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Ally Walker

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Ally Walker
Born
Allene Damian Walker

(1961-08-25) August 25, 1961 (age 63)
Tullahoma, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of California,
Santa Cruz
B.S., Biochemistry
OccupationActor
Years active1988–present
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Spouse
​
(m. 1997)​
Children3

Allene Damian "Ally" Walker (born August 25, 1961) is an American actress. She made her television debut in the NBC daytime soap opera Santa Barbara (1988) before landing the leading roles on the short-lived dramas True Blue (1989–1990), and Moon Over Miami (1993).

During the 1990s, Walker had roles in films such as Universal Soldier (1992), Singles (1992), When the Bough Breaks (1994), While You Were Sleeping (1995), Kazaam (1996), and Happy, Texas (1999). From 1996 to 1999, she played the leading role of Doctor Samantha Waters in the NBC crime drama series Profiler, for which she received a Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television nomination. She returned to television with a role in the HBO drama series Tell Me You Love Me (2007), and later played villainous Agent June Stahl in the FX crime drama, Sons of Anarchy (2008–2010). Walker also had the leading role in the short-lived Lifetime police drama series The Protector in 2011. During seasons 4 and 5 (2014 and 2015) of Longmire, she played Dr. Donna Monaghan, a therapist treating veterans who is the title character's love interest.

Early life

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Walker was born in Tullahoma, Tennessee, to James Joseph Walker, a physicist, and Louhannah (née Mann) who would become an attorney.[1] She grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where her father worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Originally intending to become a scientist, she attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she earned a degree in biochemistry in 1983.[2][3] While spending a semester at Richmond College of Arts in London, UK, she discovered an interest in performing. After graduation, she worked for a time sequencing DNA at a genetic engineering company, but then sold all her possessions, traveled to Australia, surfed, and worked a series of jobs before returning to Los Angeles.[2] Although she planned to enter medical school, instead she became a model and obtained roles in commercials including as Clairol’s “Nice & Easy Girl”.[2] Her acting career began when she was cast in the film Aloha Summer (1988), but her scene was cut from the final version.[3][4][dead link‍]

Career

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In early 1988, Walker joined the cast of NBC daytime soap opera Santa Barbara, playing Andrea Bedford.[3] Later that year, she began appearing on primetime television. During the 1989–90 television season, she played the female lead in the short-lived NBC crime drama series True Blue. She later guest-starred on Matlock, L.A. Law, and Tales from the Crypt. She starred in the 1991 NBC television movie Perry Mason and the Case of the Fatal Fashion as murderer Julia Collier; the devious daughter of Diana Muldaur's character. In 1993, she starred alongside Billy Campbell in the short-lived ABC comedy-drama, Moon Over Miami.[4][5]

In 1992, Walker played the female leading role opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in the science-fiction action film Universal Soldier directed by Roland Emmerich.[6] Later that year, she played Sheila Kelley's grouchy roommate in the Cameron Crowe romantic comedy Singles.[7] Her first star-billed role was in the 1994 thriller When the Bough Breaks.[8] In 1995, she had supporting roles in Sandra Bullock's box-office hit While You Were Sleeping, and Andy García's flop Steal Big Steal Little.[9][10] The following year, Walker co-starred alongside Shaquille O'Neal in the fantasy comedy film, Kazaam.[10]

In 1996, Walker was listed as one of People's "40 Most Fascinating People on TV".[11] The same year she was cast in the leading role as Doctor Samantha Waters in the NBC crime drama series Profiler, a role for which she received a Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television nomination in 1998, and a Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.[12] Walker starred as the series lead during the first three seasons, but left the show in the fall of 1999. She was replaced by Jamie Luner as a new profiler during the show's final season.[13] Later in 1999, Walker co-starred opposite Steve Zahn in the comedy film Happy, Texas, and played the lead role in the Lifetime television movie, If You Believe.[14][15]

