Debi Mazar

Deborah Anne Mazar Corcos (/ˈmeɪzɑːr/;[1] born August 13, 1964) is an American actress and television personality, known for playing sharp-tongued women. She began her career with supporting roles in Goodfellas (1990), Little Man Tate (1991) and Singles (1992), followed by lead roles on the legal drama series Civil Wars and L.A. Law.

Debi Mazar
Mazar on December 4, 2009
Born
Deborah Anne Mazar

(1964-08-13) August 13, 1964
New York City, U.S.
Occupation
Years active1981–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2002)​
Partner(s)Paul Reubens (1993–1999)
Children2

From 2011 to 2015, she had a starring role in the Cooking Channel series Extra Virgin, along with her husband Gabriele Corcos. She is also known for her role as press agent Shauna Roberts on the HBO series Entourage and currently stars as Maggie Amato on TV Land's Younger.

Early life

Mazar was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, the daughter of Nancy and Harry Mazar. Her father was born in the Latvian SSR, Soviet Union, to a Jewish family, but raised Roman Catholic. She had no knowledge of her father's ancestry until her twenties.[2] Mazar's parents annulled their marriage shortly after she was born,[3] and she spent her early life in the country in upstate New York with her mother.[3] As a teenager, she relocated to Long Island, where she lived with her godparents.[3]

Mazar worked various odd jobs, including selling jewelry at Fiorucci with Linda Ramone and Joey Arias, later as a dental assistant, and at a nightclub.[4]

Career

While working at Danceteria, Mazar met Madonna,[3] who hired Mazar to do her makeup for the music video for "Everybody". Mazar also originated the hair and makeup for the play Speed-the-Plow.[4]

Mazar began her career as a hip hop b-girl in New York City. Her first television appearance was on the pilot for a hip hop television dance show, Graffiti Rock in 1984.[5] She appeared in five of Madonna's music videos[6] – "Papa Don't Preach", "True Blue" (both 1986), "Justify My Love" (1990), "Deeper and Deeper" (1992) and "Music" (2000).[7]

Mazar has played a number of minor supporting roles in a variety of films, including Sandy, a friend of Henry Hill's mistress in Goodfellas (1990); The Doors (1991); a small role in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992); Bullets Over Broadway (1994); and as Spice (of Sugar and Spice, with Drew Barrymore as Sugar) in Batman Forever (1995). She gained her first real following from playing a character on Civil Wars in the early 1990s. When that series was cancelled her character was brought over as a recurring role between 1993 and 1994 season of the TV drama L.A. Law.[7]

She played the villain Regina, a modern-day Cruella de Vil, in the family film Beethoven's 2nd (1993). She has appeared in independent films Inside Monkey Zetterland and Nowhere and her short-lived sitcom, Temporarily Yours. She appeared as the genie in the Space Monkeys' music video, "Sugarcane".[7]

Mazar appeared on a Friends episode in its eighth season ("The One Where Rachel Has a Baby, Part One"). Mazar played "Doreen, the Evil Bitch," a crazed pregnant woman who shares a hospital room with Rachel.[8] In the 1999 docudrama film The Insider she played character Lowell Bergman's assistant Debi. From 2000-02 she played Jackie on the television drama That's Life. She provided the voice of Maria Latore in the video games Grand Theft Auto III (2001) and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004). Also in 2004, she made a cameo appearance in the movie Collateral in which she played the passenger while arguing with her boyfriend (Bodhi Elfman) while the movie's main protagonist, Max Durocher (Jamie Foxx), is driving them to their destination.

From 2004 to 2011, she had a supporting role on Entourage as press agent Shauna Roberts. She also had a recurring role on the sitcom Living with Fran, playing Fran Drescher's character's cousin, Merrill. She did a two-episode stint on the television series Ugly Betty as fraudster Leah Stillman.[9]

Mazar was a contestant on the ninth season of Dancing With the Stars. She was partnered with Maksim Chmerkovskiy and finished in twelfth place, eliminated in the third week (October 6, 2009).[10] In 2012, Mazar played Jessica, a glamorous, leather-clad villainess in Home Alone: The Holiday Heist.[11]

Mazar began appearing on a Cooking Channel cooking/reality show television series in January 2011. She, her husband Gabriele Corcos and their two daughters star in the series, which depicts their lives, and showcases their own recipes. The show is scripted. The show has had four seasons as of June 2014. In 2015, Mazar and her husband started another series on the Cooking Channel entitled Extra Virgin Americana where they travel the U.S., road trip style, with their children and family friend searching for great food.[12]

Beginning in 2015, Mazar has starred in Younger with Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff as Maggie. The series met critical acclaim and began filming its fifth season in February 2018.[13]

Mazar appeared in the second season of The $100,000 Pyramid reboot on ABC on August 6, 2017. In the main game, she helped her contestant get 7 clues in only 15 seconds causing host Michael Strahan to say, "I think that's the quickest round we've ever had, 15 seconds!"[14]

In 2018 she played Ava Gardner in the Spanish period comedy-drama television series Arde Madrid, telling the story of the period which the American actress spent in Madrid during Francoist Spain.

