Wendy Moniz

Wendy Moniz
Born (1969-01-19) January 19, 1969
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Other nameWendy Moniz-Grillo[1]
EducationB.M.C.Durfee High School, Fall River, Massachusetts Siena College, Loudonville, NY
OccupationActress
Years active1995–present
Spouses
David Birsner
​
​
(m. 1991; div. 1996)​
​
​
(m. 2000; div. 2020)​
Children2

Wendy Moniz (born January 19, 1969)[1] is an American television actress. She began her career playing the role of Dinah Marler in the CBS soap opera Guiding Light from 1995 to 1999 and after leaving the soap starred in the biographical drama film, Tuesdays with Morrie. In 2000, she was a regular cast member in the short-lived sitcom Battery Park.

Moniz starred as Rachel McCabe during the final season of the CBS police procedural Nash Bridges (2000-2001), and as Louisa Archer in the CBS legal drama The Guardian (2001-2004). From 2013 to 2014, Moniz starred as Elaine McAllister in ABC drama series Betrayal and from 2018 to 2024 as Governor Lynelle Perry in the Paramount Network neo-Western series, Yellowstone. Moniz also had a recurring roles as Jill Burnham in the FX legal thriller Damages (2009-2010), as Laura Moretti in the Netflix political drama House of Cards (2015–2016), and as ADA Anne Frasier in the NBC police drama Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021-2025).

Career

Moniz made her television debut in the CBS daytime soap opera Guiding Light as Dinah Marler. She starred as a series regular from 1995 to 1999, and was nominated for two Soap Opera Digest Awards.

In 1999, Moniz landed a role in the primetime CBS drama pilot Partners.[2] In the same year, she starred as the female lead in the critically acclaimed television film adaptation of Mitch Albom's book Tuesdays with Morrie.[3] She later was a series regular in the short-lived NBC comedy series Battery Park opposite Elizabeth Perkins.[4] In fall of 2000, Moniz was cast as a series regular in the role of Rachel McCabe in the sixth and final season of the CBS series Nash Bridges. She later starred as Louisa "Lulu" Archer on the CBS series The Guardian opposite Simon Baker.[5] The series aired from 2001 to 2004.

Moniz guest-starred in an episode of the NBC legal drama Law & Order in 2005, and had a recurring role as Stacey Walker in the ABC short-lived comedy-drama Big Shots in 2007. She later appeared as Jill Burnham on the FX series Damages from 2009 to 2010. In 2010 she was cast as Tom Selleck's love interest in the CBS police drama Blue Bloods, but the role was recast with Andrea Roth.[6][7] She later appeared in the recurring role of Llanview Mayor Finn - who succeeds the exiting Mayor Dorian Lord on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live in 2011.[8] She also appeared in the ABC series 666 Park Avenue in 2012.[9]

In March 2013, Moniz was cast opposite Stuart Townsend, James Cromwell and Hannah Ware in the ABC drama series Betrayal directed by Patty Jenkins and based on the Dutch drama series Overspel.[10] The series was canceled after one season. In 2014, Moniz was cast as lead in the independent drama film The Grief of Others directed by Patrick Wang.[11] The film and her performance received positive reviews from critics.[12][13][14] Matt Zoller Seitz wrote in his review: " “The Grief of Others” is unerring when it’s sticking to the main couple, and they’re incarnated with great skill by Wang’s lead actors. Moniz is wizardly at playing moments where her character seems to have no idea that she’s even made a mistake, much less how devastating it was."[15]

In 2015, Moniz appeared in Netflix superhero series Daredevil and political drama House of Cards. In 2016, she was cast in a recurring role as a love interest for her real-life husband at the time, Frank Grillo, in the DirecTV drama Kingdom.[16] From 2016 to 2017 she had a recurring role on CBS series, Pure Genius. In 2017 she appeared opposite Grillo in the Netflix film, Wheelman. In 2018, Moniz was cast as Montana Governor Lynelle Perry in the Paramount Network drama series, Yellowstone.[17] She was promoted to series regular for fifth season.[18][19] In 2021 she also began appear as ADA Anne Frasier in the NBC police drama Law & Order: Organized Crime, and in 2022 as Judge April Brooks in CBS's FBI: Most Wanted.

