Facts
Marcia Cross graduated from Juilliard and earned a master's degree in psychology at Antioch University in Los Angeles.
In 2005 she was nominated for her first Emmy
for her work on Desperate Housewives.
In December of 2005, Cross
garnered her second consecutive nomination
for the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.
Prior to her role on Desperate Housewives, Cross
starred as Dr. Linda Abbott on Warner Bros.'
critically-acclaimed series, Everwood.
She is also well known for her portrayal of
the mentally unbalanced Dr. Kimberly Shaw on
Melrose Place, which she played from 1992 to 1997.
Kimberly was, and remains, a firm fan favorite -
providing many of the show's most memorable moments,
in her plans to kill many of the
characters on the show.
On stage Cross performed in La Ronde
at the Williamstown Theater Festival, in Twelfth Night,
or What You Will at the Hartford Stage Company,
and in The Two Gentlemen of Verona
at the Old Globe in San Diego.
Her first television job was on
the daytime drama The Edge of Night.
Leaving New York to try her luck in Los Angeles, Cross
was soon landing roles in television movies
such as The Last Days of Frank and Jessie James,
co-starring with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.
Her memorable role on Melrose Place began when she was
hired for one episode. The producers were so impressed,
they kept asking her back for additional appearances,
eventually bringing her character back from the dead to continue on the hit show.
Cross also guest-starred on such series
as Seinfeld, where she
played Jerry's dermatologist girlfriend (or as Jerry
preferred, Pimple Popper M.D.), and Cheers,
where she portrayed the younger sister
to Kirstie Alley's character. She has also appeared on
the comedies Ally McBeal, Spin City, It's Garry
Shandling's Show and King of Queens.
Her dramatic roles include appearances on CSI, Profiler
and Touched by an Angel, and her film credits include
Living in Fear, Always Say Good-bye,
Dancing in September and Bad Influence.
In early 2005, the Internet and tabloids
swirled with rumors that Cross was gay, involved in
serious longterm relationship with another woman,
and about to come out of the closet. Cross
appeared on television show The View
and was asked about the reports, which she denied.
In August 2005, Cross's
publicist also told the American celebrity
newsmagazine Us Weekly that Cross
had accepted the proposal of Tom Mahoney,
a stockbroker whom she had been dating for six months,
and that the couple were engaged to be married.
No date has been set for their wedding and it will be the first marriage for both.
