Becky Ann Baker

Becky Ann Baker
Born
Becky Ann Gelke

(1953-02-17) February 17, 1953 (age 71)
Fort Knox, Kentucky, U.S.
Other namesBecky Gelke
OccupationActress
Years active1978–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1990)​
Children1

Becky Ann Baker (née Gelke; born February 17, 1953[1]) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles of Jean Weir on NBC comedy-drama series Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000) and Loreen Horvath on HBO comedy-drama series Girls (2012–2017); Girls earned two Critics' Choice Television Award nominations and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Baker's film credits include Jacob's Ladder (1990), In & Out (1997), A Simple Plan (1998), Stay (2005), Nights in Rodanthe (2008), Hope Springs (2012), Table 19 (2017), The Half of It (2020), and Holler (2020).

Early life

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Becky Ann Gelke was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky, the daughter of a military officer. She graduated from West Springfield High School in Springfield, Virginia and Western Kentucky University.[2]

Career

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Baker's film credits include Blue Steel, Jacob's Ladder, Lorenzo's Oil, Unstrung Heroes, Sabrina, Ridley Scott's White Squall, Men in Black, In & Out, Woody Allen's Celebrity, Sam Raimi's A Simple Plan (for which she received a Blockbuster Entertainment Award nomination), Two Weeks Notice, Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, Stay, The Night Listener, Death of a President, and Spider-Man 3.

She got her role in Freaks and Geeks after series creator Paul Feig and Judd Apatow saw her performance in Sam Raimi's A Simple Plan. "That really informed their decision to try to use me from having really no huge television experience," she said.[3] In addition to Freaks and Geeks, her television credits include Stephen King's Storm of the Century and guest spots on L.A. Law, Frasier, Star Trek: Voyager, Sex and the City, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Oz and All My Children.

An accomplished stage performer, Baker made her Broadway debut in the 1981 production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and received a Drama-Logue Award in 1994 for her work in Night and Her Stars. She is a founding member of New York-based theatre company The Drama Dept.[4]

In 2009, she appeared in the NBC series Kings, playing the minor role of Jessie Shepherd, mother of protagonist David Shepherd. Her real-life husband, Dylan Baker, played antagonist William Cross in the series.[5]

Personal life

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Baker has been married to actor Dylan Baker since 1990. They have a daughter.[6][7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Protector Samantha Alexander
1986 Agent on Ice Mrs. Donnelli
1988 Full Moon in Blue Water Dorothy
1989 Blue Steel Nurse #1
1990 Come See the Paradise Marge McGurn
Jacob's Ladder Nurse
1992 That Night Mrs. Bell
Lorenzo's Oil Pellerman's Secretary
1995 Unstrung Heroes Mrs. Harris
Sabrina Linda
1996 White Squall Ms. Boyde
I'm Not Rappaport Nurse
1997 Bad Bosses Go to Hell Architect Boss Short film
Men in Black Mrs. Redgick
In & Out Darlene
1998 Celebrity Doris
A Simple Plan Nancy Chambers
1999 The Confession Nurse Jeannine Carrounbois
2002 Two Weeks Notice RV Woman
2005 War of the Worlds Disaster Relief Volunteer
Tracks 'Frizzy' Short film
Stay Paramedic #1 / Butch Cook
2006 The Night Listener Waitress
Gretchen Lori Finkle
Death of a President Eleanor Drake
2007 Spider-Man 3 Mrs. Stacy
2008 Spinning Into Butter Ruby
Nights in Rodanthe Dot
2012 Hope Springs Cora
The Discoverers Mary
2013 23 Blast Patty Wheatley
2015 The End of the Tour Bookstore Manager
2017 Table 19 Carol Milner
2018 The Chaperone Lois
2019 After Class Mary
2020 The Half of It Mrs. Geselschap
Holler Linda
2022 Alone Together Jan [8]
2024 Jackpot Sweet Irene

