Marcia Cross is an American actress best known for her role as Bree Van de Kamp on the hit television series Desperate Housewives.
This role, which aired from 2004 to 2012, became iconic and earned her critical acclaim, including multiple award nominations.
Cross initially gained attention in the 1990s for her role as Dr. Kimberly Shaw on the primetime soap opera Melrose Place.
Profile
- Full name: Marcia Anne Cross
- Date of birth: March 25, 1962
- Age: 62 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Actress
- Height: 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m)
- Parents: Janet (mother), Mark Cross (father)
- Siblings: Two sisters, Ellen and Susan
- Spouse: Tom Mahoney (married in 2006)
- Children: Eden Mahoney, Savannah Mahoney
- Relationship status: Married
- Religion: Raised Catholic
- Ethnicity: Caucasian (English and Irish descent)
- Net worth: $20 million
Early Life and Education
Marcia Anne Cross was born on March 25, 1962, in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and is now 62. She grew up in a Catholic family with her two sisters, Ellen and Susan.
Her mother, Janet, was a teacher, while her father, Mark, was a personnel manager. Cross’s heritage includes Irish and English roots. She attended Marlborough High School and graduated in 1980.
Cross then earned a half-scholarship to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting in 1984.
Her educational journey continued later in life, and in 2003, she earned a Master’s degree in psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles.
Personal Life
Marcia Cross married stockbroker Tom Mahoney in 2006 after a brief courtship. The couple underwent in vitro fertilization, and Cross gave birth to fraternal twin daughters, Eden and Savannah, in February 2007, shortly before her 45th birthday.
Before her marriage, Cross had notable relationships, including with actor Richard Jordan, who passed away from a brain tumor in 1993. She remains happily married to Mahoney, and no publicized scandals have involved their relationship.
Career
Cross’s acting career began in the 1980s with roles in daytime soap operas like The Edge of Night and One Life to Live.
However, her big break came in 1992 when she was cast as Dr. Kimberly Shaw on Melrose Place, which made her a recognizable face in primetime television. She appeared in TV series and films throughout the 1990s, including Boy Meets World and Seinfeld.
Her career reached new heights with her Bree Van de Kamp role in Desperate Housewives. The role earned her several award nominations and solidified her status as a leading actress.
Cross continued acting in shows such as Quantico, where she played President Claire Haas, a Democratic vice-presidential nominee.
Awards
- Nominated for three Golden Globe Awards (Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, Desperate Housewives)
- Nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Desperate Housewives)
- Winner of two Screen Actors Guild Awards (Ensemble Cast, Desperate Housewives)
- Winner of a Satellite Award for her role in Desperate Housewives
Net Worth
Marcia Cross’s net worth is estimated at $20 million.
She earned most of her fortune from her television roles, particularly from Desperate Housewives, where she was one of the highest-paid actresses, reportedly earning $375,000 per episode at the show’s peak.
Social Media
- Instagram: @reallymarcia
- Twitter: @reallymarcia
Filmography
- The Edge of Night (1984)
- One Life to Live (1985–1986)
- Melrose Place (1992–1997)
- Desperate Housewives (2004–2012)
- Quantico (2015–2018)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Guest appearance, 2015)
