Bio

 

MARIANNE MUELLERLEILE is a distinguished actress well regarded for her vast range of comedic and dramatic work in film, television, and stage.

 

Perhaps best known for her role as “Gloria” on LIFE WITH BONNIE and the axe-wielding “Norma” on PASSIONS, Muellerleile’s credits number well over 500 and continue to increase  as she remains one of the most sought after character  actresses in Hollywood.

 

Born on November 26, in St. Louis, Missouri, Muellerleile was the fourth of five children born to Margaret Keaney and Cecil E. Muellerleile. Devout Catholics, Muellerleile attended Catholic school from pre-school through University, and was a natural for the performing arts; always in class plays, speech contests, debate club, and musicals. She received her undergraduate degree and teaching certificate from the Jesuit institution, St. Louis University, with every intention of becoming a high school drama teacher. Determined to learn as much about theatre as possible, Muellerleile enrolled at the University of Minnesota to obtain her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Acting, and studied under the guidance of teacher, and legendary stage actor, Charles Nolte, PhD. It was here that Muellerleile’s horizons expanded and she realized that acting was her gift and her future career.

 

Dr. Nolte cast Muellerleile as “Eunice” in Tennessee Williams’ A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and invited the infamous playwright, who also happened to be his good friend, to see the production. In a newspaper interview following the performance, Williams called Muellerleile, along with her two co-stars, “the future of the American Theatre.” Soon after, Muellerleile was offered an Equity contract, and the direction of life took a dramatic turn.

 

She spent six seasons at the Meadow Brook Theater, just north of Detroit, Michigan where under the direction of Artistic Director Terence Kilburn, the original “Tiny Tim” in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Muellerleile performed Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, William Inge, Moliere and many more. During this time she moved to New York, working at other resident theaters and on Off-Off Broadway. While in the “Big Apple”, Muellerleile became the first “large” model to be signed at the original agency to feature plus size models and spent a year of runway, print and fit modeling.

 

Muellerleile soon headed to Los Angeles to expand her horizons and banked her first, and second, television auditions, garnering her guest-star roles on the hit series MAGNUM P.I. and THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO. These roles were the first of what has become an impressive list of illustrious credits for the actress.

 

In addition to her series regular roles on LIFE WITH BONNIE and PASSIONS, Muellerleile recurred as "Lucy" on THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN, “Sister Dominick” on Disney’s THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK AND CODY, "Connie" on MIKE & MOLLY, and “Nana” on the Disney XD hit ZEKE & LUTHER. Additionally, Muellerleile has guest-starred in over 150 television series including recent appearances on ELEMENTARY, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, CSI, WHY WOMEN KILL, NCIS, 911 and THE KOMINSKY METHOD. 

 

Her most  recent stage appearances have been in Brian Bedford’s company of THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL at the Mark Taper Forum and THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the Hollywood Bowl.

 

As a member of the New Phoenix Theatre-Los Angeles, Marianne has appeared in workshops, readings and chamber theater presentations of ROMEO and JULIET, PHAEDRE, TWELFTH NIGHT, MEDEA, PRESENT LAUGHTER, LETTICE & LOVAGE, MARY STUART, OEDIPUS REX , THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST, TARTUFFE, TROJAN WOMEN , among others..

 

She has also starred in numerous feature and made for television films including RETURN TO ME, LIAR, LIAR, THE TERMINATOR, SEX DRIVE, SMOKIN’ACES, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, MEMENTO, PASSION FISH, A SMILE LIKE YOURS, and most recently, QUEEN BEES.

 

Muellerleile’s exceptional acting ability to perform many accents and dialects, has also given her the opportunity to a have a stellar career in the voice over field. Among her voice over credits are AMERICAN DAD, Mrs. Cleveland in THE ROBBER'S CAVE for the Lamplighter Theater, multiple voices for the video game FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS  and Rachel Lynde on the national radio drama ANNE OF GREEN GABLES.  She recently voiced Lucille on the Disney Jr. cartoon series THE ROCEKTEER.

