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Allene Damian "Ally" Walker (born August 25, 1961) is an American actress. She made her television debut in the NBC daytime soap opera Santa Barbara (1988) before landing the leading roles on the short-lived dramas True Blue (1989–1990), and Moon Over Miami (1993).
Ally Walker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Allene Damian Walker August 25, 1961 Tullahoma, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of California, Santa Cruz B.S., Biochemistry |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
During the 1990s, Walker had roles in films such as Universal Soldier (1992), Singles (1992), When the Bough Breaks (1994), While You Were Sleeping (1995), Kazaam (1996), and Happy, Texas (1999). From 1996 to 1999, she played the leading role of Doctor Samantha Waters in the NBC crime drama series Profiler, for which she received a Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television nomination. She returned to television with a role in the HBO drama series Tell Me You Love Me (2007), and later played villainous Agent June Stahl in the FX crime drama, Sons of Anarchy (2008–2010). Walker also had the leading role in the short-lived Lifetime police drama series The Protector in 2011. During seasons 4 and 5 (2014 and 2015) of Longmire, she played Dr. Donna Monaghan, a therapist treating veterans who is the title character's love interest.
Walker was born in Tullahoma, Tennessee, to James Joseph Walker, a physicist, and Louhannah (née Mann) who would become an attorney.[1] She grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where her father worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Originally intending to become a scientist, she attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she earned a degree in biochemistry in 1983.[2][3] While spending a semester at Richmond College of Arts in London, UK, she discovered an interest in performing. After graduation, she worked for a time sequencing DNA at a genetic engineering company, but then sold all her possessions, traveled to Australia, surfed, and worked a series of jobs before returning to Los Angeles.[2] Although she planned to enter medical school, instead she became a model and obtained roles in commercials including as Clairol’s “Nice & Easy Girl”.[2] Her acting career began when she was cast in the film Aloha Summer (1988), but her scene was cut from the final version.[3][4][dead link]
In early 1988, Walker joined the cast of NBC daytime soap opera Santa Barbara, playing Andrea Bedford.[3] Later that year, she began appearing on primetime television. During the 1989–90 television season, she played the female lead in the short-lived NBC crime drama series True Blue. She later guest-starred on Matlock, L.A. Law, and Tales from the Crypt. She starred in the 1991 NBC television movie Perry Mason and the Case of the Fatal Fashion as murderer Julia Collier; the devious daughter of Diana Muldaur's character. In 1993, she starred alongside Billy Campbell in the short-lived ABC comedy-drama, Moon Over Miami.[4][5]
In 1992, Walker played the female leading role opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in the science-fiction action film Universal Soldier directed by Roland Emmerich.[6] Later that year, she played Sheila Kelley's grouchy roommate in the Cameron Crowe romantic comedy Singles.[7] Her first star-billed role was in the 1994 thriller When the Bough Breaks.[8] In 1995, she had supporting roles in Sandra Bullock's box-office hit While You Were Sleeping, and Andy García's flop Steal Big Steal Little.[9][10] The following year, Walker co-starred alongside Shaquille O'Neal in the fantasy comedy film, Kazaam.[10]
In 1996, Walker was listed as one of People's "40 Most Fascinating People on TV".[11] The same year she was cast in the leading role as Doctor Samantha Waters in the NBC crime drama series Profiler, a role for which she received a Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television nomination in 1998, and a Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.[12] Walker starred as the series lead during the first three seasons, but left the show in the fall of 1999. She was replaced by Jamie Luner as a new profiler during the show's final season.[13] Later in 1999, Walker co-starred opposite Steve Zahn in the comedy film Happy, Texas, and played the lead role in the Lifetime television movie, If You Believe.[14][15]
In 2002, Walker returned to star in and produce the ABC pilot comedy called My Wonderful Life,[16] which was not picked up.[17] In 2005, she released a documentary film For Norman... Wherever You Are as director and producer, which screened at several film festivals.[18] She returned to the New York stage, appearing in a number of Off-Broadway productions.[18] From 2005 to 2010, Walker played many guest roles on television, including Sleeper Cell, ER, The Shield, Boston Legal, Law & Order, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Southland, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