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders Carol Ann TV movie
1990 She Said No Gail TV movie
1992 L.A. Law Melinda Garrett Episode: "Beauty and the Breast"
1995 Frasier Marge Episode: "Frasier Grinch"
1996 The Siege at Ruby Ridge Elizabeth TV movie
Star Trek: Voyager Ritual Guide Episode: "Sacred Ground"
1998 Soul Man Margo Episode: "Little Black Dress"
1999 Storm of the Century Ursula Godsoe TV miniseries
1999–2000 Freaks and Geeks Jean Weir 18 episodes
2000 Wonderland Dr. Reeples Episode: "Pilot"
2001 Sex and the City Betsy Episode: "My Motherboard, My Self"
2002 The Education of Max Bickford Kathryn Episode: "Money Changes Everything"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mrs. Brice Episode: "Juvenile"
Law & Order Susan Simels Episode: "Oxymoron"
2003 Oz Greta Episode: "Exeunt Omnes"
2004–2005 Life as We Know It Amanda Conner 4 episodes
2005 The Exonerated Defense Attorney TV movie
Law & Order Defense Attorney Carolyn Walters Episode: "House of Cards"
2006 Conviction Deborah Cole Episode: "Downhill"
2007 All My Children Marj Luper 3 episodes
2009 Important Things with Demetri Martin Revenger's Mom Episode: "Power"
Kings Jessie Shepherd 7 episodes
2010 The Electric Company Natalie McNally Episode: "Bananas"
Mercy Gianna Episode: "There Is No Superwoman"
Nurse Jackie Elaine Episode: "What the Day Brings"
2012 A Gifted Man Mary Polanco Episode: "In Case of a Bolt from the Blue"
Smash Mrs. Cartwright Episode: "Pilot"
Episode: "Enter Mr. DiMaggio"
2012–2016 The Good Wife Alma Hoff 3 episodes
2012–2017 Girls Loreen Horvath Recurring; 20 episodes
2013 Person of Interest Deputy Erica Schmidt Episode: "Proteus"
Elementary Pam Episode: "Snow Angels"
2014 Mind Games Cathy Steward Episode: "Asymmetric Dominance"
Black Box Eileen Giordano Episode: "Emotion"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Vivienne Patton Episode: "Forgiving Rollins"
2015 Gotham Marge Episode: "Everyone Has a Cobblepot"
Madam Secretary Chancellor Frieda Schulz Episode: "Spartan Figures"
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Deborah Episode: "Bail"
2016 Crisis in Six Scenes Lee 2 episodes
2017 Doubt Eloise Kirk Episode: "Pilot"
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Stacey Episode: "Kimmy Googles the Internet!"
The Night Shift Lily Alister Episode: "Turbulence"
NCIS: New Orleans Special Agent Paula Boyd Episode: "Rogue Nation"
2017–2022 The Good Fight Alma Hoff 3 episodes
2018–2019 Brockmire Jean Brockmire Glasscock 4 episodes
2019 The Blacklist Judge Roberta Wilkins 6 episodes
Younger Bronwyn Madigan 2 episodes
Big Little Lies Judge Marylin Cipriani 3 episodes
2020 Little America Mrs. Wren Episode: "The Manager"
Manhunt Patricia Rudolph 2 episodes
Katy Keene June Kelly Episode: "Chapter Two: You Can't Hurry Love"
Hunters Juanita Kreps 4 episodes
Council of Dads Grandma 2 episodes
Little Voice Elaine 2 episodes
Social Distance Carolyn Currier Episode: "Humane Animal Trap"
2021 New Amsterdam Gwen Bennett 5 episodes
Billions Brenda 2 episodes
2022 Would I Lie to You? Herself Episode: "Show Goat"
The Resort Jan Knowlston Recurring role
2023 Ted Lasso Dottie Lasso Episode: "Mom City"
2024 The Girls on the Bus Norah McCarthy 2 episodes

