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Mimi Rogers
File:MimiRogersApr09.jpg
Rogers at the premiere for Earth, April 2009
Born
Miriam Spickler

(1956-01-27) January 27, 1956 (age 68)
Coral Gables, Florida, United States
OccupationActress
Years active1981–present
Spouses
James Rogers
(m. 1976; div. 1980)

Tom Cruise
(m. 1987; div. 1990)

Christopher Ciaffa
(m. 2003)
Children2

Miriam "Mimi" Rogers (née Spickler; born January 27, 1956) is an American film and television actress, producer and competitive poker player. Her notable film roles include Gung Ho (1986), Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), and Desperate Hours (1990). She garnered the greatest acclaim of her career for her role in the religious drama, The Rapture (1991), with critic Robin Wood applauding that she "gave one of the greatest performances in the history of the Hollywood cinema."[1] Rogers has since appeared in Reflections on a Crime (1994), The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Lost in Space (1998), Ginger Snaps (2000), The Door in the Floor (2004), and For a Good Time, Call... (2012). Her extensive work in television includes Paper Dolls (1984), Weapons of Mass Distraction (1997), The Loop (2006–2007), and recurring roles on The X-Files (1998–1999), Two and a Half Men (2011–2015), Wilfred (2014) and Mad Men (2015).

Early life[]

Rogers was born Miriam Spickler at General Hospital in Coral Gables, Florida. Her father is Philip C. Spickler, a civil engineer.[2][3] Her mother, Kathy Talent, was a former dance and drama major.[2] Rogers' father was Jewish and her mother Episcopalian.[4] Her father had become involved with Scientology before she was born, and the religion was part of her upbringing.[4][5]

The family lived in Virginia, Arizona, Michigan, and England, before settling in Los Angeles. Rogers attended accelerated schools and graduated from high school at age 14. In place of college, she formulated her own program of study and became involved in community theater and writing.[2] Rogers later worked in a hospital for incapacitated patients outside Palo Alto, California, and for six years she was a part-time social worker, involved in substance-abuse counseling.[2]

At the beginning of their acting careers, Rogers and Kirstie Alley lived together.[6]

Career[]

Acting[]

After her first marriage break-up, Rogers moved to Los Angeles to embark on an acting career. She studied acting with Milton Katselas for nine months and then sought an agent.[7] She screen tested for the lead role in Body Heat that eventually went to Kathleen Turner.[8] Her earlier roles included television appearances in Hill Street Blues (1981) as a love interest for officer Andy Renko (Charles Haid), and in Magnum, P.I. (1982). Between 1983-84, she worked extensively in television as a series regular on The Rousters and as supermodel Blair Harper-Fenton in Paper Dolls. In 1986 she starred alongside Michael Keaton in Gung Ho.[citation needed]

In 1986 Rogers auditioned for the female lead in Fatal Attraction that went to Glenn Close.[8] However, Rogers got her breakthrough role when she was cast opposite Tom Berenger in Someone to Watch Over Me (1987). Rogers played Claire Gregory, a socialite who is protected after she witnesses a murder. In 1989, she starred in The Mighty Quinn. In 1990, she appeared in Desperate Hours.

In 1991, Rogers starred as the protagonist in The Rapture about a woman who converts from a swinger to a born-again Christian after learning that a true Rapture is upon the world. She received an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead nomination for her role in the film.[9] Slant Magazine praised her "spectacular performance, which seems in part inspired by the physical splendors and feral glances of Bette Davis or Barbara Stanwyck."[10]

In 1993 Rogers posed nude for the March 1993 edition of Playboy magazine, and also appeared on that issue's cover.[11] She later explained "Playboy had been after me for years, and finally I agreed to pose when they gave me complete approval over the shoot. It was done in a tasteful way, and since I knew that I wanted to have children soon, I thought it might be nice to have a permanent record of my body in its prime."[12]

File:Mimi Rogers.jpg

Rogers at the 1989 Academy Awards

In 1994, Rogers starred as a woman on death row in the prison thriller Reflections on a Crime and received the Best Actress prize for the film at the Seattle International Film Festival.[13]New York Magazine praised Rogers' "typically terrific performance" in the film.[14]

Rogers later joined an ensemble cast in the critically acclaimed comedy-drama Trees Lounge (1996). She also had a supporting role alongside Barbra Streisand and Lauren Bacall in The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996). Her next film was the beginning of what would become a major franchise, when she appeared as Mrs. Kensington in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997). In 1997 Rogers was nominated for the Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for her role in the HBO film, Weapons of Mass Distraction.[citation needed]

