Why Mary Pat From Good Girls Look So Familiar
Starring Christina Hendricks, Retta, and Mae Whitman, "Good Girls" is a lighthearted crime drama that follows three suburban moms from Michigan who are pulled into the seedy world of money laundering in order to make ends meet. Beth Boland (Hendricks) is a housewife and mother of four who is dejected after her husband cheated on her, while her younger sister Annie (Whitman) is a single mom who works as a cashier to support her son. Their longtime friend, Ruby (Retta), is a waitress with two kids who is struggling to pay for her daughter's mounting medical bills. After deciding to rob the grocery store where Annie works, the women are shocked to discover that the business is actually a front for a crime syndicate led by the uncompromising Rio (Manny Montana). Beth, Annie, and Ruby are drawn into a money laundering scheme that they scramble to keep hidden from their loved ones. Their ordinary lives are turned upside down in a series of mounting crises that make for some seriously great television.
"Good Girls” also features actress Allison Tolman as Mary Pat, a recurring character in the first two seasons who stirs up quite a bit of trouble for the show's leading ladies. From blackmail, to hiding her deceased husband in her freezer, you never quite know what to expect from Mary Pat. Think you've seen Tolman before? Here are some of her most notable roles besides playing Mary Pat on "Good Girls."
Allison Tolman fought off Krampus
One of the strangest holiday movies ever made, "Krampus" is a horror comedy flick that follows the Engel family as they prepare for Christmas. Max (Emjay Anthony), one of the youngest members of the family, is excited to spend the holidays with his loved ones and continue family traditions. Max is still a firm believer in Santa Claus and plans to write him a letter, but he grows disillusioned with the festivities as tensions between family members rise. The Engels end up trapped in their home during a blizzard and one by one, the characters are picked off by unseen forces. Creepy snowmen, a terrifying jack-in-the-box, and sentient gingerbread men can only mean one thing: Krampus has been summoned by the family's discord. Krampus, a figure from European folklore, is the opposite of Santa Claus. This malicious half-man, half-goat terrorizes naughty children during the holiday season (via History).
Allison Tolman appears in the film as Linda, Max's maternal aunt whose arrival brings even more chaos into the Engel home. When Krampus and his minions start to attack, Linda and her husband Howard (David Koechner) do their level best to help save the family from imminent doom. Tolman's down to earth performance manages to be both funny and serious, perfectly matching the bizarre tone of "Krampus."
You might recognize Allison Tolman from Fargo
Inspired by the Coen Brothers film of the same name, "Fargo" is a crime drama that chronicles the lives of various characters living in the Midwestern United States. Several of the season's narratives are connected, but other installments stand alone. Allison Tolman stars in Season 1 as Deputy Molly Solverson, a law enforcement officer from Bemidji, Minnesota who teams up with Duluth police officer Gus Grimly (Colin Hanks) in order to solve a series of murders that occur in the community. The first season of "Fargo" also features the talents of Billy Bob Thornton as Lorne Malvo and Martin Freeman as Lester Nygaard. Deputy Solverson is a thorough, savvy cop, and Tolman's stellar performance makes the viewer genuinely root for her.
Tolman's portrayal of Solverson was so captivating that it's considered by some critics to be her breakout role (via Daily Beast). Tolman briefly reprised her role in Season 2, in which Solverson is mostly seen as a child.
She played Captain Olivia Crawford on Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Allison Tolman appears as Captain Olivia Coleman in two Season 5 episodes of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." Her first appearance is in an episode titled "The Puzzle Master" (via IMDb). One of the episode's plot lines revolves around Captain Holt's (Andre Braugher) plan to become police commissioner. With the help of Gina (Chelsea Peretti), Holt analyzes his competition, which includes Captain Olivia Coleman. Coleman and Holt immediately square off in a subtle battle of etiquette and passive aggression, reminiscent of Holt's contentious relationship with Chief Madeline Wuntch (Kyra Sedgewick). Initially set on undermining Coleman, Holt has a change of heart when he realizes that the election committee was never intent on hiring a female commissioner. Holt decides to help Coleman by condemning the committee's actions, allowing them to compete on a level playing field.
Tolman's second appearance as Captain Coleman occurs in an episode titled "White Whale" (via IMDb). The installment continues to elaborate on Holt's bid for the police commissioner position. When Coleman and Holt realize that their competition is too fierce, they decide that one of them has to step down in order for the other to win. Tolman's line delivery in these episodes is spot on, going toe to toe with Braugher in a way that's truly satisfying to watch.
She starred as Alma Fillcot on Why Women Kill
Helmed by "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry, "Why Women Kill" is a dark comedy anthology series.
While the first season chronicles the lives of three different women living in three separate decades who are all connected by a house they lived in, the second season spins a different tale. Season 2 stars Allison Tolman as Alma Fillcot, a shy housewife in 1949 who yearns to be a part of an exclusive garden club. Alma's efforts to be noticed and accepted by her peers are consistently and cruelly thwarted by Rita Castillo (played by "Once Upon a Time" star Lana Parrilla), the garden club president whose glamorous exterior hides dark secrets.
Over the course of the season, Alma evolves from a kind, sympathetic character into someone whose unquenchable ambition and lust for power will destroy anyone who stands in her way. Alma's transformation is a testament to Tolman's acting prowess and the scenes where she plays opposite Parrilla are to die for (pun intended).