Mary Crosby

Mary Frances Crosby (born September 14, 1959) is an American actress. She played Kristin Shepard in the television series Dallas (1979–1981).

Personal life

Crosby was born in Los Angeles, the only daughter of singer and actor Bing Crosby, from his second marriage to the actress Kathryn Grant. She graduated from high school at 15 and entered the University of Texas at Austin where she became a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority but dropped out of school. She is fluent in Spanish. She married Eb Lottimer in 1978 (the couple divorced in 1989), and secondly to Mark Brodka (1998–present), by whom she has two children.

Career

Crosby played Kristin Shepard (Sue Ellen Ewing's scheming sister) on the prime time soap opera Dallas from 1979–81, and a further guest appearance in 1991. Her character is perhaps best remembered for her part in the cliffhanger ending of the 1979–1980 season of Dallas, entitled "A House Divided", that 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 question, "Who shot J. R.?", was being asked in everyday conversations around the world.