# Mary Scheer
**Mary Scheer** (Mary Louise Scheer) is an American actress, comedian, and voice artist born in 1963 in Detroit, Michigan, best known as an original cast member of the Fox sketch comedy series *MADtv* and for playing Marissa Benson, Freddie Benson's mother, on Nickelodeon's *iCarly* and its [Paramount+](https://www.edgepedia.org/paramount) revival.[1](https://icarly.fandom.com/wiki/Mary_Scheer) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1963, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.[1](https://icarly.fandom.com/wiki/Mary_Scheer) |
| Signature role | Original cast member of *MADtv* (1995–1998); episode counts are reported as 63 by Apple TV and Rotten Tomatoes and as 68 by IMDb, the Groundlings, and DPN Talent[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) |
| *iCarly* | Marissa Benson (Mrs. Benson), Freddie's overbearing mother, from 2007; regular on 4 seasons of the original series and 3 seasons of the 2021 Paramount+ reboot[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) • [4](https://dpntalent.com/talent/mary-scheer/) |
| Voice roles | Alice the Zookeeper on *The Penguins of Madagascar*; Suzie Kokoshka on *Hey Arnold!* for 4 seasons; *Family Guy*, *King of the Hill*, *Invader ZIM*[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) • [4](https://dpntalent.com/talent/mary-scheer/) |
| Writing | Writer on *MADtv* and on *The Martin Short Show* and *Primetime Glick*, where she was also a series regular[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) • [5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer) |
| Comedy training | Groundlings Theatre Main Company member for 6 years, alongside Will Ferrell, Jennifer Coolidge, and Michael Hitchcock; now teaches improv there[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) • [5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer) |
| Recent work | Pat in *The Vortex* (2025); multiple characters in the DontNod video game *Twin Mirror* (2020); Frannie Scheindlin in *Between Two Ferns: The Movie* (2019)[5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) |
## Early career and the Groundlings
Scheer's first small acting role came in 1989 on *L.A. on $5 a Day*.[6](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/mary-scheer.html) She began her screen career in the late 1980s with parts in small films, followed by television guest spots in the early 1990s on *Quantum Leap* and *Beverly Hills, 90210*.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) Her comedic foundation was the Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles, where she spent six years in the Main Company performing with [Will Ferrell](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-ferrell), Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jennifer Coolidge, and [Michael Hitchcock](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-hitchcock).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) While performing in the Groundlings' Sunday Show she appeared in two [Roger Corman](https://www.edgepedia.org/roger-corman) films.[5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer) The Groundlings' own history lists her among its alumni who went on to *MADtv*, alongside Mike McDonald, Phil LaMarr, and others.[7](https://groundlings.com/about/history)
## MADtv
In 1995 Scheer joined the original cast of *MADtv*, Fox's sketch comedy series, and stayed until 1998.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) Sources disagree on her episode count: Apple TV and Rotten Tomatoes report 63 episodes appeared and 66 written, while IMDb, her Groundlings page, and DPN Talent state 68 episodes.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) • [5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer) She was known for impressions of [Demi Moore](https://www.edgepedia.org/demi-moore), Kathy Griffin, Mary Tyler Moore, Attorney General Janet Reno, and [Susan Sarandon](https://www.edgepedia.org/susan-sarandon).[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) • [6](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/mary-scheer.html) She also wrote for the show, one of three writing credits in her filmography.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462)
## Writing and comedy work after MADtv
In 1999 Scheer joined the writing staff of *The Martin Short Show*, a single-season talk show, working on all 63 episodes, and she was a series regular and writer on both *The Martin Short Show* and *Primetime Glick*.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) • [5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer) She appeared in all 75 episodes of the Japanese-game-show adaptation *MXC* and is credited as one of its producers.[5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer) • [8](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mary-scheer/credits/3000015410/) In 2001 she co-starred as Lady Ema Hellsubus in the comedy horror film *Elvira's Haunted Hills*.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp)
## Voice acting
Scheer's voice work centers on [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) animation. In the mid-1990s she voiced Suzie Kokoshka on *Hey Arnold!*, a role IMDb credits across 14 episodes and four seasons.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) She voiced Alice the Zookeeper on *The Penguins of Madagascar*, working alongside fellow *MADtv* alumna [Nicole Sullivan](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicole-sullivan); episode counts for the role differ between sources, with 47 reported by IMDb and the Groundlings and 24 by DPN Talent.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) • [5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer) • [4](https://dpntalent.com/talent/mary-scheer/) Other voice credits include *Family Guy*, *King of the Hill*, *Invader ZIM*, and *Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker* (2000).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) • [9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/mary_scheer) She has also voiced multiple characters in the interactive video game *Twin Mirror* from the French studio DontNod Entertainment.[5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer)
## iCarly and live-action television
Beginning in 2007, Scheer played Marissa Benson, the overprotective mother of Freddie Benson ([Nathan Kress](https://www.edgepedia.org/nathan-kress)), on Nickelodeon's live-action sitcom *iCarly*, a role DPN Talent describes as a regular part across four seasons.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp) • [4](https://dpntalent.com/talent/mary-scheer/) She reprised Mrs. Benson in the 2021 Paramount+ revival, appearing in three seasons and 12 episodes through 2023.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462) Her other family-television credits include a teacher on *The Suite Life of Zack & Cody*, a pilot on *Hannah Montana*, a child care worker on *Good Luck Charlie*, and Gladys, a camp counselor, in the first two seasons of [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel)'s *Bunk'd*.[1](https://icarly.fandom.com/wiki/Mary_Scheer) Guest appearances include *2 Broke Girls*, *Life in Pieces*, *Nick Swardson's Pretend Time*, and two episodes of *Seinfeld* as two different characters.[5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer)
## Recent work
Scheer appeared as Frannie Scheindlin in Netflix's *Between Two Ferns: The Movie* (2019) with [Zach Galifianakis](https://www.edgepedia.org/zach-galifianakis).[5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer) In 2025 she played Pat in *The Vortex*, a crime drama directed by Richard Zelniker and starring [Billy Gardell](https://www.edgepedia.org/billy-gardell) and [Jaina Lee Ortiz](https://www.edgepedia.org/jaina-lee-ortiz), set around the 1980 MGM Grand fire in Las Vegas.[5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer) • [10](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/synkronized-acquires-world-rights-vortex-140747702.html) She continues to teach improv classes at the Groundlings and remains listed there as a 1990s alumna and teacher.[5](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer)
## References
1. [Mary Scheer, iCarly Wiki (Fandom)](https://icarly.fandom.com/wiki/Mary_Scheer)
2. [Mary Scheer Movies and Shows, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mary-scheer/umc.cpc.6jpk4eacl46j6aaetm5z1lqfp)
3. [Mary Scheer, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770462)
4. [Mary Scheer, DPN Talent](https://dpntalent.com/talent/mary-scheer/)
5. [Mary Scheer, The Groundlings](https://groundlings.com/people/mary-scheer)
6. [Mary Scheer, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/mary-scheer.html)
7. [Our History, The Groundlings](https://groundlings.com/about/history)
8. [Mary Scheer List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mary-scheer/credits/3000015410/)
9. [Mary Scheer Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/mary_scheer)
10. [Synkronized Acquires World Rights for 'The Vortex', Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/synkronized-acquires-world-rights-vortex-140747702.html)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Sc to Sl*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license