Marcia Cross, whose full name is Marcia Anne Cross, is a celebrated American actress. At 59 years old, she boasts an extensive and diverse career that transitioned from daytime soap opera to primetime television.
Her performances in her dramas have garnered acclaim and admiration from both critics and audiences.
Her notable roles in soap operas encompass The Edge of Night, One Life to Live, and Another World. Subsequently, she gained recognition for her portrayal in Melrose Place and received accolades for playing Bree Van de Kamp, a homemaker on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives aired from 2004-2012.
Life Before Her Profession
Born on March 25, 1962, Marcia Cross was raised in Marlborough, Massachusetts. She hails from Irish and English descent and was raised in the Catholic faith.
She graduated from Marlborough High School in 1980, which earned her a partial scholarship opportunity to attend Juilliard.
She further pursued her studies and graduated in 1984, obtaining a B. F. A. in Acting.
In 1997, thirteen years after her previous education, she returned to academia to complete her master’s in psychology. She accomplished this in 2003 at Antioch University, Los Angeles.
She has two siblings. Her mother, Janet, was an educator, and her father, Mark Cross, worked as a personnel manager.
Marcia Anne Cross’s Professional Life
In 1984, Marcia Anne commenced her career by appearing on The Edge of Night.
She portrayed the character Liz Correll in a recurring role. Subsequently, she featured in other productions alongside notable personalities such as Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson before joining One Life to Live, the ABC daytime opera, until 1987.
During this period, she made appearances in The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James, Quantum Leap, Knots Landing, Who’s the Boss, and Cheers.
She then starred for approximately 5 seasons in Melrose Place, a soap opera in Fox primetime. Some commercial and mainstream productions in which she appeared include Seinfeld, Boy Meets World, CSI, and more.
Arguably, her most globally recognized role was as Bree Van de Kamp in the hit television series Desperate Housewives.
Shortly after its first season, the Desperate Housewives show received six out of seven Emmy nominations.
The show debuted in 2004, and Marcia Cross garnered multiple award nominations for her role, including an Emmy, three Golden Globe, and five Screen Actors Guild Awards.
She also won two Screen Actors Guild awards and a Satellite Award. The series concluded in 2014 after eight seasons.
Now, her fans have been thrown into a frenzy by a trailer for a Desperate Housewives revival, which comes 10 years after the iconic show’s conclusion.
Marcia Cross’s Personal Life
As evidenced by her education and background, Marcia Cross had an early interest in the realm of acting and performing.
She received piano instruction and dance lessons while also serving as her high school’s mascot at school games. She pursued her education at Ceil Sharon School of Dance.
Her initial foray into the acting world was marked by her participation in the school play The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
In terms of her relationships, Marcia was involved with a senior from her school, Richard Jordan. Following Jordan’s passing in 1993 due to a brain tumor, she married Tom Mahoney, a stockbroker, in 2006.
Shortly after the wedding, Marcia Cross underwent Vitro Fertilization and gave birth to fraternal twin daughters.
Her daughters, named Eden and Savannah, were born in February 2007, when Marcia Cross had just turned 45.
Current Engagements – Appearance on Wheel of Fortune with Pat Sajak
Marcia Cross’s appearance on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune proved to be an engaging night as she participated in the show alongside Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves player) and Anthony Anderson (Black-ish star).
Each celebrity competed to raise funds for their respective charities.
During the “Before and After” puzzle segment of the show, Karl Towns mistakenly solved the puzzle out of turn.
Following deliberation by the producer, who was summoned by the host Pat Sajak, the decision favored the guest Anthony Anderson, who correctly answered the puzzle and won the round.
Pat Sajak, the host, amusingly elucidated that they had to abide by the show’s rules, likening it to the NBA where referees rarely, if ever, miss a call. This lighthearted exchange left the audience and fans in stitches.
Marcia Cross also raised a significant sum for her designated charity, Stand Up to Cancer, amassing $62,150.
Marcia Cross’s Struggle with Cancer
Marcia Cross has consistently demonstrated that she is a well-regarded actress who has influenced many others.
Her shows Melrose Place and Desperate Housewives continue to be remembered and discussed even today. However, she has unfortunately battled cancer.
Marcia Cross was diagnosed with anal cancer, and her husband also contended with throat cancer. Her cancer was also linked to HPV.
Reportedly, Marcia Cross has been in remission since 2018. Her last round of chemotherapy occurred in 2017.
Struggling with mouth sores and stomach issues, cancer posed considerable challenges for the acclaimed star. Nevertheless, she has maintained a positive outlook and endeavors to raise awareness whenever the opportunity presents itself.
“For reasons unknown to me, I do not feel any shame,” she revealed upon discovering her cancer during a routine examination by her gynecologist.
“I wanted to progress with my career and my life,” Cross articulated later. While she has gracefully and comprehensively assumed the role of a spokesperson for cancer since 2018, Cross has been in remission.
