# Miriam Flynn

Miriam Flynn is an American voice and character actress. She is best known as Cousin Catherine in the National Lampoon's Vacation films and Grandma Longneck in The Land Before Time franchises. She has acted in other films and in several television series, the latter including a recurring role as Sister Helen on the Fox/WB sitcom Grounded for Life.

## Career
### Second City

Before breaking into television, Flynn was a member of the Second City improv troupe in 1975. She appeared on stage alongside Shelley Long, George Wendt, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, and James Belushi.

### Film and television

Flynn was a regular cast member in The Tim Conway Show, a comedy-variety show that aired on CBS from March 1980 through summer 1981, acting in sketch comedy in each episode.$^{:1203}$ She then starred in her own sitcom, Maggie, on ABC, but the show was short-lived, airing in October and November 1981 and in April–May 1982 before being cancelled.$^{:720}$ She appeared in the Cheers episode "Love Thy Neighbor" as Phyllis Henshaw, Norm and Vera Peterson's next-door neighbor. In fall 1988, she co-starred in the short-lived CBS sitcom Raising Miranda.$^{:977}$
In 1995, she was the voice of Maa the Ewe in the hit film, Babe. In 1996–1997, she was a regular cast member in Malcolm & Eddie, playing Kelly, a bar owner and landlord to the main characters, for the program's first season.$^{:726}$
From 2001 to 2005 she played the recurring character Sister Helen on the Fox/WB sitcom Grounded for Life. In 2004, she played Coop's mom in Megas XLR. Flynn also appeared in an episode of George Lopez "George VS. George" (2003) episode. In that episode she played the role of Brenda, a bank employee.
As a voice artist, Flynn has been featured in The Land Before Time series, as Grandma Longneck after Linda Gary's death in 1995; on both Taz-Mania and What-a-Mess as the title character's mother, Jean; as Poil in The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper; and in Family Guy as well as Rudy's mother, Millie Tabootie on the Nickelodeon show, ChalkZone and Aunt Vera on the Cartoon Network show, Ben 10.
Her best known film role is as Cousin Catherine in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), Vegas Vacation (1997) and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2 (2003). Her other acting roles include First Family (1980), National Lampoon's Class Reunion (1982), Mr. Mom (1983), Family Ties (1986), For Keeps (1988), 18 Again! (1988), Stealing Home (1988), Lonely Hearts (1991), Evolution (2001), Wieners (2008), About Fifty (2011) and Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011).

