Mary Louise Parker nasce il 2 agosto del 1964 a Fort Jackson, in South Carolina. Fa il suo debutto a Hollywood nel 1991 a fianco di Kevin Kline. Nel 1994 ottiene una piccola parte ne "Il Cliente" con Tommy Lee Jones. Ma la si scopre nel vero senso della parola solo nel 2002 in "Drago rosso" dove interpreta la moglie di Edward Norton. Il film riscuote il favore del pubblico e così la Parker ottiene nuovi ruoli. Nel 2003 interpreta Harpet Pitt in "Angels in America" con Al Pacino.
Le venne offerto di recitare nel ruolo di Susan in "Desperate Housewives" ma lei non accettò e la parte andò a Tari Hatcher.
Dal 2003 al 2006 passa dal cinema alle serie televisive lavorando in "The White House" a fianco di MArtin Sheen e Moira Kelly.
Infine, è il 2005 l'anno che la consacra a diva delle serie TV grazie al personaggio tragicomico di Nancy Botwin in "Weeds".
Nel tempo libero Mary Louise ama fare meditazioe, yoga, tai chi e leggere.
Da far notare che la Parker ha prodotto recentemente "Don't Pick The Wrong Fight", una serie di pubblicità progresso per mandare un messaggio di tolleranza verso la comunità araba.
In passato ha avuto una relazione con Adam Duritz, cantante dei Counting Crows, che le dedicò la canzone "Butterfly in Reverse".
Separata dal 2003 da Billy Crudup, ha un figlio di quasi tre anni, di nome William.

 

Actress:

    * In Production
    * 2000s
    * 1990s
    * 1980s
    * 1970s

   1. Passages, Les (2008) (pre-production) .... Katharine
   2. The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) (post-production) .... Helen Grace

   3. "Weeds" .... Nancy Botwin (34 episodes, 2005-2007)
          - Can You Hear Me Now (2007) TV Episode .... Nancy Botwin
          - Release the Hounds (2007) TV Episode .... Nancy Botwin
          - The Two Mrs. Scottsons (2007) TV Episode .... Nancy Botwin
          - He Taught Me How to Drive By (2007) TV Episode .... Nancy Botwin
          - Grasshopper (2007) TV Episode .... Nancy Botwin
            (29 more)
   4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) .... Zee James
      ... aka The Assassination of Jesse James (USA: short title)
   5. The Robber Bride (2007) (TV) .... Zenia
   6. "The West Wing" .... Amy Gardner (23 episodes, 2001-2006)
          - The Last Hurrah (2006) TV Episode .... Amy Gardner
          - Requiem (2006) TV Episode .... Amy Gardner
          - Freedonia (2005) TV Episode .... Amy Gardner
          - Constituency of One (2003) TV Episode .... Amy Gardner
          - Han (2003) TV Episode .... Amy Gardner
            (18 more)
   7. Romance & Cigarettes (2005) .... Constance
   8. Vinegar Hill (2005) (TV) .... Ellen Grier
   9. Miracle Run (2004) (TV) .... Corrine Morgan-Thomas
      ... aka The Unexpected Journey (UK)
  10. Saved! (2004) .... Lillian
  11. The Best Thief in the World (2004) .... Sue Zaidman
  12. "Angels in America" .... Harper Pitt (6 episodes, 2003)
          - Millennium Approaches: Chapter Three - The Messenger (2003) TV Episode .... Harper Pitt
          - Perestroika: Chapter Five - Beyond Nelly (2003) TV Episode .... Harper Pitt
          - Millennium Approaches: Chapter One - Bad News (2003) TV Episode .... Harper Pitt
          - Millennium Approaches: Chapter Two - In Vitro (2003) TV Episode .... Harper Pitt
          - Perestroika: Chapter Four - Stop Moving! (2003) TV Episode .... Harper Pitt
            (1 more)
  13. Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story (2002) (TV) .... Bonnie Hanssen
  14. Red Dragon (2002) .... Molly Graham
      ... aka Roter Drache (Germany)
  15. The Quality of Mercy (2002) .... Sarah Richardson
  16. Pipe Dream (2002) .... Toni Edelman
  17. Cupid & Cate (2000) (TV) .... Cate DeAngelo

