Merrin Dungey


Merrin Melissa Dungey is an American film and television actress, known for her roles on the television series The King of Queens, Alias, Malcolm in the Middle, and Summerland. Dungey also appeared as Ursula on Once Upon a Time, and starred in the legal drama Conviction. Most recently, she appeared on the medical drama The Resident, and costars in the 2019 legal drama The Fix.

Early life and education

Dungey was born and raised in Sacramento, California, the younger daughter of Don Dungey, a general services manager and Judith Dungey. As a child, she was active in ballet and dance as well as piano. Dungey was also an accomplished ice skater. Dungey graduated in 1989 from Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California. After high school, Dungey earned a degree of Bachelor of Arts from UCLA in 1993. Dungey has one sister, Channing Dungey, who was named president of ABC Entertainment in February 2016.

Career

Dungey had small roles in Hollywood films such as EDtv and Deep Impact and on television series such as Martin, before landing the recurring role of Kelly Palmer on the CBS television series The King of Queens, in which she starred from 1999 to 2007. She appeared in every season in the series except for the 2002-03 season. Dungey is also well known for her role as Francie Calfo on the drama series Alias, in which she starred from 2001 to 2003, as well as an appearance in the 2006 series finale episode All the Time in the World. She also had a recurring role on the FOX sitcom Malcolm in the Middle as Stevie's mother, Kitty Kernaban. At one point in 2001, Dungey was appearing in all three shows at the same time. Dungey then portrayed Susannah in the WB drama series Summerland from 2004 to 2005. She has also guest-starred on various TV series including Living Single, ER, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld, Friends, The West Wing, Babylon 5, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Dungey appeared in two episodes of Grey's Anatomy that served as a backdoor pilot for Private Practice, but was replaced by actress Audra McDonald for the actual series.
Most recently, Dungey guest-starred on the ABC sitcoms Surviving Suburbia starring Bob Saget, Better Off Ted starring Portia de Rossi, Castle starring Nathan Fillion and HBO's Hung starring Thomas Jane. She portrayed Ellie on the Nick at Nite television series Hollywood Heights in 2012 and the recurring role of Alissa Barnes on ABC's Betrayal in 2013. In 2014 she appeared in a featured role opposite Pierce Brosnan in Some Kind of Beautiful. Also in 2014 she began portraying the recurring roles of Ursula on ABC's Once Upon a Time and Sharon Jeffords on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Dungey played investigator Maxine Bohen on the ABC legal drama Conviction from October 2016 to May 2017. In September 2017, she joined the cast of the medical drama The Resident as Claire Thorpe. Dungey will next appear as C.J. Bernstein in the ABC legal drama The Fix.

Personal life

Dungey is married to Matthew Drake. They married in a Mariachi style wedding ceremony in Cancun, Mexico, in May 2007. Dungey gave birth to their first daughter in June 2008, and a second daughter in 2011.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1995MartinMoniqueEpisode: "Girlfriend"
1996Babylon 5Security Guard #2Episode: "Messages from Earth"
1996Living SingleLauraEpisode: "Woman to Woman"
1996Party GirlWanda4 episodes
1997Caroline in the CityFemale ProstituteEpisode: "Caroline and the Buyer"
1997ERDaphinaEpisode: "When the Bough Breaks"
1997Murphy BrownWomanEpisode: "From the Terrace"
1998SeinfeldCashierEpisode: "The Bookstore"
1999–2007The King of QueensKelly PalmerRecurring role
1999Tracey Takes On...NancyEpisode: "Drugs"
1999'Coach WilliamsEpisode: "Prescription for Trouble"
1999The West WingDaisyEpisode: "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc"
1999G vs ERebecca ClemensEpisode: "Cliffhanger"
2000JesseRosemaryEpisode: "Kurt Slips, Niagara Falls"
2000–2004Malcolm in the MiddleKitty Kenarban6 episodes
2000City of AngelsMrs. LombardEpisode: "Deliver the Male"
2000FriendsHildy, museum officialEpisode: "The One Where Paul's the Man"
2000–2001Grosse PointeJoan4 episodes
2001–2003, 2006AliasFrancie Calfo / Allison DorenMain Cast
Recurring
Special Guest Star
2001Curb Your EnthusiasmAmyEpisode: "The Doll"
2004–2005SummerlandSusannah RexfordSeries regular
2006BeyondDebbie SpragueTV movie
2007Boston LegalSandy ZiontsEpisode: "Angel of Death"
2007Grey's AnatomyDr. Naomi Bennett2 episodes:
"The Other Side of This Life "
2009MasterworkRachel WestTV movie
2009–2010Better Off TedSheila4 episodes
2009Surviving SuburbiaMrs. DevoreEpisode: "Nothing for Money"
2010CastleMonica FinchEpisode: "Den of Thieves"
2010The CloserMs. ReedEpisode: "Heart Attack"
2010HungLiz2 episodes
2010OutlawAlison MillsEpisode: "In Re: Curtis Farwell"
2012RevengeBarbara Snow3 episodes
2012Hollywood HeightsEllie MossContract role
201390210TherapistEpisode: "Brother From Another Mother"
2013How to Live with Your ParentsMorgan2 episodes
2013BetrayalAlissa Barnes5 episodes
2014–2015Brooklyn Nine-NineSharon JeffordsRecurring role; 5 episodes
2014EpisodesTonight Show ProducerEpisode: "Episode Four"
2014Trophy WifeAgent Dawn JohansenEpisode: "The Wedding, Part 1"
2014ShamelessNurseEpisode: "Lazarus"
2014–2015Chasing LifeDr. Susan Hamburg15 episodes
2014Rizzoli & IslesNurseEpisode: "It Takes a Village"
2014'Twyla OwensEpisode: ""
2014–2015Once Upon a TimeUrsula6 episodes
2015BackstromEleanor DeeringEpisode: "Enemy of My Enemies"
201548 Hours 'til MondayTV movie
2016–2017ConvictionMaxine BohenSeries regular
2016Con ManJessEpisode: "What Goes Up..."
2017–2018Big Little LiesDetective Adrienne Quinlan6 episodes
2017You're the WorstCandace2 episodes
2017Brothered UpDesiree WilliamsTV movie
2018The ResidentClaire ThorpeMain role
2019The FixC.J. BernsteinMain role
2020Interviewer1 episode
2020Man with a PlanDr. Felicia2 episodes