Marcia Cross Bio

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Marcia Anne Cross (born March 25, 1962) is an American television actress, best known for her roles as Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and as Dr. Kimberly Shaw on the Fox soap opera Melrose Place.

Marcia Cross: Early life and education

Cross is of English descent and was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the daughter of Janet, a teacher, and Mark Cross, a personnel manager. Her parents raised her in the Roman Catholic religion. She grew up with sisters Susan (age 51-52), a teacher, and Ellen (age 45-46), a singer and songwriter.

Raised in Marlborough, she graduated from Marlborough High School in 1980. Having received a half scholarship to Juilliard at the age of 17, she moved to New York City at the age of 18 to study at the school where she graduated in 1984. Cross returned to school in 1997 to earn a master's degree in psychology, which she received from Antioch University Los Angeles in 2003.

Marcia Cross: Career

She began her television career in 1984 on the soap opera The Edge of Night. She then moved from New York to Los Angeles, and soon landed roles in television movies such as The Last Days of Frank and Jessie James, co-starring with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. In 1986 she joined the cast of the ABC daytime Soap opera One Life to Live, where she played Kate Sanders, until 1987.

In 1991, Cross guest-starred on the 13th season on the soap opera Knots Landing as the wife of Pierce Lawton (Bruce Greenwood). She spent a lot of her screen-time on the show confronting Paige Matheson, played by her future Desperate Housewives co-star Nicollette Sheridan.

In 1992, Cross gained widespread recognition, cast as Dr. Kimberly Shaw on the FOX's primetime soap opera Melrose Place. Initially cast for one episode, she so impressed the producers that they kept bringing her back. By the second season, her character was emerging as the mentally unbalanced antagonist of the show. She left in the season five.

Cross guest-starred on series such as Seinfeld, where she played Jerry's dermatologist girlfriend Dr. Sitarides (whom he mocked as "Pimple Popper M.D."), and Cheers, where she portrayed Susan Howe, the younger sister to Kirstie Alley's character, Rebecca Howe. She also appeared on the episides of sitcoms, such as Boy Meets World, 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. Her film credits include independent movies Bad Influence (1990), Always Say Goodbye (1996) and Just Peck (2009).

In 2003, prior to her role on Desperate Housewives, Cross spent a season co-starring as Linda Abbott on WB's critically acclaimed series, Everwood.

In 2004, Cross landed the role of Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC dramedy series Desperate Housewives. For this role she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series in 2005, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy (2005-2007).

From late 2009 onwards, Cross fronted various television advertising campaigns in the United Kingdom for the country's Albert Barlett Rooster Potatoes company. Cross appeared in the indie movie Bringing Up Bobby in 2011.

Marcia Cross: Personal life

Cross was the long-time companion of actor Richard Jordan, who was 25 years older than her. Jordan died from a brain tumor in 1993.

Cross and Tom Mahoney (b. 1958), a stock broker whom she had been dating for six months, were married on June 24, 2006, in front of 200 guests at the Church of Our Savior Episcopal Parish in San Gabriel, California. Cross underwent in vitro fertilization soon after her wedding. On January 11, 2007, she was placed on precautionary bedrest, requiring her to suspend her Desperate Housewives acting duties. Cross did not want to give up working, even bringing the entire cast and crew to her home to shoot some scenes in her bedroom, which was painted to look like Bree's. On February 20, 2007, Cross gave birth to fraternal twin daughters, Eden and Savannah, at a Los Angeles hospital, shortly before Cross's 45th birthday. Both children were baptized at Trinity Episcopal Church.

In November 2005, Cross appeared on the cover of the newly launched Psychologies magazine in the United Kingdom where she discussed her passion for psychology and therapy. In September 2008, Cross stated in an interview that she was "in heaven right now" looking after her newborn twins, but also stated that she has a desire to adopt a child in the near future. In December 2008, Cross became the face of Mott's apple sauce; commercials began airing in March 2009. On January 20, 2009, it was announced that Cross's husband had been diagnosed with cancer.