Mary Kay Adams (born September 12, 1962)[1][2] is an American actress. She is best knowing for playing the roles of India von Halkein on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light (1984 to 1987, return appearances from 1990 to 2005) and Na'Toth on the science fiction television series Babylon 5 (1994 to 1995). She also had a recurring role as Grilka on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1994 and 1996).

Mary Kay Adams
Adams in June 2007
Born (1962-09-12) September 12, 1962 (age 62)
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present

Early life

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Adams was born and raised in Middletown Township, New Jersey. She did so well academically that she was allowed to skip a grade. She was the president of many clubs during her high school years and involved in theater.[1] Adams graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1979.[3] She attended Emerson College, where she was a sister of Sigma Pi Theta and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.[4]

Career

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After graduating from college, Adams moved to New York and joined a Shakespearean repertory company. Within a year, she was cast as India Von Halkein, a jet-setting baroness, on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light.[4] She began airing in the role in August 1984 and left the show when her contract ended in April 1987.[5]

Adams played Dr. Bennett in the 1989 comedy film See No Evil, Hear No Evil.[6] In August 1989, she starred on stage in the play In Her Own Words (A Portrait of Jane) at the Courtyard Playhouse in New York.[7] She returned to Guiding Light as India for several months in 1990.[5][8] She guest starred on The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage in 1991 and Jake and the Fatman in 1992.[9]

Adams appeared on stage in a seven-month run of the play Tamara.[9] She starred as Elizabeth in the play Program for Murder at New York's off-Broadway Variety Arts Theater.[10]

Adams joined the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns as Neal Keller Alcott, first airing on December 7, 1992.[11] She appeared on the show until 1993. The character was killed off when her brother's alternate personality shoved her into a fireplace mantle and she hit her head.[12] From October to November 1993, she appeared on stage in the play How the Other Half Loves at New York's Theater at St. Peter's Church.[13]

From 1994 to 1995, Adams played Na'Toth in the second season of the science fiction series Babylon 5. She also had a recurring role as Grilka on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, appearing in episodes "The House of Quark" and "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places".[14]

She played Barbara McDaniels in Fast Company, a television film starring Ann Jillian, in 1995.[15] She guest starred on The John Larroquette Show in 1995.[16] Adams also made guest appearances on Everybody Loves Raymond, Roseanne, and Diagnosis: Murder in 1997.[14] She returned to Guiding Light, playing the role of India from November 1998 to August 1999.[5]

Adams guest starred on Third Watch in 1999 and Law & Order in 2000.[14] She returned to Guiding Light for a few episodes in October 2002.[5] She had a recurring role as Diane Lacey on the ABC soap opera All My Children in 2003.[17] Adams played Fran in the horror film Satan's Little Helper in 2004.[18] She made a brief return to Guiding Light in September 2005, making her last appearance on the show.[5]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Muppets Take Manhattan Woman in Crawford's Office Uncredited
1989 See No Evil, Hear No Evil Dr. Bennett
1993 Born Yesterday Girl Uncredited
2004 Satan's Little Helper Fran

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1984–1987; 1990; 1998–1999; 2002; 2005 Guiding Light India von Halkein Spaulding Contract role (1984–1987);

Recurring role

1991 The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage Marla Lance Episode: "Deals Are Made to Be Broken"
1992 Jake and the Fatman Loretta Grimes Episode: "Last Dance"
One Life to Live Death Recurring role
1992–1993 As the World Turns Neal Keller Alcott Recurring role
1994 Traps Episode: "Make Way for Duckling"
1994–1995 Babylon 5 Na'Toth 22 episodes
1994; 1996 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Grilka 2 episodes
1995 Fast Company Barbara McDaniels Television film
The Crew Diana Episode: "The Sugar Shack"
Land's End Mildred Episode: "Parentnapping"
1996 The Home Court Dana Episode: "Laborer of Love"
The John Larroquette Show Bunny Abelson Episode: "Mother of the Year"
Dark Skies Alicia Bainbridge Episode: "Moving Targets"
1997 Everybody Loves Raymond Dr. Nora Sarrazin Episode: "Fascinatin' Debra"
Diagnosis: Murder Vanessa Sinclair Episode: "The Murder of Mark Sloan"
Roseanne Mrs. Barnes Episode: "Lanford's Elite"
1999 Third Watch Katherine Zambrano Episode: "Hell Is What You Make of It"
2000 Law & Order Nancy Alvarez Episode: "Trade This"
2003 All My Children Diane Lacey Recurring role

References

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  1. ^ a b Walsh, Debbie (March–April 1987). "Mary Kay Adams". Guiding Light Fan Club. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  2. ^ Davey, Lynn (December 31, 1985). "John Bolger Is Not Just Another Pretty Face!". Soap Opera Digest. Bolger has been playing Phillip for almost a year now opposite Mary Kay Adams (India). "She is an unusually confident lady at the ripe old age of 23," reflects John about his co-star.
  3. ^ Oliwa, Lori Anne (July 3, 2014). "Mater Dei Prep Celebrates 50 Years of Musicals". The Monitor. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2020. The performing arts program at Mater Dei has produced a tremendous amount of talent,' Meenan added, noting the names Mary Kay Adams from television series The Guiding Light...
  4. ^ a b Eric Fredrickson (February 1998). "Courting Quark". Star Trek magazine. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Who's Who in Springfield: India von Halkein". Soap Central. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "See No Evil, Hear No Evil - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Holden, Stephen (August 17, 1989). "Review/Theater; Comedy of Self-Acceptance And a Portrait of Its Writer". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 19, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  8. ^ "Adams Reprises Role on 'Guiding Light'". Orlando Sentinel. September 25, 1990. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Haines, Caelie M. (April 27, 1993). "Adam's Apple". We Love Soaps. Soap Opera Weekly. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  10. ^ "Murder Mystery Let's Computer Talk and Stalk". Deseret News. December 4, 1992. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  11. ^ "Comings & Goings". Soap Opera Digest. 17 (24): 44. November 24, 1992.
  12. ^ "Who's Who in Oakdale: Neal Keller Alcott". Soap Central. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (November 4, 1993). "Theater in Review". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "Credits: Mary Kay Adams". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  15. ^ "Fast Company: Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  16. ^ "The John Larroquette Show Season 4 Episodes". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  17. ^ "Ritchie reprises role". Chicago Tribune. July 5, 2003. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  18. ^ "Satan's Little Helper - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
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