Nancy Lenehan (born April 26, 1953) See also: is an American actress. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1980 action comedy film Smokey and the Bandit II and later had supporting roles in films She's Having a Baby (1988), Pleasantville (1998), and Catch Me If You Can (2002). Better known for her television appearances, Lenehan was regular cast member in a number of short-lived sitcoms, including Great Scott! (1992), The Faculty (1996), Married to the Kellys (2003–04), Worst Week (2008–09), How to Be a Gentleman (2011), and People of Earth (2016–17). She also had recurring roles on Grace Under Fire, My Name Is Earl, Caroline in the City, Ellen, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Veep.

Early life and education Lenehan was born on Long Island, New York. She attended Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota.

Career Lenehan made her screen debut appearing in the 1979 made-for-television movie When She Was Bad... starring Cheryl Ladd and later guest-starred on Alice. She made her big screen debut in the 1980 action comedy film Smokey and the Bandit II playing the supporting role. The following years, Lenehan appeared in films The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981), Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again (1982), Stoogemania (1986), Like Father Like Son (1987), She's Having a Baby (1988) and The Great Outdoors (1988). On television, Lenehan guest-starred on both comedy and dramas including Hill Street Blues, Family Ties, The Facts of Life, Fame, The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, The Tracey Ullman Show, Murphy Brown, Roseanne, The Golden Girls and Seinfeld. She provided the speaking and singing voice of Helen Henny from Chuck E Cheese's Pizza Time Theater restaurants from 1977 to 1980, then again from 1983-1986.

In 1992, Lenehan starred in the Fox short-lived sitcom Great Scott!. From 1993 to 1998 she had a recurring role in the ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire playing Audrey Sheffield. In 1996 she was regular cast member on the Meredith Baxter' sitcom The Faculty. She also had a recurring role on the ABC sitcom Ellen during its fourth season, playing the title character's realtor, Margaret Reed. She starred as Sandy Kelly, the matriarch in the ABC sitcom Married to the Kellys (2003–2004), and had a recurring role on My Name Is Earl (2005–2008) as Earl and Randy's mother, Kay Hickey. From 2008 to 2009, she co-starred on the short-lived CBS sitcom Worst Week.

Lenehan has appeared in featured, recurring and guest roles in more than 100 television shows, including Malcolm in the Middle, Everybody Loves Raymond, How I Met Your Mother, Judging Amy, Gilmore Girls, Caroline in the City (playing office manager Plum in two episodes in Season 4), Dharma & Greg, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 3rd Rock from the Sun, ER, Boy Meets World, The Nanny, Quantum Leap, Just Shoot Me!, Ally McBeal, That '70s Show, Nip/Tuck, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Middle, Black-ish, Superstore, Bless This Mess and Grace and Frankie. From 2014 to 2019 she had a recurring role as Nancy Ryan in the HBO comedy series, Veep. In 2023, she played Senator Jennings in the Amazon political thriller Jack Ryan.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1980 Smokey and the Bandit II Ramona 1986 Stoogemania Connie Smoynek 1988 She's Having a Baby Cynthia The Great Outdoors Waitress 1992 Roadside Prophets Vegas Motel 9 Desk Clerk Out on a Limb Miss Clayton 1998 Pleasantville Marge Jenkins 1999 The Limey Lady On Plane 2001 Human Nature Puff's Mother 2002 Full Frontal Woman on Plane Adaptation Kaufman's Mother Catch Me If You Can Carol Strong 2005 Beauty Shop Mrs. Struggs 2007 The Savages Counselor 2011 A Better Life Mrs. Donnelley 2014 Sex Tape Linda 2017 Battle of the Sexes Billie's Mom2022That's Amor Lainie2023Self RelianceLaurie 2024 Night Swim Kay