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | First Family | Feebleman's Secretary | |
| 1982 | National Lampoon's Class Reunion | Bunny Packard | |
| 1983 | Mr. Mom | Annette | |
| 1983 | National Lampoon's Vacation | Cousin Catherine | |
| 1988 | For Keeps | Donna Elliot | |
| 1988 | 18 Again! | Betty Watson | |
| 1988 | Stealing Home | Mrs. Parks | |
| 1989 | National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | Cousin Catherine Johnson | |
| 1991 | Lonely Hearts | Helen | |
| 1995 | Babe | Maa | Voice |
| 1996 | Waiting for Guffman | Costume Dresser | |
| 1996 | Carpool | Franklin's Mom | Voice |
| 1997 | Vegas Vacation | Cousin Catherine | |
| 1997 | The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island | Grandma Longneck | Voice |
| 1998 | The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock | Grandma Longneck | Voice |
| 2000 | Chump Change | Bussler Waitress | Voice |
| 2000 | The Best of Dr. Seuss | Yookie-Ann Sue / Teacher | Voice |
| 2000 | Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman | Principal Milliken | Voice |
| 2000 | The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire | Grandma Longneck | Voice |
| 2000 | The Emperor's New Groove | Piñata Lady | Voice |
| 2001 | Evolution | Grace | |
| 2001 | The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze | Grandma Longneck | Voice |
| 2002 | The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water | Grandma Longneck, Diplodocus Mom | Voice |
| 2003 | The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration | Grandma Longneck | Voice |
| 2005 | The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses | Grandma Longneck | Voice |
| 2006 | The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers | Grandma Longneck | Voice |
| 2007 | The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends | Grandma Longneck | Voice |
| 2008 | Wieners | Ben's Mom | |
| 2009 | Nowhere to Hide | Priscella | |
| 2011 | About Fifty | Nancy | |
| 2011 | Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star | Debbie Larson | |
| 2014 | All Stars | Miriam Carson | |
| 2016 | The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave | Grandma Longneck | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2016 | Taking Liberty | Mrs. Batesome | |
| 2019 | Extracurricular Activities | Mrs. Reed | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | Who's Watching the Kids? | Ms. Collins | Episode: "Good News, Bad News" |
| 1981–1982 | Maggie | Maggie Weston | 8 episodes |
| 1983 | Gimme a Break! | Mrs. Brandt | Episode: "Glenlawn Street Blues" |
| 1983 | Full House | Boobie Hall | Television film |
| 1984 | Her Life as a Man | Sheila | Television film |
| 1984 | Mr. Success | Helen Silt | Television film |
| 1984 | Silver Spoons | Myrna Lippincottleman | Episode: "Twas the Night Before Christmas" |
| 1984, 1991 | Night Court | Helen Liptz / Phyllis Simon | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Webster | Jan Morgan | Episode: "The Uh-Oh Feeling" |
| 1985 | Snorks | Additional voices | Episode: "Snorkitis Is Nothing to Sneeze At/The Whole Toot and Nothing But..." |
| 1985 | Cheers | Phyllis Henshaw | Episode: "Love Thy Neighbor" |
| 1985 | Riptide | Marian Flynn | Episode: "Robin and Marian" |
| 1986 | Family Ties | Mrs. Carpenter | Episode: "My Buddy" |
| 1986 | Christmas Every Day | Helen / Franny / Will | Television film |
| 1986–1990 | The Magical World of Disney | Gandra Dee / Helen | 3 episodes |
| 1986–1987 | Foofur | Additional voices | 16 episodes |
| 1987, 1988 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Cookie Lippman / Betty | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | The New Yogi Bear Show | Additional voices | 4 episodes |
| 1988 | Raising Miranda | Joan Hoodenpyle | 9 episodes |
| 1988, 1989 | The Tracey Ullman Show | Miss Clark / Jill | 2 episodes |
| 1988, 1993 | L.A. Law | Edie Moffit / Madeleine | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Hound Town | Sasha | Television film |
| 1989 | Dear John | Penny | Episode: "The Other Group" |
| 1989 | The Butter Battle Book | Yookie-Ann Sue | Voice, television film |
| 1989–1990 | DuckTales | Gandra Dee | Voice, 7 episodes |
| 1990 | The Simpsons | Miss Barr | Voice, episode: "Moaning Lisa" |
| 1990 | Murder, She Wrote | Vi | Episode: "Murder -- According to Maggie" |
| 1990 | Monsters | Luann | Episode: "Murray's Monster" |
| 1990 | The Flockens | Patricia Flocken | Television film |
| 1991 | Murphy Brown | Ellen Smith | Episode: "The Smiths Go to Washington" |
| 1991–1995 | Taz-Mania | Various voices | 40 episodes |
| 1991–1996 | Bobby's World | Additional voices | 7 episodes |
| 1992 | Herman's Head | Dr. Nina Bergstrom | Episode: "That's What Friends Aren't For" |
| 1992 | Stand by Your Man | Adrienne Stone / Arlene Stone | 5 episodes |
| 1992 | Doogie Howser, M.D. | Real Estate Agent | Episode: "Doogie Doesn't Live Here Anymore" |
| 1993 | Picket Fences | Alice Freeman | Episode: "Bad Moons Rising" |
| 1993 | Civil Wars | Dr. Pleasance | Episode: "A Liver Runs Through It" |
| 1993 | Mighty Max | Professor MacDougall | Voice, episode: "Werewolves of Dunneglen" |
| 1994 | The Second Half | Rachel | Episode: "Far and Awry" |
| 1994 | Duckman | Additional voices | Episode: "It's the Thing of the Principal" |
| 1994 | The Nanny | Country Club Manager | Episode: "I Don't Remember Mama" |
| 1994 | Madman of the People | Lorraine | Episode: "Jack Has Left the Building" |
| 1994–1995 | The Tick | Charles' Mother | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 1995 | Indictment: The McMartin Trial | Judge Bobb | Television film |