In 2002, Walker returned to star in and produce the ABC pilot comedy called My Wonderful Life,[16] which was not picked up.[17] In 2005, she released a documentary film For Norman... Wherever You Are as director and producer, which screened at several film festivals.[18] She returned to the New York stage, appearing in a number of Off-Broadway productions.[18] From 2005 to 2010, Walker played many guest roles on television, including Sleeper Cell, ER, The Shield, Boston Legal, Law & Order, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Southland, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

In 2007, Walker starred in the HBO drama series about sexual relationships, Tell Me You Love Me.[19] The series was cancelled after a single season.[20] In 2009, she co-starred in films Toe to Toe and Wonderful World opposite Matthew Broderick. From 2008 to 2010, Walker had the recurring role as ATF Agent June Stahl, a major antagonist on the FX crime drama series Sons of Anarchy.[21]

In 2011, Walker played the leading role in the Lifetime police drama series The Protector, which revolves around a single mother who struggles to balance her family and professional life as an LAPD homicide detective.[22][23] The series was canceled after one season.[24] In 2014, she played the mother of Chyler Leigh's lead character in the short-lived NBC police procedural, Taxi Brooklyn.[25] She made her feature scripted film directing and writing debut with Sex, Death and Bowling starring Selma Blair.[26][27] In 2015, she was cast in the recurring roles in the Netflix crime drama Longmire,[28] and USA Network thriller, Colony.[29] Most recently she appeared as Captain Ava Lafrey in the short-lived Fox horror-comedy sitcom Ghosted (TV series) from 2017-2018.[30]

Personal life

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On June 14, 1997, Walker married John Landgraf, then a producer for NBC, at her parents' home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The couple have three sons: Walker, Will, and Cal. She has a sister named Elizabeth and a brother named Jim.[31]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 Aloha Summer Scenes deleted
1991 Eye of the Storm Killer Girl
1991 Ragin' Cajun Kati
1992 Universal Soldier Veronica Roberts
1992 Singles Pam
1993 The Seventh Coin Lisa
1994 When the Bough Breaks Audrey Macleah
1995 Just Looking Sherrie
1995 Someone to Die For Alex Donaldson
1995 While You Were Sleeping Ashley Bartlett Bacon
1995 Steal Big Steal Little Bonnie Martin
1996 Bed of Roses Wendy
1996 Kazaam Alice Connor
1997 Brittle Glory Elise Rosen
1998 Welcome to Hollywood Herself
1999 Happy, Texas Josephine "Joe" McClintock the Banker
2005 For Norman... Wherever You Are Documentary; director and producer
2007 By Appointment Only Val Spencer Also writer
2009 Toe to Toe Claire
2009 Wonderful World Eliza
2013 Angel's Perch Judy
2013 Mischief Night Dr. Pomock
2014 April Rain Linda
2015 Sex, Death and Bowling Director, writer and producer
2020 When We Kill the Creators Walker

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 Santa Barbara Andrea Bedford Series regular (94 episodes)
1989 Swimsuit Romella Television film
1989–1990 True Blue Officer Jessica Haley Series regular (12 episodes)
1990 Matlock Renee Williams Episode: "The Biker"
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion Julia Collier Television film
1991 L.A. Law Christina Shepherd Episodes: "Pump It Up” and “Mutinies on the Banzai”
1991 Tales from the Crypt Elaine Tillman Episode: "Mournin' Mess"
1992 The Witches of Eastwick Alexandra Spofford Pilot
1993 Moon Over Miami Gwen Cross Series regular, 13 episodes
1996 Wings Melissa Williams Episode: "Love at First Flight"
1996–1999 Profiler Doctor Samantha Waters Series regular (64 episodes)
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television (1998) and Best Actress – Television Series Drama (1998)
1999 The Pretender Doctor Samantha Waters Episode: "End Game"
1999 If You Believe Susan Stone Television film
2002 My Wonderful Life Billie Pilot
2005 Sleeper Cell Lynn Ellen Emerson 2 episodes
2006 ER Fran Bevens Episode: "Body & Soul"
2006 The Shield Tori Burke Episode: "Postpartum"
2007 American Dad! Melinda (voice) Episode: "Four Little Words"
2007 Tell Me You Love Me Katie Series regular (10 episodes)
2008 Boston Legal Attorney Phoebe Prentice 2 episodes
2008 Law & Order Gretchen Steel Episode: "Driven"
2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Rita Nettles Episode: "Hog Heaven"
2009 Southland Dr. Merrill Matthews 2 episodes
2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Stanton Episode: "Conned"
2008–2010 Sons of Anarchy Agent June Stahl 19 episodes
2011 The Protector Gloria Sheppard Series regular (13 episodes)
2014 Taxi Brooklyn Frankie Sullivan Series regular (12 episodes)
2015–2016 Longmire Dr. Donna Monaghan 8 episodes
2016–2018 Colony Helena Goldwin 16 episodes
2017–2018 Ghosted Capt. Ava Lafrey Series regular (16 episodes)

