Melinda McGraw (born October 25, 1968) is an American actress. She has appeared in movies such as The Dark Knight (2008), Wrongfully Accused (1998), and Skateland (2010), and is also known for her television performances on Mad Men, Men of a Certain Age, The X-Files, The West Wing, and NCIS.

Early life and education McGraw was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, to American parents.

The youngest of three daughters, she grew up in Cambridge and Dover in the Boston area. Her father served as a diplomat for the Agency of International Development before becoming an executive with a major hotel in Boston. She attended the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge and got her start in acting with the Boston Children's Theater.

After attending Bennington College, McGraw was accepted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London (one of only seven women admitted in her year). Theatrical performances in the West End and elsewhere in Britain followed, among them Don Carlos, The Foreigner and Twelfth Night. She returned to the U.S. in 1990.

Career McGraw's first major on-screen role was as Detective Cydavia "Cyd" Madison on The Commish (1992–1994). While on the set, she met actor Nicholas Lea and the pair dated for a few years. McGraw later earned recognition for her role as Melissa Scully, Dana Scully's ill-fated sister, in four episodes of The X-Files ("One Breath", "The Blessing Way", "Paper Clip", and "Christmas Carol"). Coincidentally, Alex Krycek, the recurring antagonist responsible for Melissa's death, was played by Nicholas Lea.

McGraw has starred in The Pursuit of Happiness (1995), Soul Man (1997–1998), Living in Captivity (1998), Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) (2002), and Center of the Universe (2004). Notable guest appearances include Quantum Leap, Night Court, Seinfeld, Cybill, The Larry Sanders Show, Mad About You, The District, The Practice, and Inconceivable. She has been featured in four episodes of Desperate Housewives as Annabel Foster and was cast in Neighbors, an ABC pilot for 2005-06 that was not picked up.

In 2006, McGraw played Jane Braun, campaign advisor to presidential candidate Arnold Vinick, in several episodes of The West Wing and appeared in an episode of Bones. She played U.S. Attorney Valerie Por in Close to Home and Hartley Green in Saving Grace in 2007, as well as Annette Barron in two episodes of Journeyman.

McGraw appeared in 2008's The Dark Knight (the sequel to Batman Begins) as Lieutenant Gordon's wife, Barbara. She guest-starred in the Law & Order: SVU episode "Crush" as Samantha Copeland. She had a recurring role as seductive adulteress Bobbie Barrett in the second season of AMC's Mad Men. McGraw co-starred with Kelsey Grammer on the ABC sitcom Hank before its cancellation on November 11, 2009. She enjoyed a recurring role as Erin, Scott Bakula's love interest, on the TNT original series Men of a Certain Age in 2010–11. In 2011 and 2012, she made guest appearances in the 9th season of NCIS in the episodes "Devil's Triangle", "Devil's Trifecta" and "Devil's Triad" as Diane Sterling, an ex-wife of both Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Tobias Fornell. In season 12 of the series, her character's arc was closed when she was murdered in the episode "Check". McGraw appeared again as Diane in 2019, but as a ghost in the episode “Daughters” (season 16). In 2013, she appeared in ABC series Scandal.

Personal life McGraw is married to composer/recording artist Steve Pierson, and they have a daughter. They all belong to Pierson's band Jambo, which performs roots music for children.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1996Albino AlligatorJenny Ferguson1998Wrongfully AccusedCass Lake2000Nutty Professor II: The KlumpsLeanne Guilford2008Barbara Gordon2009Weather GirlVirginia2010SkatelandDebbie Wheeler2011Meeting SpencerDidi Ravenal2014CarolShort2017Izzy Gets the F*ck Across TownMrs. Percy 2026 Ugly Cry

Television Year Title Role Notes1988RockliffeWPC Heather Ackroyd"Top Man"1988American PlayhouseDixie"The Big Knife"1990Quantum LeapLaura Downey"A Little Miracle"1991Night CourtWendy"To Sleep, No More"1992SeinfeldAngela"The Good Samaritan"1992Rebecca TravisMain role1992–94Cyd MadisonRegular role1994–97Melissa Scully"One Breath", "The Blessing Way", "Paper Clip", "Christmas Carol"1995Mackenzie 'Mac' RutledgeMain role1996CybillLana"Cybill, Get Your Gun"1997Alex"Larry's New Love"1997House of FrankensteinDet. Maggie DelboTV miniseries1998Mad About YouCheryl Gendelman"Good Old Reliable Nathan"1998MillenniumDr. Stoller"The Pest House"1998Living in CaptivityBecca MarekMain role2001Ally McBealNancy Gower"Lost and Found"2001–02Vicky MontgomeryRecurring role2002Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)Lindsay UrichMain role2003SkinsZelda Ziti"Amber Synn", "Blowback"2003Marcie Bartos"Goodbye"2003It's All RelativeKate O'Neil"Thanks, But No Thanks"2004–05Center of the UniverseLily BarnettMain role2005Desperate HousewivesAnnabel Foster"Fear No More", "Sunday in the Park with George", "Goodbye for Now"2005InconceivableSuzanne CohenRecurring role2006Jane BraunRecurring role2006BonesGayle Seaver"The Truth in the Lye"2007Close to HomeValerie Por"Eminent Domain"2007Saving GraceHartley Green"Would You Want Me to Tell You?"2007JourneymanAnnette Barron"The Hanged Man", "Perfidia"2008Gotham TonightBarbara Gordon"Billionaire Without a Cause", "Top Cop"2008Mad MenBobbie BarrettRecurring role2008CSI: MiamiBeth Campbell"Wrecking Crew"2009CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMrs. Griffin"Miscarriage of Justice"2009Law & Order: Special Victims UnitSamantha Copeland"Crush"2009Legally MadSylvieunaired pilot2009–10HankTilly PryorMain role2010MediumSondra Hahn-Barker"Sal"2010Pleading GuiltyElise MalloyTV pilot2010–11Men of a Certain AgeErin RileyMain role (season 2)2011Have a Little FaithJanineTV film2011–19NCISDiane SterlingRecurring role2012Harry's LawAmandaRecurring role2012Fairly LegalJudge Victoria Connors"Teenage Wasteland"2012Hawaii Five-0Patricia Slater"Ohuna"2013Ben and KateVera Everson"Girl Problems", "Bake Off", "Ethics 101"2013ScandalDebora Clarkson"Snake in the Garden"2013LaurenCynthia"2.4", "2.11", "2.12"2013Family ToolsBeverly"Book Club Romance"2014GleeClara Banks"Old Dog, New Tricks"2014DeliriumLydiaTV film2014CrisisJulia DevoreRecurring role2014–15State of AffairsSen. Kyle GreenRecurring role2015ProofSasha Turing"Private Matters", "Reborn", "Tsunami: Part Two"2016–18OutcastPatricia MacCreadySupporting role2018The CrossingEvea.k.a. Greta Pryor 2018 NCIS: New Orleans Gina Powell "In the Blood" 2020–21 Charmed Vivienne Laurent Recurring role; 6 episodes 2023 Paul T. Goldman Audrey Munson Main role; 5 episodes 2024 Ghosts Diane "Sam's Dad" 2026 9-1-1 Bonnie Sheets "Mother’s Boy"

References

External links