Catherine Bell (actress)

Catherine Bell

Bell on the set of Army Wives in Charleston, South Carolina (2012)
Born Catherine Lisa Bell
(1968-08-14) August 14, 1968
London, England, UK
Nationality Iranian-American
Occupation Actress, producer
Years active 1991–present
Religion Scientology
Spouse(s) Adam Beason (m. 1994–2011)
Children 2
Website www.catherinebell.com

Catherine Lisa Bell (born August 14, 1968) is an Iranian-American actress and producer known for her roles as Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie of the television series JAG from 1997 to 2005, Denise Sherwood of the series Army Wives from 2007 to 2013, and Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale of Hallmark's The Good Witch film and television series (2008–present).

Early life

Bell was born in London to Briton Peter Bell and Mina Gharagozlou,[1] an Iranian native. Her mother had traveled to London to study nursing. After her parents' divorce at age two, she lived with her mother in Iran. She moved to the United States at age three.[2]

Career

One of Bell's first modeling jobs was a four-month assignment in Japan. When she returned to California, she studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas. She also worked as a massage therapist, and her clients included singer Peter Gabriel. Her first television acting role was one line spoken to Gabriel on the short-lived 1990 sitcom Sugar and Spice.[3]

Bell served as Isabella Rossellini's body double for the 1992 film Death Becomes Her where she "showed her butt only".[4]

In 1996, Bell began her role as Marine Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, known as "Mac", of the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Office in the series JAG. She continued in this role until 2005. Prior to being cast as Sarah, Bell had appeared as a murder victim in the season one episode titled "Skeleton Crew", which was never aired (nor, as it was intended as the first part of a two-part episode, properly concluded) during the original run due to the show's cancellation by NBC (it was shown in the US by the USA Network in 1999, and the season three episode "Death Watch" used much footage from the episode).

Beginning in 2007, Bell starred in Lifetime's ensemble drama series Army Wives as Denise Sherwood, the wife of a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, who endured domestic violence at the hands of her teenage son during the show's first season.[5]

Bell also played the role of Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale, the main character of Hallmark's The Good Witch (2008), and its sequels The Good Witch's Garden (2009), The Good Witch's Gift (2010), The Good Witch's Family (2011), The Good Witch's Charm (2012), The Good Witch's Destiny (2013), and The Good Witch's Wonder (2014); she was also an executive producer of all of the movies.[6] She also starred in another Hallmark movie titled Last Man Standing'.'[7]

Bell is to star in the movie Love Finds Its Way.[8]

Personal life

Bell is fluent in Persian and English. She is fond of motorcycling, skiing, snowboarding and kick-boxing, which she has been practising for over 10 years. Her hobbies include cross-stitching and making model cars, which she has done since age 8.[9]

In a survey of 70 celebrities by The Sporting News just before the 2002 Super Bowl, she correctly predicted that the New England Patriots would beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, 20 to 17.[10] In actuality, the article was written after the NFC and AFC championship games; Bell correctly guessed the score, but the teams were already decided.[11]

She met actor-production assistant Adam Beason on the set of the 1992 film Death Becomes Her; they were married on May 8, 1994.[4] Together, they have a daughter and a son.[12][13] The couple divorced in 2011.

Bell was the grand marshal of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on June 3, 2007.[14]

During the Hollywood writers' strike, Bell took flying lessons in a Cirrus SR22.[15]

Scientology

Bell was raised Roman Catholic and attended an all-girls Catholic school (Our Lady of Corvallis High School in Los Angeles). She is currently a practicing Scientologist.[16] Bell has attested to attaining the Scientology state of Clear.[17] She has supported Scientology's Hollywood Education and Literacy Project.[18] In December 2005, Bell helped promote the gala opening of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death" museum.[19]

In February 2006, Bell appeared in a Scientology music video called "United". The film includes cameo performances by Isaac Hayes, Erika Christensen, Jenna Elfman and Lynsey Bartilson and promotes human rights with a rap song.[20]

