Kelly Lynch (born January 31, 1959) is an American film and television actress. She gained recognition for her roles in Cocktail and Road House (1989). She was subsequently nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Drugstore Cowboy (1989), and for Best Supporting Female for The Beans of Egypt, Maine (1994).
On television, Lynch played Ivan Aycock on The L Word (2004–09), Meg Banncock on Magic City (2012–13), and Deborah Hartsfield on Mr. Mercedes (2017).
Early life Lynch was born in Golden Valley, Minnesota, the daughter of Barbara and Robert Lynch. She attended the Guthrie Theater. She worked as a flight attendant after leaving college and worked as a model for the Elite modeling agency before acting.
In 1980, when Lynch was 20 years old, she suffered a head-on collision car accident involving another motorist driving the wrong direction on a Minnesota freeway. Lynch sustained significant injuries in the accident: Her upper body went through her car's windshield, and the steering wheel and dashboard crushed both of her legs, breaking each. Lynch spent approximately a year hospitalized and nearly had to have both of her legs amputated.
Career After several small roles, Lynch was cast in her breakthrough role in the feature film Cocktail (1988). In 1989, Lynch starred opposite Patrick Swayze in the action film Road House, and was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in the crime drama Drugstore Cowboy, directed by Gus Van Sant. She was also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for The Beans of Egypt, Maine (1994). She turned down the role of Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct (1992).
Lynch later had leading roles in a number of independent movies and co-starred in several Hollywood feature films, including Desperate Hours (1990), Curly Sue (1991), Three of Hearts (1993), Imaginary Crimes (1994), Virtuosity (1995), Heaven's Prisoners (1996), Mr. Magoo (1997), and Homegrown (1998). In the 2000s, Lynch had supporting roles in the films Charlie's Angels (2000), Joe Somebody (2001), and The Jacket (2005).
On television, Lynch had the recurring role of Ivan Aycock from 2004 to 2009 in the Showtime drama series The L Word. She later joined the cast of The CW teen soap 90210 (2010–2011) as Laurel Cooper. She returned to cable television with the recurring role of Meg Bannock in Magic City (2012–2013), created by her husband, Mitch Glazer.
Personal life Lynch has been married to producer and writer Mitch Glazer since 1992 and has a daughter, Shane, born in 1985, from a previous relationship.
Lynch and her husband have owned the Oyler House, architect Richard Neutra's desert retreat, since 2014.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1983 Portfolio Elite Model 1985 Osa Osa 1988 Bright Lights, Big City Elaine 1988 Cocktail Kerry Coughlin 1989 Warm Summer Rain Kate 1989 Road House Dr. Elizabeth "Doc" Clay 1989 Drugstore Cowboy DianneNominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead 1990 Desperate Hours Nancy Breyers 1991 Curly Sue Grey Ellison 1993 Three of Hearts Connie Czapski 1994 Imaginary Crimes Valery Weiler 1994 The Beans of Egypt, Maine Roberta BeanNominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female 1995 Virtuosity Madison Carter 1995 White Man's Burden Marsha Pinnock 1996 Heaven's Prisoners Annie Robicheaux 1996 Persons Unknown Amanda 1997 Cold Around the Heart Jude Law 1997 Mr. Magoo Luanne LeSeur/Prunella Pagliacci 1998 Homegrown Lucy 2000 Charlie's Angels Vivian Wood 2001 Joe Somebody Callie Scheffer 2002 The Slaughter Rule Evangeline Chutney 2002 Searching for Debra Winger Herself Documentary film 2003 Dallas 362 Mary 2005 At Last Sara Wood 2005 The Jacket Jean Price 2005 Welcome to California Susanna Smith 2006 The Visitation Morgan Elliot2007 Normal Adolescent Behavior Helen Meyer 2008 Visual Acoustics Herself Documentary film 2009 The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll Maggie 2009 A Good Funeral Junior 2010 Kaboom Nicole 2010 Passion Play Harriet 2012 A Dark Plan Caren 2012 The Oyler House: Richard Neutra's Desert Retreat Herself Documentary film 2014 Glass Chin Mae Graham 2014 Seattle Road Aunt Patty 2015 The Frontier Luanne 2015 Kepler's Dream Amy 2020 On the Rocks Blonde 2025 Dead Man's Wire Mabel Hall
Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 The Equalizer Bartender Episode: "Prelude" 1987 The Hitchhiker Teresa / Melissa Episode: "Joker" 1987 Miami Vice Lori 'Blondie' Swann Episode: "Death and the Lady" 1993 For Better and for Worse Catherine VernetTelevision film 1995 Fallen Angels Lola Episode: "Red Wind" 1999 Brotherhood of Murder Susan MartinezTelevision film 2001 Ally McBeal Gloria AlbrightEpisode: "Boy's Town" 2003 Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story Jean MurrayTelevision film 2004–2005 Fatherhood Angie Bindlebeep26 episodes2004–2009The L WordIvan AycockRecurring role 2005 Cyber Seduction: His Secret Life Diane PetersenTelevision film 2008 The Cleaner Erica SmithEpisode: "Rebecca" 2010–2011 90210 Laurel Cooper Recurring role, 15 episodes 2011 Memphis Beat Marie Minetti Episode: "Identity Crisis" 2012–2013 Magic City Meg Bannock Recurring role, 13 episodes 2017 Mr. Mercedes Deborah Hartsfield Main role, 10 episodes2023 Physical Felicia BlackwellEpisode: "Like a Rocket"
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