In 2007, Walker starred in the HBO drama series about sexual relationships, Tell Me You Love Me.[19] The series was cancelled after a single season.[20] In 2009, she co-starred in films Toe to Toe and Wonderful World opposite Matthew Broderick. From 2008 to 2010, Walker had the recurring role as ATF Agent June Stahl, a major antagonist on the FX crime drama series Sons of Anarchy.[21]
In 2011, Walker played the leading role in the Lifetime police drama series The Protector, which revolves around a single mother who struggles to balance her family and professional life as an LAPD homicide detective.[22][23] The series was canceled after one season.[24] In 2014, she played the mother of Chyler Leigh's lead character in the short-lived NBC police procedural, Taxi Brooklyn.[25] She made her feature scripted film directing and writing debut with Sex, Death and Bowling starring Selma Blair.[26][27] In 2015, she was cast in the recurring roles in the Netflix crime drama Longmire,[28] and USA Network thriller, Colony.[29] Most recently she appeared as Captain Ava Lafrey in the short-lived Fox horror-comedy sitcom Ghosted (TV series) from 2017-2018.[30]
On June 14, 1997, Walker married John Landgraf, then a producer for NBC, at her parents' home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The couple have three sons: Walker, Will, and Cal. She has a sister named Elizabeth and a brother named Jim.[31]
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Aloha Summer | Scenes deleted | |
| 1991 | Eye of the Storm | Killer Girl | |
| 1991 | Ragin' Cajun | Kati | |
| 1992 | Universal Soldier | Veronica Roberts | |
| 1992 | Singles | Pam | |
| 1993 | The Seventh Coin | Lisa | |
| 1994 | When the Bough Breaks | Audrey Macleah | |
| 1995 | Just Looking | Sherrie | |
| 1995 | Someone to Die For | Alex Donaldson | |
| 1995 | While You Were Sleeping | Ashley Bartlett Bacon | |
| 1995 | Steal Big Steal Little | Bonnie Martin | |
| 1996 | Bed of Roses | Wendy | |
| 1996 | Kazaam | Alice Connor | |
| 1997 | Brittle Glory | Elise Rosen | |
| 1998 | Welcome to Hollywood | Herself | |
| 1999 | Happy, Texas | Josephine "Joe" McClintock the Banker | |
| 2005 | For Norman... Wherever You Are | Documentary; director and producer | |
| 2007 | By Appointment Only | Val Spencer | Also writer |
| 2009 | Toe to Toe | Claire | |
| 2009 | Wonderful World | Eliza | |
| 2013 | Angel's Perch | Judy | |
| 2013 | Mischief Night | Dr. Pomock | |
| 2014 | April Rain | Linda | |
| 2015 | Sex, Death and Bowling | Director, writer and producer | |
| 2020 | When We Kill the Creators | Walker |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Santa Barbara | Andrea Bedford | Series regular (94 episodes) |
| 1989 | Swimsuit | Romella | Television film |
| 1989–1990 | True Blue | Officer Jessica Haley | Series regular (12 episodes) |
| 1990 | Matlock | Renee Williams | Episode: "The Biker" |
| 1991 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion | Julia Collier | Television film |
| 1991 | L.A. Law | Christina Shepherd | Episodes: "Pump It Up” and “Mutinies on the Banzai” |
| 1991 | Tales from the Crypt | Elaine Tillman | Episode: "Mournin' Mess" |
| 1992 | The Witches of Eastwick | Alexandra Spofford | Pilot |
| 1993 | Moon Over Miami | Gwen Cross | Series regular, 13 episodes |
| 1996 | Wings | Melissa Williams | Episode: "Love at First Flight" |
| 1996–1999 | Profiler | Doctor Samantha Waters | Series regular (64 episodes) Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television (1998) and Best Actress – Television Series Drama (1998) |
| 1999 | The Pretender | Doctor Samantha Waters | Episode: "End Game" |
| 1999 | If You Believe | Susan Stone | Television film |
| 2002 | My Wonderful Life | Billie | Pilot |
| 2005 | Sleeper Cell | Lynn Ellen Emerson | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | ER | Fran Bevens | Episode: "Body & Soul" |
| 2006 | The Shield | Tori Burke | Episode: "Postpartum" |
| 2007 | American Dad! | Melinda (voice) | Episode: "Four Little Words" |
| 2007 | Tell Me You Love Me | Katie | Series regular (10 episodes) |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | Attorney Phoebe Prentice | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Law & Order | Gretchen Steel | Episode: "Driven" |
| 2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Rita Nettles | Episode: "Hog Heaven" |
| 2009 | Southland | Dr. Merrill Matthews | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Stanton | Episode: "Conned" |
| 2008–2010 | Sons of Anarchy | Agent June Stahl | 19 episodes |
| 2011 | The Protector | Gloria Sheppard | Series regular (13 episodes) |
| 2014 | Taxi Brooklyn | Frankie Sullivan | Series regular (12 episodes) |
| 2015–2016 | Longmire | Dr. Donna Monaghan | 8 episodes |
| 2016–2018 | Colony | Helena Goldwin | 16 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Ghosted | Capt. Ava Lafrey | Series regular (16 episodes) |
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