Pamela Reed

Pamela Reed is an American actress whose career spans over four decades, marked by a blend of comedic timing and dramatic depth. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she honed her craft at the University of Washington where she earned a B.F.A., laying a solid foundation for her future stage and screen work. Reed first gained notice on the off‑Broadway scene, earning a Drama Desk Award for Getting Out and an Obie Award for sustained excellence, accolades that underscored her theatrical versatility and commitment to challenging material.Transitioning to television, she became a regular on the 1977 CBS drama The Andros Targets and later delivered a memorable performance in the HBO series Tanner ’88, for which she secured a CableACE Award for Best Actress. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s she assembled an impressive filmography, appearing in classics such as The Long Riders (1980), The Right Stuff (1983), and the comedy Kindergarten Cop (1990), where she played Arnold Schwarzenegger’s sharp‑witted police partner Phoebe O’Hara. Her role as the exasperated wife Alison Langley in Bean (1997) and as the matriarch Gail Green in the post‑apocalyptic series Jericho further showcased her ability to oscillate between humor and gravitas. In more recent years, Reed added a beloved recurring turn as Marlene Griggs‑Knope on the hit NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, portraying the mother of Leslie Knope with warmth and comedic flair.Beyond acting, she has contributed her voice to animated series like The Simpsons and engaged in charitable storytelling through Storyline Online, reading Stellaluna for young audiences. On the personal front, Reed met director Sandy Smolan on the set of Rachel River; the couple married in 1988 and have adopted two children, Reed and Lily, balancing a vibrant family life with an enduring presence in Hollywood.