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IMDbPro

Cynthia Stevenson(I)

  • Actress
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Cynthia Stevenson in Dead Like Me (2003)
The story of a girl on a journey from heartbreak and confusion to life and love after tragedy. Set in the mountains and canyons of New Mexico, Davey meets Wolf, a young Native American man with a secret.
Play trailer2:16
Tiger Eyes (2012)
6 Videos
39 Photos
One of TV's finest comedic actresses, Cynthia Stevenson was born in Oakland, California, to Al Stevenson, an upholstery warehouse owner and Gayle Stevenson née Boniface, an editor. She moved north with her mother and brother, Gregory, to Bellevue, Washington and then to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she spent most of her childhood.

Cynthia took her first step toward an acting career in the University of Victoria's Phoenix Theatre Program. Cynthia returned to California to complete her training, attending the renowned American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in San Francisco, and the Drama Studio London at Berkeley.

After arriving in Los Angeles, Cynthia found roles with an improv group and in two local theatre productions, one of which was a long-running hit, "The Ladies Room," written and directed by Robin Schiff and produced by Heartaches (1915), which brought Cynthia critical acclaim for her comedic skills. Because of this work, she landed an immediate job on a TV sketch comedy, Off the Wall (1986), where she was featured in 26 episodes.

Cynthia quickly built her resume with guest parts on popular sitcoms, including "Max Headroom," "Empty Nest," "The Famous Teddy Z.," "Newhart," Major Dad" and many others. In between came her first starring role as talk show host Jennifer Bass in My Talk Show (1990), an original, offbeat nightly series, described as the "first cult hit" of the 1990s. It proved to be Cynthia's big break, as director Above the Limit (1900) noticed and cast her as Bonnie Sherow opposite star Photographing a Ghost (1898) in the Oscar nominated film The Player (1992).

Legendary TV producers Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner chose Cynthia for a recurring guest spot on their iconic hit series Cheers (2011). The producers then tapped her for a co-starring role in their next sitcom Bob (1992) playing the daughter of cartoonist Bob Newhart. That performance, in turn, inspired the same production team to create a new show Hope & Gloria (1995) especially for Cynthia. Co-starring as Hope opposite Jessica Lundy (as Gloria), the talented cast included Tiffani Thiessen and Enrico Colantoni. Whenever talking about her career path, Cynthia has always been quick to point out that it was Cherie and Bill Steinkellner who gave it movement and direction.

With a versatility that has moved easily between TV and film, Cynthia had top roles in several 1990's character-driven ensemble features, such as Watch It (1993), produced by David Brown and written and directed by [link-nm0002368]; Forget Paris (1995), written, produced, directed and starring Billy Crystal; Home for the Holidays (1995) produced and directed by Jodie Foster; Live Nude Girls (1995) written and directed by Julianna Lavin and Happiness (1998), written and directed by Love or Riches (1911). In addition she has been a recurring guest on network and cable shows, including "Ally McBeal," "Monk," "Six Feet Under," "According to Jim" and "The L. Word."

When Lifetime decided to enter into the half hour comedy business, they tapped Cynthia for the lead role in Susan Beavers' Oh Baby (1998), an innovative, first-person take on single motherhood created by Only the Cool (1970). It ran for two years. She then relocated to Vancouver (known as "Hollywood North") where she starred as the troubled Joy Lass in the long-running Showtime favorite Dead Like Me (2003). While working in Vancouver, Cynthia was featured in several family films, including Agent Cody Banks (2003) and Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004), plus her repeating role as Jackie Framm in Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998) and its five subsequent comedies for Disney, and the TV movie A Little Thing Called Murder (2006) opposite Judy Davis and directed by In Little Italy (1909).

Before leaving Canada and returning to Southern California in 2008, Cynthia had a regular role as a feisty female sheriff on ABC's Men in Trees (2006) and also starred in Lifetime TV's Christmas comedy Will You Merry Me? (2008), as well as the films Neverwas (2005), Case 39 (2009), I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009), Jennifer's Body (2009), and the long-awaited Dead Like Me: Life After Death (2009).

Cynthia's busy roster continues to expand back home with roles in such films as Reunion (2009), Tiger Eyes (2012) and Baja (2018). TV guest appearances have included such popular programs as "Life Unexpected," "Grey's Anatomy," "Off the Map," "Chaos," "Private Practice," "Sleepy Hollow" and "Supergirl," with recurring roles on Your Family or Mine (2015) and How to Get Away with Murder (2014).

