Markie Post
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
An attractive blonde with a likable and rather versatile screen presence, actress Markie Post has done extensive and prolific work in television, generally as poised professional types. Best known for her portrayal of the straight-laced legal aid attorney Christine Sullivan on the long-running NBC sitcom "Night Court," she has put in many years on the small screen, starting out as a game show researcher before landing work in front of the camera.
Post joined "Night Court" in 1985 during its second season, and through her seven-year run saw Christine through professional self-doubt, chronic relationship problems, a guilt-inducing appointment from attorney to judge, a failed marriage to a work-consumed undercover cop, a comical pregnancy, a workplace romance and a run for Congress. The actress' characterization of the perky public defender capably evinced the uncertainty behind her collected facade, coming across as most ingratiating at the character's charmingly imperfect moments. Sullivan's struggles with professionalism and personal issues and her endeavor to strike a balance between family and career mirrored contemporary concerns, as her trendy, somewhat severe hair and makeup mirrored contemporary style.
Post first ventured into television behind the scenes, landing a job as researcher on the 1970s game shows "Split Second" and "Double Dare" after impressing producers at her audition to be a contestant on the former. (For the 1976-1977 season, Post additionally served as associate producer for "Double Dare.") Acting in community productions on the side, Post switched to work before the camera with appearances on the police series "CHiPs" (NBC) and a regular role as the platonic roommate of two football players on the short-lived 1980 ABC sports comedy "Semi-Tough." Additionally, she had a featured role in the 13-part, fact-based 1930s-set crime drama "The Gangster Chronicles" (1981) before landing a three season regular role on ABC's "The Fall Guy" as Lee Majors' bail bondsperson Terri Michaels. The actress also starred in the failed pilots "Massarati and the Brain" (ABC) and "Six Pack" (NBC), before landing her plum "Night Court" role.
After "Night Court" ran its course, Post stayed in sitcom territory for "Hearts Afire," a troubled yet relatively long-running series co-starring John Ritter and Billy Bob Thornton. Here Post got the chance to get past her goody-two shoes image with a role as a more worldly character, playing a renowned journalist with a supposed wild background. Post was quite believable as Georgie Ann Lahti, and her onscreen romance with fellow TV rerun favorite John Ritter had a watchable and pleasant if not explosive chemistry that kept viewers tuning in through the numerous premise revisions. While in the midst of the run of "Hearts Afire," Post returned to behind-the scenes work, with a stint as a producer of a children's segment of the President's Inaugural Celebration aired on The Disney Channel and as co-executive producer (and star) of the NBC true crime thriller "Appointment for a Killing" (both 1993). Post could also count among her acting credits other TV-movies, mostly standard fare, including featured roles in NBC's adaptation of Elmore Leonard's detective drama "Glitz" (1988), and the NBC thrillers "Someone She Knows" (1994) "Visitors of the Night" (1995) and "I've Been Waiting for You" (1998). Probably most memorable of these efforts was the topically incendiary but otherwise unremarkable Lifetime original "Chasing the Dragon" (1996). Although the movie premiered to less-than-favorable reviews, Post's work was skillful, and the point of a successful play-by-the-rules woman succumbing to heroin addiction was especially well-taken with her in the role. While she continued to both star in and produce TV-movies, the actress returned to series work in 1999 with a regular role in the ABC sitcom "Odd Man Out." On this family-geared series, Post played Julia, a caterer and mother of four (three daughters and the one titular son) living with her model agent younger sister in South Beach, Florida.
Post made her big screen debut with a cameo role in the 1998 hit comedy "There's Something About Mary," playing the mother of the sought-after Mary in the notorious pre-prom flashback.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1976
Served as to associate producer of "Double Dare"
1980
TV series debut in the short-lived comedy "Semi-Tough" (ABC)
1981
Featured in the NBC series "The Gangster Chronicles"
1993
Produced the children's segment of President Clinton's inaugural celebration (broadcast on The Disney Channel)
1995
Guest starred in an episode of the Fox sci-fi series "VR.5"
1996
Starred as a hard-working professional and dedicated mother turned self-destructive heroin addict in the Lifetime original telefilm "Chasing the Dragon"
1998
Had a cameo role as the titular dreamgirl's mother in a flashback portion of "There's Something About Mary"
Family
Companions
