Mary Scheer

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Mary Scheer
Scheer on the set of iCarly in 2008
Born (1963-03-19) March 19, 1963 (age 61)
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian, producer, writer
Years active1988–present
Children2[2][3][4]

Mary Scheer (born March 19, 1963)[5] is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter and producer, who is best known for her work throughout television. She had recurring roles as Marissa Benson on the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly, and as Gladys on the Disney Channel series Bunk'd. She voiced Alice the Zookeeper on DreamWorks animated series The Penguins of Madagascar, was part of the original cast on the sketch comedy show Mad TV, voiced every female character on Most Extreme Elimination Challenge and appeared in GEICO commercials.[6]

Career[edit]

She is known for playing comedic characters in sitcoms, movies, and cartoons.

Mad TV[edit]

Scheer was one of the original nine cast members of Mad TV when the series debuted in 1995. She came to the show with a background in sketch comedy from her Groundling days. During her tenure, Scheer developed characters like chain smoker Mrs. Jewel Barone, Cabana Chat host Dixie Wetsworth, Connie Linder, Debbie Dander, Lily Don, and Mrs. Vigor (Killer Grandma).

Scheer also performed impressions of celebrities and public figures during her tenure on Mad TV, some of which included U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, Demi Moore, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Griffin, Mary Tyler Moore, Ashley Olsen, Candice Bergen, Fran Drescher, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Thompson, Sherry Stringfield, Frances Bavier, Irene Vernon, Ashley Judd, Geri Halliwell and Barbara Feldon. Other impersonations include Barbra Streisand in the Mad TV spoof video "Terms Of Imprisonment", where she portrays Streisand as an egomaniac who abuses her co-star, Whitney Houston and Gillian Anderson's Dana Scully in the "XXX Files" sketch. Towards the end of the second season, Scheer became pregnant and was visibly pregnant at the beginning of the third season and continued to perform on the show. After giving birth, Scheer finished the third season before leaving in 1998.

Characters[edit]

Character Sketch Season
of first
appearance
Catch phrase Notes
Mrs. Jewel Barone The Smoker 1 "Oh yeah, there it is." She is a habitual smoker who seems to have a negative effect on everyone around her (physically and mentally) because of her smoking.
Dixie Wetsworth Cabana Chat 2 "You like? I like." She is an aging talk show host who has undergone several plastic surgeries.
Connie Linder Joel & Connie 1
Debbie Dander 1
Lily Don Joe & Lily Don 1
Mrs. Vigor Killer Grandma 1

Other projects[edit]

Besides Mad TV, Scheer has appeared in several television shows. Her credits include Reno 911!, Primetime Glick, X-Chromosome, Free Ride, and Dropping Out. She had a recurring role on the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly as Marissa Benson, the extremely overprotective mother of Nathan Kress's character Freddie Benson. The show ran from September 8, 2007, to November 23, 2012. She also reprised the same role for the iCarly reboot on Paramount+.

After leaving Mad TV, she appeared in the films Elvira's Haunted Hills, The New Women Chump Change, and It Can Always Get Worse Kathy from 2001 to 2005. She also starred as Gladys, the grumpy, lonely camp director of Camp Kikiwaka in the first 2 seasons of Bunk'd.

Besides onscreen appearances, Scheer has become a voice actress, lending her voice to numerous commercials and several animated projects like Family Guy and King of the Hill. Scheer's voice also appears in the animated feature film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Scheer performed all female voices in Spike TV's humorous game show MXC (she was credited as portraying Everygirl). In season four, she became MXC's supervising producer.

Scheer also appeared on the Jennette McCurdy web series What's Next for Sarah? as Sarah's therapist.

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1988 The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking American Dubbing Team
1989 L.A. on $5 a Day Homeless woman [5]
1991 The Chick's a Dick Snapdragon [5]
1994 It's Pat Nurse [5]
1995 Ding Dong Doris Pritt [5]
1995 Not of This Earth Saleswoman
2000 Chump Change Agent #2 [5]
2001 The New Women Nancy [5]
2001 Elvira's Haunted Hills Lady Ema Hellsubus
2005 It Can Always Get Worse Kathy [5]
2019 Between Two Ferns: The Movie Frannie Scheindlin

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Quantum Leap Other Woman Episode: "Dr. Ruth - April 25, 1985"
1994 Beverly Hills, 90210 Marcia Ramsden
1995 Party of Five Ms. Shaver
1995–1998 Mad TV Various characters Sketch comedy series; credited in 66 episodes
1995, 1998 Seinfeld Mrs. Smoth, Joan 2 episodes
1998–2005 All That Various
2000 Dropping Out Betty Brockton [5]
2001 Primetime Glick Various Characters
2001 X-Chromosome
2003 Reno 911! Tina the Daycare Owner
2006 Free Ride Aunt Louise
2007–2012 iCarly Marissa Benson Recurring role; 28 episodes
2007 Halfway Home Alan's Wife Episode: "Halfway Innocent"
2007 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Ms. Laura Bird Episode: "Summer Of Our Discontent"
2009 Hannah Montana Norma Episode: "Can't Get Home To You Girl"
2010 Good Luck Charlie Patricia Episode: "Teddy's Broken Heart Club Band"
2010 Nick Swardson's Pretend Time Paula Episode: "The Leather Swingset with the Monkey and the Gun"
2014 Sam & Cat Marissa Benson Episode: "#TheKillerTunaJump: #Freddie #Jade #Robbie"
2014 2 Broke Girls Lois Episode: "And the Dumpster Sex"
2015–2017 Bunk'd Gladys Recurring role; 13 episodes
2016 Life in Pieces Marta Pigeon Episode: "Hair Recital Rainbow Mom"
2017 Julie's Greenroom Groundlings Theater Director Episode: "Morning at the Improv"
2021–2023 iCarly Marissa Benson Recurring role

Voice acting appearances[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Freakazoid! Sandra Danger Episode: "Toby Danger in Doomsday Bet"
1997 Lands of Lore: Guardians of Destiny Various Characters Video game
1997–2002 King of the Hill Ms. Bittner, Bank Teller, Gracie 2 episodes
1999 Family Guy Ann Landers, Mary, Mother
2000 Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker Mrs. Drake[5]
2000 Hey Arnold! Suzie Kokoshka
2002 Invader Zim Yoa
2003–2007 MXC Female voices ("Everygirl") Formerly Most Extreme Elimination Challenge; also producer
2009–2015 The Penguins of Madagascar Alice the Zookeeper, Machine Voice, Female Doctor, additional voices
2020 Twin Mirror Tara Video game

Web series[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2014 What's Next for Sarah? Sarah's therapist Also plays other characters

References[edit]

  1. ^ Frankhouse, Mark. "The Voice Actress Who Did All Women's Voices On MXC Is From Michigan". 1077 WRKR.
  2. ^ "Happy Birthday to my creative, fun-to-be-around smart son Nate!". instagram.com.
  3. ^ "My amazing kids hiking to the top of Tamalpais in Mill Valley! #muirwoods #hiking #trailmixitup #proudmom #naturelover #treehuggingismandatory #operasanjose #pocketopera #sanfrancisco". instagram.com.
  4. ^ "My amazing daughter Abby enjoying her new career with the fantastic San Francisco Opera! #SFO #musicians #opera #paramount-plus #SFCM #LACHSA". instagram.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Riggs, Thomas, ed. (2009). "Scheer, Mary 1963–". Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. 91. Detroit, MI: Gale: 248–249.
  6. ^ LoBrutto, Vincent (2018). TV in the USA: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas [3 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 81. ISBN 9781440829734. Retrieved 4 October 2019.

External links[edit]