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Kali Rocha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kali Rocha
Rocha in 2005
Born (1971-12-05) December 5, 1971 (age 52)
OccupationActress
Years active1996–present
Spouse
Michael Krikorian
(m. 2006)
Children2

Kali Rocha (born December 5, 1971) is an American actress.[1] She is known for portraying Karen Rooney, the mother of four Rooney children and school's vice principal, in the Disney Channel sitcom Liv and Maddie.[2] She has also co-written four episodes of the show.[3]

Early life

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Rocha was born in Memphis, Tennessee and grew up in Rhode Island,[4] graduating from Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in 1993.[5]

Career

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Rocha's career began on stage in the August 1993 revival of the Jane Bowles play In the Summer House at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.[6] Since then she has been in multiple Broadway and Off-Broadway productions including Noises Off and Nicky Silver's comedy The Altruists where she created the role of Cybil.[7]

Her on-screen debut was in the 1996 cinematic adaptation of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, as Mercy Lewis. She stood out when she played the Atlantic American flight attendant who argued with Ben Stiller's character at the airport in the 2000 comedy Meet the Parents, a role she reprised in the sequel Meet the Fockers.[8] She also had a recurring role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Anya's vengeance demon friend, Halfrek, and appeared as William the Bloody's love interest, Cecily. Rocha played Stonewall Jackson's wife, Anna in Ron Maxwell's Gods and Generals, an epic drama about the first two years of the American Civil War. Other films include The Object of My Affection, Autumn in New York, White Oleander, When Billie Beat Bobby, and Ready? OK!.

She has appeared on the Will & Grace episode "Strangers With Candice", as a straight woman who flirts with Will. In spring 2006, Rocha began acting in the short-lived NBC sitcom Teachers. She guest-starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Cindy Marino, an aggressive TV reporter. Also, she appeared on an episode of Bones as a victim's mother. Rocha has also played the character of a fourth-year resident surgeon, Dr. Sydney Heron, at Seattle Grace Hospital in the ABC TV series Grey's Anatomy.

In 2009, Rocha appeared with fellow Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum Emma Caulfield in the film TiMER.[9] Rocha starred in the first and only season of Sherri starring Sherri Shepherd from The View which was loosely based on Shepherd's life. She played Summer, Sherri's boss and eventual friend. It aired on the Lifetime Network.

In 2016, Rocha was cast as Marcy Burns, a recurring character on the CBS sitcom Man with a Plan. In 2018, she was upgraded to a series regular for the third season.[10]

Personal life

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In January 2008, Rocha announced that she was pregnant.[11] She gave birth to her son Barlow Aix Krikorian on August 4, 2008, and her daughter Savria Dune Krikorian on January 25, 2011.[12]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1996 The Crucible Mercy Lewis
1998 The Object of My Affection Melissa Marx
2000 Autumn in New York Shannon
Meet the Parents Flight Attendant
2002 White Oleander Susan Valeris
2003 Gods and Generals Anna Morrison Jackson
2004 Stuck Sasha Short film
Meet the Fockers Flight Attendant
2005 Confessions of an Action Star Beth
Bam Bam and Celeste Angela
Seagull Kali
2006 Falling for Grace Carla
Ira & Abby Tracy
2007 Dead Write Samantha
Ripple Effect Alex
2008 Over Her Dead Body Angel
Ready? OK! Hallie Hinton
John's Hand Terry Short film
2009 TiMER Patty
Stolen Coral
2010 Video Night Kali Video short
2011 Mr. Stache Narrator Short film
Serenity House Marnie Short film
2012 Brake 911 Operator
2014 Space Station 76 Donna
The Loft Mimi Landry
2016 Lend a Hand for Love Ernestine Short film
Gary Got Involved! Neighbor Short film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Liberty! The American Revolution Eliza Wilkinson TV miniseries
1998 The Love Letter Flossy Whitcomb TV film
2001 When Billie Beat Bobby Connie TV film
Cursed (aka The Weber Show) Sophie Episode: "...And Then Jack Had Two Dates"
Becker Kayla Episode: "Psycho Therapy"
2002 Family Law Kelly Gilbert Episode: "Alienation of Affection"
Hack Joyce Episode: "All Night Long"
2000–2002 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cecily Addams/Halfrek 7 episodes
2003 Crossing Jordan Felix Tate Episode: "Sunset Division"
Will & Grace Stephanie Episode: "Strangers with Candice"
2005 Family Plan Stacy TV film
Without a Trace Liz Murray Episode: "Party Girl"
2006 Teachers Principal Emma Wiggins All 6 episodes
Standoff Leanne Benson Episode: "Partners in Crime"
Bones Jackie Swanson Episode: "The Girl with the Curl"
2006–2007, 2024 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Sydney Heron 9 episodes[13]
2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Cindy Marino Episode: "Haystack"
Boston Legal Allison Lovejoy Episode: "Duck and Cover"
The Call Wendy 'The Wolf' Wolfram TV film
2008 Notes from the Underbelly Paige Bartlett Episode: "Friends and Neighbors"
2009 Monk Maria Scheter Episode: "Mr. Monk Fights City Hall"
Sherri Summer Dickie All 13 episodes
2010 $#*! My Dad Says Roberta Episode: "You Can't Handle the Truce"
2011 Drop Dead Diva Dr. Audrey Foley Episode: "You Bet Your Life"
The Exes Deanna Episode: "An Inconvenient Tooth"
2012 Modern Family Party Planner Episode: "Leap Day"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Ms. Fowler Episode: "Altered Stakes"
Puppy Love Gail TV film
Bits and Pieces Jodi TV film (Liv and Maddie original pilot)
2013–2017 Liv and Maddie Karen Rooney Main role
2016–2020 Man with a Plan Marcy Burns Recurring: seasons 1–2;
Main: seasons 3–4
2019 Harvey Street Kids Marie Curie Guest voice
2023 Waco: The Aftermath Ruth Riddle Main role
2024 That Girl Lay Lay Dr. Hirt Episode: Toothaches and CHOFMA Breaks"
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References

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  1. ^ "Kali Rocha". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  2. ^ Quinn, Marie (September 8, 2014). "We talk to Kali Rocha (the mom on) Liv and Maddie on the Disney Channel Set Visit". RedCarpetReportTV.com. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  3. ^ Half Crazy Mama (March 26, 2015). "New Liv and Maddie Episode co-written by Kali Rocha!". HalfCrazyMama.com. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  4. ^ "Kali Rocha". Hollywood.com. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  5. ^ Staff (September 1, 2015). "Alumni on the Small Screen". Carnegie Mellon University. R12, 2017.
  6. ^ "In the Summer House". Playbill. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  7. ^ Shapiro, Marjorie (March 5, 2000). "Marge Says: The Altruists". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  8. ^ "Greg Has to Wait – Meet the Parents Movie Clip". YouTube. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  9. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (May 14, 2010). "TiMER: A Sci-Fi Love Story". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Petski, Denise (4 September 2018). "'Man With A Plan': Kali Rocha Upped To Series Regular For Season 3". deadline.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  11. ^ TV Guide News (January 31, 2008). "Grey's Anatomy Doc Expecting". TV Guide. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
  12. ^ "Kali Rocha expecting first child". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  13. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 15, 2024). "Blast From The Past: 'Grey's Anatomy' Brings Back Kali Rocha For Guest Arc As Sydney Heron After 17 Years". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 15, 2024.