Brenda Strong as
Mary Alice Young Brenda Lee Strong was born on March 25, 1960 in Brightwood, Oregon and is a graduate of Sandy High School in Sandy, Oregon. For her tertiary education, Strong headed to Arizona and studied at Arizona State University, from where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in musical theater. In 1980, Strong won the title of Miss Arizona.
In 1984, she appeared in Billy Crystal’s You Look Marvelous music video, and then transitioned into minor roles in known television series, such as St. Elsewhere, MacGyver, Cheers, Dallas, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Grapevine, Picket Fences, Silk Stalkings, ER, Matlock, Murphy Brown, Herman’s Head, Blossom and Twin Peaks. After gaining much exposure, she was eventually cast into more recurring roles, such as Kathleen Isley in Party of Five, Miss Frost in 3rd Rock from the Sun, Sue Ellen Mischke in Seinfeld, Mrs. Carmen Mackoul in 7th Heaven, Marsha Palmer in The Court, Iris in Nip/ Tuck, Arlene Ridgeway in the The Help, Julia Brown in Everwood and Linda in Help Me, Help You.
Strong is also not a stranger to the film industry, as she has worked in a variety of productions, including Spaceballs, The Deep End of the Ocean, Red Dragon, Starship Troopers, Starship Troopers 2, The Kid & I, The Work and Glory, The Work and Glory II: American Zion, Going to the Mat, Missing Brendan, Teddy Bears’ Picnic, Red Dragon and Family in Hiding.
At present, Strong is the voice behind the hit television series, Desperate Housewives. Although she portrays the deceased Mary Alice Young, Strong has appeared in some episodes of the show where flashbacks were used to explain the history of Wisteria Lane. Moreover, her character is integral to the story because she serves as the omniscient narrator of the show.
Strong, a certified yoga instructor and fertility expert, has taught at UCLA’s Mind/ Body Institute. Presently, she is working on a book regarding yoga and women’s life. She is married to Tom Henri, with whom she has one child.