Mary-Louise Parker Filmography Overview
Mary-Louise Parker is an American actress known for a mix of film, television, and stage work. Her screen credits include leading roles in movies such as Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) and The Client (1994), plus supporting parts in The Pelican Brief (1993) and The Bridges of Madison County (1995). Her filmography spans dramas, thrillers, and comedies across multiple decades.
Her television career is anchored by the role of Amy Gardner in the NBC political drama The West Wing (2001–2006), where she appeared in 34 episodes. She later starred as Nancy Botwin in the Showtime series Weeds (2005–2012), a performance that earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy in 2006.
Major Television Roles and Series
Weeds and Network Television
Weeds ran for eight seasons on Showtime, with Parker as the lead from 2005 to 2012. The series follows Nancy Botwin, a suburban widow who turns to selling marijuana to support her family. The show aired across multiple U.S. networks and streaming platforms, and its ensemble cast included Kevin Nealon, Elizabeth Perkins, and Justin Kirk.
Other Notable TV Appearances
Parker has taken on guest and recurring roles in series such as Orange Is the New Black (Netflix, 2017–2019), where she played the real-life figure of Carol Chapman. She also starred in the Hulu limited series Angelyne (2020) and appeared in episodes of Fargo (FX) and The Good Wife (CBS). Her work spans premium cable, streaming, and broadcast television.
Film Roles and Recent Projects
Selected Movie Credits
Her film credits include Red (2010) and Red 2 (2013), in which she played Catherine, a high-ranking intelligence operative opposite Bruce Willis and John Malkovich. She also appeared in R.I.P.D. (2013) and The Son (2022), a drama directed by Florian Zeller and based on the novel by Simon Stephens.
Stage and Production Work
Parker has an extensive stage career, including a Tony-nominated performance in Prelude to a Kiss (1990) and a leading role in How I Learned to Drive (1998). She has also produced and narrated audiobooks and participated in projects tied to organizations such as the Forbes coverage of entertainment industry trends and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings of publicly traded entertainment companies.