In 1998 she appeared in Lost in Space. A year later she co-produced and co-starred in The Devil's Arithmetic. Together with her fellow producers, Rogers received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Children's Special. Between 1998 and 1999 Rogers also had a recurring role on The X-Files playing Diana Fowley for seven episodes. In 2000 she starred in the critically acclaimed Canadian horror film Ginger Snaps. She was also a series regular on the short-lived ABC series The Geena Davis Show (2000–01).[citation needed]

Rogers later made television appearances in Dawson's Creek (2003) as the mother of Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams) and in Las Vegas (2003). She also appears in the comedy sequel Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003). In 2004 she starred alongside Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger in the drama The Door in the Floor. Between 2006 and 2007, Rogers was a series regular on the Fox comedy The Loop playing Meryl. In 2010, Rogers had a guest voice role on King of the Hill and served as a producer on Unstoppable.[15]

In 2010 she performed at the Geffen Playhouse in Love, Loss, and What I Wore.[16] In 2011, she was cast in the recurring role of Robin Schmidt, a primatologist and Ashton Kutcher's mother on Two and a Half Men.[17] Rogers will resume the role in the season 10 premiere episode.[18] In 2012, she made a guest appearance on The Client List. Recent film projects include For a Good Time, Call... (2012) and, alongside Meryl Streep, in Hope Springs (2012).

In March 2012, she was cast alongside Chad Michael Murray in the ABC pilot Scruples, as Harriet, a "powerful and vindictive magazine editor".[19] Rogers replaced Mary Steenburgen in the role of the mother of Ryan (Elijah Wood) and Kristen Newman (Dorian Brown) in the final season of Wilfred.[citation needed]

Poker[]

Having played poker as a teenager, Rogers took up competitive poker in 2003 and finished in the money in her first major tournament at the World Poker Tour's 240 player Shooting Stars' main event No-Limit Texas hold 'em tournament in San Jose, California, on March 4, 2004. She is on the board of directors of the World Poker Tour. In July 2006, she finished in the money (33rd place) at the $1000 Ladies' No-Limit Hold 'em World Series of Poker event.[20]

Personal life[]

She has been married three times. She married Jim Rogers in 1976, adopting his surname. They divorced in 1980.[21] On May 9, 1987 she married actor Tom Cruise in a New York City ceremony. The marriage broke down at the end of 1989 and a divorce was finalized in February 1990.[22] In January 1990 the couple released a joint statement; "While there have been very positive aspects to our marriage, there were some issues which could not be resolved even after working on them for a period of time,".[23] It was Rogers who introduced Cruise to Scientology.[24]

In an interview with Playboy in 1993, Rogers discussed her split from Cruise and likened her ex-husband to a "monk" when discussing intimacy issues.[12] Rogers later retracted the comments and claimed she had been misinterpreted.[25][12]

In 1990, Rogers began living with Chris Ciaffa. They have two children.[26] The couple married in 2003.

Rogers has made campaign contributions to the Democratic Party.[27][28]

Scientology[]

Rogers' father became interested in Dianetics in 1952[29] and later became a prominent Mission Holder with the Church of Scientology and friend of founder, L. Ron Hubbard.[12] Rogers also reportedly became a highly trained auditor with the church. Prior to her acting career, she opened a "field auditing" practice, the Enhancement Center, with her first husband, Jim Rogers.[30] She was a church auditor for Sonny Bono.[31] Tom Cruise was also a client before being directed towards a Celebrity Centre.[30]

In an interview given to the Los Angeles Times in 1991, she spoke about Scientology; "that philosophy was simply part of my upbringing. And, I think it was an excellent system of belief to grow up with because Scientology offers an extremely pragmatic method for taking spiritual concerns and breaking them down into everyday applications."[4]

Rogers has left the Church of Scientology – she had been described in recent media reports as a "former" member of the church.[32][21][12]

Cruise biographer Andrew Morton alleged that Rogers' father had been declared a Suppressive Person after leaving the church in the early 1980s during a cull of Mission Holders.[33]

A 2012 article in Vanity Fair alleged that Rogers held an unfavorable view of the church's controversial leader, David Miscavige.[34] In Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, published in 2013, author Lawrence Wright alleged that Miscavige had pushed Rogers from her marriage with Tom Cruise so the latter could pursue Nicole Kidman.[35]

Filmography[]

