# Marisa Ryan

Marisa Ryan (born November 20, 1974) is an American actress, best known for her role as Nina Grabowski in the HBO series Sex and the City, as Elizabeth Cooper-MacGillis in the CBS sitcom Major Dad (1989–1993), and as Abby Bernstein in the 2001 comedy film Wet Hot American Summer, its Netflix prequel series, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015) and its Netflix sequel series Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017).

## Career

Ryan made her screen debut in a small role in the 1983 film Without a Trace. From 1989 to 1993, she starred as Elizabeth Cooper-MacGillis in the CBS sitcom Major Dad opposite Gerald McRaney. She later went to star in the Independent films Love Always (1996), Slaves to the Underground (1997), Taylor's Return (1997), and With or Without You (1998). In 1998, Ryan joined the cast of Fox police drama series New York Undercover as Det. Nell Delaney, during the show's fourth and final season. She later guest-starred on The Practice, Sex and the City, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order.
In 2001, Ryan co-starred as Abby Bernstein in the ensemble cast satirical comedy film Wet Hot American Summer. She reprised her role in the Netflix prequel series, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp in 2015. She also appeared in films Don's Plum (2001), Riding in Cars with Boys (2001), and Brooklyn Lobster (2005). In 1997, she made her directorial debut with the independent short film Three Women of Pain which she also co-wrote.

## Personal life

Ryan was born in Manhattan, New York. In 1993, Ryan married actor Jeremy Sisto; both were 18 years old at the time. Sisto and Ryan separated two days later but remained legally married until June 21, 2002.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | Without a Trace | Justine Norris | |
| 1996 | Love Always | Julia Bradshaw | |
| 1997 | Slaves to the Underground | Suzy | |
| 1997 | Taylor's Return | Liz | |
| 1998 | With or Without You | Zoe | |
| 1999 | Man of the Century | Gertrude | |
| 1999 | Trash | Alex Staley | |
| 1999 | Cold Hearts | Viktoria | |
| 2001 | Wet Hot American Summer | Abby | |
| 2001 | Don's Plum | Anna | |
| 2001 | The Cure for Boredom | Danya | |
| 2001 | Riding in Cars with Boys | Janet Donofrio - Age 19 | |
| 2002 | Stella shorts | College Buddy | Direct-to-video |
| 2003 | Justice | Julia | |
| 2004 | Confessions of a Dangerous Mime | Susan Stapleton | Short |
| 2005 | Alchemy | Bridesmaid | |
| 2005 | Brooklyn Lobster | Lauren Wallace | |
| 2007 | Puberty: The Movie | Lashonda | |
| 2010 | The Extra Man | Tanya | |
| 2017 | Middleground | Marcus' Wife | |
| 2019 | Human Capital | Ella | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1989–1993 | Major Dad | Elizabeth Cooper McGillis | 96 episodes |
| 1996 | Boy Meets World | Irene | Episode: "You Can Go Home Again" |
| 1997 | Promised Land | Samantha Markovich | Episode: "The Collapse" |
| 1997 | The Pretender | Helen Diggs | Episode: "Unhappy Landings" |
| 1998–1999 | New York Undercover | Det. Nell Delaney | 13 episodes |
| 1999 | The Practice | Cynthia Simonson | Episode: "Closet Justice" |
| 1999 | Sex and the City | Nina G. | Episode: "Twenty-Something Girls vs. Thirty-Something Women" |
| 2000 | Mary and Rhoda | Meredith Rousseau | Television film |
| 2000 | Deadline | Stokes | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2002 | The Pennsylvania Miners' Story | Leslie Mayhugh | Television film |
| 2002 | Hack | Melissa | Episode: "All Night Long" |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Laura Bergeron | Episode: "Tragedy" |
| 2005, 2008 | Law & Order | Woman with Drink/Stacey Ranson | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | 1% | Montana | Television film |
| 2014 | The Leftovers | Imposter | Episode: "Guest" |
| 2015 | Odd Mom Out | Krista | Episode: "Brooklandia" |
| 2015 | Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp | Abby | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | The Mysteries of Laura | Susan | Episode: "The Mystery of the Maternal Instinct" |
| 2017 | Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later | Abby | 7 episodes |
| 2019 | Divorce | Ursula | Episode: "Miami" |