Mary McDonnell

Mary McDonnell

Mary Eileen McDonnell (born April 28, 1952) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She received an Academy Award nomination for her role as Stands With A Fist in Dances with Wolves, and she is also very well known for her performance as President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica, the President's wife in Independence Day, and for her starring role in Donnie Darko as the title character's mother. Description above from the Wikipedia article Mary McDonnell, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Known For

Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy

2005 • as Virginia Dixon

Fargo

Fargo

2014 • as Ruby Goldfarb

Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

1994 • as Sister Theodore Claire

Battlestar Galactica

Battlestar Galactica

2004 • as Laura Roslin

ER

ER

1994 • as Eleanor Carter

American Experience

American Experience

1988 • as Narrator (voice)

Filmography

2025

Broke
Broke
as Kathy Brandywine
Movie - Released: 5/5/2025
TV
The Twelve Dates of Christmas
as Delilah
TV - Released: 12/6/2025

2023

The Fall of the House of Usher
The Fall of the House of Usher
as Madeline Usher
TV - Released: 10/12/2023

2021

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
as Lady Zerbst (voice)
Movie - Released: 8/22/2021
Rebel
Rebel
as Helen Peterson
TV - Released: 4/8/2021
Rebel
Rebel
as Helen
TV - Released: 4/8/2021

2014

And the Oscar Goes To...
And the Oscar Goes To...
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 2/1/2014
Fargo
Fargo
as Ruby Goldfarb
TV - Released: 4/15/2014

2012

Major Crimes
Major Crimes
as Captain Sharon Raydor
TV - Released: 8/13/2012

2011

Scream 4
Scream 4
as Kate Roberts
Movie - Released: 4/13/2011
Margin Call
Margin Call
as Mary Rogers
Movie - Released: 9/28/2011

2007

Battlestar Galactica: Razor
Battlestar Galactica: Razor
as President Laura Roslin
Movie - Released: 11/12/2007

2006

Mrs. Harris
Mrs. Harris
as Vivian Schulte
Movie - Released: 2/25/2006

2005

The Closer
The Closer
as Sharon Raydor
TV - Released: 6/13/2005
The Closer
The Closer
as Captain Sharon Raydor
TV - Released: 6/13/2005
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
as Virginia Dixon
TV - Released: 3/27/2005
The Closer
The Closer
as Sharon Raydor (archive footage) (uncredited)
TV - Released: 6/13/2005

2004

Crazy Like a Fox
Crazy Like a Fox
as Amy Banks
Movie - Released: 10/25/2004
Donnie Darko: Production Diary
Donnie Darko: Production Diary
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/4/2004
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica
as Laura Roslin
TV - Released: 10/18/2004
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars
as Jane
TV - Released: 9/22/2004

2003

The Making of ‘Sneakers’
The Making of ‘Sneakers’
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/3/2003
Nola
Nola
as Margaret Langworthy
Movie - Released: 1/1/2003
Dances with Wolves: The Creation of an Epic
Dances with Wolves: The Creation of an Epic
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/20/2003
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica
as President Laura Roslin
TV - Released: 12/8/2003

2002

The Locket
The Locket
as Helen Staples
Movie - Released: 12/8/2002

2001

Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko
as Rose Darko
Movie - Released: 1/19/2001

2000

For All Time
For All Time
as Laura Brown
Movie - Released: 10/18/2000
A Father's Choice
A Father's Choice
as Susan Shaw
Movie - Released: 1/12/2000

1999

Mumford
Mumford
as Althea Brockett
Movie - Released: 9/24/1999
Replacing Dad
Replacing Dad
as Linda Marsh
Movie - Released: 3/14/1999
Behind the Mask
Behind the Mask
as Mary Shushan
Movie - Released: 2/28/1999
Ryan Caulfield: Year One
Ryan Caulfield: Year One
as Rachel Caulfield
TV - Released: 10/15/1999

1998

Evidence of Blood
Evidence of Blood
as Dora Overton
Movie - Released: 4/13/1998
You Can Thank Me Later
You Can Thank Me Later
as Diane
Movie - Released: 5/23/1998

1997

Two Voices
Two Voices
as Sybil Goldrich
Movie - Released: 6/16/1997
12 Angry Men
12 Angry Men
as Judge
Movie - Released: 8/17/1997

1996

Independence Day
Independence Day
as Marilyn Whitmore
Movie - Released: 6/25/1996
Woman Undone
Woman Undone
as Teri Hansen
Movie - Released: 2/4/1996
Movie
Mariette in Ecstasy
as Prioress
Movie - Released: 7/4/1996
Independence Day: The ID4 Invasion
Independence Day: The ID4 Invasion
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/30/1996
The Making of 'Independence Day'
The Making of 'Independence Day'
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/29/1996

1995

High Society
High Society
as Dott Emerson
TV - Released: 10/30/1995

1994

Blue Chips
Blue Chips
as Jenny
Movie - Released: 2/18/1994
ER
ER
as Eleanor Carter
TV - Released: 9/19/1994
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
as Sister Theodore Claire
TV - Released: 9/21/1994

1993

The American Clock
The American Clock
as Rose Baumler
Movie - Released: 1/2/1993

1992

Sneakers
Sneakers
as Liz
Movie - Released: 9/9/1992
Passion Fish
Passion Fish
as May-Alice Culhane
Movie - Released: 12/11/1992

1991

Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
as Claire
Movie - Released: 12/25/1991

1990

Dances with Wolves
Dances with Wolves
as Stands With A Fist
Movie - Released: 3/30/1990
The Making of 'Dances with Wolves'
The Making of 'Dances with Wolves'
as Herself
Movie - Released: 11/15/1990

1988

Tiger Warsaw
Tiger Warsaw
as Paula Warsaw
Movie - Released: 5/11/1988
American Experience
American Experience
as Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 10/4/1988

1987

Matewan
Matewan
as Elma Radnor
Movie - Released: 8/28/1987

1986

Courage
Courage
as Gabriella Estrada
Movie - Released: 9/24/1986

1984

Garbo Talks
Garbo Talks
as Lady Capulet
Movie - Released: 10/12/1984
E/R
E/R
as Eve Sheridan
TV - Released: 9/16/1984

1982

Money on the Side
Money on the Side
as Terri
Movie - Released: 9/29/1982

1953

The Oscars
The Oscars
as Self
TV - Released: 3/19/1953

1951

Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Helen Staples
TV - Released: 12/24/1951

1944

Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Nominee
TV - Released: 1/20/1944