References

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  1. ^ "James Joseph Walker Obituary". Albuquerque Journal. August 16, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Hermann, Paula (December 21, 2021). "Hollywood trailblazer: Ally Walker". UC Santa Cruz Newscenter. Regents of the University of California. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Ally Walker". TV Guide. Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Serendipity Shines On Actress Ally Walker". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  5. ^ Lomatire, Paul (15 October 1993). "'Moon Over Miami' Aiming For Stardom". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Universal Soldier". Rotten Tomatoes. 10 July 1992. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Singles". Rotten Tomatoes. 18 September 1992. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  8. ^ Brennan, Sandra. "When the Bough Breaks (1994) – Michael Cohn – Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  9. ^ "Steal Big, Steal Little (1995)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Ally Walker". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  11. ^ "TV's Most Fascinating People". People. 2 September 1996. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  12. ^ "1998 2nd Annual Satellite™ Awards". International Press Academy. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  13. ^ Angulo, Sandra P. (12 July 1999). "DMX is arrested in Trinidad". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Happy, Texas". Rotten Tomatoes. 1 October 1999. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  15. ^ Zahed, Ramin (6 December 1999). "If You Believe". Variety. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  16. ^ "Shows A-Z - my wonderful life on abc - TheFutonCritic.com". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  17. ^ "An Interview with Ally Walker". IGN. 22 August 2003. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Ally Walker – Official Site – About Me". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  19. ^ Poniewozik, James (7 September 2007). "Tell Me You Love Me: True Love Is Not Nice". Time. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  20. ^ Rice, Lynette (26 July 2008). "'Tell Me You Love Me': HBO pulls the plug after all". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  21. ^ Bryant, Adam (1 December 2010). "Sons of Anarchy Exclusive: Ally Walker Discusses the Powerful Season Finale". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  22. ^ Rice, Lynette (7 February 2011). "Lifetime picks up two procedurals". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  23. ^ "Exit 19 becomes The Protector for Lifetime set to air 2011–2012". Snarkerati.com. 4 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011.
  24. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (8 September 2011). "Lifetime Cancels Drama 'The Protector'". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 27, 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  25. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (8 August 2013). "Chyler Leigh, Jacky Ido, Jennifer Esposito & Ally Walker To Star In Luc Besson/Gary Scott Thompson's TF1 Show 'Taxi: Brooklyn South'". Deadline. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  26. ^ McNary, Dave (3 October 2013). "Selma Blair, Bailey Chase Star in 'Sex, Death and Bowling'". Variety. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  27. ^ Choi, Sarah (28 July 2015). "Monterey Media Acquires Ally Walker's Debut Feature 'Sex'". Indiewire. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  28. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (27 May 2015). "Longmire Season 4: Ally Walker Lands Mystery Role, as Series Heads to Netflix". TVLine. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  29. ^ Stanhope, Kate (3 September 2015). "USA's 'Colony' Enlists 'Sons of Anarchy' Alum for Recurring Role". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  30. ^ Petski, Denise (1 March 2017). "'Ghosted': Ally Walker To Star In Fox Comedy Pilot". Deadline. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  31. ^ "Ally Walker Biography". BuddyTV. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
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