---
name: "Barbara Brownell"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/barbara-brownell"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "6 April 1944"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 82
updated: "2026-09-16T21:19:36.995752+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Barbara Brownell

Actor. Born 6 April 1944 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S..

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 6 April 1944, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S.
- **Active:** 2012–2013

## Biography

Barbara Brownell is an American actress. Born on 6 April 1944, she began her career in the late 1960s and appeared in guest roles on numerous television series, including *Ironside*, *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*, *Emergency!*, *M*A*S*H* (as Lt. Jones, 1972–1973), *The Bob Newhart Show*, *Barnaby Jones*, *CHiPs*, *Night Court*, *Monk* (as Aunt Nora), *Mad Men* (as Mary Lasker), *Malcolm in the Middle* (as Debbie), *Big Love* and *Grey's Anatomy* (as Hattie Straughn).

Her film credits include *Mark of the Witch* (1970), *Going Home* (1971), *Hearts of the West* (1975), *The Master* (2012, as Margaret O'Brien), and *Behind the Candelabra* (2013, uncredited). She has also worked as additional crew and continues to appear in occasional roles.

Brownell has been married to actor Neil Thompson since 1985.

*Sources: imdb.com, watch.plex.tv.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Behind the Candelabra* (2013), Fi1m 81, as Angie Liberace (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/behind-the-candelabra.md)
- *The Master* (2012), Fi1m 84, as Margaret O'Brien — [page](https://film.one/film/the-master.md)

## Also known for

- *Malcolm in the Middle* (2000), Debbie
- *Monk* (2002), Aunt Nora
- *CHiPs* (1977)
- *Night Court* (1984), Mrs. Laporta, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. MacDonald
- *Laverne & Shirley* (1976)
- *The Bob Newhart Show* (1972), Angela
- *Emergency!* (1972), Sandy
- *It Happened at Lakewood Manor* (1977), Marjorie

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/barbara-brownell