Megan Mullally

Megan Mullally (born November 12, 1958 or 1959) is an American actress, comedian and singer. She is best known for playing Karen Walker in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace (1998–2006, 2017–2020), for which she received eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning twice, in 2000 and 2006. She also received nominations for numerous other accolades for her portrayal, including seven consecutive Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, winning three times, in 2001, 2002, and 2003, as well as receiving four Golden Globe Award nominations.

From 2006 to 2007, Mullally hosted the talk show The Megan Mullally Show. Since then, she has been a series regular on several television series, such as In the Motherhood, Party Down, Childrens Hospital, and Breaking In. She has also appeared in guest spots and recurring roles on other comedy series including, Happy Endings, Bob's Burgers, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Up All Night, Boston Legal, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and The Great North. In addition to television, Mullally has also ventured into film, with appearances in Smashed (2012), The Kings of Summer (2013), and Why Him? (2016).

Early life

Mullally was born in Los Angeles, California,^[2] the only child of Martha (née Palmer) and Carter Mullally Jr.,^[3] an actor who was a contract player with Paramount Pictures in the 1950s.^[3] Mullally moved to her father's native Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at age six.^[4] She is of English, Irish and Scandinavian ancestry.^[5] She studied ballet from age six and performed at the Oklahoma City Ballet during high school, also studying at the School of American Ballet in New York City.

Following her graduation from Casady School in Oklahoma City,^[6] Mullally attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she studied English literature and art history. After her sophomore year, she began acting in theater in downtown Chicago. By junior year, she was performing in eight shows per week. She later dropped out of Northwestern to pursue acting.^[7]

Career

Television

One of Mullally's earliest acting spots was on a McDonald's commercial that also featured John Goodman.^[8] She made her series debut in 1986 in The Ellen Burstyn Show. She subsequently guest-starred on sitcoms such as Seinfeld, Frasier, Wings, Herman's Head, Ned and Stacey, Mad About You, Caroline in the City, 3rd Rock from the Sun and Just Shoot Me!. She played a central character in a season-five episode of Murder, She Wrote, "Coal Miner's Slaughter", recalling in 2012, "I hadn't gotten a job for so long, and I was in a complete panic because I didn't know how I was going to pay my rent. So I get a call one day from my agent that I'd gotten offered a guest role, and it paid $5,000. I literally fell down onto my knees and testified and wept. I played some former protégée of Jessica Fletcher. It's one of my favorite things I've ever shot."^[9]

In 1989, Mullally tested for the role of Elaine Benes on Seinfeld.^[10] The role was eventually given to Julia Louis-Dreyfus.^[9] In 1998, Mullally landed the role of Karen Walker, Grace Adler's abrasive, pill-popping assistant, in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in both 2000 and 2006, and was nominated in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and again for the revival in 2018. She won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series three times, in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and with cast members Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, and Sean Hayes, she shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2001. She is the first of only two actresses to win a SAG Award three years in a row. She was nominated each year from 2000 until 2003 for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.

In 2005, Mullally saw comedian and actor Bill Hader performing with his Second City class in Los Angeles, and shortly thereafter brought Hader to the attention of Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels. Also in 2005, Mullally was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of her "innovation in creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television".^[11] She also appeared in the movie Rebound opposite Martin Lawrence, which received both critical and box office failure.

Following Will & Grace, Mullally hosted her own talk show, The Megan Mullally Show from 2006 to 2007. She has hosted Saturday Night Live, guest-hosted the Late Show with David Letterman, hosted the 2006 TV Land Awards, and been a featured performer twice on the Tony Awards. She has been featured in advertisements for M&M's, Old Navy, CheapTickets.com, and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!

Mullally guest-starred as an adoption case worker for Liz Lemon in the third-season premiere of the NBC sitcom 30 Rock and returned to play the same character two additional times during the show's run. Other appearances include Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Campus Ladies, director/actor David Wain's "Wainy Days", an episode of HBO's Funny or Die, and the Funny or Die web video "That's What She Said".

Mullally guest-starred seven times as Tammy Swanson on the NBC series Parks and Recreation, in the episodes "Ron and Tammy", "Ron & Tammy: Part Two", "Li'l Sebastian", "Ron and Tammys", "The Trial of Leslie Knope", "Ron and Diane", "Ron and Jammy", and "A Parks and Recreation Special". Mullally plays the role of the second ex-wife of the character Ron Swanson, who is played by her real-life husband, Nick Offerman.^[12] Offerman also had two different roles on Mullally's show Will & Grace, playing a plumber and chef.

