Ally Walker

Ally Walker
Born Allene Damian Walker
(1961-08-25) August 25, 1961
Tullahoma, Tennessee, U.S
Occupation Actress
Years active 1988–present
Children 3

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 (1989–90), and Moon Over Miami (1993).

During 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 as Doctor Samantha Waters on the NBC crime drama series Profiler, for which she received Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television nomination. She returned to television with 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, (2008–10). Walker also had the leading role in the short-lived Lifetime police drama series, The Protector in 2011.

Early life

Walker was born in Tullahoma, Tennessee, and grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Originally intending to become a scientist, she attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she obtained a degree in biochemistry.[1] Subsequently, she worked as a researcher on a genetic engineering project, while preparing for medical school at UCLA. While spending a semester at Richmond College of Arts in London, England, she discovered an interest in performing. Her professional career began when she was cast in the film Aloha Summer (1988). Her scene was cut from final version.[1][2]

Career

In early 1988, Walker joined the cast of NBC daytime soap opera, Santa Barbara playing Andrea Bedford.[1] After leaving daytime later that year, she began appearing on primetime television. During 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 the devious daughter of Diana Muldaur. In 1993, she starred alongside Billy Campbell in the short-lived ABC comedy-drama, Moon Over Miami.[2][3]

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.[4] Later that year, she played supporting role in the Cameron Crowe romantic comedy Singles.[5] Her first star-billed role was in the 1994 thriller When the Bough Breaks.[6] In 1995, she had supporting roles in Sandra Bullock' box-office hit While You Were Sleeping, and Andy García's flop Steal Big Steal Little.[7][8] The following year, Walker co-starred alongside Shaquille O'Neal in the fantasy comedy film, Kazaam.[8]

In 1996, Walker 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.[9] In 1996, she was listed as one of People's "40 Most Fascinating People on TV".[10] Walker starred as the 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.[11] 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.[12][13]

In 2002, after three years on hiatus, Walker returned to star in and produce the ABC pilot comedy called My Wonderful Life.[14] It never got picked up.[15] In 2005, she released a documentary film For Norman... Wherever You Are as director and producer, which screened at several film festivals.[16] She returned to the New York stage, appearing in a number of Off-Broadway productions.[16] 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; unlike the other regular characters on the show, her character refrained from nudity or sex during the course of the season, but in the season finale, Walker appeared in a graphic nude masturbation scene.[17] The series was cancelled after a single season.[18] Later that year, she played the lead role in, and was a scriptwriter for, a thriller. 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.[19]

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.[20][21] The series was canceled after one season.[22] In 2014, she played Chyler Leigh' lead character's mother in the short-lived NBC police procedural, Taxi Brooklyn.[23] She made her feature scripted film directing and writing debut with Sex, Death and Bowling starring Selma Blair.[24][25] In 2015, she was cast in the recurring roles in the Netflix crime drama Longmire,[26] and USA Network thriller, Colony.[27]

Personal life

On June 14, 1997, Walker married John Landgraf, then a producer for NBC, at her parents' home in Santa Fe. The couple has three sons.[28]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Aloha Summer Scenes deleted
1989 Swimsuit Romella Movie
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion Julia Collier Movie
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
1999 If You Believe Susan Stone Movie
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

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Santa Barbara Andrea Bedford Series regular (94 episodes)
1989–90 True Blue Officer Jessica Haley Series regular (12 episodes)
1990 Matlock Renee Williams Episode: "The Biker"
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"
1999 The Pretender Doctor Samantha Waters Episode: "End Game"
1996–99 Profiler Doctor Samantha Waters Series regular (64 episodes)
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television (1998) and Best Actress – Television Series Drama (1998)
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"
2008–10 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 Longmire Dr. Donna Monaghan 4 episodes
2016 Colony Helena Goldwin 5 episodes

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ally Walker". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Serendipity Shines On Actress Ally Walker". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "`Moon Over Miami'aiming For Stardom". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "Universal Soldier". 10 July 1992. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Singles". 18 September 1992. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  6. ↑ Sandra Brennan. "When the Bough Breaks (1993) - Michael Cohn - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "Steal Big, Steal Little (1995) - Box Office Mojo". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Ally Walker". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "1998 2nd Annual SATELLITE™ Awards". International Press Academy. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "TV's Most Fascinating People". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  11. ↑ "DMX is arrested in Trinidad". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Happy, Texas". 1 October 1999. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  13. ↑ Ramin Zahed. "If You Believe". Variety. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  14. ↑ "Shows A-Z - my wonderful life on abc - TheFutonCritic.com". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  15. ↑ "An Interview with Ally Walker". IGN. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Ally Walker - Official Site - About Me". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  17. ↑ "Tell Me You Love Me: True Love Is Not Nice". TIME.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  18. ↑ "'Tell Me You Love Me': HBO pulls the plug after all". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  19. ↑ Adam Bryant (1 December 2010). "Sons of Anarchy Exclusive: Ally Walker Discusses the Powerful Season Finale". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  20. ↑ Rice, Lynette (2011-02-07). "Lifetime picks up two procedurals | EW.com". Insidetv.ew.com. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  21. ↑ Archived May 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ↑ Nellie Andreeva. "Lifetime Cancels Drama 'The Protector'". Deadline. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  23. ↑ Nellie Andreeva. "Chyler Leigh, Jacky Ido, Jennifer Esposito & Ally Walker To Star In Luc Besson/Gary Scott Thompson's TF1 Show 'Taxi: Brooklyn South' - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  24. ↑ Dave McNary (2013-10-03). "Selma Blair, Bailey Chase Star in 'Sex, Death and Bowling' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  25. ↑ Sarah Choi (28 July 2015). "Monterey Media Acquires Ally Walker's Debut Feature 'Sex, - Indiewire". Indiewire. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  26. ↑ Matt Webb Mitovich. "'Longmire' Season 4 on Netflix – Ally Walker Cast in Mystery Role - TVLine". TVLine. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  27. ↑ "'Colony': Ally Walker to Recur Season One". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  28. ↑ "Ally Walker Biography". Retrieved 5 September 2015.

External links

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