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), two 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 Notes1992 Prelude to a Kiss Aunt Dorothy1993 For Love or Money Mrs. Wegman1993 Fearless Alison 1994 Quiz Show Kintner's Secretary1995 Redwood Curtain GenevaTelevision film1995 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 Gruszynski1997 KnitWits CatherineShort film1997 In & Out Mrs. Lester1997 The Devil's Advocate Pam Garrety1997 Ellen Foster Aunt NadineTelevision film1998 Bulworth Helen2000 Center Stage Nancy2003 Briar Patch Officer Avon2003 The Music Man Mrs. ParooTelevision film2003 Milwaukee, Minnesota Edna Burroughs2003 Eloise at the Plaza MaggieTelevision film2003 Eloise at Christmastime MaggieTelevision film2004 PalindromesMama Sunshine 2005 Dark Water Dahlia's Teacher2005 The Producers Lick Me-Bite Me2007 The Savages Nancy Lachman2008 The Great Buck Howard Doreen2009 Love and Other Impossible Pursuits Laura2011 Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! PetuniaTelevision film2012 One for the Money Mrs. Plum2012 The Brass Teapot Trudy2013 Ass Backwards Pawn Shop Owner2013 Reaching Home JanetShort film2014 This Is Where I Leave You Linda2015 Demolition Davis' Mom2019Standing Up, Falling DownJeanie Rollins

Television Year Title Role Notes1989 One Life to Live Nurse Medford 1 Episode1990 American Playhouse Psychiatrist Episode: "Women & Wallace "1992 Loving Sandra Thorpe 1 episodeLifestories: 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"LateLine Clare Cunningham Episode: "Requiem for a Horse"2001–02 A Nero Wolfe Mystery Various roles 8 episodes2002 Law & Order Dr. Madelyn Stahl Episode: "Born Again"2003 The Wonderful World of Disney Maggie 2 episodes FrasierNurse 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 episodes2006 Desperate Housewives Marcella Episode: "Children and Art"2007–12 Damages Denise Parsons 12 episodes2007 Notes from the UnderbellyAndrew's Mom Episode: "Mother's Milk "2007 Law & Order: Criminal IntentWarden Pellis Episode: "Untethered "2009 Glee Mrs. Schuester Episode: "Acafellas"The Closer Mary Summer Episode: "Blood Money "Ghost Whisperer Anne SullivanEpisode: "Till Death Do Us Start "2010 Brothers & Sisters Alexandra KirbyEpisode: "Call Mom"2012 White Collar Mrs. MitchellEpisode: "Pulling Strings"2014 Girls Dr. Stern 2 episodes 2014 Hot in Cleveland LorettaEpisode: "Win Win"2014–18 Mozart in the Jungle Betty Cragdale 26 episodes2014 Reckless Judge Gertrude Moss5 episodes2015 Madam Secretary Mary Lou Boris Episode: "The Ninth Circle" 2015 The Jack and Triumph Show Young June 2 episodes2015 Difficult People Bunny Tack Episode: "Difficult Christmas"2015 Blindspot Colonel PowersEpisode: "A Stray Howl"2015–17 Sneaky PeteConnie Persikof 2 episodes2016–17 Mercy Street Dr. Foster's Mother 2 episodes2016Crowded LindaEpisode: "Come Back"2016The Good WifeTracy MintzEpisode: "Judged"2016 The Characters KimEpisode: "John Early "2017 Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics Herself Episode: “Dinner Party 101”NCIS: New Orleans CEO Sarah Laroche Episode: “Hell on the High Water”Mr. Mercedes Capt. Brooke Hockney 2 episodes2018 Dietland Mrs Kettle 5 episodes2018–19 Tell Me a Story Esther Thorn 4 episodes2019 At Home with Amy SedarisMrs. Bjornson Episode: “Thanksgiving”2019 Instinct Judge GillespieEpisode: “Finders Keepers”2019–23 New Amsterdam Karen Brantley 16 episodes2022 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

Stage

Broadway Pump Boys and Dinettes - 1982 (also co-author and co-director) Prelude to a Kiss - 1990 Nick & Nora - 1991 Redwood Curtain - 1993 - Tony Award Picnic - 1994 - Tony Award nomination Company - 1995 Steel Pier - 1997 - Tony Award nomination Ah, Wilderness! - 1998 Thou Shalt Not - 2001 Chicago - 2005 Curtains - 2007 - Tony Award nomination Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - 2012

Off-Broadway The Time of the Cuckoo - Obie Award Ancestral Voices The Seagull Death Defying Acts - 1995 Three Hotels - 1993 Oil City Symphony - 1986 (co-author, Drama Desk Award) Assassins - 1990

References

External links

(archive) Star File: Debra Monk at Broadway.com