Year Film Role Notes
1981 Hill Street Blues Sandra Pauley 2 episode
Quincy, M.E. Corrina Girard 2 episodes
1982 Magnum, P.I. Margo Perina Episode: "Italian Ice"
1982 Divorce Wars: A Love Story Belinda Wittiker TV movie
1982 Hear No Evil Meg TV movie
1983 Hart to Hart Robin Wall Episode: "Hartstruck"
1983 Blue Skies Again Liz
1983–1984 The Rousters Ellen Slade 13 episodes
1984 Paper Dolls Blair Fenton-Harper 13 episodes
1985 Embassy Nancy Russell TV movie
1986 Gung Ho Audrey
1987 Disneyland Charlotte Episode: "You Ruined My Life"
1987 Street Smart Alison Parker
1987 Someone to Watch Over Me Claire Gregory
1989 The Mighty Quinn Hadley Elgin
1989 Hider in the House Julie Dreyer TV movie
1990 Dimenticare Palermo Carrie
1990 Desperate Hours Nora Cornell
1991 Fourth Story Valerie McCoughlin TV movie
1991 The Doors Magazine Photographer
1991 Wedlock Tracy Rigg TV movie
1991 The Rapture Sharon Nomination – Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead
1991–1992 Dream On Julia Montana 3 episodes
1992 White Sands Molly Dolezal Cameo
1992 Tales from the Crypt Helen Episode: "Beauty Rest"
1992 Dark Horse Dr. Susan Hadley
1992 Ladykiller Michael Madison TV movie
1992 The Larry Sanders Show Mimi Rogers 2 episodes
1992 Shooting Elizabeth Elizabeth Pigeon
1993 Bloodlines: Murder in the Family Melody Woodman TV movie
1993 A Kiss to Die For Ali Broussard TV movie
1994 Monkey Trouble Amy
1994 Killer Fiona
1994 Reflections on a Crime Regina Seattle International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
1995 The Beast Martha Short
1995 Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog Katherine McCormick
1995 Full Body Massage Nina TV movie
1996 Partners Melissa Episode: "Your Baby-sitter?"
1996 In the Blink of an Eye Sonia Jacobs TV movie
1996 Trees Lounge Patty
1996 The Mirror Has Two Faces Claire
1997 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Mrs. Kensington
1997 Weapons of Mass Distraction Ariel Powers TV movie
Nomination – Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
1997 The Christmas List Melody Parris
1997 Tricks Jackie TV movie
1998 Virtual Obsession Karen Messenger TV movie
1998 Lost in Space Dr. Maureen Robinson
1998–1999 The X-Files Agent Diana Fowley 7 episodes
1999 The Devil's Arithmetic Leonore Stern Producer
Nomination – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special
1999 Little White Lies Ellie
1999 Seven Girlfriends Julian
1999–2000 It's Like, You Know... Deidre Swayze 2 episodes
2000 Common Ground McPherson TV movie
2000 Ginger Snaps Pamela Fitzgerald
2000 The Upgrade The Yuppie Short
2000 Cruel Intentions 2 Tiffany Merteuil
2000–2001 The Geena Davis Show Hillary 22 episodes
2002 Charms for the Easy Life Sophia TV movie
2002 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Maura Ravenmane Helga Episode: "She Sees Sea Monsters by the Sea Shore"
2003 Dawson's Creek Helen Lindley Episode: "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road"
2003 Cave In Pat Bogen TV movie
2003 Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd Mrs. Dunne
2003 Las Vegas Sandra Adlman Episode: "Luck Be a Lady"
2004 Hope & Faith Annie Hannigan Episode: "Madam President"
2004 The Gunman Eve Richards
2004 Seeing Other People Elise
2004 The Door in the Floor Evelyn Vaughn
2005 Dancing in Twilight April
2005 Stone Cold Rita Fiore TV movie
2005 Selling Innocence Abby Sampson TV movie
2006 The Stranger Game Joanna Otis TV movie
2006 Penny Dreadful Orianna Volkes
2006 Big Nothing Mrs. Smalls
2006–2007 The Loop Meryl 17 episodes
2008 Storm Cell April Saunders TV movie
2008 My Boys Maggie/Mike's date 2 episodes
2009 Frozen Kiss Gayle
2009 Falling Up Meredith TV movie
2010 Order of Chaos Mrs. Craig TV movie
2010 Sins of the Mother Lois TV movie
2010 King of the Hill Katie Episode: "Bill Gathers Moss"
2010 Neighbors from Hell Lorelai Killbride Episode: "Country Club Hell"
2010 Abandoned Victoria Markham
2011 Lucky Ms. Brand
2011 Balls to the Wall Mrs. Matthews
2011 CollegeHumor Originals Bionic Woman "Superhero Auditions: Callbacks", "Superhero Auditions: Bionic Woman"
2011–2015 Two and a Half Men Robin Schmidt Recurring role; 6 episodes
2012 For a Good Time, Call... Adele
2012 The Client List Valerie Dawson Episode: "The Rub of Sugarland"
2012 Hope Springs Carol
2012 Scruples Harriet Toppington Pilot drama based on Scruples
Post-production
2014 Wilfred Catherine Newman Recurring role; 3 episodes
2014 Cleaners Isabelle Walker 6 episodes
2014 Mall
2014 The Surface Kim
2015 The Wedding Ringer Lois Palmer
2015 Bosch Honey Chandler 3 episodes
2015 Captive Kim Rogers
2015 This Isn't Funny Elaine Anderson
2015 NCIS Joanna Teague 3 episodes
2015 Mad Men Pima Episode: "New Business"
2015-2016 Ash vs Evil Dead Suzy Maxwell 2 episodes

