Merrin Dungey

Merrin Dungey (also credited as Merrin Melissa Dungey) is an American screen actress born on August 6, 1971, in Sacramento, California. Known for her sharp comic timing and grounded dramatic work, she has built a steady career across film and television, often elevating ensemble casts with memorable supporting turns.

Dungey became widely recognized through recurring roles on popular series including The King of Queens, Alias, Malcolm in the Middle, and Summerland. She later expanded her TV profile with appearances such as Ursula on Once Upon a Time, and continued to take on character-driven parts in legal and medical dramas, including Conviction, The Resident, and the 2019 legal series The Fix.

On the film side, her credits range from studio spectacles to indie comedies and thrillers. Notable performances include Deep Impact (Sheila Bradley), EDtv (Ms. Seaver), CHiPs (Joy Jackson), Some Kind of Beautiful (Angela), and The Diabolical (Mrs. Wallace), alongside roles in L!fe Happens and Odessa or Bust.

Off screen, Dungey is married to Matthew Drake; they wed in Cancun, Mexico, in 2007 and are parents to two daughters.