Alley Mills

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Alley Mills
Mills at the 1989 Emmy Awards
Born (1951-05-09) May 9, 1951 (age 72)[1]
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other namesAlley Bean
Alma materYale University (BA)
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (MA)
OccupationActress
Years active1965–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1993; died 2020)​

Allison Mills (born May 9, 1951), also known as Alley Bean, is an American actress, known for her roles on television. She starred as Norma Arnold, in the coming-of-age ABC comedy series, The Wonder Years (1988–1993). In 2006 she began playing the role of Pamela Douglas, the sister of the late Forrester matriarch Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery), on the CBS soap operaThe Bold and the Beautiful. From 2022 to 2024, Mills also portrayed antagonistic Heather Webber on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital, for which she received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series.

Early life and education[edit]

Mills was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father was television executive Ted Mills,[2] and her mother, Joan (née Paterson) Mills Kerr, was an author and editor for American Heritage magazine.[3] Her stepmother was actress Genevieve (Ginette Marguerite Auger), and her stepfather was Chester B. Kerr, a director of Yale University Press. She has one sister, Hilary Mills Loomis, and one brother, Tony Mills. Mills made her television debut as a child performer appearing in The Patti Page Show and later performed in Williamstown Theatre Festival.[3]

Mills received a B.A. magna cum laude in drama and art history from Yale University in 1973 (becoming one of the first female undergraduates)[3] and an M.A. from London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[4]

Career[edit]

Mills began her career appearing in episodes of television series Mr. Novak and The Leslie Uggams Show, before making her big screen debut playing minor role in the 1970 comedy-drama film, Diary of a Mad Housewife.[5] During the 1970s, Mills performed in a number of stage productions, such as Off-Broadway's A Colliers Friday Night, The Little Foxes, Voices, The Idol Makers and Says I, Says He. In 1979 she was cast opposite Martin Short in the short-lived sitcom The Associates, where she played an attorney. In 1983 she starred opposite John Candy in the comedy film Going Berserk and the following year appeared in the comedy film Young Lust. During the 1980s also made guest appearances in television series Lou Grant, Newhart, Moonlighting and Punky Brewster. In 1982 she had four-episode arc in the NBC police drama, Hill Street Blues as Tracy Renko.

In 1988, Mills was cast as Norma Arnold, the mother of Fred Savage's character in the ABC comedy series, The Wonder Years, from 1988 to 1993. The show received positive reviews and won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. In 1989, Mills also began co-hosting the ABC daytime talk-show,Home.[3] The Wonder Years ended in 1993 after six seasons and 114 episodes. During the 1990s, Mills acted in a number of made-for-television movies, such as Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted (1992), Tainted Blood (1993) opposite Raquel Welch,[6] Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire (1994),[7] Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare (1995), and Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan (1995) starring Elizabeth Montgomery in her last screen appearance. From 1993 to 1997, Mills had a recurring role in the CBS Western series, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Marjorie Quinn, Dr. Michaela Quinn's sister. She had previously appeared in the series as a saloon girl. In 2000, Mills co-starred in the ABC miniseries, The Beach Boys: An American Family.[8] She also appeared in Roseanne, Touched by an Angel, NYPD Blue, Popular, Girlfriends, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Strong Medicine and Yes, Dear.

Mills with the cast and crew of The Bold and the Beautiful at 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards

In December 2006, Mills joined the cast of CBS daytime soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful under contract as Pamela Douglas, the estranged sister of Stephanie Douglas Forrester. But in March 2007, after making only a handful of appearances, her character went insane, was confined to a mental hospital, and then disappeared from the show. Mills reprised the role on recurring status in 2007 and 2008, and by December 2008, was added to the opening credits as a contract player. In November 2019, it was reported that Mills was off contract with the show. Mills made a return appearance to The Bold and the Beautiful in August 2021.[9][10] During her time on soap, Mills also acted in a number of Hallmark Channel movies, such as Reluctant Nanny and Appetite for Love.[11]

In October, 2022, Mills replaced Robin Mattson as legacy character, Heather Webber on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital.[12] She later made recurring returns to soap. In 2023, Mills received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for General Hospital.[13][14] Also in 2023, Mills guest-starred alongside her The Wonder Years co-star, Dan Lauria, in an episode of Fox series Fantasy Island.[15]

Personal life[edit]

Mills was married to author, film, television and stage actor Orson Bean from 1993 until his death in 2020.[16][17]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Diary of a Mad Housewife Women's lib girl
1983 Going Berserk Nancy Reese
1984 Young Lust Sheila Denton
2002 Jane White Is Sick & Twisted Mom
2002 Never Get Outta the Boat Jean
2004 Tricks Ruth
2009 A Golden Christmas Katherine Wright
2011 Satin Rose Wells
2012 Hating Breitbart Herself
2014 Maybe Someday Martha Donnelly
2014 Dr. Quinn, Morphine Woman with Jane Seymour Marjorie Quinn Short film
2016 Wake Up America! Senior Short film
2019 The Fiddling Horse Ethel Truman
2022 Last Chance Charlene Lorenna