  18. Let the Devil Wear Black (1999) .... Julia Hirsch
  19. The Five Senses (1999) .... Rona
  20. The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn (1999) (TV) .... Dr. Valerie Crane
  21. Saint Maybe (1998) (TV) .... Lucy Dean Bedloe
      ... aka Anne Tyler's Saint Maybe (USA: complete title)
  22. Legalese (1998) (TV) .... Rica Martin
  23. Goodbye Lover (1998) .... Peggy Blane
  24. Murder in Mind (1997) (as Mary Louise Parker) .... Caroline Walker
  25. The Maker (1997) .... Officer Emily Peck
  26. The Portrait of a Lady (1996) .... Henrietta Stackpole
  27. Sugartime (1995) (TV) .... Phyllis McGuire
  28. Reckless (1995) .... Pooty
  29. Boys on the Side (1995) .... Robin
      ... aka Avec ou sans hommes (France)
  30. Bullets Over Broadway (1994) .... Ellen
  31. The Client (1994) .... Dianne Sway
  32. A Place for Annie (1994) (TV) .... Linda
  33. Mr. Wonderful (1993) .... Rita
  34. Naked in New York (1993) .... Joanne White
  35. Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) .... Ruth Jamison
      ... aka Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (UK)
  36. Grand Canyon (1991) .... Dee
  37. Longtime Companion (1990) .... Lisa

  38. Signs of Life (1989) (as Mary Louise Parker) .... Charlotte
      ... aka One for Sorrow, Two for Joy
  39. Too Young the Hero (1988) (TV) .... Pearl Spencer

  40. "Ryan's Hope" (1975) TV Series (unknown episodes)

Soundtrack:

   1. Romance & Cigarettes (2005) (performer: "I Want Candy")

Thanks:

    * 2000s
    * 1990s

   1. Pieces of April (2003) (special thanks)
   2. Wet Hot American Summer (2001) (thanks) (as Mary-Louise Parker)
   3. Famous (2000) (special thanks) (as Mary-Louise Parker)
      ... aka Lisa Picard Is Famous (USA)

   4. Jesus' Son (1999) (special thanks) (as Mary Louise Parker)

Self:

    * 2000s
    * 1990s

   1. The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2007) (TV) .... Herself
   2. No Apologies: 'Sorry, Haters' Roundtable (2006) (V) .... Herself
      ... aka No Apologies (USA: short title)
   3. The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2006) (TV) .... Herself
   4. "Today" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
      ... aka NBC News Today (USA: promotional title)
      ... aka The Today Show (USA)
          - Episode dated 26 December 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Herself
   5. The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2005) (TV) .... Herself
   6. Weeds: Suburban Shakedown (2005) (TV) .... Herself
   7. The 59th Annual Tony Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Play
   8. The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2004) (TV) .... Herself - Winner: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series or Made for TV Movie
   9. AFI Tribute to Meryl Streep (2004) (TV) .... Herself
  10. The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards (2004) (TV) .... Herself - Winner: Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series, Mini-Series or Made for TV Movie
  11. The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2002) (TV) .... Herself
  12. The 56th Annual Tony Awards (2002) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter
  13. "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" .... Herself (5 episodes, 1997-2002)
          - Episode dated 2 May 2002 (2002) TV Episode .... Herself
          - Episode dated 22 January 2001 (2001) TV Episode .... Herself
          - Episode dated 1 June 2000 (2000) TV Episode .... Herself
          - Episode dated 15 September 1998 (1998) TV Episode .... Herself
          - Episode dated 14 March 1997 (1997) TV Episode .... Herself
  14. Inside 'Red Dragon' (2002) (TV) .... Herself
  15. The 55th Annual Tony Awards (2001) (TV) .... Herself - Performer & Winner: Best Actress in a Play

  16. 'Fried Green Tomatoes': The Moments of Discovery (1998) (V) .... Herself
  17. "Late Show with David Letterman" .... Herself (1 episode, 1995)
      ... aka Late Show Backstage (USA: title for episodes with guest hosts)
      ... aka The Late Show (USA: informal short title)
          - Episode dated 3 February 1995 (1995) TV Episode .... Herself
  18. The 44th Annual Tony Awards (1990) (TV) .... Herself - Performer & Nominee: Best Lead Actress

Archive Footage:

   1. Premio Donostia a Matt Dillon (2006) (TV) (uncredited) .... Rita
   2. Wrestling with Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner (2006) .... Harper Pitt