Cynthia Stevenson (born August 2, 1962) See also: is an American-Canadian actress. She first played a leading role in the single season of the syndicated parody comedy series My Talk Show (1990–91), before starring in a number of sitcoms, including Bob (CBS, 1992–93), Hope & Gloria (NBC, 1995–96), and Oh Baby (Lifetime, 1998–2000).

Stevenson made her big screen debut in Robert Altman's 1992 satirical film The Player. She later appeared in a number of films including Forget Paris (1995), Home for the Holidays (1995), Happiness (1998), Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998) and its sequels, and Agent Cody Banks (2003) and its sequel. Stevenson also starred in the Showtime comedy-drama Dead Like Me (2003–04) and the ABC comedy-drama Men in Trees (2006–08). Her last role was a guest appearance in a 2021 episode of The Good Doctor.

Early life, family and education Stevenson was born in Oakland, California, on August 2, 1962, and raised in the small () city of Piedmont, enclaved within Oakland.

The family relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, when she was 10 years old. She lived there until she was 20 years old.

She attended the University of Victoria, in British Columbia.

Career In 1986, Stevenson made her television debut as a cast member of the syndicated sketch comedy show Off The Wall. In 1987, she appeared in an episode of Max Headroom. She later starred in the made-for-television movies A Father's Homecoming and Double Your Pleasure, and played a leading role alongside Suzie Plakson in the 1989 pilot for Married to the Mob. Also in 1989, she appeared as Norm Peterson's obsessive secretary Doris in two episodes of Cheers.

1990s Stevenson played a leading role in the short-lived syndicated comedy series My Talk Show from 1990 to 1991. The following year, she was cast alongside Bob Newhart and Carlene Watkins in the CBS sitcom Bob). The series was canceled after two seasons. Also in 1992, she made her big screen debut in the comedy film The Player directed by Robert Altman. She later had roles in a number of comedy films, including Watch It (1993), Forget Paris (1995), Home for the Holidays (1995), Live Nude Girls (1995), Happiness (1998), Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998) and its sequels. From 1995 to 1996, she starred as Hope, a high-strung television producer, in the NBC sitcom Hope and Gloria, which ran for two seasons and 35 episodes. In 1998, she played Jane Conrad, former wife of astronaut Pete Conrad in the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. Later that year, Stevenson began starring as a single working woman who decides to have a child through artificial insemination in the Lifetime comedy series, Oh Baby. The series ended in 2000.

2000s–present Stevenson played mother of Frankie Muniz's character in the 2003 spy comedy film Agent Cody Banks and in its sequel Agent Cody Banks 2 the following year. From 2003 to 2004, she was a regular cast member in the Showtime dark comedy-drama series Dead Like Me, playing lead character George (Ellen Muth)'s mother. In 2009, she starred in its sequel film, Dead like Me: Life After Death. In April 2006, she completed filming a sitcom pilot for CBS called You've Reached the Elliotts, starring opposite Chris Elliott as his wife, which was not picked up by the network. She had a recurring role on the Showtime drama series The L Word, and co-starred with Judy Davis in the 2006 comedy-drama film A Little Thing Called Murder. She also appeared in Six Feet Under, Monk and in multiple episodes of According to Jim. She also appeared in films Neverwas (2005), Full of It (2007), Will You Marry Me? (2008), I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009) and Case 39 (2009).

From 2006 to 2008, Stevenson starred in the ABC comedy-drama series, Men in Trees, which was taped in Vancouver. In April 2009, she co-starred opposite Bob Saget on the short-lived ABC sitcom Surviving Suburbia. In 2010, she had a recurring role as Shiri Appleby's character's mother on The CW drama series Life Unexpected. In 2010, she also appeared in the music video for the song "Fuckin' Perfect" by Pink.

Stevenson appeared in Shonda Rhimes dramas Grey's Anatomy in 2010, Off the Map and Private Practice in 2011, Scandal in 2013, and from 2018 to 2020 played Pam Walsh, Connor's mother on How to Get Away with Murder. In 2014, she played villainous housekeeper in the Lifetime television film Killing Daddy and in 2015, starred alongside Ed Begley Jr. in the TBS comedy series Your Family or Mine.