 

She has starred in over 100 national commercials for companies including Blue Bunny Ice Cream, Pizza Hut, 7-Eleven, Nationwide Insurance, Frito Lay, IBM, Pepsi,  Hallmark, Discover Card, the McDonald's Buttermilk Chicken Tenders campaign, the Geico "Aunts" spots and Sling TV...shot during the pandemic, using her iPhone, from her home, with the help of her husband! She was last seen in the 2022 Super Bowl ad for BMW starring Arnold Schwarzeneggr as Zeus. That marked the third time she'd worked with him so it was a real reunion!

 

Married to Tom Norris (Lt. Col, USAF, Retired), since 1988, Muellerleile is an active philanthropist and when not acting, devotes her time and energy to a plethora of worthy causes.  As a long time donor/volunteer for Heifer International, she is their most successful volunteer fundriaser (https://fundraise.heifer.org/mariannemuellerleile), the Founder and Past Chair of the Müllerleile Family Global Reunion and the Keaney Clan Global Reunion, Founder and Past President of California Visitation Academy Alumnae Chapter, Member and Past President of the Adams/Normandie Neighborhood Association and is a 50+year blood donor for the American Red Cross.  She is a long standing Lector  and choir member at Christ the King Catholic Church. Marianne also volunteers for short term projects with the West Adams Heritage Association, among others.

 

Marianne is a recipient of the USC Good Neighbor Award, the City of Los Angeles, 8th District: Pioneer Woman of the Year, the Southern California Earthquake Center Ourtreach Award for Public Awareness, the Visitation Academy St. Jane de Chantal Distinguished Alumna Award, the St. Louis University Alumni Merit Award and the University of Minnesota Distinguished Alumnus Award. In May 2023 she received a Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from St. Louis University.

 

Muellerleile and Norris make their home in the West Adams historic district of Los Angeles in a home built in 1905, which the couple have lovingly restored and registered as a historic landmark.

 

May 2023

 


 

 

