Mary Frances Crosby (born September 14, 1959) is an American actress, the only daughter of actor/singer Bing Crosby and his second wife Kathryn Grant. She played Kristin Shepard in the television series Dallas (1979–1981, 1991).Mary Crosby profile, yahoo.com; accessed March 13, 2015.
Early life Mary Frances Crosby was born on September 14, 1959, in Los Angeles, California, the second of three children of singer and actor Bing Crosby and actress Kathryn Grant. She graduated from high school at 15, after which she entered the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, but she never graduated. She is fluent in Spanish. While at college in 1977, her father, Bing Crosby, died of a heart attack.
Career Crosby made her television debut appearing in an episode of The Danny Thomas Hour in 1967. She appeared in the 1970 musical film Goldilocks with her family and performed with Betty White in the 1978 TV movie With This Ring. She had supporting role in another television film A Guide for the Married Woman (1978) starring Cybill Shepherd and starred in the 1978 top-rated miniseries Pearl. She guest-starred on Starsky & Hutch and CHiPs and had a series regular role in the 1979 comedy series Brothers and Sisters.Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present
Dallas Crosby played Kristin Shepard (Sue Ellen Ewing's scheming sister) on the prime time soap opera Dallas from 1979 to 1981, and a guest appearance in 1991. Her character is perhaps best remembered for her part in the cliffhanger ending of the 1979–1980 season of Dallas, titled "A House Divided", which was resolved in the fourth episode of the following season, "Who Done It". In that highly watched episode, J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) was shot by an unknown assailant. Viewers had to wait all summer (and most of the fall due to a Hollywood actors' strike) to learn whether J.R. would survive, and which of his many enemies was responsible. In the summer of 1980, the advertising catchphrase, "Who shot J.R.?", was widely publicized.
Ultimately, Kristin Shepard was revealed to have been the person who pulled the trigger in the classic episode, which aired on November 21, 1980. It was one of the highest-rated episodes of a TV show ever aired.Profile, UltimateDallas.com; accessed March 13, 2015. Her character, Kristin Shepard, later made an appearance in the Dallas spin-off series Knots Landing in 1980, before a brief return to Dallas in 1981. Once again the focus of a highly rated cliffhanger, it was revealed in the season opening episode (October 9, 1981) that it was Kristin's body floating in the Southfork Ranch swimming pool. She returned for the final episode of Dallas in 1991, playing the same character in a vision experienced by J.R.
Later appearances After her breakthrough with Dallas, Crosby played the leading role in the television remake of Midnight Lace. It premiered on February 9, 1981, on NBC. She went to England to star in the ITV comedy-drama series, Dick Turpin opposite Richard O'Sullivan. Crosby also starred in the made-for-television movies Golden Gate (1981), The Big Easy (1982) and Confessions of a Married Man (1982). In 1983, she made her big screen debut in the action thriller film Last Plane Out distributed by New World Pictures. The following year, she played a female leading role in the science fiction comedy film The Ice Pirates by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film was compared to Star Wars and received mostly negative reviews from critics. She later made guest appearances on The Fall Guy, Glitter, Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense, Hotel and The Love Boat.
In 1985, Crosby starred in the ABC miniseries Hollywood Wives alongside Candice Bergen, Joanna Cassidy and Angie Dickinson based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Jackie Collins and produced by Aaron Spelling. The following year, Crosby played Isabel Truscott Hazard in another ABC miniseries North and South, Book II. Her other television films credits include Final Jeopardy (1985) and Stagecoach (1986). In 1987, she starred as Adele Strauss in the German biographical film Johann Strauss - Der König ohne Krone about Johann Strauss II. She later appeared in films Tapeheads (1988), Deadly Innocents (1989), Body Chemistry (1990), Eating (1990), The Berlin Conspiracy (1992) and The Night Caller (1998). On television, she guest-starred in In the Heat of the Night, Freddy's Nightmares, Murder, She Wrote, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dream On, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Orleans reuniting with Dallas''' Larry Hagman.
In 2004, Crosby appeared in the Dallas Reunion: The Return to Southfork, a television special celebrating of Dallas. In 2005, she played Bennet C. Riley's wife in the Western film The Legend of Zorro. She later appeared in films Queen of the Lot (2010), Just 45 Minutes from Broadway (2012) and The M Word'' (2014).
