Maura Tierney
Maura Tierney | |
|---|---|
| Born | Maura Therese Tierney[1] |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse(s) | Billy Morrissette (February 1993 – July 2006) |
Maura Lynn Tierney (born February 3, 1965) is an American film and television actress, who is likely best known for her roles as Lisa Miller on NewsRadio and Abby Lockhart on the television medical drama ER. Following ER, Tierney was set to star in the NBC series, Parenthood; however, she left the show after filming the pilot to undergo treatment for breast cancer.[2]
Early life
Tierney was born and raised in the Hyde Park neighborhood[3] of Boston. Her mother, Pat, is a real estate broker and her father, Joseph, was a prominent Boston politician who served on the Boston City Council for 15 years. Tierney is of Irish descent.[4]
She attended Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, Massachusetts, where her studies included drama and led to her appearance at the Boston Globe Drama Festival.[3] After graduation, she attended New York University and majored in dance, but changed her major to drama.[5]
Career
After appearing in several plays, she moved to Los Angeles, California and in 1987 got her first break in a role in Walt Disney's made-for-TV film Student Exchange.[6] Tierney's first starring role in a film was in a low-budget, independently-produced film called Dead Women in Lingerie, shot in 24 days.[7] The film never received a theatrical release, although it was released on DVD in 2005.[8]
Tierney continued winning small roles in film and television, though it was not until her leading role in the sitcom NewsRadio from 1995–1999 that she received regular national exposure. While she was a NewsRadio cast member, she also appeared in two successful films (Primal Fear and Forces of Nature), and the even more successful Jim Carrey film Liar Liar.[9]
After NewsRadio was canceled, Tierney decided not to pursue a role in another sitcom:
[W]hen NewsRadio got canceled, ... I thought, there's probably not gonna be something like [that show] again for me...So then, when ER called,...that was a way to stay in [television] that would remain interesting for me.[4]
Tierney played Nurse Abigail "Abby" Lockhart on ER, a character that began as a guest appearance as an OB nurse in November 1999, then expanded in February 2000 to a full-time regular part as an ER nurse (and later, after completion of medical school, a full-on ER doctor). Within a year, her work on ER had earned her an Emmy Award nomination, recognition she credits to a "juicy" story arc featuring Sally Field as Lockhart's mother, who suffers from bipolar disorder.[6]
Tierney confirmed in April 2008 that she would be leaving ER shortly after the beginning of the show's fifteenth season. In October 2008, she made her final regular appearance on the series after nearly 10 seasons on the show. She did return to make a cameo appearance on one additional episode later on during the final season.
As of 2007[update] Tierney's highest-profile film since joining the cast of ER was the 2002 film Insomnia.[9] That same year she also starred in Scotland, Pa., portraying a Lady Macbeth-like character written specifically for her by then-husband Billy Morrissette. She was praised by critics for her performance. She collaborated with NewsRadio writer Joe Furey for a special, "Working with Joe Furey" featurette for Furey's film Love and Support. In 2004, Tierney won the second season tournament of Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown against Lauren Graham.
She returned to the stage in May 2006 in an appearance opposite Eric McCormack in the off-Broadway premiere of Some Girl(s).[10] She also appeared in the 2008 films Semi-Pro, Baby Mama, The Go-Getter and Finding Amanda.
Tierney played the role of Laurel in the off-Broadway play Three Changes [11] with Dylan McDermott.[12] from September 16 to October 4, 2008.
She returned to television in 2009, playing the recurring character Kelly McPhee on the FX series Rescue Me.
Personal life
Tierney married actor-director Billy Morrissette on February 1, 1993, two days before her 28th birthday, after the two met on the set of a never-aired television series.[13] She filed for divorce 13 years later, citing irreconcilable differences. They had no children.
On February 1, 2009, which would have been her own 16th wedding anniversary, she officiated at the wedding of ER castmate/friend, Parminder Nagra and photographer James Stenson.[14]
On December 14, 2009, Maura's father, former Boston City Council President Joseph M. Tierney, died at his Hyde Park home at age 68 after a brief battle with cancer.[15]
Distant relatives are known to include political activist and avid Irn-Bru drinker Patrick Tierney.
