Mary's early career began with her debut as Melody in the 1978 film Rabbit Test, alongside Doris Roberts and Billy Crystal. She went on to appear in H.O.T.S. (1979),Death Valley (1981),and Weird Science (1985).
Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Mary was a student at Boise High School, where she wrote the play "This Isn't Exactly How I Expected It," which won First Place in the Dramatics Magazine Playwriting Contest and was published by Pioneer Publishing in 1978. She attended Boise State University, where her one-act play "Echo Park" was produced in the Subal Theatre, starring Pamela Abas-Ross and future film director Michael Hoffman.
After moving to Los Angeles, Mary became involved in the local theater scene, with her play "Paperback Books" starring John Fleck, and her anti-war farce "WACs In Khaki" premiering at the Los Angeles Actors Theatre.
Mary's one-act plays, inspired by Wordsmiths, a workshop facilitated by Silas Jones at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, have enjoyed successful productions nationwide and internationally. Her plays include "Bedside Companion," "Behold A Pale Bronco," "Women With Casseroles," "The Old Man and the Seed," and "They's Weywulves."
Mary's short work "The Old Man and the Seed" won First Prize in the Hewlett Packard 10 Minute Play Contest and was produced at the Action Theatre in Singapore in 2002. Her short play "The Miraculous Day Quartet" has received successful productions in Southern California, Chicago, and New York, earning an honorable mention for Best Play and garnering Best Director and Best Actress awards in 2006.
Her anti-war play "True Blue" premiered in the Fritz Blitz at the Fritz Theatre and was performed at the Single Carrot Theatre in Baltimore, MD, winning the "Peoples Choice" award at the Plays for a New Millennium festival at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Mary's full-length play "Isaac, I am" was selected as the winner from over 300 original plays submitted to the Helford Prize national playwriting contest, officiated by Jacksonville University. It was chosen by Bruce Helford, the creative force behind George Lopez, The Drew Carey Show, Roseanne, and Anger Management.
Mary's co-written play "The 'M' Word" with her husband Steve Lee was well received at the Lakeshore Players' Ten Minute Play festival in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and was featured in Theatrerats' Third Annual Chester Horn Short Play Festival in Manhattan. Her comedy "Outsourcing Christmas" is gaining popularity in holiday-themed festivals.
Mary has also acted in several films and plays, including "The Sunday Man," a short film directed by Dany Shamash and produced by Rebecca Rankin, and won Supporting Actress awards for her performances in "The Boys Next Door" and "I Remember Mama."
