Belinda |Episode: "Secrets" |
| 2004
|Coop's Mother, Woman, Old Lady |
| 2005
|Fielder's Choice |Rose |Television film |
| 2006
|Vera Tennyson |
| 2006
|Bonnie Woodcock |Episode: "Your Mother or Your Wife" |
| 2007
|Betty |Episode: "Wagers of Sin" |
| 2007
|Edna McCallister |Episode #1.8585 |
| 2007
|Dr. Berman |2 episodes |
| 2007
|Grandma Longneck |
| 2007
|Rose Claybrook |Episode: "Nick Get Job" |
| 2007
|Gretchen Bitzer |Episode: "The Heart of the Matter" |
| 2007
|Gretchen Winters |Episode: "The Object of My Affection" |
| 2008
|Cranberry Christmas |Granny / Sister Whiskers |
| 2009
|Aunt Dot |Episode: "Come, Ye Saints" |
| 2009
|Married Not Dead |Ms. Giamatti |Television film |
| 2010
|Woman in Church |Voice, episode: "The Comeback Sermon" |
| 2010
|Jane |Episode: "Kit and Kaboodle" |
| 2011
|Margaret |Episode: "The Safe House" |
| 2011
|Mrs. Smorlov |Episode: "Lie Hard" |
| 2012–2013
|Helen |7 episodes |
| 2014
|Summer with Cimorelli |Mrs. Cimorelli |Episode: "Pretty Little Cimorelliars" |
| 2014
|Fancie Von Mertens |Episode: "The Mutilation of the Master Manipulator" |
| 2015
|Mrs. Ambruso |Episode: "Put a Ring on It" |
| 2015
|Dr. Hopkins |Episode: "Nothing but the Truth" |
| 2015, 2016
|Mrs. Snodgrass | rowspan="2" |2 episodes |
| 2016
|Drake's Mother |
| 2016
|Female Clerk |Episode: "A Tough Pill to Swallow" |
| 2017
|Monica |Episode: "Shoot-Up-Able" |
| 2017
|Nana Gert |Episode: "The Other Side of Summer" |
| 2017
|Marilyn |Episode: "All is Bright" |
| 2019
|Band Leader |Voice, episode: "Parade Day" |
| 2019
|Fay Clancy |Voice, episode: "The Amazing Adventures of Grammy and Poppy" |
| 2020
|Mom |Arlene |Episode: "Somebody's Grandmother and the A-List" |
| 2021
|Mrs. Burbage |Episode: "In Memory Of..." |
| 2023
|Pam |Episode: “Fifteen Minutes” |
| 2023
|Donna |Episode: "Cui Boni" |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0283565}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flynn, Miriam}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:American film actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses