Mary Beth Peil
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1940-06-25
    • Born Place: Davenport, Iowa, USA

Mary Beth Peil

Mary Beth Peil is an American actress and soprano singer with a long and distinguished career that has spanned opera, Broadway, film, and television. Born on June 25, 1940, in Davenport, Iowa, she initially trained as a soprano at Northwestern University, winning major singing competitions in 1964 and going on to perform as a leading soprano with the Metropolitan Opera National Company. She later transitioned to musical theatre, earning a Tony Award nomination for her role as Anna Leonowens in the 1985 Broadway revival of The King and I.Peil is perhaps best known to television audiences for her beloved role as Evelyn "Grams" Ryan, the grandmother on the hit series Dawson's Creek, which she played from 1998 to 2003. She also gained critical acclaim for her recurring role as Jackie Florrick, the mother of the protagonist, on the popular drama The Good Wife. Her film credits include appearances in movies like The Odd Couple II, The Stepford Wives, Flags of Our Fathers, and the 2025 psychological horror film The Home, where she played the elderly resident Norma. A two-time Tony Award nominee, Peil has continued to have a prominent stage career, including her portrayal of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna in the Broadway musical Anastasia.

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