Mary McCormack

Mary Catherine McCormack (born February 8, 1969) is an American actress. Known for her work in television, she has had leading roles as Justine Appleton in the series Murder One (1995–97), as Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper in The West Wing (2004–06) and as Mary Shannon in In Plain Sight (2008–12). Her film roles include Private Parts (1997); Deep Impact (1998); True Crime (1999); High Heels and Low Lifes (2001); K-PAX (2001); Right at Your Door (2006), and 1408 (2007). --- McCormack was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. She is the daughter of clinical therapist Norah and car dealership and ice cream parlor owner William McCormack. Her parents divorced in 1990. She has a sister Bridget, a former professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School and justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, and a brother William, an actor who has appeared in a recurring role as FBI agent Robert O'Connor on In Plain Sight. In 1983, McCormack graduated from The Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison, New Jersey. In 1991, she received her BA in comparative arts, specifically painting and creative writing, from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. In July 2003, McCormack married Brothers & Sisters producer Michael Morris. They have three daughters, Margaret (born 2004), Rose (born 2007), and Lillian (born 2011). McCormack is the godmother of In Plain Sight co-star Fred Weller's daughter. McCormack began her acting career at age 12, performing in Gian Carlo Menotti's Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors. She continued her stage work in musicals and finished an acting program at the William Esper Studio. She has worked in New York theater productions, including The Atlantic Theater Company, Alice's 4th Floor, and Naked Angels, where she appeared in Jon Robin Baitz's A Fair Country. McCormack portrayed Justine Appleton on Murder One (1995–1997) and also starred in the HBO series K Street, which aired for only ten episodes. She starred in Howard Stern's movie Private Parts in 1997. In 2004, McCormack joined the cast of The West Wingas Deputy National Security Advisor and ex-CIA officer Kate Harper. Her character soon became a recurring role and remained throughout the last three seasons until the series finale.