Mary Ellen Trainor (July 8, 1952[1] – May 20, 2015) was an American character actress best known for her roles as LAPD psychiatrist Dr. Stephanie Woods in the Lethal Weapon films, newscaster Gail Wallens in Die Hard and Ricochet, and Irene Walsh in The Goonies. She also appeared in numerous other well-known films including Romancing the Stone, The Monster Squad, Death Becomes Her, Forrest Gump, and Freaky Friday (2003).
Mary Ellen Trainor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 8, 1952 |
| Died | May 20, 2015 (aged 62) Montecito, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1979–2007 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editTrainor attended San Diego State University, where she studied broadcast journalism.[2]
Career
editTrainor started her career working at radio stations KSDO as well as KCBS.[2] Her first television appearance came in the 1983 Cheers episode "Father Knows Last", and her big-screen debut came the following year in Romancing the Stone. She frequently appeared in the films of Richard Donner and her ex-husband Robert Zemeckis.
In addition to her film work she had recurring television roles as Judy Lewis in Parker Lewis Can't Lose (Pilot 1990; 1991–1993), as Eve Lukens in Relativity (1996–1997), and as Diane Evans in Roswell (1999–2002).
She has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: The Goonies (1985), Die Hard (1988) and Forrest Gump (1994).
Personal life and death
editTrainor was married to director Robert Zemeckis for 20 years,[citation needed] with whom she had a son, Alexander.[citation needed] She was good friends with producer Kathleen Kennedy,[3] who worked with Steven Spielberg extensively and serves as President of Lucasfilm. Trainor introduced the two.[4]
Trainor died on May 20, 2015, at her home in Montecito, California, from complications of pancreatic cancer, at age 62.[2][5]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Romancing the Stone | Elaine Wilder | |
| The Stone Boy | Doris Simms | ||
| 1985 | The Goonies | Mrs. Walsh | |
| 1987 | Lethal Weapon | Dr. Stephanie Woods | |
| The Monster Squad | Emily Crenshaw | ||
| 1988 | Action Jackson | Liz Massetori, Secretary | |
| Die Hard | Gail Wallens | ||
| Scrooged | Ted | ||
| 1989 | Ghostbusters II | Brownstone Mother | |
| Lethal Weapon 2 | Dr. Stephanie Woods | ||
| Back to the Future Part II | Officer Reese | uncredited | |
| 1990 | Fire Birds | Janet Little | |
| 1991 | Ricochet | Gail Wallens | |
| Grand Canyon | Ms. Green | ||
| 1992 | Kuffs | Nikki Allyn | |
| Lethal Weapon 3 | Dr. Stephanie Woods | ||
| Death Becomes Her | Vivian Adams | ||
| 1994 | Greedy | Nora McTeague | |
| Forrest Gump | Jenny's Babysitter | uncredited | |
| Little Giants | Karen O'Shea | ||
| 1995 | Congo | Moira | |
| 1996 | Executive Decision | Allison, Flight Attendant | |
| 1998 | Lethal Weapon 4 | Dr. Stephanie Woods | |
| 1999 | Anywhere but Here | Homeowner | |
| 2001 | Amy's Orgasm | Amy's Mom | |
| 2002 | Moonlight Mile | Mrs. Meyerson | |
| 2003 | Freaky Friday | Diary Reading Patient | |
| 2005 | The Music Inside | Monica Amado | |
| 2007 | Cake: A Wedding Story | Jane Andrews | (final film role) |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Cheers | Mary | Episode: Father Knows Last |
| 1985 | Crazy Like a Fox | Connie Olsen[6] | Episode: Fox and Hounds |
| 1986 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Helen Dawson | Episode: The Drug Knot |
| 1986–1987 | Remington Steele | Estelle Becker | 3 episodes |
| 1987 | Amazing Stories | Mara Webster | Episode: Moving Day |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt | Wife | Episode: And All Through the House |
| Fear Stalk | Jennifer | TV movie | |
| 1990 | Rock Hudson | Female Agent | TV movie |
| The Outsiders | Unknown | Episode: The Stork Club | |
| 1990–1993 | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | Mrs. Lewis | 16 episodes |
| 1995 | Seduced and Betrayed | Charlotte | TV movie |
| 1996 | A Face to Die For | Mrs. Gilmore | TV movie |
| 1996–1997 | Relativity | Eve Lukens | 17 episodes |
| 1997 | Hope | Maize Burns | TV movie |
| 1998 | Someone to Love Me | Jocelyn Hart | TV movie |
| 1999–2002 | Roswell | Diane Evans | 23 episodes |
| 2006 or 2008* | McBride: Requiem | Elizabeth Lucas | TV movie (final television role) (*some sources and databases list first air date in 2006, others in 2008) |
References
edit- ^ "MARY ELLEN TRAINOR". E Times. Times of India. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Dagan, Carmel (8 June 2015). "Mary Ellen Trainor Zemeckis Dead: 'Lethal Weapon' Actress Was 62". Variety. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ Masters, Kim (30 January 2013). "Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy on 'Star Wars,' 'Lincoln' and Secret J.J. Abrams Meetings (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (8 June 2015). "Mary Ellen Trainor, Actress in All Four 'Lethal Weapon' Films, Dies at 62". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (9 June 2015). "Mary Ellen Trainor Dies: Actress In 'Lethal Weapon' Pics, 'Die Hard' & 'Goonies'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ "Die Fälle des Harry Fox Staffel 1, Folge 11: Der Schnüffler an der Leine".