# Lee Garlington

Ann Leslie "Lee" Garlington (born July 20, 1953) is an American actress.

## Early life

Garlington was born in Teaneck, New Jersey on July 20, 1953. She spent her teenage years in Wilmington, Delaware.

## Career

She has guest-starred in a number of notable television series, including The West Wing, 7th Heaven, 8 Simple Rules, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Judging Amy, Will & Grace, Matlock, L.A. Law, The Practice, Quantum Leap, Home Improvement, Boston Legal, Roseanne, Get a Life, Coach, Profiler, Medium, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Two and a Half Men, Lie to Me and among other series. She also played the part of Kirsten, Rose Nylund's (Betty White) daughter in the final season of The Golden Girls and Ronni Rapalono, the mistress of Joey Tribbiani's father on Friends. From 2002 to 2005, she had a recurring role as Brenda Baxworth on Everwood. She was one of the stars of the series Lenny.
Garlington also appeared in the sequels to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Psycho II (1983) and Psycho III (1986). She starred alongside Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen in the action/thriller Cobra (1986), and played Demi Moore's obstetrician in The Seventh Sign (1988). In Sneakers (1992), she appeared as Dr. Elena Rhyzkov, a Czechoslovakian mathematics scientist, in a scene with Robert Redford.
Garlington was originally intended to play the lead female role in Seinfeld. She was the female regular in the pilot episode, "The Seinfeld Chronicles", playing the waitress Claire at Pete's Luncheonette. When the series was picked up, however, it was decided that having the female lead be from such a different social status compared to the rest of the cast would be unworkable, so the character of Claire was dropped and replaced by Elaine Benes.
In 2021, Lee Garlington worked in the Discovery+ film Candy Coated Christmas.

## Awards

In 2018, Garlington received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her role as Darlene in Broken.

