Mary Gross

Mary Martha Gross (born March 25, 1953) is an American voice actress, comedian and actress, perhaps best known for her four-year stint on Saturday Night Live from 1981 to 1985. Her credits also include minor roles on Animaniacs, Boston Legal, That's So Raven and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

Mary Gross
Born
Mary Martha Gross

(1953-03-25) March 25, 1953
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationActress, comedian, voice actress
Years active1980–2012

Early life

Gross was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of William Oscar Gross, a tool designer and Virginia Ruth (née Cahill), a telephone operator.[1][2] She is the younger sister of actor Michael Gross, who starred in the 1980s sitcom Family Ties. The siblings are first cousins to actor Ron Masak.

Career

Early career

She is an alumna of the Second City comedy troupe.

Saturday Night Live (1981–1985)

Gross joined SNL in 1981, during the show's 7th season following the show's disastrous sixth season, when the show was almost canceled.[3] Gross became co-anchor of SNL's Weekend Update segment during her first season.

Gross left in 1985 along with the rest of the cast, following executive producer Dick Ebersol's departure from the show.

Recurring characters
  • Alfalfa, from SNL's recurring parody of The Little Rascals and skits regarding the murder of Eddie Murphy's Buckwheat character.[4]
  • Siobhan Cahill, an Irish woman who reports on Irish events on Saturday Night News (Weekend Update's name when Brad Hall was cast as anchor).
  • Chi Chi, a Hispanic woman who hosts two fake public-access television cable TV shows (The Ghostbusters Show and Let's Watch TV) with her best friend, Consuela (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus)[5]
  • Celeste, a repressed wife married to an equally repressed man (played by Tim Kazurinsky)[6]

Celebrity impersonations

Personal life

Gross has never married and has no children.[7]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Club Paradise Jackie
1987 Baby Boom Charlotte Elkman
1988 The Couch Trip Vera Maitlin
1988 Casual Sex? Ilene
1988 Big Business Judy
1988 Hot to Trot Ms. French
1988 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 (TV series) woman on beach "Scrimshaw"
1986 Amen Nurse Kenningston "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
1992 Murphy Brown Chris Manheim "He-Ho, He-Ho, It's Off to Lamaze We Go"
1993 Jack's Place Rosemary "Faithful Henry"
1993–1997 Animaniacs Katie's Mom (voice) Recurring role
1994 The Larry Sanders Show Mary Gross "Next Stop Bottom"
1995 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Nell Newtrich "Ultra Woman"
1995 The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat Voices Recurring role
1997 Something So Right Polly "Something About Cold Storage"
1997 The Jeff Foxworthy Show Aunt Jane "Twister of Fate"
1997 The Angry Beavers Deer / Bird (voice) "Beach Beavers A-Go-Go/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) "Comedy of Terrors", "Little Miss Popular"
2000 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Elise (voice) "The Frog Princess"
2000 Jailbait Patti Fisher TV film
2000 Lost Cat Nancy Mouse (voice) TV film
2001 Providence Martha Blankenship "Love Story"
2001 Off Centre Roberta Flack / Mrs. Platt "Swing Time"
2002 Dharma & Greg Mary "This Diamond Ring"
2002 As Told by Ginger Bobbie Lightfoot (voice) "Family Therapy"
2003 A Minute with Stan Hooper Harriet "Stan Hooper Goes to Washington"
2003 Judging Amy Marta "Tricks of the Trade"
2003 According to Jim Cynthia "Paintball"
2004 All About the Andersons Mrs. Dyer "Get Out of Dodge... Ball"
2004 I'm with Her Donna Kincade "Winners & Losers & Whiners & Boozers: Part 2"
2004 Rock Me, Baby Ginger "Not-So-Grand Parents"
2005 Malcolm in the Middle Evelyn "Chad's Sleepover"
2005 Twins Judy "Sister's Keeper"
2005 That's So Raven Miss Patterson "Cake Fear"
2006 The New Adventures of Old Christine Mrs. Orr "Oh God, Yes"
2007–08 Boston Legal Leigh Swift Recurring role
2008 According to Jim Lisa "Cheryl Goes to Florida"
2008 General Hospital Aunt Raylene Recurring role
2009 Life Maude Paxton "Canyon Flowers"
2009 Californication Principal Green "Mr. Bad Example"
2010 In Gayle We Trust Beth "Gayle and the Salon"
2011 The Defenders Judy Baker "Nevada v. Doug the Mule"
2011 Hart of Dixie Old Lady #3 "Gumbo & Glory" "Parades & Pariahs"
2012 Pound Puppies Mrs. Beasley (voice) "Lucky Gets Adopted"
2012 Adopting Terror Laura TV film
2012 Raising Hope Denise Jenkins "What Up, Bro?"

References
  1. Michael Gross Biography, filmreference.com; accessed June 5, 2018.
  2. "Gross, Virginia Ruth". Chicago Tribune. March 22, 2005.
  3. Doumanian's failed hires
  4. SNL Archives | Character Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  5. SNL Archives | Character Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  6. SNL Archives | Character Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Caro, Mark (March 16, 2011). "Hollywood's fickle; family ties endure - Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
Media offices
Preceded by
Charles Rocket		 Weekend Update anchor
with Brian Doyle-Murray
1981		 Succeeded by
Brian Doyle-Murray as solo anchor
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