Mary Birdsong

Biography

Mary Birdsong (born April 18, 1968) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and singer. Birdsong was born on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, one of five sisters. She played the role of "Kai Mitchell" opposite George Clooney in the Alexander Payne film "The Descendants." She may be best known for her role as Deputy Cherisha Kimball on the Comedy Central series Reno 911!. She is also known for her Judy Garland impression. She is a former correspondent on The Daily Show and Crossballs. As a voice actor, she has appeared in animated series such as Stroker and Hoop and Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law, as well as the best-selling video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. She is the reader of the audiobook version of the 2007 Bridie Clark book, Because She Can. She sings in the rock bands Cottonhead and 99 Cent Whore. Broadway and live theater From July 2006 – January 2007, Birdsong performed in the Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me comedy musical, alongside Martin Short, Marc Shaiman, Nicole Parker, Brooks Ashmanskas, and Capathia Jenkins. In 2007, she won a Theater World Award for her performance. On January 29, 2008, Birdsong joined the Broadway cast of the musical, Hairspray. She played the role of Velma Von Tussle, the bigoted, pushy stage mother and television producer. Birdsong left the production on April 6, 2008. She then performed her one-woman show 3 Days in the Tub: A Mama Drama in Los Angeles at Comedy Central Stage (September 2010) & the Fake Gallery (November 2010), and in New York City at Joe's Pub (January 2011) .[citation needed] before going to San Francisco to play Mona Ramsey in ACT's adaptation of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. Mary, along with author Justin Halpern (Shit My Dad Says) and comic Jen Kober (American Reunion), performed as a member of the May 2012 cast of Don't Tell My Mother! (Live Storytelling), an LA-based comedy showcase. Filmography Live on Tape (1996) (TV) Various Welcome to New York (2000) TV Series Connie (unknown episodes) Loomis (2001) (pilot episode) Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) (VG) (voice) Michaela Carapadis/Jenny Louise Crab Contest Searchlight (2002) Alicia Late Friday (2002) Janet Lamé (1 episode) The Daily Show (2002) Correspondent Ed (2003) Lisa Barnes (1 episode) Little Bill (2003) Valencia (1 episode) Crossballs: The Debate Show (2004) Various Characters (13 episodes) Stroker and Hoop (2005) Angel (8 episodes) Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law (2005) (voice) Chibo (1 episode) Reno 911! (2005–2008) Deputy Cherisha Kimball Beer League (2006) Rhonda Tak and the Power of Juju (2007) Killjoy Juju Made of Honor (2008) Sharon Suburban Shootout (2008) unaired HBO pilot. Adventureland (2009) Francie Halloween II (2009) Nancy McDonald High School (2010) Mrs. Gordon Killers (2010) Jackie Vallero T.U.F.F. Puppy (2010) (voice) Snowflake (1 episode) Shake It Up (2011) Squizza Hessenheffer The Descendants (2011) Kai Raising Hope (2012) Mayor Suzie Hellmann (1 episode) Rise of Nightmares (2011) Jane (voice)