## Personal life

Garlington is married to electrician Howard Nugent.
She was a bridesmaid for Demi Moore for her second marriage.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | Psycho II | Myrna | |
| 1986 | Cobra | Nancy Stalk | |
| 1986 | Psycho III | Myrna | |
| 1987 | Some Kind of Wonderful | Gym teacher | |
| 1988 | The Seventh Sign | Dr. Margaret Inness | |
| 1989 | Field of Dreams | Beulah Gasnick | |
| 1990 | Meet the Applegates | Nita Samson | |
| 1992 | Sneakers | Dr. Elena Rhyzkov | |
| 1993 | Jack the Bear | Mrs. Festinger | |
| 1993 | My Life | Carol Sandman | |
| 1994 | Reflections on a Crime | Tina | |
| 1995 | The Babysitter | Dolly Tucker | |
| 1996 | Driven | Marian | |
| 1997 | Dante's Peak | Dr. Jane Fox | |
| 2000 | Forever Lulu | Linda Davis | |
| 2001 | Layover | Boone | |
| 2002 | The Sum of All Fears | Mary Pat Foley | |
| 2002 | The Hot Chick | Vice-Principal Bernard | |
| 2002 | One Hour Photo | Waitress | |
| 2004 | Johnson Family Vacation | Betty Sue | |
| 2004 | Guarding Eddy | Helen | |
| 2005 | Mortuary | Rita | |
| 2006 | Something New | Mrs. Cahan | |
| 2006 | Stick It | Head Vault Judge | |
| 2008 | Just Add Water | Penny | |
| 2008 | Pulse 2: Afterlife | Aunt Carmen | Video |
| 2008 | The Coverup | Beverly Thacker | |
| 2010 | A Buddy Story | Susan's Mom | |
| 2014 | Sister | Principal Jacobs | |
| 2014 | The Angriest Man in Brooklyn | Gummy | |
| 2014 | The Extendables | Paint | |
| 2014 | Some Kind of Beautiful | Wendy | |
| 2015 | Safelight | Dottie | |
| 2015 | Band of Robbers | Lt. Polly | |
| 2016 | Do You Take This Man | Esther | |
| 2016 | Her Last Will | Ruth | |
| 2017 | House by the Lake | Dr. Llywelyn | |
| 2018 | North Blvd | Liz | |
| 2018 | Christmas Harmony | Debbie | |
| 2021 | The Little Things | Landlady | |
| 2021 | Candy Coated Christmas | Kim Winters | Discovery+ film |
| TBA | Boy's Name | Elsee | Pre-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Jessie | Pat | Episode: "Valerie's Turn" |
| 1985 | Hill Street Blues | Maura | Episodes: "Hacked to Pieces", "Seoul on Ice" |
| 1986 | Stingray | Anne | Episode: "Below the Line" |
| 1987 | Matlock | Paula | Episode: "The Chef" |
| 1987 | Sledge Hammer! | Dr. Sara Johanssen / Markovich | Episode: "Comrade Hammer" |
| 1987 | Amen | Domina | Episode: "Into the Night" |
| 1987 | L.A. Law | Regina Furnald | Episode: "Pigmalion" |
| 1987 | Student Exchange | Mrs. Whitcoms | TV film |
| 1987 | Family Ties | Beth Davis | Episode: "Miracle in Columbus" |
| 1987–88 | Hooperman | Gail | Episodes: "John Doe, We Hardly Knew Ye", "The Naked and the Dead", "In Search of Bijoux" |
| 1988 | Down Delaware Road | Janet Rhonda | TV film |
| 1988 | Winnie | Gladys | TV film |
| 1988 | Raising Miranda | Helen Lundquist | Episode: "Marcine Shoplifts" |
| 1989 | Murphy Brown | Shawnee | Episode: "It's How You Play the Game" |
| 1989 | Heartbeat | Judy Pellman | Episode: "What the Inspector Saw" |
| 1989 | Seinfeld | Claire | Episode: "Good News, Bad News" |
| 1989 | Cold Sassy Tree | Mary Willis | TV film |
| 1989 | A Brand New Life | Linda | Episodes: "The Honeymooners", "Above and Beyond Therapy", "Private School" |
| 1989 | The Nutt House | Angelica | Episode: "Suites, Lies and Videotape" |
| 1989, 1991 | Roseanne | Carole Karoszek / Karen Miller | Episodes: "Death and Stuff", "Santa Claus" |
| 1990 | Last Flight Out | Jan | TV film |
| 1990 | A Killing in a Small Town | Peggy Blankenship | TV film |
| 1990 | Bar Girls | Shelly | TV film |
| 1990 | When You Remember Me | Joanne | TV film |
| 1990–91 | Lenny | Shelly Callahan | Main role |
| 1991 | Get a Life | Patti | Episode: "Married" |
| 1991 | The Whereabouts of Jenny | Gina | TV film |
| 1991 | Who's the Boss? | Ms. Foster | Episode: "Tony and Angela Get Divorced" |
| 1991 | Quantum Leap | Nurse Chatam | Episode: "Shock Theater" |
| 1991 | Posing: Inspired by Three Real Stories | Josette | TV film |