References[]

  1. Wood, Robin (2003). Hollywood from Vietnam to Reagan – and Beyond. Columbia University Press. Prolgue xxxvii
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Tuber, Keith."Mimi Rogers is Ready to Take Center Stage", [interview], Orange Coast. August 1990. p. 78.
  3. "Mimi Rogers: From Sexy Sidekick In 'Austin Powers' To One Hot Mama In 'Two And A Half Men'", huffingtonpost.com, December 7, 2011.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Her Salvation?: Mimi Rogers has taken a chance with a role in a movie about faith and sin. The question: Will 'The Rapture' redeem a career bedeviled by typecasting?", latimes.com, October 6, 1991. p. 2
  5. Profile, newsbank.com; accessed May 12, 2015.
  6. Kirstie Allie : Snapshot People Magazine. Retrieved August 9, 2012
  7. "Her Salvation?: Mimi Rogers has taken a chance with a role in a movie about faith and sin. The question: Will 'The Rapture' redeem a career bedeviled by typecasting?", latimes.com, October 6, 1991, pg. 3
  8. 8.0 8.1 Tuber, Keith."Mimi Rogers is Ready to Take Center Stage", [interview], Orange Coast. August 1990. p. 77.
  9. The Rapture, nytimes.com; accessed August 8, 2012.
  10. The Rapture, slantmagazine.com, November 9, 2004.
  11. Women Who Have Posed for Playboy, nndb.com; accessed May 12, 2015.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 "I never meant to embarrass Tom", Telegraph.co.uk, June 29, 2001.
  13. Aussie Films Awarded Top Honors At Festival, seattletimes.nwsource.com, June 13, 1994.
  14. "Museums, Societies, Etc.", New York Magazine, April 10, 1995, p. 86
  15. A chat with Mimi Rogers Bullz-Eye.com, February 14, 2011.
  16. "'Love, Loss, and What I Wore' at Geffen Playhouse has plenty of drama backstage too", latimes.com, November 13, 2010.
  17. "Mimi Rogers to Mother Ashton Kutcher on Men", vulture.com, November 11, 2011
  18. 'Two and a Half Men' Season 10 pics: Michael Bolton and 'True Blood's' Brit Morgan drink with Walden, zap2it.com, August 22, 2012.
  19. Mimi Rogers Joins Cast of ABC Drama Pilot SCRUPLES, BroadwayWorld.com, March 18, 2012.
  20. "Actress Mimi Roges Turned Poker Player". Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  21. 21.0 21.1 Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers: Marriage Impossible, ew.com, May 11, 2001.
  22. Neumaier, Joe (10 August 2004). "Cruise Unshaken by His Role As Hit Man – Actor Says Killer Won't Sink His Good-Guy Image". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. p. 1E.
  23. People Los Angeles Times. 17 January 1990
  24. Cruise lobbies over Scientology BBC News
  25. Tom Cruise profile, ariel-leve.com; retrieved August 9, 2012
  26. "Poker Mimi Rogers at MimiRogersOnline.com mimi rogers full body massage photos, desperate hours and mimi rogers and full body". Free-press-release.com. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  27. Mimi Rogers (celebrity political donations), NewsMeat.com; retrieved August 9, 2012
  28. "California Is Top Source of Federal Political Funds", Los Angeles Times, January 19, 1999.
  29. 1/5 Geting started in Dianetics – "It was almost like a family!" – Miracles, Youtube, October 4, 2010.
  30. 30.0 30.1 Reitman, Janet (2011). Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. pp. 272-73
  31. Solo Bono, VanityFair.com, February 1998.
  32. Have Any Celebs Ever Actually Left Scientology? E! Online, July 29, 2009
  33. Exclusive: Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography, MSNBC.com, January 15, 2008.
  34. "What Katie Didn't Know", VanityFair.com, October 2012.
  35. "Earth to Tom Cruise", nypost.com; accessed May 12, 2015.

External links[]

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