| 1995 | From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler | Evelyn Kincaid | Television film |
| 1995 | Letter to My Killer | Personnel Director | Television film |
| 1995 | Hope & Gloria | Dr. Rose | Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Trim" |
| 1995 | Murder One | Robin Zeitlin | Episode: "Chapter Eight" |
| 1995 | Life with Louie | Aunt Mimi | Voice, episode: "The Fourth Thursday in November" |
| 1995 | Partners | Saleswoman | Episode: "Fourteen Minutes?" |
| 1995 | What-a-Mess | Mother | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 1996 | The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries | Greta | Voice, episode: "Don't Polka Me" |
| 1996 | Quack Pack | Mrs. Robinson | Voice, episode: "The Unusual Suspects" |
| 1996–1997 | Malcolm & Eddie | Kelly | 6 episodes |
| 1996–1997 | The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper | Poil | Voice, 16 episodes |
| 1997 | The Legend of Calamity Jane | Lonely Sue | Voice, 13 episodes |
| 1997 | The Practice | Mary Stokes | Episode: "Part IV" |
| 1997 | Jenny | Mother Superior | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1997 | Pinky and the Brain | Woman | Voice, episode: "Leggo My Ego" |
| 1998 | Ally McBeal | Karen Poole | Episode: "The Playing Field" |
| 1998 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Suzie Martin | Episode: "Stuck with Dick" |
| 1998 | Brooklyn South | Dee / Alison Williams | Episode: "Cinnamon Buns" |
| 1998 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Mrs. Frank | Episode: "I Only Have Eyes for You" |
| 1998 | The New Batman Adventures | Zaftig Lady | Voice, episode: "Mean Seasons" |
| 1998 | Dharma & Greg | Jasmine | Episode: "Unarmed and Dangerous" |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Midwife | Episode: "Covenant" |
| 1998 | Rugrats | Customer, Party Goer | Voice, episode: "Baking Dil" |
| 1999 | Batman Beyond | Newscaster | Voice, episode: "Disappearing Inque" |
| 2001 | Malcolm in the Middle | Cooking Teacher | Episode: "Reese Cooks" |
| 2001 | Static Shock | Ms. Pettibone | Voice, episode: "Tantrum" |
| 2001 | A Kitty Bobo Show | Mrs. Bobo | Voice, television short |
| 2001 | Providence | Mrs. Hartford | Episode: "You Can Count on Me" |
| 2001 | Once and Again | Gayle Stephenson | Episode: "Destiny Turns on the Radio" |
| 2001–2005 | Grounded for Life | Sister Helen | 22 episodes |
| 2002, 2003 | Judging Amy | Winkie | 2 episodes |
| 2002–2008 | ChalkZone | Millie Tabootie | Voice, 18 episodes |
| 2003 | George Lopez | Brenda | Episode: "George vs. George" |
| 2003 | Ozzy & Drix | Drixeen | Voice, episode: "An Out of Body Experience" |
| 2003 | National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2 | Catherine Johnson | Television film |
| 2004 | Happy Family | Barb | Episode: "Rules and Girls" |
| 2004 | Century City | Judge | Episode: "Only You" |
| 2004 | Second Time Around | Belinda | Episode: "Secrets" |
| 2004 | Megas XLR | Coop's Mother, Woman, Old Lady | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2005 | Fielder's Choice | Rose | Television film |
| 2006 | Ben 10 | Vera Tennyson | Voice, episode: "Permanent Retirement" |
| 2006 | 'Til Death | Bonnie Woodcock | Episode: "Your Mother or Your Wife" |
| 2007 | Las Vegas | Betty | Episode: "Wagers of Sin" |
| 2007 | The Young and the Restless | Edna McCallister | Episode #1.8585 |
| 2007 | Desperate Housewives | Dr. Berman | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | The Land Before Time | Grandma Longneck | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2007 | Cavemen | Rose Claybrook | Episode: "Nick Get Job" |
| 2007 | Grey's Anatomy | Gretchen Bitzer | Episode: "The Heart of the Matter" |
| 2007 | Boston Legal | Gretchen Winters | Episode: "The Object of My Affection" |
| 2008 | Cranberry Christmas | Granny / Sister Whiskers | Voice, television film |
| 2009 | Big Love | Aunt Dot | Episode: "Come, Ye Saints" |
| 2009 | Married Not Dead | Ms. Giamatti | Television film |
| 2010 | The Life & Times of Tim | Woman in Church | Voice, episode: "The Comeback Sermon" |
| 2010 | Good Luck Charlie | Jane | Episode: "Kit and Kaboodle" |
| 2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Margaret | Episode: "The Safe House" |
| 2011 | Zeke and Luther | Mrs. Smorlov | Episode: "Lie Hard" |
| 2012–2013 | Suburgatory | Helen | 7 episodes |
| 2014 | Summer with Cimorelli | Mrs. Cimorelli | Episode: "Pretty Little Cimorelliars" |
| 2014 | Bones | Fancie Von Mertens | Episode: "The Mutilation of the Master Manipulator" |
| 2015 | Scandal | Mrs. Ambruso | Episode: "Put a Ring on It" |
| 2015 | Murder in the First | Dr. Hopkins | Episode: "Nothing but the Truth" |
| 2015, 2016 | Liv and Maddie | Mrs. Snodgrass | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | iZombie | Drake's Mother | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | The Middle | Female Clerk | Episode: "A Tough Pill to Swallow" |
| 2017 | The Carmichael Show | Monica | Episode: "Shoot-Up-Able" |
| 2017 | School of Rock | Nana Gert | Episode: "The Other Side of Summer" |
| 2017 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Marilyn | Episode: "All is Bright" |
| 2019 | If You Give a Mouse a Cookie | Band Leader | Voice, episode: "Parade Day" |
| 2019 | Fancy Nancy | Fay Clancy | Voice, episode: "The Amazing Adventures of Grammy and Poppy" |
| 2020 | Mom | Arlene | Episode: "Somebody's Grandmother and the A-List" |
| 2021 | The Unicorn | Mrs. Burbage | Episode: "In Memory Of..." |
| 2023 | Shrinking | Pam | Episode: “Fifteen Minutes” |
| 2023 | The Lincoln Lawyer | Donna | Episode: "Cui Boni" |