Television Year Film Role Notes 1982 Hill Street Blues Katy Moore 2 episodes 1982 Family Ties Roberta 1 episode 1983 We Got It Made Paulette 1 episode 1984 Faerie Tale Theatre Georgette 1 episode 1985 Fame Brenda Haskell 1 episode 1985 Tall Tales & Legends Lyda 1 episode 1986 Heart of the City Linda Kilmer 1 episode 1986 It's a Living Phylis Caruso 1 episode 1987 The Tracey Ullman Show Mrs. Warren, Courtney's Mom 2 episodes 1987 My Sister Sam Judy 1 episode 1987 CBS Summer Playhouse Vivian 1 episode 1987 Mr. President Lenore 1 episode 1987 Beauty and the Beast Lucy 1 episode 1987 Student Exchange Mrs. Barton Television film 1988 Newhart Kristi Castetter 1 episode 1988 Beverly Hills Buntz Mrs. Fairchild 1 episode 1989 ALF Laverne Litwak 1 episode 1989 Paradise Marti Brandt 1 episode 1989 Night Court Ms. Abrams 1 episode 1989 Sister Kate Mrs. Crenshaw 1 episode 1989 Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon Mrs. Harris Television film 1990 The Golden Girls Nun 1 episode 1990 Murphy Brown Sydney 1 episode 1990 Roseanne Happy Customer 1 episode 1990 Dear John Mrs. Williams 1 episode 1990 The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story Harriet Alvena Baum Neal Television film 1991 Sisters Joy Zimmer 2 episodes 1991 Nurses Cheryl Pinson 1 episode 1991 Quantum Leap Colleen McBain 1 episode 1992 Civil Wars Paula Richardson 1 episode 1992 Great Scott! Beverly Melrod Main role, 7 episodes 1993 Dudley Nancy 1 episode 1993 CBS Schoolbreak Special Susan Thomas 1 episode 1993 Seinfeld (The Handicap Spot) Volunteer 1 episode 1993 Bakersfield P.D. Amy Baker 1 episode 1993–1998 Grace Under Fire Audrey Sheffield Recurring role, 12 episodes 1994 Step by Step Mrs. Tubman 1 episode 1995 Mad About You Dr. Wallach 1 episode 1996 The Faculty Daisy Skelnick Main role, 13 episodes 1996 Townies Lila 1 episode 1996 The Cherokee Kid Sister Faith Television film 1996–1997 Ellen Margaret Reed 4 episodes 1997 Boy Meets World Susan Kalliback 1 episode 1997 3rd Rock from the Sun Mrs. St. Clair 1 episode 1997 Ink Nancy Milford 1 episode 1997 The Practice Nurse MacKenzie 1 episode 1997 George and Leo Mimi 1 episode 1998 Working Meredith Hirsh 1 episode 1998 The Tony Danza Show Mrs. Erlich 1 episode 1998 Caroline in the City Plum 2 episodes 1998 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Pat Episode: "Dead Man's Party" 1999 ER Edie Harvell 1 episode 1999 Dharma & Greg Karen Love 2 episodes 1999 Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane Mrs. Needles 1 episode 1999 Providence Jane 1 episode 1999 Just Shoot Me! Bunny 1 episode 1999–2000 Two Guys and a Girl Dr. Peel 2 episodes 1999–2001 Felicity Faye Rotundi 3 episodes 2000 Yes, Dear Judy 1 episode 2000 Malcolm In the Middle Christie / Helen 2 episodes 2001 FreakyLinks Dr. Gibson 1 episode 2001 Judging Amy Mrs. Hoeller 1 episode 2001 Gilmore Girls LaDawn 1 episode 2001 Men, Women & Dogs Jan 1 episode 2002 Ally McBeal Principal Deborah Harkness 2 episodes 2002 Titus Faye 1 episode 2002 Everybody Loves Raymond Pamela 1 episode 2003 What I Like About You Linda 1 episode 2003 That '70s Show Nina's Mom 1 episode 2003 Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off Mrs. Hadley Television film, uncredited 2003–2004 Married to the Kellys Sandy Kelly Main role, 20 episodes 2004 Jack & Bobby School Secretary 1 episode 2005 Joan of Arcadia Erica Marx 1 episode 2005 Close to Home Patty 2 episodes 2005 Nip/Tuck Sue Alderman 1 episode 2005 The Bernie Mac Show Sister Lane 1 episode 2005–2008 My Name Is Earl Kay Hickey Recurring role, 10 episodes 2006 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Mrs. Jeter 1 episode 2006–2010 The New Adventures of Old Christine Principal Marcie Nunley Recurring role, 6 episodes 2007 My Boys Eileen 1 episode 2008 Little Britain USA Kelly Pincher 3 episodes 2008–2009 Worst Week Angela Clayton Main role, 16 episodes 2009 Accidentally on Purpose Lara 1 episode 2011–2012 How to Be a Gentleman Diane Carlson Main role, 9 episodes 2012 The Middle Penny 1 episode 2013–2014 How I Met Your Mother Cheryl 2 episodes 2014–2019 Veep Mrs. Ryan Recurring role, 11 episodes 2016–2017 People of Earth Margaret Flood Main role, 20 episodes 2018–2020 Man with a Plan Alice 2 episodes 2018 Champions Maureen 1 episode 2018 Forever Heather Jacoby 1 episode 2019 Black-ish Barbara Piermont 1 episode 2019–2020 Bless This Mess Deb Recurring role, 13 episodes 2020 Superstore Judy 1 episode 2021 Generation Nonna 1 episode 2022 Grace and Frankie Rosemary 1 episode 2022 A League of Their Own Vivienne 2 episodes 2023 American Auto Winnie 1 episode 2023 Jack Ryan Senator Jennings 4 episodes 2023 All Rise Camille Park 2 episodes 2024 Extended Family Rose 1 episode 2024 The Boys Dr. Barbara Findley 2 episodes 2025 The Paper Ann Recurring role, 5 episodes 2026 Widow's Bay Gerrie Doyle Recurring role; 6 episodes

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