Background:

Nancy Lenehan is an American actress who has been in the industry for more than three decades. She is perhaps most known for her recurring role as Kay Hickey on “My Name Is Earl” from 2005-2008. She has played recurring roles on other series like “Grace Under Fire,” “Ellen,” “Felicity,” “Ally McBeal,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine” as well as regular roles in Fox's “Great Scott!,” ABC's “The Faculty” and “Married to the Kellys,” and the CBS shows “Worst Week” and “How to Be a Gentleman.” Her striking credits also include roles in various films and television movies, including “Human Nature” (2001), “Catch Me If You Can” (2002), “Beauty Shop” (2005), “The Savages” (2007), “Family Man” (2008)  and “A Better Life” (2011).

Lenehan enjoys knitting and quilting, and is active with the charitable organization Stitches from the Heart, through which her handmade items are donated to those in need. She also loves playing tennis and is learning to play the cello.


Mom of 2

Childhood and Family:

Nancy Lenehan was born on April 26, 1953, in Long Island, New York, but grew up in Florida.    She attended Yankton College in South Dakota before moving to California to become an actress.

Nancy is married and has two children. Currently, she resides in Los Angeles, California with her family.


Married to the Kellys

Career:

Nancy Lenehan headed to California to pursue acting after college. She performed with a comedy troupe in San Francisco, where she landed  a part in “Shakespeare in the Park” in Berkeley, before moving to Los Angeles to launch her film and television career. Her first television gig was in  an episode of the long running CBS sitcom “Alice” called “Mona Lisa Alice” (1979), where she appeared as customer #2. She made her feature film acting debut as Ramona on “Smokey and the Bandit II” (1980), a sequel to the 1977 comedy film “Smokey and the Bandit,” both of which starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason.

Lenehan continued to appear in several films throughout the 1980s, including “The Incredible Shrinking Woman” (1981), “Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again” (1982), “Stoogemania” (1986), “Like Father Like Son” (1987), “The Great Outdoors” (1988) and “She's Having a Baby” (1988). He also guest starred in a number of television shows like “Hill Street Blues” (1982, as Katy Moore), “Family Ties” (1982, as Roberta), “The Facts of Life” (1983), “V” (1985), “Faerie Tale Theatre” (1984-1985), “Fame” (1985, as Brenda Haskell), “Tall Tales & Legends” (1985, as Lyda), “The Twilight Zone” (1986), “Heart of the City” (1986), “It's a Living” (1986), “Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color” (1986), “My Sister Sam” (1987), “CBS Summer Playhouse” (1987), “Mr. President” (1987), “Beauty and the Beast” (1987), “Newhart” (1983, 1988), “Beverly Hills Buntz” (1988, as Mrs. Fairchild), “ALF” (1989), “Guns of Paradise” (1989), “Night Court” (1989), “Sister Kate” (1989) and “Trying Times” (1989). Lenehan had her first television movie appearance in “Emergency Room,” a 1983 drama starring Tim Burd, Sarah Purcell and LeVar Burton. She followed it up with roles in a string of TV films like “Assassin” (1986, opposite Robert Conrad, Karen Austin and Richard Young), “Popples” (1986), “Baby Girl Scott” (1987, starred John Lithgow, Mary Beth Hurt and Linda Kelsey), “Student Exchange” (1987, with Todd Field, Viveka Davis and Gavin MacLeod), “ Rock 'n' Roll Mom” (1988) and “Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon” (1989, opposite Hayley Mills, Barry Bostwick and Joy Creel).     

After guest spots in many other television series like “Murphy Brown,”  “Roseanne,” “Dear John,” “The Golden Girls,” “His & Hers” (all 1990), “Sisters,” “Passion,” “Nurses” (1991), “Quantum Leap” (all 1991), and “Civil Wars” (1992),  Lenehan eventually landed her first series regular debut in Fox's “Great Scott!” (1992), playing Beverly Melrod. Unfortunately for her, the series only had a short run. Her co-stars in the series included Ray Baker, Tobey Maguire and Kevin Connolly. Between 1990 and 1992, the actress also acted in the films “The Dreamer of Oz” (TV), “Runaway Father” (TV), “Roadside Prophets” and “Out on a Limb.”   

