Marisa Ryan (born November 20, 1974) is an American actress, best known for her role as Nina Grabowski in the HBO series Sex and the City, as Elizabeth Cooper-MacGillis in the CBS sitcom Major Dad (1989–1993), and as Abby Bernstein in the 2001 comedy film Wet Hot American Summer, its Netflix prequel series, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015) and its Netflix sequel series Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017).

Marisa Ryan
Born (1974-11-20) November 20, 1974 (age 50)
Other namesMarisa Graf
OccupationActress
Years active1983–present
Spouses
(m. 1993; div. 2002)
Nathan Graf
(m. 2008)

Career

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Ryan made her screen debut in a small role in the 1983 film Without a Trace.[1] From 1989 to 1993, she starred as Elizabeth Cooper-MacGillis in the CBS sitcom Major Dad opposite Gerald McRaney. She later went to star in the Independent films Love Always (1996), Slaves to the Underground (1997), Taylor's Return (1997), and With or Without You (1998). In 1998, Ryan joined the cast of Fox police drama series New York Undercover as Det. Nell Delaney, during the show's fourth and final season. She later guest-starred on The Practice, Sex and the City, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order.[1]

In 2001, Ryan co-starred as Abby Bernstein in the ensemble cast satirical comedy film Wet Hot American Summer. She reprised her role in the Netflix prequel series, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp in 2015.[2] She also appeared in films Don's Plum (2001), Riding in Cars with Boys (2001), and Brooklyn Lobster (2005). In 1997, she made her directorial debut with the independent short film Three Women of Pain which she also co-wrote.[1]

Personal life

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Ryan was born in Manhattan, New York.[1] In 1993, Ryan married actor Jeremy Sisto; both were 18 years old at the time.[3] Sisto and Ryan separated two days later but remained legally married until June 21, 2002.[4][5]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 Without a Trace Justine Norris
1996 Love Always Julia Bradshaw
1997 Slaves to the Underground Suzy
1997 Taylor's Return Liz
1998 With or Without You Zoe
1999 Man of the Century Gertrude
1999 Trash Alex Staley
1999 Cold Hearts Viktoria
2001 Wet Hot American Summer Abby
2001 Don's Plum Anna
2001 The Cure for Boredom Danya
2001 Riding in Cars with Boys Janet Donofrio - Age 19
2002 Stella shorts College Buddy Direct-to-video
2003 Justice Julia
2004 Confessions of a Dangerous Mime Susan Stapleton Short
2005 Alchemy Bridesmaid
2005 Brooklyn Lobster Lauren Wallace
2007 Puberty: The Movie Lashonda
2010 The Extra Man Tanya
2017 Middleground Marcus' Wife
2019 Human Capital Ella

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1989–1993 Major Dad Elizabeth Cooper McGillis 96 episodes
1996 Boy Meets World Irene Episode: "You Can Go Home Again"
1997 Promised Land Samantha Markovich Episode: "The Collapse"
1997 The Pretender Helen Diggs Episode: "Unhappy Landings"
1998–1999 New York Undercover Det. Nell Delaney 13 episodes
1999 The Practice Cynthia Simonson Episode: "Closet Justice"
1999 Sex and the City Nina G. Episode: "Twenty-Something Girls vs. Thirty-Something Women"
2000 Mary and Rhoda Meredith Rousseau Television film
2000 Deadline Stokes Episode: "Pilot"
2002 The Pennsylvania Miners' Story Leslie Mayhugh Television film
2002 Hack Melissa Episode: "All Night Long"
2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Laura Bergeron Episode: "Tragedy"
2005, 2008 Law & Order Woman with Drink/Stacey Ranson 2 episodes
2008 1% Montana Television film
2014 The Leftovers Imposter Episode: "Guest"
2015 Odd Mom Out Krista Episode: "Brooklandia"
2015 Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Abby 3 episodes
2015 The Mysteries of Laura Susan Episode: "The Mystery of the Maternal Instinct"
2017 Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later Abby 7 episodes
2019 Divorce Ursula Episode: "Miami"

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Marisa Ryan Biography (1974-) Film Reference
  2. ^ Shelli Weinstein. "'Wet Hot American Summer' Series Set at Netflix; Original Cast to Return". Variety. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Jeremy M Sisto: Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956–2005". FamilySearch. Retrieved August 8, 2014. Clark, Nevada, United States, County Book 902, p. C465035, archive film number 950729.
  4. ^ Starr, Michael (July 29, 2024). "Ryan's hope: A divorce from 'Six Feet' Sisto". New York Post.
  5. ^ Herald Wire Services (2009-10-19). "Jeremy Sisto ties the knot". The Boston Herald. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
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