Biography
Who is Mare Winningham?
Early life and education
Born Mary Megan Winningham in Phoenix, Arizona, she was raised in Northridge, California. Her father, Sam Neal Winningham, worked as a football coach and athletic director at California State University, Northridge. Her mother, Marilyn Jean, served as an English teacher and counselor at local high schools. Mare grew up with three brothers and one sister.
She attended Andasol Avenue Elementary School and Patrick Henry Junior High School, where she participated in drama workshops and played drums and guitar. Later, she went to Chatsworth High School. She adopted the nickname Mare during this time. In her senior year, she starred in a school production of The Sound of Music, appearing as Maria alongside classmate Kevin Spacey. Winningham graduated as co-valedictorian in 1977.
Acting career beginnings
Winningham first gained public attention as a singer on The Gong Show in 1976 and 1977. While this did not lead to a record deal, it connected her with agent Meyer Mishkin. She soon received her Screen Actor's Guild card for a small role in James at 15. Following this, she appeared in television projects like Police Woman and Starsky and Hutch.
Her breakthrough in film acting occurred in 1980 with the television movie Amber Waves. Winningham won a Primetime Emmy Award for her portrayal of a character in this film. That same year, she also appeared in the feature film One Trick Pony. She continued working steadily throughout the 1980s, gaining wider recognition in the 1985 film St. Elmo's Fire. She chose not to pursue teen idol status after that film's success, opting instead for diverse television roles like Love Is Never Silent and the drama Miracle Mile.
Film and television success
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Mare Winningham built a diverse resume. She played a lead role in the 1995 film Georgia, which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She later won another Primetime Emmy Award for her work in the 1997 television film George Wallace. Her television credits during this period include appearances on ER, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Grey's Anatomy, where she played Susan Grey.
In recent years, she has taken roles in projects such as American Horror Story, appearing in four different seasons between 2013 and 2017. She also appeared in the Hulu drama Dopesick in 2021. Her stage career has been equally active. She made her Broadway debut in 2013 with a revival of Picnic. In 2014, she received a Tony Award nomination for her role in Casa Valentina. She was nominated for a second Tony Award in 2022 for her performance in the musical Girl from the North Country.
Music and personal life
Mare Winningham has balanced her acting with a music career, often incorporating singing into her film roles. She has released four studio albums, including What Might Be, Lonesomers, Refuge Rock Sublime, and What's Left Behind. Her album Refuge Rock Sublime reflects her conversion to Judaism and features songs like What Would David Do and the Israeli national anthem Hatikva.
She has been married four times. Her spouses include actor A Martinez and technical advisor William Mapel. During her marriage to Mapel, she had five children. She has experienced significant personal loss, including the death of her oldest son, Riley Mapel, in 2005.
Birthday and age
Mare Winningham was born on May 16, 1959, which makes Mare 67 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Mare shares the date with 37 other famous people.
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