In 1993, Lenehan jointed the cast of the ABC sitcom “Grace Under Fire” in the recurring role of Audrey Sheffield. She would appear in a total of 12 episodes throughout the show's five season run until 1998. Lenehen also had a recurring role on the ABC sitcom “Ellen,” playing Margaret (4 episodes, 1996-1997). Also in 1996, she returned to series television as a regular in the short lived comedy “The Faculty” (ABC), where she played the role of Daisy Skelnick.  In 1999, she began a three episode stint as Faye Rotundi in The WB series “Felicity.” Lenehan also added her impressive resume with guest stints in many TV shows like “Dudley,” “Seinfeld,” “CBS Schoolbreak Special,” “Bakersfield P.D.” (all 1993), “Step by Step,” “The Nanny” (both 1994), “Mad About You” (1995), “Townies” (1996), “Boy Meets World” (1997), “3rd Rock from the Sun” (1997), “Ink” (1997), “The Practice” (1997), “George & Leo” (1997), “Working” (1998),  “The Tony Danza Show” (1998), “Caroline in the City” (1998, as Plum), “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1998), “ER” (1999), “Dharma & Greg” (1999, as Karen Love), “Zoe” (1999), “Providence” (1999), “Just Shoot Me!” (1999)  and “ Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place” (1999-2000). She also appeared in the films “Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight” (1994, TV), “The Cherokee Kid” (1996, TV), “ The Ransom of Red Chief” (1998, TV), “Pleasantville” (1998) and “The Limey” (1999).     

In early 2000s, Lenehan could be seen making guest appearances in “Yes, Dear,” “FreakyLinks,” “Judging Amy,” “Jack & Jill,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Men, Women & Dogs,” “Ally McBeal” (2 episodes, as Principal Deborah Harkness), “Titus,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “What I Like About You,” “That '70s Show,” “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Jack & Bobby.” She was cast as Sandy Kelly, the matriarch in the sitcom “Married to the Kellys,” which aired from October 3, 2003 to April 23, 2004 on ABC. Besides, Lenehan appeared as Rhys Ifans' mom on “Human Nature,” a 2001 comedy film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry, as a woman on plane in Steven Soderbergh's “Full Frontal,” and as Carol Strong on the Steven Spielberg directed biographical film “Catch Me If You Can” (2002). In Spike Jonze's comedy/drama film “Adaptation.” (2002), her voice could be heard as  Kaufman's mother.  

In 2005, Lenehan landed the recurring role of Kay Hickey in the NBC sitcom “My Name Is Earl,” a role that she played in nine episodes until 2008. In the meantime, she also took on guest roles in other TV series like “Joan of Arcadia,” “Close to Home” (as Patty, Ab's mom), “Nip/Tuck,” “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “The Bernie Mac Show” and “My Boys.” She returned to the big screen with parts in “Beauty Shop” (2005), a spin-off of the “Barbershop” film franchise, and Tamara Jenkins' “The Savages” (2007). She portrayed Wanda in the made for television film “Family Man” (TNT, 2008), starring Jennifer Aspen, Madisen Beaty and Carlease Burke. Lenehan played Principal Marcie Nunley in several episodes of the CSB sitcom “The New Adventures of Old Christine” from 2006 to 2010.

Lenehan was cast opposite Kyle Bornheimer, Erinn Hayes and Kurtwood Smith in the CBS sitcom “Worst Week,” based on the British sitcom “The Worst Week of My Life.” The show, in which  she played the role of Angela Clayton, ran for a single season from September 22, 2008 to June 6, 2009. She played Kelly in three episodes of the sketch comedy show “Little Britain USA” (HBO, 2008). Lenehan also made guest appearances in “ Accidentally on Purpose” (2009, as Lara) and “Outsourced” (2010).              

In 2011, Lenehan was cast as Diane in the short lived  CBS sitcom “How to Be a Gentleman,” created by star David Hornsby. The same year, she also portrayed Mom / Mrs. Scarry on the comedy film “The Selling,” directed by Emily Lou and written by Gabriel Diani, who also starred in the film along with Janet Varney and Jonathan Klein, and Mrs. Donnely in the Academy Award nominated drama “ A Better Life,” helmed by Chris Weitz.


Awards:

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