Personal life Crosby was married to Edmund (Eb) Lottimer in 1978 and divorced in 1989. Since 1998, she has been married to Mark Brodka, with whom she has two children.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Director(s) Notes 1983 Last Plane Out Elizabeth Rush David Nelson Action thriller film 1984 The Ice Pirates Princess Karina Stewart Raffill Comic space opera film 1987 Adele Franz Antel Biographical film 1988 Tapeheads Samantha Gregory Bill Fishman Comedy film Mary Preston Nicolas Gessner Thriller filmAlso known as Faster Than the Eye 1989 Deadly Innocents Beth/Cathy Hugh ParksJohn D. Patterson Thriller film 1990 Body Chemistry Marlee Reddin Kristine Peterson Erotic thriller filmEating Kate Henry Jaglom Comedy drama film Corporate Affairs Jessica Pierce Terence H. Winkless Comedy film 1992 The Berlin Conspiracy Ursula Schneider Terence H. Winkless Action film 1993 Distant Cousins Marcie Andrew Lane Thriller film Crack Me Up Stacey Bashar Shbib Adventure film 1997 Cupid Dana Rhodes Doug Campbell Horror thriller film 1998 The Night Caller Nikki Rogers Robert Malenfant Mystery film 2005 The Legend of Zorro Governor's Wife Martin Campbell Superhero film 2010 Queen of the Lot Frances Lambert Sapir Henry Jaglom Comedy drama film 2012 Just 45 Minutes from Broadway Sharon Cooper Henry Jaglom Comedy drama film 2013 The M Word Rita Stephenson Henry Jaglom Comedy drama film
Television Yea Title Role Notes 1967 The Danny Thomas Hour Joan Episode: "The Demon Under The Bed" 1970 Goldilocks and the Three Bears Goldilocks Animated made-for-TV movie directed by Marc Breaux 1978 With This Ring Lisa Harris Made-for-TV movie directed by James Sheldon A Guide for the Married Woman Eloise Made-for-TV movie directed by Hy Averback Starsky & Hutch Leslie Slate Episode: "Strange Justice" Pearl Patricia North Miniseries1979 CHiPs Chris Episode: "Pressure Point" Brothers and Sisters Suzy Cooper 12 episodes 1979-81; 1991 Dallas Kristin Shepard 28 episodes 1980 Knots Landing Kristin Shepard Episode: "Kristin" 1981 Midnight Lace Cathy Preston Made-for-TV movie directed by Ivan Nagy Dick Turpin Jane Harding 5 episodes Golden Gate Natalie Kingsley Made-for-TV movie directed by Paul Wendkos The Big Easy Made-for-TV movie directed by Jud Taylor 1982-84 The Fall Guy Coleen Wilcox Sue Jackson Kim Donnelley 3 episodes 1982-86 The Love Boat Megan LewisCora/Coral, the MermaidHelen Elaine 5 episodes 1983 Confessions of a Married Man Ellen Made-for-TV movie directed by Steve Gethers Automan Ellen Fowler Episode: "Staying Alive While Running A High Flashdance Fever" 1984 Cover Up Merilee Taylor Episode: "Pilot" Finder of Lost Loves Blythe Stewart Episode: "Yesterday's Child"Credited as Mary Frances Crosby Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense Ann Preston Episode: "Child's Play"Also known as Fox Mystery Theater Glitter Karinova Episode: "On Your Toes" 1984-85 Hotel Maggie BlackwoodBarbara Medford Natalie Rogers 3 episodes 1985 Hollywood Wives Karen Lancaster Miniseries directed by Robert Day Final Jeopardy Susan Campbell Made-for-TV movie directed by Michael Pressman 1986 North and South, Book II Isabel Hazard Miniseries directed by Kevin Connor Stagecoach Mrs. Lucy Mallory Made-for-TV movie directed by Ted Post Crazy Dan Bonnie Made-for-TV movie directed by Stuart Margolin 1987 The New Adventures of Beans Baxter Professor Vankleef Episode: "Beans' First Adventure" 1989 In the Heat of the Night J.D. Sinclaire Episode: "Sister, Sister" 1989-90 Freddy's Nightmares Greta Nordhoff-RoscoeGreta Moss Episodes: 1990 Shades of L.A. Jessica Pope Episode: "Where There's No Will, There's a Weigh-In" 1991 Paradise K. C. Cavanaugh Episode: "The Search for K. C. Cavanaugh" 1991-92 Murder, She Wrote Laura CormanMariah Osborn Episodes: 1993 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Monique Episode: "Neverending Battle" 1994 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Natima Lang Episode: "Profit and Loss" Men Who Hate Women & the Women Who Love Them Jennifer Made-for-TV movie directed by Corey Allen 1995 Heaven Help Us Episode: "Tara Fight" Platypus Man Beth Garland Episode: "9 1/2 Days" Burke's Law Heather Bonham Episode: "Who Killed the Tennis Ace?" Pointman Dr. Elizabeth Andreas Episode: "Ultimate Showdown" Dream On Beverly Episode: "Flight of the Pedalbee" 1995-96 Beverly Hills, 90210 Claudia Van Eyck 3 episodes 1997 Orleans Alya Ransom Episode: "Baby-Sitting" Mike Hammer, Private Eye Sheryl Weathersby Episode: "A Penny Saved" 2000 Sharing the Secret Irene Made-for-TV movie directed by Katt Shea 2004 Dallas Reunion: The Return to Southfork Herself/Kristin Shepard Television special
References
External links