Filmography

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TITLEDIRECTED BYDATE
An Unmarried Woman (feature) Mazursky, Paul 1978
Co-Ed (sitcom) Unknown 1991 Jan 4
Discover Card (commercial) Smith, Baker 2011 Feb 9
Forever Young at Heart (pilot presentation) Peterson, Shawn Carter 2011 Sept 24-25
Framed: Adventures of Zion Man (short) Lee-Lau, Brenda 2015 August 15
GE (commercial) Dayton, Jonathan & Faris, Valerie 2012 Nov 6
GMA (print) Mangum, Joan (POC) 1986 Dec 11
Hero At Large (feature) Davidson, Martin 1979 May 14
Instant Mom (sitcom) Fortenberry, John 2013 Nov 4-6
Jameson Whiskey (VO) UEG Creative Team 2021 Feb 12
Kabbage (commercial) Adam & Dave 2020 February 2
Life With Father (staged reading) Tobin, Frank 2008
Major Crimes (drama) Rubin, Steve 2016 April 26
Mary Stuart (stage reading) Tobin, Frank 2017 November 12
Nina (feature) Mort, Cynthia 2012 Nov 1
On The Market (webisode) Jwayad Mark 2013 July 15
Phaedra (staged reading) Tobin, Frank 2007
Present Laughter (staged reading) Tobin, Frank 2012
print model Mangum, Joan (POC) 1987 Nov 8
Romeo and Juliet (staged reading) Tobin, Frank 2007
Ship n Shore (print) Bates, Ted & Meistre, Mercedes (POC) 1977 Nov 11
shot commercial in Detroit unknown 1976 Dec 15
Sling TV (commercial) Sean fr Martin Agency 2020 April 24
Some Kind of Beautiful (feature) Vaughan, Tom 2013 October 30
Sr. Judy (short) LaVoi, Greg 2014 Feb 23 - 24
Superior Court (reality) unknown 1987 Jan 15
The Middle (sitcom) Evans, Blake 2011 Dec 15
The Wizards of Waverly Place (sitcom) Gonzalez, Victor 2011 Jan 5 - 7
Twelfth Night (staged reading) Tobin, Frank 2008
Virginia Slims (print) Noble, Richard 1984 May 18
Virginia Slims (print) Noble, Richard 1984 Dec 5
Virginia Slims (print) Noble, Richard 1984 Feb 23
Virginia Slims (print) Noble, Richard 1985 Feb 22
Virginia Slims (print) Noble, Richard 1985 Mar 12
Virginia Slims (print) Noble, Richard 1987 Mar 3
Virginia Slims (print) Noble, Richard 1988 Feb 10
Webers BBQ Sauce (commercial) Hoffman Brothers, The 2013 Mar 27
Women Who Kill (drama) Liu, Lucy 2019 July 24
Zeke & Luther (sitcom) Dearborn, Matt 2011 April 6-7
Zeke & Luther (sitcom) Rosenbaum, Jon 2010 Dec 14
Zeke & Luther (sitcom) Hobson, Gregory 2010 Nov 15-18
Britny Fox (rock video) Reshovsky, Marc 1988
StoryTime (CD Rom) Berris, Ken 1994 July 12
Home to Home (commercial) Unknown 2000 Nov 10
A Flea in Her Ear (play) Lawless, Sue 1978
Ameritech (commercial) Wittenminer, Charles 1992
April Fish (play) 1978
Based on an Untrue Story (TV film) Drake, Jim 1992
Beethovan (feature) Levant, Brian 1991
Bell South (commercial) Moir, Michael 1992
Bold (commercial) Lai, Brian 1987
California Lottery (commercial) Petermann, Fred 1988
Childs Cry (TV film) Cates, Gilbert 1985
Chore Boy (commercial) Steinberg, David 1989
Clifford (feature) Flaherty, Paul 1990
Conoco (commercial) Lacy, Lee 1990
Curse II: The Bite (feature) Cutry, Claudio 1988
Dangerous Woman (feature) Gyllenhaal, Stephen 1992
Dirty Business (feature) McCauley, John 1986
Disaster at Silo 7 (TV film) Elikann, Larry 1988
Drug Emporium (commercial) Culp, David 1992
Edgar Allan Poe:Terror of the Soul (TV film) Chapra, Joyce 1990 (aired '95)
Eight is Enough Wedding (TV film) Lathan, Stan 1989
Entertaining Angels: Dorothy Day (feature) Rhodes, Michael 1995
Firestone (commercial) Petermann, Fred 1989
First Bank (commercial) Lacy, Lee 1989
First Bank of America (industrial) Lacy, Lee 1989
For Goodness Sake (feature) Zucker, Steve 1992 Jan 1
Fresno (TV film) Bleckner, Jeff 1986
GM Spot (Morton, Rocky) (commercial) Jankel, Annabelle 1986
Going Berserk (feature) Steinberg, David 1982
Going to the Chapel (TV film) Lynch, Paul 1988
Harvey (play) Kilburn, Terence 1975 Jan
HIP Insurance (commercial) Black, Robert 1992
Independence Day (feature) Mandel, Robert 1981
Lean Cuisine (commercial) Seff, Norman 1991
Marshalls (commercial) Roberts, Randy 1992
McDonalds (commercial) Richardson, Peter 1985
Melody Sisters (play) Commire, Anne 1984
Meritt Paper Towels (commercial) Dragoti, Stan 1983
Midway Airlines (commercial) Petermann, Fred 1989
New England Bell (commercial) Seff, Norman 1991
Night Eyes III: On Guard (feature) Stevens, Andrew 1992
NY Air (commercial) Sandback, Henry 1991
Oedipus Rex (play) Nolte, Charles 1974
Passion Fish (feature) Sayles, John 1992
Pepsi (commercial) Pytka, Joe 1992
Phillips Light Bulbs (commercial) Story, Mark 1989
Pizza Hut (commercial) Moir, Michael 1989
Playboy of the Western World (play) Montel, Michael 1977
Portrait of a White Marriage (TV film) Shearer, Harry 1988
Promised A Miracle (TV film) Gyllenhaal, Stephen 1988
SBTB: Wedding in Las Vegas (TV film) Melman, Jeff 1994
Sega Genesis (commercial) Boyle, Danny 1992
She Knows Too Much (TV film) Lynch, Paul 1988
Southern Bell (commercial) Moir, Michael 1992
Stanley Tools (commercial) Piznarski, Mark 1992
Stitches (feature) Holcomb, Rod 1985
The Corn is Green (play) Nolte, Charles 1978 Jan
The History of White People America (TV film) Shearer, Harry 1986