| 1991 | Coach | Barbara | Episode: "I Hate Barbara" |
| 1992 | Reasonable Doubts | Martine Sullivan | Episode: "The Shadow of Death" |
| 1992 | Blossom | Samy | Episode: "Whines and Misdemeanors" |
| 1992 | The Golden Girls | Kirsten | Episode: "Home Again, Rose: Part 2" |
| 1992 | Shame | Tina Farrell | TV film |
| 1992 | Arresting Behavior | Connie Ruskin | Main role |
| 1992 | When No One Would Listen | Lee | TV film |
| 1993 | Kiss of a Killer | Helaine | TV film |
| 1993 | Dying to Love You | Rita | TV film |
| 1993 | Sirens | Ann Hollings | Episode: "Everybody Lies" |
| 1993 | Torch Song | Phyllis | TV film |
| 1993 | River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene | Janice | TV film |
| 1993 | Love Matters | Nan | TV film |
| 1993 | The Conviction of Kitty Dodds | Anne Williams | TV film |
| 1993 | Bakersfield P.D. | Judy Hampton | Episode: "The Gift" |
| 1993 | Home Improvement | Joanie Graham | Episode: "Feud for Thought" |
| 1994 | Birdland | Diane Van de Ven | Episode: "Crazy for You" |
| 1994 | Wings | Vi | Episode: "Exclusively Yours" |
| 1994 | The Yarn Princess | Wanda | TV film |
| 1994 | Phenom | Marla Casey | Episode: "Just a Family of Doolans Sittin' Around Talkin'" |
| 1994 | Take Me Home Again | Nell | TV film |
| 1994 | Higher Education | Faye | Main role |
| 1995 | See Jane Run | Carole Garson | TV film |
| 1995 | Friends | Ronni Rapalono | Episode: "The One with the Boobies" |
| 1995 | Whose Daughter Is She? | Annie | TV film |
| 1995 | The Monroes | Bailey Izzy | Episode: "Emission Control" |
| 1995, 1997 | Grace Under Fire | Emily | Episodes: "Matthew Gets Busted", "Matthew's Old Lady" |
| 1996 | Summer of Fear | Winnie | TV film |
| 1996 | Champs | Jeanette | Episode: "Two of a Kind" |
| 1996 | Profiler | Dr. Frances Barry | Episode: "Insight" |
| 1996 | Dark Skies | Betty Hill | Episode: "The Awakening (Pilot)" |
| 1996 | Townies | Kathy Donovan | Main role |
| 1997 | Total Security | Karen Des Moines | Episode: "Wet Side Story" |
| 1997 | Nash Bridges | Jill Reichert | Episode: "Shake, Rattle & Roll" |
| 1997 | Chicago Hope | Carol Sardos | Episode: "The Lung and the Restless" |
| 1997, 1999, 2004 | NYPD Blue | Rosie DePaul / Lea Chambers / Margret Lidz | Episodes: "Three Girls and a Baby", "Mister Roberts", "The Vision Thing" |
| 1998 | The Net | Carol Walters | Episode: "Bulls and Bears" |
| 1998 | Maximum Bob | Rosellen Fortenot | Episode: "Bay of Big's" |
| 1998 | Martial Law | Judge Mary Ruben | Episode: "Cop Out" |
| 1999 | Can of Worms | Dana Pillsbury | TV film |
| 1999 | Snoops | Alicia Spitz Gordon | Episode: "The Heartless Bitch" |
| 2000 | If These Walls Could Talk 2 | Georgette | TV film, segment: '1972' |
| 2000 | Blood Money | Jeri Williams | TV film |
| 2001 | Judging Amy | Dr. Kemper | Episode: "The Undertow" |
| 2001 | Stranger Inside | Warden Arnold | TV film |
| 2001 | Titus | Sue | Episode: "NASCAR" |
| 2001 | Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man | Laura Lee Kestes | TV film |
| 2001 | Gideon's Crossing | Barb Palmer | Episode: "Clinical Enigma" |
| 2002 | Touched by an Angel | Dr. Josephs | Episode: "Ship-in-a-Bottle" |
| 2002 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Jessica Harris | Episode: "Hell's Bells" |
| 2002 | Once and Again | Ms. Conway | Episode: "Experience Is the Teacher" |
| 2002, 2005 | Six Feet Under | Fiona Kleinschmidt | Episodes: "Back to the Garden", "The Rainbow of Her Reasons" |
| 2002–2005 | Everwood | Brenda Baxworth | Recurring role (seasons 1–3) |
| 2003 | Abby | Jeanette Morris | Episode: "Abby's First Date" |
| 2003 | Joan of Arcadia | Charlotte Bloom | Episode: "Touch Move" |
| 2003 | Dragnet | Mrs. Price | Episode: "The Magic Bullet" |
| 2003 | Grounded for Life | Louise | Episode: "Been Caught Stealing" |