Cynthia lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and son.
BornAugust 2, 1962
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornAugust 2, 1962
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 2 wins & 1 nomination

Photos39

Cynthia Stevenson and Nicole Beharie in Sleepy Hollow (2013)
Barbara Barrie and Cynthia Stevenson in Dead Like Me (2003)
Amy Brenneman, Taye Diggs, and Cynthia Stevenson in Private Practice (2007)
Tony Shalhoub and Cynthia Stevenson in Monk (2002)
Larry Joe Campbell, Cynthia Stevenson, and Laken Blevins in According to Jim (2001)
Cynthia Stevenson and Forrest Fyre in Tiger Eyes (2012)
Richard Karn, Cynthia Stevenson, Kevin Zegers, Emma Marof, and Hannah Marof in Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch (2002)
John Cygan and Cynthia Stevenson in Bob (1992)
Barbara Barrie, Britt McKillip, and Cynthia Stevenson in Dead Like Me (2003)
Greg Kean, Britt McKillip, and Cynthia Stevenson in Dead Like Me (2003)
Greg Kean, Britt McKillip, Ellen Muth, and Cynthia Stevenson in Dead Like Me (2003)
April Grace and Cynthia Stevenson in Off the Map (2011)

Known for

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Camryn Manheim, Jane Adams, and Dylan Baker in Happiness (1998)
Happiness
7.7
  • Trish Maplewood
  • 1998
Megan Fox in Jennifer's Body (2009)
Jennifer's Body
5.4
  • Mrs. Dove
  • 2009
Home for the Holidays (1995)
Home for the Holidays
6.5
  • Joanne Wedman
  • 1995
Tim Robbins in The Player (1992)
The Player
7.5
  • Bonnie Sherow
  • 1992

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress

  • Freddie Highmore in The Good Doctor (2017)
    The Good Doctor
    • Senator Marian Clark
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Viola Davis in How to Get Away with Murder (2014)
    How to Get Away with Murder
    • Pam Walsh
    • TV Series
    • 2018–2020
  • David Harewood, Chyler Leigh, Jesse Rath, Azie Tesfai, Melissa Benoist, Katie McGrath, and Nicole Maines in Supergirl (2015)
    Supergirl
    • Mrs. Queller
    • TV Series
    • 2018
  • Jake Thomas, Chris Brochu, Michelle DeShon, Zoe Corraface, and Arienne Mandi in Baja (2018)
    Baja
    • Josey Johnson
    • 2018
  • Famous in Love (2017)
    Famous in Love
    • Paige's mom
    • TV Series
    • 2017
  • *Loosely Exactly Nicole (2016)
    *Loosely Exactly Nicole
    • Sandy
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories (2013)
    Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories
    • Matt's Mom
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Your Family or Mine (2015)
    Your Family or Mine
    • Jan
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Tom Mison and Nicole Beharie in Sleepy Hollow (2013)
    Sleepy Hollow
    • Nurse Gina Lambert
    • TV Series
    • 2014
  • Frank Grillo in Kingdom (2014)
    Kingdom
    • Marilyn Wheeler
    • TV Series
    • 2014
  • Killing Daddy (2014)
    Killing Daddy
    • Emma Granger
    • TV Movie
    • 2014
  • Little Horribles
    • Short
    • 2013
  • Kerry Washington in Scandal (2012)
    Scandal
    • Mary Nesbitt
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Little Horribles (2013)
    Little Horribles
    • Mom
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • Cedric the Entertainer and Niecy Nash in The Soul Man (2012)
    The Soul Man
    • Carolyn
    • TV Series
    • 2012

Soundtrack

  • Will You Merry Me? (2008)
    Will You Merry Me?
    • performer: "Silent Night" (uncredited)
    • TV Movie
    • 2008
  • Kirstie Alley, Woody Harrelson, Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, and Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982)
    Cheers
    • performer: "Seasons in the Sun" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1989

Videos6

Surviving Suburbia Trailer - Season 1
Trailer 0:32
Surviving Suburbia Trailer - Season 1
Tiger Eyes
Trailer 2:16
Tiger Eyes
Forget Paris
Trailer 1:57
Forget Paris
Tiger Eyes
Trailer 2:16
Tiger Eyes
Air Bud: Golden Receiver
Trailer 1:00
Air Bud: Golden Receiver
Air Bud: Golden Receiver
Trailer 1:01
Air Bud: Golden Receiver

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Official Site
  • Height
    • 5′ 11¾″ (1.82 m)
  • Born
    • August 2, 1962
    • Piedmont, California, USA
  • Spouse
    • Tom DaviesJuly 1992 - present (1 child)
  • Children
    • Frank Huston Davies
  • Other works
    Dead Like Me - Showtime Original Series
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Interview
    • 1 Article
    • 1 Pictorial
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Living in British Columbia with her husband and son.
  • Trademark
      Frequently portrays mothers

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