| Mary Gross | |
| Birth Date: | 25 March 1953 |
| Birth Place: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Education: | Loyola University Chicago |
| Occupation: | Actress, comedian, voice actress |
| Years Active: | 1980–2012 |
| Relatives: | Michael Gross (brother) Ron Masak (cousin) |
Mary Gross (born March 25, 1953)[1] is an American voice actress, comedian, and actress known for her four-year stint on Saturday Night Live from 1981 to 1985 and her recurring role as Sabrina's favorite teacher, Mrs. Quick in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch from 1997 to 2000. Her credits also include minor roles on Animaniacs, Boston Legal, That's So Raven, and Six Feet Under.
A Chicago native, Gross is the youngest of three children born to William Oscar Gross, a tool designer, and Virginia Ruth (née Cahill), a telephone operator (the eldest being actor Michael Gross).[2] [3] She attended Madonna High School—an all-girls Catholic school, since demolished[2] —and Loyola University.[4] While in high school, Gross made her performing debut—singing, in character, as France's Louis XIV, to the tune of Bernstein and Sondheim's "I Feel Pretty"—alongside fellow Madonna alumnus Marilu Henner.[2] [4] [5]
She is an alumna of the Second City comedy troupe. Before becoming part of the group she was a secretary with the American Dental Association.
Gross joined SNL in 1981, during the show's 7th season following the show's disastrous sixth season, when the show was nearly canceled.[6] She became co-anchor of SNL's Weekend Update segment (renamed SNL Newsbreak) during her first season. She and the rest of the cast left in 1985 following executive producer Dick Ebersol's departure from the show.
Gross has never married, but as of June 1982, Chicago-based photographer Jay King was referred to as "her longtime boyfriend" in a profile/interview of Gross penned by Chicago Sun-Times writer Michael Davis.[4] Duration aside, their relationship was also reported that year by the Chicago Tribunes Jon Anderson and several years later by researcher-author Mary Unterbrinker.[5] [10]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Club Paradise | Jackie | ||
| 1987 | Baby Boom | Charlotte Elkman | ||
| 1988 | Vera Maitlin | |||
| 1988 | Casual Sex? | Ilene | ||
| 1988 | Big Business | Judy | ||
| 1988 | Hot to Trot | Ms. French | ||
| 1988 | Feds | Janis Zuckerman | ||
| 1989 | Troop Beverly Hills | Annie Herman | ||
| 1992 | There Goes the Neighborhood | Mrs. Bratesman | ||
| 1993 | Public Enemy #2 | Marcey | ||
| 1994 | Ms. Daniels | |||
| 1998 | Practical Magic | Debbie | ||
| 2001 | Tourist mom | |||
| 2002 | 40 Days and 40 Nights | Bev Sullivan | ||
| 2003 | Ma Klapper |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981–1985 | Saturday Night Live | Herself / Various | Cast member | |
| 1985 | Tales of the Unexpected | Woman on beach | Episode: "Scrimshaw" | |
| 1986 | Amen | Nurse Kenningston | Episode: "After the Fall" | |
| 1988 | Channel 99 | Fifi Kurtz | TV film | |
| 1989 | Abigail MacIntyre Kellogg | Main role | ||
| 1992 | Billy | Phoebe Trillman | Recurring role | |
| 1992 | Murphy Brown | Chris Manheim | Episode: "He-Ho, He-Ho, It's Off to Lamaze We Go" | |
| 1993 | Jack's Place | Rosemary | Episode: "Faithful Henry" | |
| 1993–1997 | Animaniacs | Katie's Mom | Voice, recurring role[11] | |
| 1994 | Mary Gross | Episode: "Next Stop Bottom" | ||
| 1995 | Nell Newtrich | Episode: "Ultra Woman" | ||
| 1995 | Voices | Recurring role | ||
| 1997 | Something So Right | Polly | Episode: "Something About Cold Storage" | |
| 1997 | Aunt Jane | Episode: "Twister of Fate" | ||
| 1997 | Deer / Bird | Voice, episode: "Deranged Ranger" | ||
| 1997–2000 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Mrs. Quick | Recurring role | |
| 1997–2002 | Hey Arnold! | School Nurse Shelley | Voice, 3 episodes | |
| 1999 | Detention | Patsy Wickett | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| 2000 | Elise | Voice, episode: "The Frog Princess" | ||
| 2000 | Jailbait | Patti Fisher | TV film | |
| 2000 | Lost Cat | Nancy Mouse | Voice, TV film | |
| 2000 | What a Cartoon! | Nancy Mouse | Voice, episode: "Lost Cat" | |
| 2001 | Providence | Martha Blankenship | Episode: "Love Story" | |
| 2001 | Six Feet Under | Floral Instructor | Episode: "The Trip" | |
| 2001 | Off Centre | Roberta Flack / Mrs. Platt | Episode: "Swing Time" | |
| 2002 | Dharma & Greg | Mary | Episode: "This Diamond Ring" | |
| 2002 | As Told by Ginger | Bobbie Lightfoot | Voice, episode: "Family Therapy" | |
| 2003 | Harriet | Episode: "Stan Hooper Goes to Washington" | ||
| 2003 | Judging Amy | Marta | Episode: "Tricks of the Trade" | |
| 2003 | According to Jim | Cynthia | Episode: "Paintball" | |
| 2004 | All About the Andersons | Mrs. Dyer | Episode: "Get Out of Dodge... Ball" | |
| 2004 | I'm with Her | Donna Kincade | Episode: "Winners & Losers & Whiners & Boozers: Part 2" | |
| 2004 | Rock Me, Baby | Ginger | Episode: "Not-So-Grand Parents" | |
| 2005 | Malcolm in the Middle | Evelyn | Episode: "Chad's Sleepover" | |
| 2005 | Twins | Judy | Episode: "Sister's Keeper" | |
| 2005 | That's So Raven | Miss Patterson | Episode: "Cake Fear" | |
| 2006 | Mrs. Orr | Episode: "Oh God, Yes" | ||
| 2007–08 | Boston Legal | Leigh Swift | Recurring role | |
| 2008 | According to Jim | Lisa | Episode: "Cheryl Goes to Florida" | |
| 2008 | General Hospital | Aunt Raylene | Recurring role | |
| 2009 | Life | Maude Paxton | Episode: "Canyon Flowers" | |
| 2009 | Californication | Principal Green | Episode: "Mr. Bad Example" | |
| 2010 | In Gayle We Trust | Beth | Episode: "Gayle and the Salon" | |
| 2011 | Judy Baker | Episode: "Nevada v. Doug the Mule" | ||
| 2011 | Hart of Dixie | Old Lady #3 | 2 episodes | |
| 2012 | Pound Puppies | Mrs. Beasley | Voice, episode: "Lucky Gets Adopted" | |
| 2012 | Adopting Terror | Laura | TV film | |
| 2012 | Raising Hope | Denise Jenkins | Episode: "What Up, Bro?" |