# Miriam Flynn
**Miriam Flynn** is an American character actress and voice actress from Cleveland, Ohio, best known for playing Cousin Catherine in the National Lampoon "Vacation" films and for voice roles including Maa the ewe in *[Babe](https://www.edgepedia.org/babe-film)* (1995) and Gandra Dee in Disney's *DuckTales*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/miriam-flynn/umc.cpc.5oogssblr4db7l75cs59hdmvj) Sources disagree on her birth year: IMDb gives 1951,[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/) while Encyclopedia.com, WorldCat, Rotten Tomatoes, Fandango, and NNDB give June 18, 1952.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952) • [4](https://entities.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJc83tPdHKH98bC6BXxkXd.html) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miriam_flynn)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Profession | Actress, writer, and producer; described by WorldCat as an American voice actress[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/) • [4](https://entities.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJc83tPdHKH98bC6BXxkXd.html) |
| Signature live-action role | Cousin Catherine in *National Lampoon's Vacation* (1983), *National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation* (1989), *Vegas Vacation* (1997), and the 2003 TV movie *Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure*[6](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/253439) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952) |
| Signature voice roles | Maa in *Babe* (1995); Gandra Dee in *DuckTales* (7 episodes, 1989-1990); Grandma Longneck in the *Land Before Time* sequels[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112431/fullcredits/) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092345/fullcredits) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miriam_flynn) |
| Early training | Member of Chicago's Second City resident company for four years; performed on stage with Andrea Martin, George Wendt, James Belushi, and Catherine O'Hara[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/miriam-flynn/umc.cpc.5oogssblr4db7l75cs59hdmvj) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952) |
| Award | 1978 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Principal Role in a Musical, for "Sexual Perversity Among the Buffalo" at the Second City Theatre in Chicago[9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/bio/) |
| Recent work | Pam in *Shrinking* (2023-2026), Suzanne Caldwell in *9-1-1* (2025), FBI Agent Donna in *The Lincoln Lawyer* (2023)[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/filmotype) |
## Second City and early career
Flynn began her career in Chicago with the Second City improv troupe, where she was a member of the resident company for four years and shared the stage with [Andrea Martin](https://www.edgepedia.org/andrea-martin), George Wendt, James Belushi, and [Catherine O'Hara](https://www.edgepedia.org/catherine-ohara).[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/miriam-flynn/umc.cpc.5oogssblr4db7l75cs59hdmvj) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952) In 1978 she won the Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Principal Role in a Musical for "Sexual Perversity Among the Buffalo" at the Second City Theatre.[9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/bio/) Her screen debut came as a telephone operator in *To Be Announced* (1979), followed by *First Family* (1980).[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952)
Her first major role was as the star of the ABC sitcom *Maggie* (1981-82), about a housewife from Ohio; the series lasted eight episodes but led to her casting in the National Lampoon comedy *Class Reunion* (1982) as Bunny Packard.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/miriam-flynn/umc.cpc.5oogssblr4db7l75cs59hdmvj) • [6](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/253439) A second sitcom attempt, *Raising Miranda* (CBS, 1988), in which she played Joan Hoodenpyle, was also canceled in its first season.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/miriam-flynn/umc.cpc.5oogssblr4db7l75cs59hdmvj) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952)
## The Vacation films and 1980s comedy work
Flynn played Cousin Catherine in *National Lampoon's Vacation* (1983) opposite [Chevy Chase](https://www.edgepedia.org/chevy-chase), appeared in guest roles on sitcoms including *Cheers*, *Silver Spoons*, and *Family Ties*, and reprised Catherine in *National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation* (1989) and *Vegas Vacation* (1997).[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/miriam-flynn/umc.cpc.5oogssblr4db7l75cs59hdmvj) • [6](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/253439) She returned as Catherine Johnson in the NBC television movie *Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure* (2003).[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952)
Other 1980s film roles include Annette in *[Mr. Mom](https://www.edgepedia.org/mr-mom)* (1983), Betty Watson in *18 Again!* (1988), Donna Elliot in *[For Keeps](https://www.edgepedia.org/for-keeps-film)* (1988), and Mrs. Parks in *Stealing Home* (1988).[6](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/253439) On Rotten Tomatoes' ranking of her films, *Mr. Mom* is her highest-rated title at 77 percent and *National Lampoon's Class Reunion* her lowest at 0 percent.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miriam_flynn)
## Voice acting
Voice work became a large share of Flynn's career. She voiced Gandra Dee in Disney's *DuckTales* in seven episodes between 1989 and 1990,[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092345/fullcredits) and Maa, an elderly ewe, in the 1995 feature *Babe*.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112431/fullcredits/) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/miriam-flynn/umc.cpc.5oogssblr4db7l75cs59hdmvj) From 1997 to 2016 she voiced Grandma Longneck across most of the direct-to-video *Land Before Time* sequels, from *The Mysterious Island* (1997) through *Journey of the Brave* (2016).[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miriam_flynn)
Her animated television credits include Jean Tasmanian Devil in *Taz-Mania* (1991-94), voices in *The Tick* (1994-97), Poil in *Casper* (1996-97), and Mildred "Millie" Tabootie in Nickelodeon's *ChalkZone* (2002-04).[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952) She also voiced characters in *The Emperor's New Groove* (2000) and *Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman* (2000).[11](https://www.nndb.com/people/843/000346802/) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miriam_flynn)
## Television career
Between her sitcom leads, Flynn accumulated guest appearances on series including *Night Court*, *Murder, She Wrote*, *Murphy Brown*, *L.A. Law*, *Picket Fences*, *Ally McBeal*, *3rd Rock from the Sun*, and *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*.[12](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Miriam_Flynn) She had a recurring role as Sister Helen on *Grounded for Life* from 2001 to 2005[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952) and as Helen in *Suburgatory* between 2012 and 2013.[12](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Miriam_Flynn) Later credits include *Scandal* (2012), *Bones* (2014), *iZombie* (2015), *The Carmichael Show* (2017), *Mom* (2020), *Call Me Kat* (2023), and *Self Reliance* (2023).[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/filmotype)
She also worked behind the camera as coproducer of the film *Black Cadillac* (First Look Entertainment, 2003)[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952) and wrote two episodes of *The Tim Conway Show* (1980).[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/filmotype)
## Personal life
Flynn was married to William Porter from December 31, 1977 until his death on December 3, 2019; the couple had two children, Graham Flynn Aldis and Flynn Ruth Aldis.[9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/bio/) She graduated from Barat College in [Lake Forest, Illinois](https://www.edgepedia.org/lake-forest-illinois).[9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/bio/)
## References
1. [Miriam Flynn, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/)
2. [Miriam Flynn, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/miriam-flynn/umc.cpc.5oogssblr4db7l75cs59hdmvj)
3. [Flynn, Miriam 1952-, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/flynn-miriam-1952)
4. [Miriam Flynn, WorldCat Entities](https://entities.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJc83tPdHKH98bC6BXxkXd.html)
5. [Miriam Flynn, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miriam_flynn)
6. [Miriam Flynn filmography, AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/253439)
7. [Babe (1995) full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112431/fullcredits/)
8. [DuckTales (1987-1990) full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092345/fullcredits)
9. [Miriam Flynn biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/bio/)
10. [Miriam Flynn filmography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283565/filmotype)
11. [Miriam Flynn, NNDB](https://www.nndb.com/people/843/000346802/)
12. [Miriam Flynn, Memory Alpha](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Miriam_Flynn)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Voice performers › American voice performers › Animation and cartoon voice actors › Contemporary animation voice actors*
*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