Personal life

Moniz, of Portuguese and Irish descent, was born in Kansas City, Missouri.[5] She attended Siena College in Loudonville, New York in 1991.[20] She married David Birsner in 1991, but the couple divorced without issue in 1996. She married her former Guiding Light co-star, Frank Grillo in October 2000, and separated from him in February 2020 and finalized their divorce in September 2020.[21][22] The couple has two sons.[23]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1995–1999 Guiding Light Dinah Marler Series regular
Nominated – Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Female Newcomer (1996)
Nominated – Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Younger Lead Actress (1997)
1999 Partners Maggie Spivak TV Pilot
Tuesdays with Morrie Janine Television movie
2000 Battery Park Maria DiCenzo Series regular, 7 episodes
The Others Eva Episode: "Life Is for the Living"
2000–2001 Nash Bridges Insp. Rachel McCabe Series regular, 22 episodes
2001–2004 The Guardian Louisa "Lulu" Archer Series regular, 58 episodes
2005 Law & Order Arlene Tarrington Episode: "House of Cards"
2007 Big Shots Stacey Walker Recurring role, 4 episodes
2009–2010 Damages Jill Burnham Recurring role, 7 episodes
2011 One Life to Live Mayor Kathleen Finn Recurring role, 4 episodes
2012 666 Park Avenue Ingrid Weismann Episode: "Hero Complex"
2013–2014 Betrayal Elaine McAllister Series regular, 13 episodes
2015 The Grief of Others Ricky Ryrie
Daredevil Jennifer Fisher Episode: "Rabbit in a Snowstorm"
2016–2017 House of Cards Laura Moretti Recurring role, 7 episodes
2016 Kingdom Roxanne Dunn Recurring role, 7 episodes
2016–2017 Pure Genius Julianna Wallace Recurring role, 4 episodes
2017 Wheelman Jessica
2018–2024 Yellowstone Governor Lynelle Perry Recurring role (seasons 1-4), Series regular (season 5), 29 episodes
2021—2025 Law & Order: Organized Crime ADA Anne Frasier Recurring role, 8 episodes
2022—2025 FBI: Most Wanted Judge April Brooks 5 episodes
2024 Long Gone Heroes Mace Spencer

References

  1. 1 2 Reier, Evan (February 10, 2021). "'Yellowstone' TV: Everything to Know About Gov. Perry Actress Wendy Moniz-Grillo". Outsider. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  2. ↑ Jenny Hontz (1999-03-14). "Col, CBS book their Partners". Variety. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  3. ↑ Ray Richmond (1999-12-02). "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays With Morrie". Variety. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  4. ↑ Gallo, Phil (2000-03-21). "Battery Park". Variety. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  5. 1 2 "Wendy Moniz Biography". Buddytv.com. 1969-01-19. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  6. ↑ Li, Shirley (2010-07-22). "CBS recast shocker: Damages star out, Rescue Me actress in as Tom Selleck's GF". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  7. ↑ "Roth replaces Moniz on Blue Bloods". Digital Spy. 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  8. ↑ "Wendy Moniz Joins One Life To Live". Soaps.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  9. ↑ "Exclusive: Enrique Murciano, Wendy Moniz Move Into ABC's 666 Park Avenue". TV Guide. 2012-08-14. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  10. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (6 March 2013). "Matthew Lillard To Co-Star In NBC Pilot I Am Victor, Trio Added To ABC's Betrayal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  11. ↑ "Rachel Dratch, Wendy Moniz, Trevor St. John in Grief of Others". Variety. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  12. ↑ "The Grief of Others | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  13. ↑ Ebiri, Bilge (November 1, 2018). "Review: In 'The Grief of Others,' Mourning Becomes Eclectic" – via NYTimes.com.
  14. ↑ Chang, Justin (March 21, 2015). "SXSW Film Review: 'The Grief of Others'".
  15. ↑ "The Grief of Others movie review". www.rogerebert.com.
  16. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (26 April 2016). "Kingdom: Wendy Moniz Joins Season 2B as Love Interest for Frank Grillo". TVLine. Archived from the original on 11 June 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  17. ↑ Petski, Denise (3 August 2017). "'Yellowstone': Dave Annable, Gil Birmingham Set As Leads, Wendy Moniz To Recur In Paramount Network Series". Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  18. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (June 10, 2022). "'Yellowstone': Wendy Moniz & Mo Brings Plenty Upped To Series Regulars, Josh Lucas Leads New & Returning Recurring Cast For Season 5".
  19. ↑ ""Yellowstone" Star Wendy Moniz Bids Emotional Farewell as Series Nears End - Gazettely". August 4, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Wendy Moniz Biography". Tvguide.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  21. ↑ Lang, Brent (2021-02-10). "Frank Grillo Has 8 Movies in 2021 and No Plans to Slow Down". Variety. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  22. ↑ "Frank Grillo and Actress Wendy Moniz Divorce After 19 Years of Marriage". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  23. ↑ "Biography". Frank-Grillo.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
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