Mary 'Mare' Megan Winningham is a multifaceted actress and songwriter who has had a prolific career spanning nearly four decades, with a remarkable presence in nearly 100 TV shows and feature films. Her journey in the entertainment industry began in 1976, when she started her career as a singer, and she has since starred in a diverse range of film roles, showcasing her impressive versatility as an actress.
One of Mare's most notable roles was as part of the original Brat Pack in Joel Schumacher's St. Elmo's Fire (1985),where she shared the screen with Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, and Ally Sheedy. This iconic film marked a significant milestone in her career, and she has since continued to impress audiences with her outstanding performances in numerous films.
Mare's passion for acting was ignited at a young age, and she was bitten by the acting bug much earlier on. She had a strong interest in drama and music since primary school, and she even took up the guitar and drums. Her academic background is equally impressive, having attended Chatsworth High School alongside notable alumni such as Val Kilmer, James Rekart, and Kevin Spacey.
Since her breakthrough role in St. Elmo's Fire, Mare has starred in a number of notable films, including the Tom Hanks comedy Turner & Hooch (1989),and two feature films with Kevin Costner, The War (1994) and the western Wyatt Earp (1994),which was directed by Lawrence Kasdan and co-starred Gene Hackman. Her outstanding performance in Georgia (1995) earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, opposite Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Mare's impressive filmography also includes Bad Day on the Block (1997),where she starred opposite Charlie Sheen, and Brothers (2009),a war drama starring Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman. Her numerous TV roles include ER (1994),Grey's Anatomy (2005),and 24 (2001),where she shared the screen with Kiefer Sutherland.
Throughout her illustrious career, Mare has consistently demonstrated her remarkable talent and versatility as an actress, and her impressive body of work continues to captivate audiences to this day.