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Mary Crosby

 
Who2 Biography: Mary Crosby, Actor

  • Born: 14 September 1959
  • Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
  • Best Known As: Kristin Shepard, who shot J.R. in TV's Dallas

The only daughter of Bing Crosby, Mary Crosby is even more famous for portraying Kristin Shepard on the television soap opera Dallas. Crosby was an early bloomer who began an acting career in her teens. By the time she was 20 she was a regular character on Dallas, one of the most popular shows on television. Crosby's character was engaged in an affair with the show's popular villain, J.R. (played by Larry Hagman), and ended up being the answer to the question that gripped TV viewers in 1980: "Who shot J.R.?" Since then she has appeared in various television and film productions, including The Ice Pirates (1984), Tapeheads (1988, with John Cusack) and the documentary Dallas: Return to Southfork (2004).

Crosby was the daughter of Bing Crosby and his second wife, the actress Kathryn Grant, who were married in 1957 when she was 23 and he was 54... Dallas ran from 1979-91; Crosby appeared on the show from 1979-81... Crosby is no relation to singer David Crosby.

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Actor: Mary Crosby
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  • Born: Sep 14, 1959 in Hollywood, California
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '80s-'90s
  • Major Genres: Drama, Thriller
  • Career Highlights: The Ice Pirates, Last Plane Out, Desperate Motive
  • First Major Screen Credit: Last Plane Out (1983)

Biography

The youngest child of actor/singer Bing Crosby and his second wife Kathryn Grant, Mary Crosby made her first professional appearances in the company of her siblings in Bing's Christmas-season TV specials of the 1960s and 1970s. As an adult actress, Mary seemed determined, either by accident or design, to go against the grain of the "wholesome" image perpetrated by her father. As the whole world knows, it was Mary Crosby who, in the guise of "Kristin Shepard," shot J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) in that fateful 1980 episode of TV's Dallas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Wikipedia: Mary Crosby
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Mary Crosby
Born Mary Frances Crosby
September 14, 1959 (1959-09-14) (age 50)
Los Angeles, California, USA
Years active 1974 - present
Spouse(s) Eb Lottimer (1978- ? divorced)
Mark Brodka (1998 - present)

Mary Frances Crosby (born September 14, 1959) is an American actress. She is most often credited as simply Mary Crosby for her performances.

Contents

Early life

She was born in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of the singer and actor Bing Crosby, from his second marriage to the actress Kathryn Grant. She graduated from high school at 15. She then entered the University of Texas at Austin where she became a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, but dropped out of the University before graduating. She is fluent in Spanish.

Family life

She has been twice married:

  • 1) Eb Lottimer (1978 - divorced)
  • 2) Mark Brodka (1998 - present); two children (born 2000 and 2002)

Acting career

Crosby may be most noted for her role as Kristin Shepard (Sue Ellen Ewing's scheming sister) on the TV series Dallas from 1979 to 1981. Her character is perhaps best remembered for her part in the cliffhanger ending of the 1979-1980 season of Dallas. In that highly watched episode, J.R. Ewing, (played by Larry Hagman) was shot by an unknown assailant. Viewers had to wait all summer (and most of the fall due to a Hollywood actors' strike) to learn whether J.R. would survive, and which of his many enemies was responsible. During the summer of 1980, the question, "Who shot J.R.?", was being asked in everyday conversations around the world. Ultimately, Kristin Shepard (Crosby) was revealed to have been the person who pulled the trigger in the classic "Who Done It?" episode that aired on November 21, 1980. It was one of the highest-rated episodes of a TV show ever aired.

Crosby's character, Kristin Shepard, later crossed over to the TV series Knots Landing in the 1980-81 season. In 1981, Kristin returned to Dallas. Once again the focus of a highly rated cliffhanger, it was revealed in the season opening episode (October 9, 1981) that it was Kristin's body that was found floating in the Southfork Ranch swimming pool.

Film appearances

  • With This Ring (1978)...Lisa Harris
  • A Guide for the Married Woman (1978) (TV)...Eloise
  • Pearl (1978) (mini) (TV Series)...Patricia North
  • Brothers and Sisters (1979) (TV Series)...Suzy Cooper
  • Dallas (TV Series) (1978)...Kristin Shepard # 2 (1979-1981)
  • Midnight Lace (1981) (TV)...Cathy Preston
  • Golden Gate (1981) (TV)...Natalie Kingsley
  • Confessions of a Married Man (1983) (TV)...Ellen
  • Last Plane Out (1983)...Elizabeth Rush
  • The Ice Pirates (1984)...Princess Karina
  • Cover Up (1984) (TV)...Merilee Taylor
  • Child's Play (1985) (TV)...Ann Preston
  • Hollywood Wives (1985) (mini) (TV Series)...Karen Lancaster
  • Final Jeopardy (1985) (TV)...Susan Campbell
  • North and South, Book II (1986) (mini) (TV Series)...Isabel Hazzard
  • Stagecoach (1986) (TV)...Mrs. Lucy Mallory
  • Johann Strauss - Der Konig ohne Krone (1987)...Adele...aka Johann Strauss: The King Without a Crown
  • Tapeheads (1988)...Samantha Gregory
  • Quicker Than the Eye (1989)...Mary Preston
  • Deadly Innocents (1990)...Beth/Cathy
  • Body Chemistry (1990)...Marlee Redding
  • Corporate Affairs (1990)...Jessica Pierce
  • Eating (1990)...Kate
  • Crack Me Up (1991)
  • The Berlin Conspiracy (1992)...Ursula Schneider
  • Distant Cousins (1993)...Marcie...aka Dangerous Motive
  • Men Who Hate Women & the Women Who Love Them (1994) (TV)...Jennifer
  • Cupid (1997)...Dana Rhodes
  • The Night Caller (1998)...Nikki Rogers
  • Sharing the Secret (2000) (TV)...Irene
  • The Legend of Zorro (2005)...Governor's Wife

Television appearances

External links


 
 
Learn More
Corporate Affairs (1990 Drama Film)
The Ice Pirates (1984 Science Fiction Film)
Final Jeopardy (1985 Drama Film)

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