Breast cancer
Tierney had been cast to star in the 2009 NBC drama, Parenthood. According to The Hollywood Reporter on July 10, 2009, the series was pushed to midseason. Filming had been scheduled to begin July 27. Production has been postponed for eight weeks to late September, according to NBC, "due to medical evaluation that (Tierney) is undergoing ... [W]e are unable to release further details and ask that you respect her privacy at this time".[16]
On July 13, 2009 it was announced that Tierney would have surgery to remove a tumor from her breast.[17][18] On September 10, 2009, it was announced that she had left the cast of Parenthood due to schedule conflicts with her cancer treatments, and would not be returning to the show. Lauren Graham replaced her.[19]
On January 27, 2010, her publicist revealed that she had finished treatment and was going back to work, signing up to star in a stage play.[20]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Student Exchange | Kathy Maltby | TV movies. |
| 1988 | Crossing the Mob | Michelle | |
| The Van Dyke Show 10 episodes |
Jillian Ryan | ||
| 1989 | Family Ties Ep: My Best Friend's Girl |
Darlene | |
| 1990 | Booker Ep: Reunion |
Donna Cofax | |
| Flying Blind | Donna | TV movie. | |
| 1991 | Dead Women in Lingerie | Molly Field | |
| The Linguini Incident | Cecelia | ||
| Law & Order Ep: Aria |
Patricia 'Patti' Blaine | ||
| 1992 | White Sands | Noreen | |
| 1993 | Fly by Night | Denise | |
| The Temp | Sharon Derns | ||
| 1994 | Lifestories: Families in Crisis Ep: A Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story |
||
| Out of Darkness | Meg | TV movie. | |
| 704 Hauser 5 episodes |
Cherlyn | ||
| 1995 | Mercy | Simonet | |
| NewsRadio 97 episodes 1995–1999 |
Lisa Miller | ||
| 1996 | Primal Fear | Naomi Chance | |
| 1997 | Liar Liar | Audrey Reede | |
| 1998 | Primary Colors | Daisy Green | |
| 1999 | Forces of Nature | Bridget Cahill | |
| Oxygen | Det. Madeline Foster | ||
| Instinct | Lynn Powell | ||
| ER 189 episodes 1999–2009 |
Dr. Abby Lockhart | ||
| 2000 | Mexico City | Pam on Phone (voice) | |
| King of the Hill Ep: Movin' On Up |
Tanya (voice) | ||
| 2001 | Scotland, Pa | Pat McBeth | |
| 2002 | Insomnia | Rachel Clement | |
| Rooftop Kisses | Denise | ||
| The Nazi | Helen | ||
| 2003 | Melvin Goes to Dinner | Leslie | |
| 2004 | Welcome to Mooseport | Sally Mannis | |
| 2006 | Danny Roane: First Time Director | Maura Tierney | |
| Diggers | Gina | ||
| 2007 | The Go-Getter | Hal's Pets | |
| 2008 | Semi-Pro | Lynn | |
| Baby Mama | Caroline | ||
| Finding Amanda | Lorraine Mendon | ||
| 2009 | Rescue Me 6 episodes |
Kelly McPhee |
References
- ^ Clark County, NV Marriage Records
- ^ [1]
- ^ a b Prescription for success, a February 2002 Boston Phoenix interview
- ^ a b Maura Tierney, original air date November 14, 2006, interviewed on The Tavis Smiley Show
- ^ Glamour magazine article
- ^ a b Dream Life, a September 2001 interview in Brntwd Magazine
- ^ Interview with director Erica Fox
- ^ July 2005 press release
- ^ a b Maura Tierney from The Numbers website
- ^ ...Tierney Becomes One of LaBute's Some Girl(s) for US Debut, Playbill (March 2006 article)
- ^ [2]
- ^ Playwrights Horizons signs stars
- ^ Natalie Finn (Jul 27, 2006). E! Online "Maura Tierney's Marriage Flatlines". E! Online. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ "OK! Exclusive: Parminder Nagra's Wedding Album", OK! Magazine
- ^ Marquard, Bryan (December 14, 2009). "Joseph Tierney, led Boston's City Council, at 68". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
- ^ Hollywood Reporter on Tierney's new series being delayed
- ^ Tierney to undergo surgery
- ^ Discovery of breast tumor
- ^ ^ Natalie Abrams. "Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham Takes Starring Role in Parenthood". TVGuide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Lauren-Graham-Parenthood-1010693.aspx.
- ^ "Maura Tierney goes back to work after battling cancer". Entertainment Weekly. January 27, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
External links
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- Maura-Tierney.com