Also in 2009, Mullally starred in the ABC sitcom In the Motherhood. Based on the original web series, the television adaptation focuses on three mothers. She played Rosemary opposite Cheryl Hines and Jessica St. Clair. The series was poorly received and was canceled by ABC due to low ratings after airing five out of seven episodes produced.

Mullally co-starred in 2010 as Lydia on the Starz ensemble series Party Down.^[13] Mullally co-starred as "Chief" on the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital. In 2011, Mullally began a recurring role as Dana Hartz, the mother of Penny (Casey Wilson), on the ABC sitcom Happy Endings. In the following months, Mullally joined the series Breaking In for its second season in 2012, after which the show was canceled. Also in 2012, Mullally joined the first season of Bob's Burgers as Aunt Gayle. She reprised the role in subsequent episodes along with several minor roles. Mullally rejoined the Will & Grace cast as Karen upon the show's revival, which ran for three seasons from 2017 to 2020. In 2024, Mullally and Offerman starred together as Jean and Gene, respectively, in season 4 of the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy.

Theater

Mullally made her Broadway debut as Marty in the 1994 revival of Grease,^[14] and subsequently appeared as Rosemary in the hit 1995 revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying opposite Matthew Broderick. In 2007, Mullally starred as Elizabeth in Mel Brooks' original Broadway musical Young Frankenstein. She can be heard on the cast albums of all three productions.

In 1996, she starred in You Never Know at the Pasadena Playhouse. Mullally appeared in 2000 as Pamela in the multiple award-winning production of Chuck Mee's The Berlin Circle, for which she won both the LA Weekly Theatre Award and the Backstage West Garland Award. Mullally starred as Beverly in the acclaimed production of Adam Bock's The Receptionist at the Odyssey Theatre (notably, the longest sold-out run of a show in that theatre's history), for which she was awarded the 2010 Backstage West Garland Award for Best Performance by an Actress. On 3 April 2014, she portrayed Miss Adelaide in a one night only concert of Guys and Dolls opposite Nathan Lane, Sierra Boggess and Patrick Wilson at Carnegie Hall

From April 13 to June 1, 2014, Mullally starred alongside her real-life husband, Nick Offerman, in Annapurna at the off-Broadway Acorn Theatre on New York's 42nd Street Theatre Row.^[15] In 2014 Mullally starred in the Broadway performance of It's Only a Play with F. Murray Abraham, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, Rupert Grint, Nathan Lane and Micah Stock. The show opened at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on October 9, 2014, and played through January 18, 2015. It then opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on January 23, 2015, and closed on June 7, 2015. The show played 48 previews and 274 performances.^[16] In June 2021, Mullally was set to appear as "Reno Sweeney" in Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre in London for a strictly limited season, but had to pull out due to an injury.

Music

Mullally is a member of the band Supreme Music Program.^[17] SMP has released three albums:^[18] The Sweetheart Break-In, Big as a Berry and Free Again!.^[17][19] Mullally and Stephanie Hunt formed the band Nancy and Beth in 2012.^[20] They went on tour in March 2013, along with Mullally's husband, Offerman. Nancy and Beth performed at Lincoln Center as part of its American Songbook Series on February 13, 2019, and toured the US in April and May 2019, beginning in Los Angeles and ending in New York City.^[21] The band subsequently toured Australia in June 2019, beginning in Hobart and ending in Brisbane.^[22][23]

Film

Mullally's first film role was playing a call girl in 1983's Risky Business. Mullally has also appeared in Marc Forster's Sundance competition entry Everything Put Together, Anywhere but Here with Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman, About Last Night with Demi Moore and Rob Lowe, Speaking of Sex with James Spader, and Stealing Harvard with Tom Green and Jason Lee. Mullally played a singing teacher in the 2009 film remake of Fame,^[24] and can be heard on the soundtrack recording. Additionally, Mullally sang the song "Long John Blues" (performed on-screen by Kristen Bell) in 2010's Burlesque. She played one of the leads' mothers in the 2013 indie film The Kings of Summer and Mrs. Van Camp in the movie G.B.F. Mullally played Barb Fleming in the 2016 film Why Him? In 2017, Mullally appeared in Janicza Bravo's first full-length feature, Lemon, which debuted at Sundance Film Festival.^[25]

In August 2021, Bleecker Street and Stage 6 Films picked up the worldwide rights to James Ponsoldt's coming of age film Summering, starring Mullally alongside Sarah Cooper.^[26] On October 6, 2023, A24's Dicks: The Musical was released, starring Mullally^[27] alongside Nathan Lane, Megan Thee Stallion, and the movie's writers, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson. The movie musical is an R-rated twist on The Parent Trap, where two grown men discover they are identical twins separated at birth, and plot to switch places in order to get their parents back together. Mullally plays "Evelyn", the boys' mother. She can be heard singing her songs on the movie's soundtrack recording.

