Marcia Cross (born March 25, 1962) is an American actress, known for her portrayals of Bree Hodge on the TV show Desperate Housewives and Dr. Kimberly Shaw on the prime-time soap opera Melrose Place.

Biography

Marcia graduated from the Juilliard School in New York, and earned a master's degree in psychology at Antioch University Los Angeles. 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 drama One Life to Live, where she played Kate Sanders, until 1987.

In 1991, Marcia guest-starred on the 13th season of Knots Landing as the wife of Pierce Lawton (Bruce Greenwood). Marcia Cross 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, Marcia was cast as Dr. Kimberly Shaw on the FOX drama series Melrose Place. Initially cast for one season, she so impressed the producers that they kept bringing her back for more episodes, although she curiously didn't become a full-fledged cast member in the opening credits until the fourth season. Cross' character started off as a love interest for the character of Dr. Michael Mancini, but gradually became more and more mentally unbalanced, providing some of the show's most memorable moments, which included blowing up the apartment building, trying to kill Michael, and stealing her neighbor Jo's baby. She left the show in 1997, after five seasons.

After leaving Melrose Place, Marcia 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 comedies 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, Everwood and Touched by an Angel.

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

In 2004, Marcia landed the role of Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC dramedy series Desperate Housewives.

On stage, Marcia has performed in La Ronde at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, in Twelfth Night, or What You Will at the Hartford Stage Company, and in The Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Old Globe in San Diego. Her film credits include Living in Fear, Always Say Good-bye, Dancing in September, Bad Influence, and Female Perversions.

In November 2005, Marcia appeared on the cover of the newly launched Psychologies magazine in the United Kingdom where she discussed her passion for psychology and therapy.

Marcia was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the daughter of Janet, a teacher, and Mark Cross, a personnel manager. She was the long time companion of Richard Jordan. Jordan died from a brain tumor on August 30, 1993.

In early 2005, the Internet and tabloids swirled with rumors that Marcia was gay and in a long-term relationship with another woman, and planning to come out of the closet. Marcia actually appeared on the television show The View to deny the reports, but stated that she was very supportive of the gay community.

In August 2005, Cross' publicist also told the American celebrity newsmagazine Us Weekly that Marcia had accepted the proposal of Tom Mahoney (b. 1958), a stock broker whom she had been dating for six months, and that the couple were engaged to be married. The couple got married on June 24, 2006, in front of 200 guests at the Church of Our Savior Episcopal Parish in San Gabriel, California. "It was a beautiful ceremony," a representative for Marcia told People. "They're very happy."

On September 6, 2006, she announced that she was pregnant and due in April 2007[4] and on September 20 she revealed that she was expecting twins. On January 11, 2007, Marcia was placed on precautionary bedrest until their delivery, requiring her to suspend her Desperate Housewives acting duties. However, Marcia did not want to give up working, even bringing the entire cast and crew to her home to shoot some scenes in her very own bedroom. Cross's bedroom was painted to look like Bree's.

On February 20, 2007, Marcia gave birth to fraternal twin daughters, Eden and Savannah at a Los Angeles hospital, shortly before Cross' 45th birthday. In an exclusive People interview, she revealed that she underwent in vitro fertilization soon after her wedding.[6] Both children were baptized at the Trinity Episcopal Church.

Marcia's sister is singer songwriter, Ellen Cross.

In September 2008, Marcia 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, it was announced that Marcia will become the face of Mott's apple sauce. These commercials began airing in March 2009.

On January 20, 2009 Marcia's rep announced her husband had been diagnosed with cancer.

This Marcia Cross Biography Page is Copyright © 2004 - 2009 Chuck Ayoub