Personal life

Prior to her marriage, she dated actor Paul Reubens for several years beginning in 1993. Reubens has since credited Mazar with ending his depression resulting from his 1991 arrest.[15]

She married Gabriele Corcos on March 16, 2002, in a ceremony officiated by Ellen Burstyn.[16] They have two daughters, Giulia and Evelina. The family formerly lived in Los Angeles but moved to Brooklyn, New York in 2009. They opened a cafe/restaurant called Tuscan Gun. The family currently divides their time between Brooklyn and a 15th-century home outside of Florence, Italy, that was given to them as a wedding present by Mazar's in-laws.[16]

Mazar has had several dogs, including a dog named Delores who was prominently featured in the first season of her show Extra Virgin, until the dog's death in 2011.

Mazar and Corcos formerly hosted an internet show focused on Tuscan cuisine, Under The Tuscan Gun.[17] On January 19, 2011, Debi and her husband Gabriele began hosting the cooking show Extra Virgin on the Cooking Channel, and released a cookbook, Recipes & Love From Our Tuscan Kitchen, in 2014.[18][19][20]

Mazar and her husband both appeared on an episode of the ABC talk show The Chew in 2014 to promote their show, Extra Virgin.

On March 21, 2020, Mazar announced she had been diagnosed with COVID-19.[21]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1981 Downtown 81 Peppermint Lounge Dancer a.k.a. New York Beat Movie
Uncredited
1990 Goodfellas Sandy
1991 The Doors Whiskey Girl
1991 Jungle Fever Denise
1991 Little Man Tate Gina
1992 In the Soup Suzie
1992 Love Is Like That Delores
1992 Inside Monkey Zetterland Daphne
1992 Singles Brenda
1992 Malcolm X Peg
1992 Toys Nurse Debbie
1993 So I Married an Axe Murderer Susan
1993 Money for Nothing Monica Russo
1993 Beethoven's 2nd Regina
1994 Bullets over Broadway Violet
1995 Batman Forever Spice
1995 Empire Records Jane
1996 Cosas que nunca te dije Diane
1996 Girl 6 Girl #39
1996 Trees Lounge Crystal
1996 Red Ribbon Blues Darcy
1996 Space Truckers Cindy
1997 Meet Wally Sparks Sandy Gallo
1997 Nowhere Kozy
1997 She's So Lovely Georgie
1997 The Deli Teresa
1997 Casper: A Spirited Beginning Angie Lyons Video
1997 Trouble on the Corner Ericca Rice
1998 Marry Me or Die
1998 Frogs for Snakes Simone
1998 Hush Lisa
1998 There's No Fish Food in Heaven Rosie
1999 The Insider Debbie De Luca
1999 House on Haunted Hill Jennifer Jenzen Scenes deleted[22]
2000 More Dogs Than Bones Mary
2000 Held for Ransom Rita
2002 Ten Tiny Love Stories Six
2002 The Tuxedo Steena
2003 Who Killed the Idea? Mysterious Woman Short film
2003 Deception Janet Steiner
2004 Collateral Young Professional Woman
2004 My Tiny Universe Bonnie
2005 Be Cool Marla
2005 Edmond Matron
2005 Wait Joanne Short film
2006 Lies & Alibis Det. Bryce a.k.a. The Alibi
2006 Red Riding Hood Red's Mom
2008 A Beautiful Life Susan
2008 The Women Tanya
2013 Lovelace Dolly Sharp
2013 Return to Babylon Gloria Swanson
2014 She's Funny That Way Vickie
2015 Entourage Shauna Roberts
2017 The Only Living Boy in New York Anna
2017 Wonder Wheel Birthday Party Guest
2018 Younger: Girls Maggie Short film