Published works

Mullally and husband Nick Offerman wrote The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, published by Dutton on October 2, 2018. The book is a New York Times Bestseller. The two reveal the full story behind their romance in chapters on religion, family, and more.^[28]

Personal life

In 1992, Mullally married Michael Katcher, a talent agent, in Los Angeles. They divorced in 1996.^[29] Mullally met fellow actor and future husband Nick Offerman in 2000 while acting in The Berlin Circle,^[30] a play produced by the Evidence Room Theatre Company; they married three years later in 2003.^[31]

While they were dating, Offerman appeared in a guest role on Will & Grace, in a 2001 Thanksgiving episode. Offerman appeared again, in a different role, in the season 9 episode "Friends and Lover". The couple have also appeared together in films such as The Kings of Summer and Smashed and the television series Parks and Recreation and The Umbrella Academy, and they also performed voice work together in Bob's Burgers, Hotel Transylvania 2, and The Great North. In 2019, they launched the podcast In Bed with Nick and Megan, discussing their personal lives and interviewing guests.^[32][33]

In a 1999 interview with The Advocate magazine, Mullally commented: "I consider myself bisexual, and my philosophy is, everyone innately is."^[34] She brought the subject up again in 2009.^[35]

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ Who Sang what on Broadway, 1866-1996: The singers (L-Z). University of Michigan. 2008. p. 557. ISBN 9780786421909. Archived January 19, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
2. ^ "Megan Mullally". TVGuide.com. Archived August 27, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
3. ^ Barbour, David (Nov 20, 2007). "Frankie's Girl". Playbill. Archived November 2, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
4. ^ Stated in interview on Inside the Actors Studio
5. ^ Stated on TLC's TV show, Who Do You Think You Are?, May 28, 2018 (S10, E3)
6. ^ Beutler, Mark (September 28, 2017). "Megan Mullally: Back to TV". 405 Magazine. Archived May 28, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
7. ^ "Megan Mullaly, Killer Mike, Claire Adam". Late Night With Seth Meyers. Season 5. Episode 35. January 30, 2018.
8. ^ 1983 McDonalds Egg McMuffin commercial. Featuring John Goodman & Megan Mullally.. Jason Harder. September 2, 2010. Archived September 21, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 7, 2022. – via YouTube
9. ^ Stransky, Tanner (March 9, 2012). "Megan Mullally on... Megan Mullally". Entertainment Weekly. Archived February 19, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
10. ^ "Seinfeld: The Actresses Who Almost Played Elaine Benes". ScreenRant. 2022-01-01. Archived April 26, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
11. ^ "Past Recipients". WIF.org. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
12. ^ Abrams, Natalie (October 1, 2009). "Exclusive: Megan Mullally Plays Ex on Parks and Recreation". TV Guide. Archived February 19, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
13. ^ Holmes, Linda (April 23, 2010). "'Party Down': Proving It Is Possible To Soldier On Without Jane Lynch : Monkey See". NPR. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
14. ^ "Megan Mullally Theatre Credits". BroadwayWorld. Archived September 21, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
15. ^ "Annapurna - Off-Broadway Tickets". Broadway.com. Archived September 27, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
16. ^ "It's Only a Play – Broadway Play – Original". Internet Broadway Database. Archived June 2, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved Nov 18, 2019.
17. ^ "Megan Mullally and Supreme Music Program. NEW CD: Free Again! On iTunes, CDBaby.com, DigStation.com". SupremeProgram.com. Archived March 12, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
18. ^ Quintos, Michael L. (October 9, 2010). "BWW Reviews: MEGAN MULLALLY & Supreme Music Program at OCPAC". BroadwayWorld. Archived November 27, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
19. ^ "Megan Mullally and Supreme Music Program: Big as a Berry CD Information". SupremeProgram.com. 2003-12-31. Archived March 3, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
20. ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (May 13, 2019). "Megan Mullally and Stephanie Hunt's Choreographed Antics Are Giving Cabaret a Jolt". The New York Times. Archived November 27, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
21. ^ Betts, Stephen L. (January 15, 2019). "Megan Mullally, Stephanie Hunt's Nancy and Beth Duo Plot Spring Tour". Rolling Stone. Archived November 27, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
22. ^ Milligan, Kaitlin (December 17, 2018). "Megan Mullally's Band Nancy And Beth Announce First Australian Tour". BroadwayWorld. Archived November 27, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
23. ^ nancyandbeth.com