Filmography

Actress

Title Date Role Notes
Love Finds Its Way
Flashover a.k.a. Rescue on the 55th Floor 2017 Beth Davis Leading role [21]
The Do Over 2016 Dawn Difazio
The Bandit Hound 2015 Joanne
Good Witch 2015–present Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
The Good Witch's Wonder 2014 Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
Los Angeles, RIGHT NOW 2014 K-PUB's station manager Episode #5 The Bully
The Good Witch's Destiny 2013 Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
King & Maxwell 2013 Joan Dillinger Episodes #1.05 and #1.10
The Good Witch's Charm 2012 Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
Good Morning, Killer 2011 FBI Special Agent Ana Gray Leading role; shown as part of the TNT Mystery Movie Night series
The Last Man Standing 2011 Abby Collins Leading role
The Good Witch's Family 2011 Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
The Good Witch's Gift 2010 Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
The Good Witch's Garden 2009 Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
The Good Witch 2008 Cassandra Nightingale Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
Army Wives 2007–2013 Denise Sherwood Series Regular
Evan Almighty 2007 Susan Ortega (Uncredited)
Still Small Voices 2007 Michael Summer
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 2006 Naomi Cheales Episode #8.09: "Choreographed"
Company Town 2006 Maggie Shaunessy unaired pilot
Threshold 2006 Dr. Daphne Larson Episode #1.11: "Outbreak"
The Triangle 2005 Emily Patterson
Babak and Friends: A First Norooz 2005 Layla Voice
JAG 1996–2005 Maj./Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie Leading Role
Episode #1.22: "Skeleton Crew" (1996) as Lieutenant Junior Grade Diane Schonke
Episode #3.19: "Death Watch" (1998) as Lieutenant Junior Grade Diane Schonke (archive footage)
Episode #5.11: "Ghosts of Christmas Past" (1999) as Jenny Lake
Episode #6.23: "Mutiny" (2001) as Mrs. Alexander MacKenzie
Episode #8.14: "Each of Us Angels" (2003) as Ensign Beverly Tromatore
Bruce Almighty 2003 Susan Ortega
Thrill Seekers 1999 Elizabeth Wintern
Cab to Canada 1998 Sandy
Black Thunder 1998 Lisa
Sin City Spectacular 1998–1999 Episode #1.10 and #1.16
Crash Dive 1997 Lt. Cmdr. Lisa Stark
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys 1997 Cynea Episode #3.10: "The Lady and the Dragon"
Hot Line 1996 Cat Episode "The Brunch Club"
aka Hotline Volume 3 (VHS release title)
The Naked Truth 1995 Episode #1.11: "Comet Nails Star and Vice Versa!"
Friends 1995 Robin Episode #2.06: "The One with the Baby on the Bus"
Alien Nation: Body and Soul 1995 Cop
Vanishing Son 1995 Episode #2.06: "Miracle Under 34th Street" as Kelly,
Episode #2.12: "Long Ago and Far Away" as Rachel
Men of War 1994 Grace Lashield
Dream On 1994 Kay Meadows Episode #5.09: "Those Who Can't, Edit"
Mother of the Bride 1993 Chastity
Death Becomes Her 1992 Lisle's Body Double Isabella Rossellini
True Colors 1991 Donna Episode No. 2.08: "Brotherly Love"

Self

Title Date Notes
Rachael Ray 23 April 2010
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 1 August 2008
The View 16 June 2008
Live with Regis and Kelly 2 June 2008
Martha 17 January 2008
Live with Regis and Kelly 16 January 2008
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 8 August 2007
The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet 1 August 2007
Live with Regis and Kelly 31 July 2007
Late Show with David Letterman 30 July 2007
Sci Fi Inside: The Triangle 2005
United 2005
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 23 May 2003
The View 13 May 2003
DVD Exclusive Awards 2003 Presenter
CBS at 75[22] 2003
Yes, Dear 2003 Episode #3.14: "Let's Get Jaggy with It"
Sidewalks Entertainment 2002 Episode #13.1: "Wedding Planner (Special Edition)"
The Howard Stern Show 24 July 2002
Hollywood Squares 24 September 2001
The Rosie O'Donnell Show 15 January 2001
Celebrity Jeopardy! May 1999

Awards

In 2006, Bell was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her role in The Triangle.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005". Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Catherine Bell now acting less, playing mom more". Iran Times International. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  3. ↑ Knutzen, Eirik. "Close-Up: Catherine Bell". Retrieved 2007-06-15.
  4. 1 2 "Catherine Bell Biography". Amazing Catherine. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ Army Wives. Lifetime. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  6. ↑ Hollywood Reporter
  7. ↑ "Last Man Standing". Lifetime.
  8. ↑ "Jennifer Aspen Segues From Screen to Hallmark Exec Producer"
  9. ↑ Betsy Model (October 1999). "Ma'am Yes Ma'am!". Orange Coast: The Magazine of Orange County. pp. 32–37.
  10. ↑ Jeff D'Alessio (January 31, 2002). "The Sporting News". Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  11. ↑ Barbara and David Mikkelson (4 February 2010). "The Bell Curve". Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  12. ↑ Wihlborg, Ulrica; Michaud, Sarah (August 22, 2010). "Catherine Bell Welcomes a Son". People.
  13. ↑ "Catherine Bell". TV Guide. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  14. ↑ Dover International Speedway - The Monster Mile - Actress Catherine Bell and a charitable race fan will kickoff [sic] the "Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa" at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, June 3, 2007 Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ Catherine Bell takes to sky with flying lessons, The Associated Press, 2008-01-17
  16. ↑ Zokaei, Mayar (Spring 2005). "Bell Hop". NYLA Magazine. Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  17. ↑ Interview with Catherine Bell, Celebrity (Magazine of the Scientology Celebrity Centre Los Angeles), Issue 347 (April 2003)
  18. ↑ Bell, Catherine. "Giving Back: This Month". Catherine Bell's Official Website. Archived from the original on April 20, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-08.
  19. ↑ Gumbel, Andrew (2006-01-12). "Scientology vs. Science". Los Angeles CityBeat. Southland Publishing. Archived from the original on April 27, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-08.
  20. ↑ "Youth for Human Rights Campaign". Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  21. ↑ Brantford Expositor story
  22. ↑ CBS at 75
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