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1984 Graffiti Rock Dancer Unsold TV pilot
1991–1993 Civil Wars Denise Iannello Main role (36 episodes)
1993–1994 L.A. Law Denise Iannello Main Role (22 episodes)
1994 Witch Hunt The Manicurist TV film
1995 Burke's Law Rachel Davis Episode: "Who Killed the Motor Car Maverick?"
1997 Temporarily Yours Deb DeAngelo Main role (6 episodes)
1998 Witness to the Mob Deborah Gravano TV film
David and Lisa Maggie TV film
1998–1999 Working Liz Tricoli Regular role (17 episodes)
1999 The Wild Thornberrys Mongoose (voice) Episode: "Darwin Plays the Palace"
The Sissy Duckling Mother Duck 2 (voice) TV film
Providence Vonda Vickers Episodes: "Thank You, Providence: Parts 1 & 2"
2000 Get Real Kate Harris Episode: "Saved"
2000–2002 That's Life Jackie O'Grady Main role (34 episodes)
2002 Friends Doreen, the Evil Bitch Episode: "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby: Part 1"
The Groovenians Yalda, Swirly, Cuckoo Bird (voice) TV short (unknown episodes)
2003 Wanda at Large Jenny Hawkins Episode: "Unaired Pilot"
2003–2004 7th Heaven Nurse Kelly 2 episodes
All of Us Alex / Debi Recurring role (7 episodes)
2004 The Practice Gigi Coley 2 episodes
CSI: Miami Rebecca Briggs Episode: "Speed Kills"
2004–2011 Entourage Shauna Roberts 50 episodes
2005 NYPD Blue Maxine Annunziato Episode: "Lenny Scissorhands"
2005–2006 Living With Fran Cousin Merrill 4 episodes
2006 Ghost Whisperer Josie Episode: "The Woman of His Dreams"
Ugly Betty Leah Feldman 2 episodes
2008 Privileged Debra Episode: "Pilot"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Peggy Bernardi Episode: "Babes"
2009 Burn Notice Amy Episode: "Friends Like These"
Castle Paula Haas Episode: "When the Bough Breaks"
Dancing With The Stars Herself Contestant; eliminated 4th, 12th/16
2010 The Life & Times of Tim Rochelle (voice) Episode: "Rodney Has a Wife?"
Hell's Kitchen Herself Episode: "12 Chefs Compete Part 1"
Hawthorne Donna Alberghetti Episode: "Hidden Truths"
Jonas Mona Klein Recurring role (7 episodes)
2011 Good Vibes Barbara "Babs" Brando (voice) Main role (12 episodes)
2011–2015 Extra Virgin Herself Series regular (68 episodes)
2012 Melissa & Joey Harper Quinn Episode: "The Knockout"
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist Jessica TV film
Happily Divorced Jan Episode: "The Back-Up Fran"
2014 The Chew Herself 1 episodes
2015–present Younger Maggie Amato Series regular (59 episodes)
2016 Elementary Detective Cosa Episode: "It Serves You Right"
2017 The Untitled Action Bronson Show Herself 1 episode
2017–2019 Happy! Isabella Scaramucci 5 episodes
2018 The Simpsons Minnie Szyslak (voice) Episode: "King Leer"
Arde Madrid Ava Gardner 8 episodes
2019 Power Auntie Doloris Episode: "It's All Your Fault"
2020 Katy Keene Debi Mazar Episode: "Chapter Twelve: Chain of Fools"

Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Grand Theft Auto III Maria Latore (voice)
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Maria Latore (voice)

Music videos

References
  1. Debi Mazar (October 6, 2009). "Dancing with the Stars" round three: results show (Television). United States: ABC. Event occurs at 41:30. I've just been going by /ˈmeɪzɑːr/ for all these years, but it's probably /məˈzɑːr/.
  2. "Debi Mazar". Biography.com. The Biography Channel. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  3. Posen, Zac. "Debi Mazar's History of New York". Interview. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  4. "Debi Mazar". intothegloss.com. May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  5. "Debi Mazar Recounts 6 Close Encounters with Hip Hop in the '80s". egotripland.com. August 15, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  6. "Debi Mazar: My Kids Have Play Dates With Madonna". UsMagazine.com. November 4, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  7. "Debi Mazar Biography". Filmreference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  8. "Friends S08E23 TOW Rachel Has A Baby (Parts 1&2) - video dailymotion". Dailymotion. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  9. Ugly Betty (TV Series 2006–2010), retrieved March 10, 2018
  10. Bosland, Katie; Ferran, Lee (September 21, 2009). "Dancing With the Stars Double Elimination: Tom Delay and Debi Mazar Go Down". ABC News. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  11. Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (TV Movie 2012), retrieved March 10, 2018
  12. Extra Virgin Americana, retrieved March 10, 2018
  13. "Younger: Charles Michael Davis Promoted to Series Regular". TVLine. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  14. "The $100,000 Pyramid: Bobby Moynihan vs Debi Mazar and Wendie Malick vs Jesse Palmer - Watch Season 2 Episode 08". ABC. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  15. "Paul Reubens: Playboy Interview". Playboy. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  16. "Debi Mazar in Entourage – Back in the Public Eye". Newyorkmetro.com. June 6, 2005. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
  17. "Under The Tuscan Gun". November 3, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
  18. "Extra Virgin with Debi Mazar & Gabriele Corcos". Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  19. Rochlin, Margy (February 2, 2011). "Debi Mazar Hits the Kitchen on Extra Virgin". TV Guide. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  20. Pace, Gina (April 20, 2014). "'Entourage' actress Debi Mazar and family test out their Easter feast for the Daily News". New York Daily News.
  21. Haring, Bruce (March 21, 2020). "Debi Mazar Has Coronavirus, Quarantined At Home And Making The Best Of It". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  22. Kelly, Dan. "DVD Review – The House on Haunted Hill (1999)". The Digital Bits. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
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