# Debra Monk

Debra Monk (born February 27, 1949) is an American actress, singer, and writer, best known for her performances on the Broadway stage. She is the recipient of a Tony Award (1993) , 2 Drama Desk Awards (1988, 2007), the Helen Hayes Award (1994), the Obie Award (2000) and an Emmy Award (1999) for her work.

## Life and career

Monk was born in Middletown, Ohio on February 27, 1949. She was voted "Best Personality" by her graduating class at Wheaton High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 1973, she graduated from Frostburg State University. In 1975, Monk was awarded a Master of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Monk garnered first attention in theatrical circles as one of the co-writers and co-stars of the musical Pump Boys and Dinettes (1982). She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for performance in Redwood Curtain (1993). She was nominated for a Tony Award for roles in Picnic (1994), Steel Pier (1997), and Curtains (2007). In 2000, she won an Obie Award for The Time of the Cuckoo. She returned to the stage in Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of Visiting Edna by David Rabe in September 2016.
Monk appeared on the Food Channel cooking show Barefoot Contessa, where she cooked Roasted Chicken, Arugula and Bread Salad, and Tri-Berry Crumble.
Monk has appeared in over 30 films since the early 1990s. She made her film debut in the movie version of Prelude to a Kiss, playing Aunt Dorothy. She later appeared in The Bridges of Madison County (1995) and The Devil's Advocate (1997). On television, she has won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for a recurring role as Katie Sipowicz in the ABC series, NYPD Blue. She also guest-starred on Law & Order, Desperate Housewives, The Closer, and Girls. Monk had recurring roles in A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001–02), Grey's Anatomy (2006–11), and Damages (2007–12).

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Prelude to a Kiss | Aunt Dorothy | |
| 1993 | For Love or Money | Mrs. Wegman | |
| 1993 | Fearless | Alison | |
| 1994 | Quiz Show | Kintner's Secretary | |
| 1995 | Redwood Curtain | Geneva | Television film |
| 1995 | The Bridges of Madison County | Madge | |
| 1995 | Jeffrey | Mom | |
| 1995 | Reckless | Therapist | |
| 1996 | Bed of Roses | Mrs. Farrell | |
| 1996 | Mrs. Winterbourne | Lieutenant Ambrose | |
| 1996 | The Substance of Fire | Martha Hackett | |
| 1996 | The First Wives Club | Jilted Lover | |
| 1996 | Extreme Measures | Dr. Judith Gruszynski | |
| 1997 | KnitWits | Catherine | Short film |
| 1997 | In & Out | Mrs. Lester | |
| 1997 | The Devil's Advocate | Pam Garrety | |
| 1997 | Ellen Foster | Aunt Nadine | Television film |
| 1998 | Bulworth | Helen | |
| 2000 | Center Stage | Nancy | |
| 2003 | Briar Patch | Officer Avon | |
| 2003 | The Music Man | Mrs. Paroo | Television film |
| 2003 | Milwaukee, Minnesota | Edna Burroughs | |
| 2003 | Eloise at the Plaza | Maggie | Television film |
| 2003 | Eloise at Christmastime | Maggie | Television film |
| 2004 | Palindromes | Mama Sunshine | |
| 2005 | Dark Water | Dahlia's Teacher | |
| 2005 | The Producers | Lick Me-Bite Me | |
| 2007 | The Savages | Nancy Lachman | |
| 2008 | The Great Buck Howard | Doreen | |
| 2009 | Love and Other Impossible Pursuits | Laura | |
| 2011 | Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! | Petunia | Television film |
| 2012 | One for the Money | Mrs. Plum | |
| 2012 | The Brass Teapot | Trudy | |
| 2013 | Ass Backwards | Pawn Shop Owner | |
| 2013 | Reaching Home | Janet | Short film |
| 2014 | This Is Where I Leave You | Linda | |
| 2015 | Demolition | Davis' Mom | |
| 2019 | Standing Up, Falling Down | Jeanie Rollins | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | One Life to Live | Nurse Medford | 1 Episode |
| 1990 | American Playhouse | Psychiatrist | Episode: "Women & Wallace " |
| 1992 | Loving | Sandra Thorpe | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Lifestories: Families in Crisis | Karen Bell | Episode:"Public Law 106: The Becky Bell Story " |
| 1994 | Law & Order | Kathleen O'Brien | Episode: "Coma" |
| 1996–2001 | NYPD Blue | Katie Sipowicz | 17 episodes (1999 – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series) |
| 1998 | Dellaventura | Madison Harcourt | Episode: "Made in America" |
| 1998 | LateLine | Clare Cunningham | Episode: "Requiem for a Horse" |
| 2001–02 | A Nero Wolfe Mystery | Various roles | 8 episodes |
| 2002 | Law & Order | Dr. Madelyn Stahl | Episode: "Born Again" |
| 2003 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Maggie | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Frasier | Nurse Karen | Episode: "No Sex Please We're Skittish" |
| 2005 | Law & Order | Judge G. Proctor | Episode: "In God We Trust" |
| 2006–11 | Grey's Anatomy | Louise O'Malley | 7 episodes |
| 2006 | Desperate Housewives | Marcella | Episode: "Children and Art" |
| 2007–12 | Damages | Denise Parsons | 12 episodes |
| 2007 | Notes from the Underbelly | Andrew's Mom | Episode: "Mother's Milk " |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Warden Pellis | Episode: "Untethered " |
| 2009 | Glee | Mrs. Schuester | Episode: "Acafellas" |
| 2009 | The Closer | Mary Summer | Episode: "Blood Money " |
| 2009 | Ghost Whisperer | Anne Sullivan | Episode: "Till Death Do Us Start " |
| 2010 | Brothers & Sisters | Alexandra Kirby | Episode: "Call Mom" |
| 2012 | White Collar | Mrs. Mitchell | Episode: "Pulling Strings" |
| 2014 | Girls | Dr. Stern | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Hot in Cleveland | Loretta | Episode: "Win Win" |
| 2014–18 | Mozart in the Jungle | Betty Cragdale | 26 episodes |
| 2014 | Reckless | Judge Gertrude Moss | 5 episodes |
| 2015 | Madam Secretary | Mary Lou Boris | Episode: "The Ninth Circle" |
| 2015 | The Jack and Triumph Show | Young June | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Difficult People | Bunny Tack | Episode: "Difficult Christmas" |
| 2015 | Blindspot | Colonel Powers | Episode: "A Stray Howl" |
| 2015–17 | Sneaky Pete | Connie Persikof | 2 episodes |
| 2016–17 | Mercy Street | Dr. Foster's Mother | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Crowded | Linda | Episode: "Come Back" |
| 2016 | The Good Wife | Tracy Mintz | Episode: "Judged" |
| 2016 | The Characters | Kim | Episode: "John Early " |
| 2017 | Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics | Herself | Episode: “Dinner Party 101” |
| 2017 | NCIS: New Orleans | CEO Sarah Laroche | Episode: “Hell on the High Water” |
| 2017 | Mr. Mercedes | Capt. Brooke Hockney | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Dietland | Mrs Kettle | 5 episodes |
| 2018–19 | Tell Me a Story | Esther Thorn | 4 episodes |
| 2019 | At Home with Amy Sedaris | Mrs. Bjornson | Episode: “Thanksgiving” |
| 2019 | Instinct | Judge Gillespie | Episode: “Finders Keepers” |
| 2019–23 | New Amsterdam | Karen Brantley | 16 episodes |
| 2022 | The Gilded Age | Armstrong | Series Regular (2023 – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series nomination) |
| 2023 | American Horror Story: Delicate | Virginia Harding | 4 episodes |