| 2003, 2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Mrs. Frommer / Mrs. Briggs | Episodes: "Forever", "The Lost Girls" |
| 2003, 2005–06 | The West Wing | Alana Waterman | Episodes: "Red Haven's on Fire", "Here Today", "Welcome to Wherever You Are" |
| 2004 | Cold Case | Carol Prosser | Episode: "Late Returns" |
| 2004 | The District | Evelyn Parras | Episode: "Passing Time" |
| 2004 | Desperate Housewives | Alberta Holstein | Episode: "Anything You Can Do" |
| 2004 | Will & Grace | Annette | Episodes: "Queens for a Day: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2004–05 | 8 Simple Rules | Fran / Leslie | Episodes: "Mother's Day", "VolleyBrawl" |
| 2005 | NCIS | Mary Hanlan | Episode: "The Meat Puzzle" |
| 2005 | Detective | Beatrice Doil | TV film |
| 2005 | Grey's Anatomy | Fara Linden | Episode: "Deny, Deny, Deny" |
| 2005 | Invasion | Helen Conrad | Episode: "The Cradle" |
| 2006 | Big Love | Grace Ann | Episode: "Eviction" |
| 2006 | Close to Home | Hannah Turley | Episode: "A Father's Story" |
| 2007 | Big Day | Wendy | Episode: "The Ceremony" |
| 2007 | Crossing Jordan | Dixie | Episode: "Night of the Living Dead" |
| 2007 | Two and a Half Men | Peggy | Episode: "I Merely Slept with a Commie" |
| 2007 | What About Brian | Mona | Episode: "What About Calling All Friends..." |
| 2007 | Boston Legal | Alisa McKenzie | Episode: "Trial of the Century" |
| 2007 | The Young and the Restless | Probation Officer Cavanaugh | Episode: "1.8709" |
| 2007–08 | The Riches | Jane Fedley | Episodes: "Operation Education", "Field of Dreams" |
| 2008 | Medium | Marion Wheeler | Episodes: "Wicked Game: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2008 | The Game | Bren | Episode: "Baby on Board" |
| 2009 | Saving Grace | Sally Meeker | Episode: "Watch Siggybaby Burn" |
| 2009 | Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith | Jane Burns | TV film |
| 2009 | Nip/Tuck | Briggitte Reinholt | Episode: "Briggitte Reinholt" |
| 2009–10 | Southland | Cathleen Kerik | Episodes: "Sally in the Alley", "The Runner" |
| 2010 | FlashForward | Carlene | Episodes: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "The Negotiation" |
| 2010 | Lie to Me | Mrs. Walker | Episode: "Beat the Devil" |
| 2010 | Psych | Eugenia | Episode: "Chivalry Is Not Dead... But Someone Is" |
| 2010 | The Whole Truth | Judge Amy Shapiro | Episode: "True Confessions" |
| 2011 | Good Luck Charlie | Mrs. Krump | Episode: "Duncan vs. Duncan" |
| 2011 | Friends with Benefits | Billie | Episode: "The Benefit of Mardi Gras" |
| 2011–12 | The Killing | Ruth Yitanes | Recurring role (seasons 1–2) |
| 2012 | The Mentalist | Betty Fulford | Episode: "Devil's Cherry" |
| 2012 | Emily Owens, M.D. | Donna Fisher | Episode: "Emily and... the Outbreak" |
| 2013 | Private Practice | Stella Peterson | Episode: "Good Fries Are Hard to Come By" |
| 2013 | The Bridge | Sherry Spellman | Episodes: "Calaca", "Rio", "Maria of the Desert" |
| 2013 | Dads | Janet | Episode: "My Dad's Hotter Than Your Dad" |
| 2014 | Suburgatory | Dorothy | Episode: "I'm Just Not That Into Me" |
| 2014 | Longmire | Ruth | Episode: "Of Children and Travelers" |
| 2014 | Stalker | Dep. Chief Diane Kindrick | Episode: "Crazy for You" |
| 2014–15 | Mistresses | Eleanor | Guest role (seasons 2–3) |
| 2015 | 40's and Failing | Rhonda Bodes | Episode: "Statistics" |
| 2015 | Major Crimes | Janet Sloan | Episode: "Turn Down" |
| 2016 | iZombie | Muriel Fletcher | Episode: "Fifty Shades of Grey Matter" |
| 2016 | Childrens Hospital | Geraldine Peters | Episode: "Through the Eyes of a Falcon" |
| 2016 | The Engagement Clause | Elizabeth 'Bitsy' Tate | TV film |
| 2017 | The Magicians | Dana | Episode: "The Cock Barrens" |
| 2018 | Alexa & Katie | Loretta | Episode: "Thanksgiving" |
| 2018 | Broken | Darlene | TV series |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2022 | On Cinema | Herself | Episode: "The 9th Annual On Cinema Oscar Special" |