Talia Balsam (born 1959) is an American actress.
Early life Talia Balsam was born in New York City in 1959, to actors Martin Balsam and Joyce Van Patten. Her ancestry is Russian Jewish (father) and Italian, Dutch, and English (mother). She is the niece of actor Dick Van Patten, actress Pat Van Patten, and actor/director Tim Van Patten, and the cousin of actress Grace Van Patten.
Career Balsam began her career appearing in a recurring role on the ABC sitcom Happy Days and later appeared in a number of shows, including Dallas, Taxi, Hill Street Blues, Family Ties, The Larry Sanders Show, and Magnum, P.I. Balsam also played leading roles in films Crawlspace (1986) and In the Mood (1987). She also appeared in a number of made-for-television movies, including Kent State (1981), Nadia (1984), and Consenting Adult (1985). Balsam continued playing supporting film roles and guest starred on television through 1990s and 2000s, include The Cake Eaters (2007), L.A. Doctors (1998–99) and Without a Trace (2003–04).
From 2007 to 2014, Balsam had a recurring role as Mona Sterling in the AMC period drama series Mad Men. In 2012, she also had a recurring role in the Showtime thriller Homeland as Cynthia Walden. From 2016 to 2019, she starred opposite Sarah Jessica Parker in the HBO comedy series, Divorce.
Personal life Balsam married actor George Clooney in Las Vegas in 1989; they were divorced in 1993. In an interview with Vanity Fair after their divorce, Clooney stated, "I probably (definitely) wasn't someone who should have been married at that point. I just don't feel like I gave Talia a fair shot."
Since 1998, Balsam has been married to John Slattery, with whom she has a son. They married in Kauai, Hawaii. They played husband and wife Roger and Mona Sterling in Mad Men. As of 2015, Balsam was living with her family in SoHo, Manhattan.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1979SunnysideAnn Rosario1984Mass AppealLiz Dolson1986CrawlspaceLori Bancroft1986Pvt. Angela Lejune1987The KindredSharon Raymond1987In the MoodJudy Cusimano1987P.I. Private InvestigationsJenny Fox1989Trust MeCatherine Walker1991Susie the WhoreShort film1991Killer InstinctEmma1995ColdbloodedJean Alexander1997Camp StoriesMary1999Valerie FlakeLinda2002Emmett's MarkSuzanne2005Little ManhattanJackie Telesco2006All the King's MenLucy Stark2007Violet Kaminski2008Mrs. Shapiro2009JulieVideo short2010ConvictionProsecuting Attorney2011ReturnJulie2011No Strings AttachedSandra Kurtzman2011ChooseClarissa2015Don't Worry BabyMiriam Lang2015Mom2016Little MenAudrey2019The ClimbSuzi2019South MountainLila2020WorthDede Feinberg 2021With/In: Volume 1Segment: "Intersection"2021The Many Saints of NewarkMrs. Jarecki2022MasterDiandra 2023Late BloomersDorothy2025OmahaEdieCompleted
Television Year Title Role Notes1977Happy DaysNancy Croft"Hollywood: Parts 1−3"1978AllisonTV film1978Stickin' TogetherGrace GearyTV film1978Fast Lane BluesDollyTV film1978DallasRita Briggs"Black Market Baby"1978DoreenTV film1978–1980TaxiCathy Consuelos"Like Father, Like Daughter", "Fathers of the Bride"1979The Survival of DanaRonaTV film1979The RunawaysDiana Robinson"Wrong Way Street"1980OHMSNoranne WingTV film1980Archie Bunker's PlaceBeverly Klein-Munoz"Murray's Daughter"1980When the Whistle BlowsSharon Jenkins"Beauty Pageant"1981Kent StateSandy ScheuerTV film1981Crazy TimesEveTV film1982Hill Street BluesSally"Some Like It Hot-Wired"1983Cagney & LaceyDiane"Affirmative Action"1983Family TiesCarrie Newman"Tender Is the Knight"1984Calamity JaneJean Irene O'NeillTV film1984Magnum, P.I.Emily Jackson"On Face Value"1984Punky BrewsterMiranda 'Randi' Mitchell"Punky Finds a Home: Parts 2 & 3"1985Consenting AdultMargieTV film1985Murder, She WroteDebbie Delancey"Footnote to Murder"1987LindaTV film1988Tour of DutyVickie Adams"Pushin' Too Hard"1988Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Golden LandVernaTV film1989–1990ThirtysomethingPaige"Michael's Campaign", "Pulling Away"1990Murder, She WroteJulie Pritzer"Murder: According to Maggie"1991Sins of the MotherLiz TrentTV film1991Life Goes OnMs. Melanie Karlsen"Ghost of Grandpa Past"1991StatRita Falco"Psychosomatic"1991Jake and the FatmanCathy Reno"Come Along with Me"1991Past ImperfectJillTV film1992Law & OrderTurner"Consultation"1993Dora"Being There"1993Mad About YouDebbie"The Unplanned Child"1994The CompanionCharleneTV film1995Diagnosis: MurderTonya Gilpin"Call Me Incontestable"1995Touched by an AngelDr. Joanne Glassberg"In the Name of God"1995Almost PerfectJeannie Guthrie"A Dog Day Afternoon", "You Like Me, You Really Like Me", "The Ex-Files"1996Law & OrderTeri Marks"Remand"1997Early EditionDr. Robbin English"The Cat"1997–1998ProfilerMonica Sikes"Old Acquaintance", "Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick"1998Nothing SacredLaura"A Nun's Story"1998Diana Wilson"Smooth Sailing"1998Ghosts of Fear StreetAnne Murphy1998–1999L.A. DoctorsJulie LonnerRecurring role1999Ally McBealShelia Kent"Angels and Blimps"2000SchimmelKathyTV film2000Mrs. Nicole Mason"Hostile Makeover"2003Third WatchMrs. Beckman"In Confidence"2003K StreetGailRecurring role2003–2004Without a TraceMaria MaloneRecurring role2005Into the FireDr. Linda BoyleTV film2005Commander in ChiefRuth"Pilot"2006Law & Order: Criminal IntentVictoria Carson"Wrongful Life"2007–2014Mad MenMona Sterling PikeRecurring role2008Wainy DaysCarol"Carol"2009FlashForwardSurgeon Gen. Anita Ralston"Gimme Some Truth"2010TremeCarla Hall"Shallow Water, Oh Mama"2012HomelandCynthia WaldenRecurring role2013ElementaryCheryl Gregson"An Unnatural Arrangement"2013–2014Anne Stevens"A Precious Commodity", "Goliath and David"2014Toni Dodd"Contempt"2016–2019DivorceDallas HoltRegular role2017Z: The Beginning of EverythingAnne OberRecurring role2021Girls5evaHerself"Alf Musik"2021The PremiseProsecutor"Social Justice Sex Tape"2023WildernessBonnieMain cast2026High Value Target: The Hunt for SaddamAngela Jenkins4 episodes
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