Kelly Lynch
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Kelly Lynch was an American actress who enjoyed a highly diverse career, from action blockbusters to independent film landmarks. Born on January 31, 1959 in Golden Valley, Minnesota, Lynch was a college dropout who briefly worked as a flight attendant. Luckily, she was noticed by a modeling agent, and scored a contract with the Elite modeling agency. After a few years in the modeling game, Lynch decided to become serious about acting, and studied with the legendary instructor Sanford Meisner. Though Lynch got her big break with a role in the charming Tom Cruise vehicle "Cocktail" (1988), it would prove to be 1989 during which Lynch would make an indelible mark on cinema. That year, she appeared in the lovably absurd Patrick Swayze action film "Road House" (1989), as well as Gus Van Sant's crime drama "Drugstore Cowboy," which earned Lynch an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. After appearing in John Hughes' final directorial effort, "Curly Sue" (1992), and notoriously turning down what would become Sharon Stone's most iconic role in "Basic Instinct" (1992), Lynch got married to producer/director Mitch Glazer. She earned another Independent Spirit Award nomination for her role in "The Beans of Egypt, Maine" (1994), before embarking on an impressive and consistent run of film roles in such releases as "Virtuosity" (1995), "Heaven's Prisoners" (1996), "Mr. Magoo" (1997), "Charlie's Angels" (2000), "Joe Somebody" (2001), and "The Jacket" (2005). Soon, television beckoned: from 2004 until 2009, Lynch portrayed Ivan Aycock on the lesbian-themed dramedy "The L Word" (Showtime, 2004-2009), before joining the cast of the rebooted "Beverly Hills, 90210" (The CW, 2008-2013) in 2010. Lynch was finally able to collaborate with her husband, Mitch Glazer, in 2012, on the 1950s-set gangster drama series "Magic City" (Starz, 2012-13). In 2017, Lynch took on perhaps her darkest role yet, playing an agoraphobic widow in an incestuous relationship with her son, in "Mr. Mercedes" (AT&T Audience Network, 2017-), a series created by David E. Kelley, based on a novel by Stephen King.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Producer (Special)
Film Production - Main (Special)
Life Events
1979
At age 20 was in a head-on automobile accident that crushed her legs and took a year's recovery during which time she became addicted to painkillers (date approximate)
1985
Film acting debut (as title character) in "Osa"
1988
First role in a major feature, "Bright Lights, Big City"
1989
Garnered attention for her performance as Matt Dillon's junkie wife in "Drugstore Cowboy"
1989
Co-starred in action classic "Road House"
1991
Starred in the John Hughes comedy "Curly Sue" with James Belushi
1993
Co-starred with William Baldwin and Sherilyn Fenn in the romantic comedy "Three of Hearts"
1995
Starred opposite Denzel Washington in the sci-fi thriller "Virtuosity"
1998
Cast opposite Billy Bob Thornton and Hank Azaria in "Homegrown" written and directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal
2000
Featured in "Charlie's Angels" starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu; based on the popular 70's TV show
2004
Co-starred on "The L Word"
2005
Cast in "Dallas 362," the directorial debut of Scott Caan
2005
Cast in the thriller "The Jacket" with Adrien Brody
2012
Appeared in the 1950s mob drama "Magic City"
2017
Co-starred in "Mr. Mercedes"