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1978 The Waltons Nancy Episode: "The Obsession"
1979 Kaz Episode: "They've Taken Our Daughter"
1979–1980 The Associates Leslie Dunn Main role
1980 Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case Wanda Movie
1981 A Matter of Life and Death Allison Cross Movie
1981 Lou Grant Lisa Episode: "Search"
1982 Making the Grade Sara Conover Main role
1982 Hill Street Blues Tracy Renko 4 episodes
1983 Newhart Professor Episode: "Sprained Dreams"
1983 The Other Woman Amy Vitelli Movie
1983 Prototype Dr. Rebecca Bishop Movie
1985 The Atlanta Child Murders Amy Kennear Miniseries
1986 Maggie Charlotte Farnsworth Movie
1986 Moonlighting Claire Episode: "The Man Who Cried Wife"
1987 Mr. President Pat Episode: "Pilot"
1987 I Married Dora Janine Desmond Episodes: "Where There's a Will, There's No Way", "West Coast Story"
1987 Punky Brewster Donna Deaton Episodes: "Open Door, Broken Heart: Parts 1 & 2"
1988 To Heal a Nation Sue, Stone Worker Movie
1988–1993 The Wonder Years Norma Arnold Main role
1989 I Love You Perfect TBA Movie
1990 ABC Afterschool Special Linda Episode: "Testing Dirty"
1992 Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted Carol Willis Movie
1992–1994 Vicki! Herself Guest host
1993 Tainted Blood Mrs. Patterson Movie
1993–1997 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Saloon Woman 1 episode (uncredited)[citation needed]
Marjorie Quinn Recurring role, 11 episodes
1994 CBS Schoolbreak Special Carol Oliver Episode: "Love in the Dark Ages"
1994 Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire Royce Payne Movie
1995 Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare Portia Movie
1995 Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan Julie Cresta Movie
1998 Touched by an Angel Liz Episode: "Last Dance"
1999 Profiler Amber Wiley Episode: "Inheritance"
1999–2000 Popular Robin John Episodes: "Wild, Wild Mess", "Ch-Ch-Changes", "The Consequences of Falling"
2000 The Beach Boys: An American Family Audree Wilson Movie
2000 NYPD Blue Sonya Morrow Episode: "This Old Spouse"
2001–2005 Yes, Dear Jenny Ludke Recurring role, 5 episodes
2002 Girlfriends Lynn's Mother Episode: "Don't Leave Me a Loan"
2002–2003 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Diana Spellman Episodes: "The Whole Ball of Wax", "Soul Mates"
2003 Strong Medicine Rhonda LaCouer Episode: "Prescriptions"
2006–2019, 2021- The Bold and the Beautiful Pamela "Pam" Douglas Main role; recurring role
2011 3 Holiday Tails Katherine Wright
2015 Appetite for Love Tallulah Jones TV movie
2015 Reluctant Nanny Irene
2019 Teachers Joanna Bennigan 2 episodes
2022- General Hospital Heather Webber Recurring role
2023 Fantasy Island Vivian Hutchinson Episode: "War of the Roses (And the Hutchinsons)"

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mills, Alley 1951–". Encyclopedia.com. Cengage. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  2. ^ Monika Guttman. "Wonder casting: hippie to housewife". St. Petersburg Times. June 25, 1989. TV DIAL, 6.
  3. ^ a b c d "Alley Mills". TVGuide.com.
  4. ^ "Mills, Alley 1951–". Encyclopedia.com. Cengage. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  5. ^ "Alley Mills Biography -- The Bold and the Beautiful". Soap Hub. February 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Marin, Rick (March 3, 1993). "Tainted Blood".
  7. ^ "Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  8. ^ "Alley Mills".
  9. ^ Bowe, Jillian (7 November 2019). "Alley Mills Off Contract at The Bold and the Beautiful". Daytime Confidential.
  10. ^ Young, Candace (November 7, 2019). "B&B's Alley Mills off Contract As Pam Douglas".
  11. ^ "Appetite for Love | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. January 17, 2017.
  12. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Alley Mills Joins GH!". Soap Opera Digest. October 6, 2022.
  13. ^ Eades, Chris (December 29, 2023). "Alley Mills Opens up About Her Return to GH". Soaps In Depth.
  14. ^ "2023 Daytime Emmys: GH's Eden McCoy and Alley Mills win first Emmys". soapcentral.com.
  15. ^ Foertsch, Rachel (April 17, 2023). "The Wonder Years Stars On Their Fantasy Island Reunion". ScreenRant.
  16. ^ "Veteran actor Orson Bean, 91, struck and killed by vehicle in Venice, friends say". KABC-TV. February 7, 2020.
  17. ^ "Celebrity Actor-comedian Orson Bean, 91, hit and killed by car in LA". Associated Press. February 8, 2020 – via Yahoo!.

External links[edit]

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