Mary Stuart Masterson
Mary Stuart Masterson (born June 28, 1966) is an American actress and director known for Some Kind of Wonderful, Fried Green Tomatoes, Benny & Joon, and her work in television and independent film. Discover her journey, acting style, and legacy.
Introduction
Mary Stuart Masterson is an accomplished American actress and filmmaker whose career spans decades and mediums. From her early start as a child actor, through 1980s and 1990s films of emotional depth and popular resonance, to television and directing work, Masterson has blended commercial success with more intimate artistic projects. Her performances are often admired for their sensitivity, integrity, and nuance.
Early Life & Family
Mary Stuart Masterson was born on June 28, 1966, in Los Angeles, California. Peter Masterson (a writer, director, and actor) and Carlin Glynn (an actress). Peter Jr. and Alexandra.
Her upbringing was immersed in the arts. Early in life, she appeared (at about age eight) in the film The Stepford Wives (1975), in which she played a daughter opposite her real-life father.
As a teenager, she studied at Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center in upstate New York, alongside fellow budding actors like Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Cryer. New York University (for about eight months).
Acting Career
Return to Film, Rise in the ’80s & ’90s
After her early acting role, Mary Stuart Masterson returned to screen work in 1985, playing Danni in Heaven Help Us. Over the next few years she took on increasingly prominent roles:
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In At Close Range (1986), she played Terry, appearing opposite Sean Penn and Christopher Walken.
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She starred as Watts in Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), a film directed by Howard Deutch, in a role that showcased her ability to balance toughness and vulnerability.
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In 1989, she appeared in Chances Are and Immediate Family. In Immediate Family, she played Lucy Moore, and her performance won her the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In the early 1990s, Masterson took on roles that widened her range:
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Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), based on the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, became one of her more widely recognized films.
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Benny & Joon (1993): she played Joon, a character with mental health challenges, showcasing her emotional subtlety and chemistry with co-star Johnny Depp.
She also ventured into different genres: Bad Girls (1994), Bed of Roses (1996), and more.
Television, Stage & Directing
In the 2000s and beyond, Masterson broadened her work into television and behind the camera:
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She appeared in the series Kate Brasher (2001), on which she also served as producer.
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She had a recurring role from 2004 to 2007 on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Dr. Rebecca Hendrix.
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She performed on Broadway in a revival of the musical Nine (2003), earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
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Her directorial debut came in 2007 with the film The Cake Eaters, which she also had a hand in writing.
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More recently, she has appeared in TV roles in shows like Blindspot (2017–2019), NCIS, and For Life (2020).
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In 2023, she appeared in the film Five Nights at Freddy’s.
She has also narrated audiobooks and participated in various stage projects.
Personal Life
Mary Stuart Masterson’s personal life has included relationships, marriage, and motherhood:
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She was first married to George Carl Francisco from 1990 to 1992.
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She then married Damon Santostefano in 2000; they divorced in 2004.
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In 2006, she married actor Jeremy Davidson (they met on a stage production).
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With Davidson, she has four children:
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Phineas Bee (born October 2009)
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Twins Wilder and Clio (born August 2011)
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A fourth child born in October 2013 (name less commonly publicized)
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Her mother, Carlin Glynn, passed away in July 2023 at age 83. Masterson publicly expressed gratitude for their final moments and spoke of her mother’s devotion, creativity, and aura of warmth and strength.
Style, Strengths & Legacy
Mary Stuart Masterson has often been praised for roles that combine strength, authenticity, and emotional depth rather than superficial glamour. She has chosen characters that challenge stereotypes—women who are tough yet vulnerable, quirky yet grounded.
Her transition into directing and producing shows a desire to shape narratives, not just inhabit them. The Cake Eaters is a film about family, loss, and connection, reflecting the kind of grounded, human stories she gravitates toward.
In television, her steady roles in ensemble casts illustrate her versatility and resilience in a shifting industry. Her Broadway nomination underscores her talent beyond screen acting.
Masterson's legacy is that of an artist who maintains integrity, evolves across different media, and balances commercial and personal work. She demonstrates how a performer can sustain relevance without compromising depth of craft.