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1978–1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Various Jun 1978 – Mar 1982
1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Doatsey Mae May 1982 – Jul 1982
1988 A Streetcar Named Desire Eunice Hubbell Mar 1988 – May 1988
1990 The Colorado Catechism Donna Oct 1990 – Nov 1990
1994 Durang/Durang Ma / Wanda Nov 1994
1995 Laura Dennis Lena Abernathy Mar 1995 – Apr 1995
1997–1999 Titanic Charlotte Cardoza Apr 1997 – Mar 1999
1998 June Moon Lucille Jan 1998 – Mar 1998
1998–1999 The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told Jane Dec 1998 – May 1999
2001 The Vagina Monologues N/A Feb 2001 – Apr 2001
Othello Emilia Dec 2001
2003 Shanghai Moon Mrs. Carroll/Sir Geoffrey Jan 2003 – Mar 2003
2004 Assassins Sara Jane Moore Apr 2004 – Jul 2004
2006 The House in Town Jean Eliot Jun 2006 – Jul 2006
2006–2007 Suddenly Last Summer Mrs. Holly Nov 2006 – Jan 2007
2008 Show Boat Parthy Ann Hawks Jun 2008
2008–2009 All My Sons Sue Bayliss Oct 2008 – Jan 2009
2009 The Torch-Bearers Mrs. Ritter Aug 2009
2011 Good People Jean Mar 2011 – May 2011
2012 Merrily We Roll Along Mary Flynn Mar 2012
Assassins Sara Jane Moore Dec 2012
2012–2013 The Great God Pan Cathy Dec 2012 – Jan 2013
2013 The Comedy of Errors Abbess May 2013 – June 2013
2015 Barbecue Lillie Anne Oct 2015 – Nov 2015
Dear Elizabeth Elizabeth Oct 2015 – Dec 2015
2016 Peer Gynt The Mother May 2016 – Jun 2016
2017 The Hairy Ape Mildred's Aunt Mar 2017 – Apr 2017
2018 Cardinal Nancy Prenchel Jan 2018 – Feb 2018

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Supporting Actress – Suspense A Simple Plan Nominated
2012 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Girls Nominated [9]
2015 Nominated [10]
2017 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (episode: Gummies) Won [11]
2023 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (episode: Mom City) Ted Lasso Nominated [12]

References

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  1. ^ "Horoscopes: Today's Birthdays". Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. February 17, 2024. p. A12. ProQuest 2928409939. Actor Christina Pickles is 89. Actor Brenda Fricker is 79. Actor Becky Ann Baker is 71. Actor Rene Russo is 70. Actor Richard Karn is 68. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips is 62. Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan is 61. See also:
    • "Today's Birthdays". The Boston Globe. February 17, 2009. p. B6. ProQuest 2182037701. Actress Christina Pickles is 84. Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown is 83. Actress Brenda Fricker is 74. Actress Becky Ann Baker is 66. Actress Rene Russo is 65. Actor Richard Karn is 63. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips is 57. Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan is 56.
  2. ^ Francis, Catrina (August 31, 2017). "Fort Knox native Becky Ann Baker receives Primetime Emmy nomination for role in HBO's 'Girls'". The Gold Standard.
  3. ^ "Interview: Becky Ann Baker on Her Career, Audition Tips and the New Short, 'Nightfire'". Daily Actor. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  4. ^ Drama Dept. dramadept.org
  5. ^ "How Dylan Baker and Becky Ann Baker Became Mr. and Mrs. Character Actor". Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  6. ^ Alter, Ethan (April 19, 2017). "How Dylan Baker and Becky Ann Baker Became Mr. and Mrs. Character Actor". Yahoo!.
  7. ^ Haun, Harry (January 23, 2018). "Becky Ann Baker on Playing the Mom Role and Why She Never Watched Herself on 'Girls'". Observer.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 4, 2021). "Katie Holmes Wraps Second Film As Director, Connecticut-Set Romance". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "Critics' Choice TV Awards Noms: 'Community' At Top Of List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "The Critics' Choice TV Awards 2015: And the nominees are..." Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  11. ^ "Emmys 2017: The Full List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  12. ^ "Emmys 2023: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
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