Mary Elizabeth McDonough (born May 4, 1961), sometimes credited as Mary Beth McDonough, is an American actress and writer, best known for her role as Erin Walton on The Waltons from 1972 to 1981, and several subsequent made-for-television reunion films in later decades.
Early life McDonough was born on May 4, 1961 in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles, California, the third of four children to Lawrence and Elizabeth (née Murray) McDonough. Her father was an Irish American ex-United States Navy from Nebraska, while her mother was from La Junta, Colorado. McDonough was raised in the Roman Catholic Church, in what she described as a working-class family. She and her siblings were raised in the Northridge section of Los Angeles, and attended the Our Lady of Lourdes School in Northridge. McDonough was an active theater student, and became interested in acting in elementary school.
Career
McDonough began her career as a child actor, portraying Erin Walton in the series The Waltons beginning in September 1972, a role which she would portray until the series' finale nine years later in 1981. She appeared in the PBS children's television program Zoom as a ZOOMguest; the segment showed her filming the Season 1 episode "The Yearling" while she narrated.
She made her feature film debut with a minor part in the action film Lovely But Deadly (1981) before co-starring with Melissa Sue Anderson in the television horror film Midnight Offerings (1981). McDonough was subsequently cast in a lead role in the slasher horror film Mortuary (1983), opposite Lynda Day George and Bill Paxton.
She reprised her role of Erin Walton in several of The Waltons subsequent television reunion films A Wedding on Walton's Mountain, Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain, and A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain (all released and televised in 1982).
In 1987, she had a lead role in the dark comedy Funland, about an unhinged amusement park operator.
In the 1990s, McDonough appeared again as Erin Walton in a further three Waltons reunion made-for-TV films: A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (1993), A Walton Wedding (1995), and A Walton Easter (1997).
In the 2000s, she returned to other television acting roles, guest-starring on Boston Legal (2004–2008 on ABC) and The New Adventures of Old Christine (2006–2010 on CBS).
McDonough has been a radio guest on international and syndicated shows such as Get Focused Radio with Kate Hennessy.
She can be seen on the internet in the show McDougall M.D. as part of the broadcasts on the TBN network.
In 2018, McDonough's book Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane was adapted into the Hallmark Channel film of the same name starring Alicia Witt and Colin Ferguson. McDonough also appeared in the film in a minor supporting role.
Personal life McDonough was married to Ron Wickstrom from 1988 to 1996. They have one child, Sydnee Wickstrom.
She married Don on 2011.
McDonough has lupus erythematosus, which, she claimed on her In the Know plastic surgery awareness website, stemmed from leaking silicone from her breast implants.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1981Lovely But DeadlyDenise1982MortuaryChristie Parson1984SnowballingKaren Reed1985Impure ThoughtsSister JulietWaiting to ActLinda1987FunlandKristin Cumming1989Wife / Mother of newbornShort film1991MomAlice1994Heaven SentKathy Chandler1997One of Those NightsAndrea Harris2014Jessica's MomMonster Hunters USA And Day Care CenterMom DailyShort film2018 Amateur Math Teacher2025Sod & Stubble Mary Bartsch
Television Year Title Role Notes1963General HospitalHeidi HopkinsTV series1971Erin WaltonTV pilot for The Waltons1972–1981Main role (213 episodes)1979Herself (contestant)Game show (5 episodes)1980Erin WaltonTV film1981Midnight OfferingsRobin PrentissTelevision film1982A Wedding on Walton's MountainErin Walton Mother's Day on Walton's MountainA Day for Thanks on Walton's MountainLaura Barber1 episode1983Abby FosterEpisode: "Abby's Maiden Voyage"1989HunterVera DonovanEpisode: "A Girl Named Hunter"1993Bodies of EvidenceSarah GentryEpisode: "The Formula"A Walton ThanksgivingErin Walton TV film1995A Walton WeddingBetsy PhillipsEpisode: "Suspect"1996Promised LandClaire's MotherEpisode: "Christmas"1997A Walton EasterErin Walton TV filmERJean TwomeyEpisode: "Random Acts"1998Diagnosis: MurderColleen AkinsEpisode: "Baby Boom"Mrs. FalkEpisode: "Crash"1999Ally McBealAttorney Gloria SteppEpisode: "Only the Lonely"Walker, Texas RangerJill AllenEpisode: "Safe House"2001Mrs. BerwinEpisode: "Secrets and Lies"2002BethEpisode: "Game On"Will & GraceMomEpisodes: "Humongous Growth", "All About Christmas Eve"2006Boston LegalJanice WarnerEpisode: "Smile"Where There's a WillDr. BurtonTV film2006–2009Mrs. WilhoiteRecurring role (8 episodes)2007Christmas at Cadillac Jack'sMadgeTV film2012Lake EffectsElizabeth2018Christmas on Honeysuckle LaneCaroline ReynoldsHallmark television film2023A Biltmore ChristmasThe Director2024 Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story Carole
Other work Year Title Notes1998CreampuffAssociate producer2000For the Love of MayDirector and writer
References
Sources
Further reading
External links
McDonough's official site The Mary McDonough Fan Club (bilingual)