Personal life Stevenson married director Tom Davies in 1992; the couple met in 1991, on the set of The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag, when she filmed a brief uncredited appearance.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1991To the Moon, AlicePerky GirlShort film 1992 The PlayerBonnie Sherow 1993Watch ItEllen 1995Forget ParisLiz 1995Home for the HolidaysJoanne Larson Wedman 1995Live Nude GirlsMarcy 1998HappinessTrish MaplewoodNational Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble 1998Air Bud: Golden ReceiverJackie Framm 2002Air Bud: Seventh Inning FetchJackie FrammDVD Exclusive Award for Best Supporting Actress 2003Agent Cody BanksMrs. Banks 2003Air Bud Spikes BackJackie Framm 2004Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination LondonMrs. Banks2005 NeverwasSally 2006Air BuddiesJackie Framm2007 Full of ItJill Leonard 2008Snow BuddiesJackie Framm 2009Dead Like Me: Life After DeathJoy Lass 2009ReunionEmily 2009I Love You, Beth CooperMrs. C 2009Case 39Nancy 2009Jennifer's BodyChip's Mom 2012Tiger EyesBitsy Kronick 2018 BajaJosey Johnson

Television Year Title Role Notes 1986Off the WallVarious Syndicated sketch comedy show 1988 A Father's HomecomingToniTelevision movie1989NewhartNancyEpisode: "Shoe Business Is My Life" 1989Married to the MobMarie ScarlottiUnsold television pilot1989Double Your PleasureNicoleTelevision movie1989CheersDorisEpisodes: "The Two Faces of Norm" and "Feeble Attraction"1990BookerPennyEpisode: "Hacker"1990Empty NestAmyEpisode: "Everything But Love"1990–1991 My Talk ShowJennifer BassMain role, 59 episodes1991Major DadAnitaEpisode: "Flying Solo" 1992–1993BobTrisha McKayMain role, 28 episodes1995Dream OnAbby KaplowEpisode: "Off-Off Broadway Bound" 1995–1996Hope and GloriaHope DavidsonMain role, 35 episodes1998From the Earth to the MoonJane ConradTelevision miniseries1998 Ally McBealHayley ChisolmEpisode: "Alone Again" 1998–2000Oh BabyTracy CallowayMain role, 44 episodes 2003–2004Dead Like MeJoy LassMain role, 28 episodes 2005Six Feet UnderJoy SolomonEpisode: "The Silence" 2005Joan of ArcadiaWoman at Joan's Award CeremonyEpisode: "The Rise & Fall of Joan Girard"; uncredited2006You've Reached the ElliottsTracy ElliottUnsold television pilot2006 A Little Thing Called MurderBeverly BatesTelevision movie 2006 The L WordRoberta Collie3 episodes 2006MonkDianne BrooksEpisode: "Mr. Monk and the Class Reunion" 2003–2007According to JimCindy Devlin4 episodes 2006–2008Men in TreesCelia BachelorMain role, 27 episodes 2008Will You Merry Me?Marilyn KringleTelevision movie2009Surviving SuburbiaAnne PattersonMain role, 13 episodes 2010Grey's AnatomyRuthie CarlinEpisode: "Blink"2010 Life UnexpectedLaverne Cassidy5 episodes 2011Off the MapCharleneEpisode: "Hold on Tight" 2011ChaosViolet GreenEpisode: "Defending Sophia" 2011Private PracticeKarenEpisode: "Step One" 2012 The Soul ManCarolynEpisode: "How to Be a Church Lady" 2013ScandalMary NesbittEpisode: "Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington" 2014Killing DaddyEmma GrangerTelevision movie 2014KingdomMarilyn WheelerEpisode: "Please Refrain from Crying" 2014Sleepy HollowGina LambertEpisode: "Mama"2015Your Family or MineJanMain role 2015Tim & Eric's Bedtime StoriesMatt's motherEpisode: "Tornado"2018SupergirlMrs QuellerEpisode: "Shelter from the Storm"2018–2020How to Get Away with MurderPam WalshRecurring role, 5 episodes2021 The Good DoctorSenator Marian ClarkEpisode: "Letting Go"

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