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Merrin Dungey

Merrin Dungey

Actor · Born August 6, 1971 (55) · Sacramento, California, USA

Merrin Melissa Dungey (born August 6, 1971) is an American film and television actress, known for her roles on the television series The King of Queens, Alias, Malcolm in the Middle, and Summerland. Dungey also appeared as Ursula on Once Upon a Time, and starred in the legal drama Conviction. Most recently, she appeared on the medical drama The Resident, and costars in the 2019 legal drama The Fix. Dungey is married to Matthew Drake. They married in a Mariachi-style wedding ceremony in Cancun, Mexico, in May 2007. She gave birth to their first daughter in June 2008, and a second daughter in 2011.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 6, 1971 (55)
From
Sacramento, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
56 on MovieCove · 67 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

What are Merrin Dungey's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
30%
Self
29%
Survival
24%
Morality
14%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 5 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 1 · Serious 1 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 1 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 0 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 4 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 4
Hero
1 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Dread
4
Warm
4
Melancholic
4
Hopeful
5
Other
10

How their films linger

Hopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Merrin Dungey's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 48 of their 56 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Merrin Dungey's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

67 credits, 56 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair(2026)

    Show 1 episode · as Kitty Kenarban

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Lincoln Lawyer(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as Regina Turner

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Shining Vale(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Kam

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • American Horror Stories(2021)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Andi Grant

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • The Madness Inside Me(2020)

    as Madison

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Lower Decks(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Wendy (voice) · as Wendy / Solvang First Officer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Greenland(2020)

    as Major Breen

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Picard(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Richter Kalungay

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Morning Show(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Joy Taylor

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • The Fix(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · as Carisa 'CJ' Emerson

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Resident(2018)

    Show 14 episodes · as Claire Thorpe

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • S.W.A.T.(2017)

    Show 5 episodes · as Deputy Chief Bennett

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • CHIPS(2017)

    as Joy Jackson

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Big Little Lies(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Detective Adrienne Quinlan

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Man with a Plan(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Felicia

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Conviction(2016)

    Show 13 episodes · as Maxine Bohen

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Lucifer(2016)

    Show 4 episodes · as Officer Sonja Harris

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Med(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dr. Jennifer Kingston

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Con Man(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Jess

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Grace and Frankie(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Elena

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Diabolical(2015)

    as Mrs. Wallace

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Some Kind of Beautiful(2014)

    as Angela

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Chasing Life(2014)

    Show 15 episodes · as Dr. Susan Hamburg

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine(2013)

    Show 5 episodes · as Sharon Jeffords

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)(2013)

    Show as Morgan

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Once Upon a Time(2011)

    Show 6 episodes · as Ursula

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Revenge(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Barbara Snow

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Life Happens(2011)

    as Hester

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Bob's Burgers(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Bank Lady (voice) · as Doris (voice) · as Judith (voice) · as Kelly (voice) · as Tracking Mail Artist (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Episodes(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Tonight Show Producer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Shameless(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Rizzoli & Isles(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Gwen Miller

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Hung(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Liz

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Better Off Ted(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sheila

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Castle(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Monica Finch

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • 90210(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Therapist

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • The Greg Behrendt Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Closer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Ms. Reed

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Naomi Bennett

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Boston Legal(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Sandy Zionts

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Summerland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 26 episodes · as Susannah Rexford

  • Scream at the Sound of the Beep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Jill

  • Odessa or Bust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Disgruntled Diner

  • Alias(2001)

    Show 36 episodes · as Allison Doren · as Francie Calfo

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Sky Is Falling(1999)

    as Sheila

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Amy

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Twyla Owens

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Grosse Pointe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · as Joan

  • Malcolm in the Middle(2000)

    Show 6 episodes · as Kitty Kenarban

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Daisy

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Edtv(1999)

    as Ms. Seaver

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Jesse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Rosemary

  • The King of Queens(1998)

    Show 40 episodes · as Kelly Palmer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Deep Impact(1998)

    as Sheila Bradley

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Premium Blend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Party Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 6 episodes · as Wanda

  • Tracey Takes On... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Caroline in the City(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Female Prostitute

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Friends(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Museum Official

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Daphina

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Babylon 5(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Security Guard

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Saved by the Bell: The New Class(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Coach Williams

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • Living Single(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Martin(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Monique

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Seinfeld(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Cashier

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Murphy Brown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Masterwork (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 66 titles, 65 of them dated from 1988 to 2026; peak year 2020.

Biggest box office

Greenland (2020)

$52M worldwide

Highest rated

Alias (2001)

Midcredits 71st

Most popular right now

The King of Queens (1998)

Film career

19882026

Peak 2020 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting66 of 66: 66 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score77th

By decade

1980s2 · acting1990s15 · acting2000s17 · acting2010s23 · acting2020s8 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Merrin Dungey's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 9; across their 5 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 22nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

22ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Midcredits score across 56 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up30
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 56 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved17
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

The Sky Is Falling (1999)

65th percentile spread · 16% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)

Midcredits 97th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 59/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 33. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Merrin Dungey's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 67 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles22–50 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles37–78 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles21–59 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles19–76 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.