Honorary Chairperson
RCP Centennial Celebration
Mimi Kennedy is probably best known today for her roles in the TV sitcoms MOM, as the veteran 12-step sponsor Marjorie Armstrong, and Dharma & Greg, as Dharma’s hippie mom Abby. She previously starred in Three Girls Three, The Big Show, The Two of Us (opposite British comedian Peter Cook) and with Stockard Channing in JustFriends. She was nominated by TV critics as Best Supporting Dramatic Actress for her portrayal of Queen-B Ruth Sloan in the critically-acclaimed period drama Homefront.
However, Mimi’s six-decade acting career began in 1960 in the Rochester Community Players’ theatre, commonly known as the Playhouse. She was 12 years old when cast as Pippa in Spider’s Web directed by the legendary Harriet (“Hattie”) Warren. At 15, she returned to RCP’s stage as the younger daughter of parents played by family friends Al and Mildred Boylan in Take Her, She’s Mine, also directed by Hattie along with some memorable coaching by Rochester native Bob Forster, whose star had already risen Off-Broadway.
Mimi’s first professional appearance was in summer stock opposite Sid Caesar in Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and her Broadway debut was in the original run of Grease as Jan, a Pink Lady.
Her film roles include Karen Clarke, Assistant Secretary of State, in Armando Iannucci’s anti-war satire In The Loop, Rachel McAdams’ mother in Midnight In Paris, and Jason Segel’s mother in Five-Year Engagement.She also appeared in Pump Up the Volume, Erin Brockovich, Eat Wheaties, Scrambled, and a 2024 short film with Eric Roberts, Death Pays Flora a Visit.
Mimi’s 1996 mid-life memoir, Taken To The Stage: The Education of an Actress, chronicles her journey from a Catholic education in Rochester to the New York stage and Hollywood screen and includes a chapter about Rochester Community Players. It was recently re-issued in paperback and recorded by her as an audio book.
For RCP’s official Centennial Celebration kick-off event at the Multi-use Community Cultural Center on January 26, 2025–“Rochester Community Players: 100 Years in Photos!”– Mimi recorded a video message shown after the announcement of her role as RCP’s Honorary Chairperson for its 100th season. In that message, she shared her expectation of coming to Rochester for RCP’s Centennial Soirée in November.