Mary Birdsong is an American actress, comedian, writer, and singer. In addition to her work in theater and voice acting, she was a regular cast member on Reno 911! and appeared in the HBO series Succession.
Early life Birdsong grew up on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, leaving there when she was 18. The daughter of Katherine Kimball Birdsong, she worked at several jobs, including the Showplace Ice Cream Parlor at the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven. Doing improv comedy there provided preparation for her future career. She graduated from Southern Regional High School in 1986 and earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Career
Film and television
Birdsong made her on-screen debut in the 1996 TV film Live On Tape. She is best known as Deputy Cherisha Kimball on the comedy series Reno 911! (2005–2007, 2020–2022) and its two spin-off movies in 2007 and 2021. She is also known for playing Nancy McDonald in Rob Zombie's Halloween II and Kai Mitchell opposite George Clooney in the Alexander Payne film The Descendants. She appeared alongside Adrien Brody in the stoner comedy High School (2010), playing Mrs. Gordon, a high school dean's promiscuous wife. She has also made numerous cameos on film and television, including in the major productions Made of Honor and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and the psychological thriller Buried. She is a former correspondent on The Daily Show and Crossballs.
As a voice actress, she has appeared in animated series such as Goldie and Bear, Stroker and Hoop, Little Bill (as Dorado's mom in the episode "New Foods"), Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law, Tak & the Power of Juju, T.U.F.F. Puppy and Stroker and Hoop, as well as the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, and animated film Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.
Birdsong appeared in season 1 (2018) and season 4 (2023) of the HBO series Succession. She played Marianne Hirsch, the mother of fan favorite Greg Hirsch (played by Nicolas Braun), and niece of family patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox).
Broadway and live theater From July 2006 to January 2007, Birdsong performed in the Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me comedy musical, alongside Martin Short, Marc Shaiman, Nicole Parker, Brooks Ashmanskas, and Capathia Jenkins, winning a Theatre World Award for her performance. On January 29, 2008, Birdsong joined the Broadway cast of the musical, Hairspray. She played the role of Velma Von Tussle, the bigoted, pushy stage mother and television producer. Birdsong left the production on April 6, 2008. She then performed her one-woman show 3 Days in the Tub: A Mama Drama in Los Angeles at Comedy Central Stage (September 2010) & the Fake Gallery (November 2010), and in New York City at Joe's Pub (January 2011). before going to San Francisco to play Mona Ramsey in ACT's adaptation of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. She is also known for her Judy Garland impression.
Together with author Justin Halpern (Shit My Dad Says) and comic Jen Kober (American Reunion), Birdsong performed as a member of the May 2012 cast of Don't Tell My Mother!, an LA-based comedy showcase.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1996Live on TapeVariousTelevision film1998Above FreezingEsther1999Let It SnowSneakered BusinesswomanZoey's ZooMomTelevision film2003ReplayNicola2005PizzaSiobhan2006Le ChaseMary LongShort filmThe Last RequestMarleneBeer LeagueRhondaAlso known as Artie Lange's Beer League2007Reno 911!: MiamiDeputy Cherisha Kimball2008Made of HonorSharon at Bridal Shower2009AdventurelandFrancyHalloween IINancy McDonald2010Buried411 Female Operator (voice)Credited as Mary SongbirdHigh SchoolMrs. GordonKillersJackie ValleroIt's Kind of a Funny StoryBobby's Ex2011The DescendantsKai MitchellAngry White ManMaxine2013Where Does It Go from HereMomShort filmPercy Jackson: Sea of MonstersGray Sister Wasp2014ManagerBarbraShort filmLucky StiffMaid2015Park CityTicket GirlStaten Island SummerBianca ManicucciFreeheldCarol AndreeKids vs MonstersMaxine2017A Happening of Monumental ProportionsMelissa Brickman2019StormchaserBonnie BlueShort film2020I Hate the Man in My BasementLita BronzeFlip the SwitchBonnie BlueShort filmAmerican RejectMiriam2021Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnonDeputy Cherisha KimballTelevision filmAlso producer2022Beavis and Butt-Head Do the UniverseReporter (voice)Reno 911!: It's a Wonderful HeistDeputy Cherisha KimballTelevision filmAlso producer TBA In production
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1999Oh Yeah! CartoonsMom (voice)Episode: "ChalkZone: Rapunzel / Zoey's Zoo: Lots of Ocelots / My Neighbor Was a Teenage Robot"2000Talk to MeMeredithEpisode: "About Taking It Like a Man"2000–2001Welcome to New YorkConnieMain role; 14 episodes2002Late FridayJanet LaméEpisode: "#2.6"2003Little BillValencia (voice)Episode: "New Foods / Elephant Tricks"EdLisa BarnesEpisode: "Business as Usual" 2004–2022 Reno 911! Lisa the Masseuse Episode: "British Law" Deputy Cherisha Kimball Main role (season 3–5; 7–8); 75 episodes 2004Whoopi's LittleburgMrs. Peg PiggieMain role2004Crossballs: The Debate ShowVarious charactersRecurring role; 15 episodesAlso writer2005Harvey Birdman, Attorney at LawChibo / Tana (voice)Episode: "Beyond the Valley of the Dinosaurs"Stroker & HoopKeith / various characters (voice)Recurring role; 8 episodes2007Tak and the Power of JujuKilljoy Juju (voice)Episode: "The Three Chiefs / The Party"2010SvetlanaMadelineEpisode: "Throw Mama Back on the Plane"T.U.F.F. PuppySnowflake (voice)Episode: "Chilly Dog / The Doomies"2011Mad LoveKellyEpisode: "Baby, You Can Drive My Car"Shake It UpSquitza HessenhefferEpisode: "Vatalihootsit It Up"2012Sherman's in SanityVirginia Wahlroos Pfinger2 episodes2012–2016The MiddleMarlene Ludlow3 episodes2012–2013Raising HopeMayor Suzie Hellmann2 episodes2012PerceptionCheryl CorvisEpisode: "Lovesick"2012–2014Crash & BernsteinMel Bernstein Recurring role; 22 episodes2013Ben and KateDeanneEpisode: "Gone Fishin'"2014The NeighborsJustineEpisode: "Oscar Party"The KnickFionnula SearsEpisode: "Get the Rope"Franklin & BashErica BoydEpisode: "Falcon's Nest"2015Olive and MochaLiz DimpfleEpisode: "Rock n' Roll"ReviewShampooEpisode: "Curing Homosexuality, Mile High Club"2015–2018Goldie & BearMama Bear (voice)Recurring role; 11 episodes2016Lady DynamiteJean Bart Episode: "Bisexual Because of Meth"Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & DawnMrs. GressleEpisode: "The Tell-Tale Art"Masters of SexMaude RainesEpisode: "Freefall"Loosely Exactly NicoleMadisonEpisode: "Green Card"Scream QueensPenelope HotchkissEpisode: "Channel Pour Homme-icide"2017Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on TelevisionDorothy MontclairEpisode: "Hungry for Justice"2018; 2023SuccessionMarianne Hirsch3 episodes2021Tell Me Your SecretsJane TylerEpisode: "I'm a Good Person"GenerationMrs. CulpepperRecurring role; 4 episodes2022–2023Beavis and Butt-HeadVarious characters (voice)6 episodes2023The Last Thing He Told MeElenor McGovern2 episodes2025Electric BloomIngridEpisode: "How We Tried to Crash a Party"
Awards and nominations +YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult2011Gotham AwardsBest Ensemble Performance The Descendants2020Idyllwild International Festival of CinemaBest Actress Featurette Stormchaser2022Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Television MovieReno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon
References
External links
Interview with WickedInfo.com