24. ^ Diamond, Robert (2009-09-25). "Allen, Mullally, Grammer, Dutton & Neuwirth Join FAME Film Remake". BroadwayWorld. Archived December 2, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
25. ^ D'Arcy, David (January 23, 2017). "'Lemon': Review". Screen Daily. Archived August 6, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
26. ^ Vlessing, Etan (Aug 10, 2021). "Bleecker Street Nabs Megan Mullally, Sarah Cooper's 'Summering' Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived August 10, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
27. ^ Levitt, Barry (Sep 9, 2023). "Nothing Can Prepare You for Megan Mullally in 'Dicks: The Musical'". The Daily Beast. Archived November 24, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
28. ^ "The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman: 9781101986691". Penguin Random House. Archived June 25, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved Nov 18, 2019.
29. ^ Krauser, Emily (April 26, 2024). "Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally's Relationship Timeline". People.com. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
30. ^ "Nick Offerman Talks Costarring with Wife Megan Mullally". Huffington Post. May 29, 2013. Archived September 10, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
31. ^ "Nicholas David Offerman". AncientFaces. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
32. ^ Finn, Natalie (June 26, 2020). "The Naked Truth About Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally's Enviable Love Story". E! Online. Archived January 7, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
33. ^ "In Bed with Nick and Megan podcast on Earwolf". www.earwolf.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
34. ^ Bardin, Brantley (November 23, 1999). "The Advocate's 25 Coolest Women". The Advocate. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
35. ^ Grant, Japhy (2009-03-25). "Megan Mullally on In the Motherhood, Bisexuality and That Karen & Jack Spin-Off". Queerty
36. ^ "Mullally's roots run deep in Chicago". 16 November 2003. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
37. ^ Jones, Kenneth (22 November 2003). "Megan Mullally Makes Chicago-Area Concert Appearances to Benefit Skokie's Northlight Theatre Nov. 22". Playbill. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
38. ^ "Production History". Northlight Theatre. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
39. ^ Shapiro, Anna D. (16 February 2018). "John Mahoney, Stage Creature and Child of God". American Theatre. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
40. ^ Drake, Sylvie (28 May 1991). "STAGE REVIEW : Pleasantly Porter : Pasadena Turns 'You Never Know' Into a Delight - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
41. ^ Brantley, Ben (12 May 1994). "Review/Theater: Grease; Memories With a New-Wave Touch". New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
42. ^ Winer, Laurie (1 November 1994). "Theater Review : How to Succeed in Revival 'Business' : La Jolla Production, En Route to Broadway, Is a Visual Treat and Showcase for Company Talent - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
43. ^ Canby, Vincent (24 March 1995). "THEATER REVIEW: HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING; Climbing The Ladder, Song by Song". New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
44. ^ Martinez, Julio (27 October 1999). "Sweetheart". Variety. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
45. ^ Phillips, Michael (27 May 2000). "'Circle' Revolves Around Fall of Wall - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
46. ^ Hirschhorn, Joel (25 March 2003). "Mayhem". Variety. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
47. ^ Berson, Misha (24 August 2007). ""Young Frankenstein": It's alive, but needs more life of its own". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
48. ^ Brantley, Ben (9 November 2007). "Who Put the Trance in Transylvania?". New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
49. ^ Verini, Bob (16 August 2009). "The Receptionist". Variety. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
50. ^ Meisel, Myron (25 April 2013). "Annapurna: Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
51. ^ Hetrick, Adam & Purcell, Carey (3 April 2014). "Guys and Dolls Concert, With Nathan Lane, Patrick Wilson, Sierra Boggess and Megan Mullally, Plays Carnegie Hall April 3". Playbill. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
52. ^ Isherwood, Charles (23 April 2014). "Watch Out: The Ex-Wife Has Arrived, and She's Got Lots of Baggage". New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
53. ^ Stasio, Marilyn (9 October 2014). "Broadway Review: 'It's Only a Play'". Variety. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
54. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (25 February 2025). "Megan Mullally to Star in World Premiere Musical Iceboy!". Playbill. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

External links

• Official website
• Megan Mullally at IMDb