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Maggie Baird

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Maggie Baird
Baird in an interview in 2014
Born
Maggie May Baird[1][2]

(1959-03-29) March 29, 1959 (age 65)
Fruita, Colorado, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Utah (BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active1981–present
Spouse
Patrick O'Connell
​
(m. 1995)​
Children
RelativesBrian Baird (brother)

Maggie May Baird (born March 29, 1959)[3] is an American actress. She grew up in Colorado performing music, and studied theater and dance at the University of Utah, before moving to New York City, where she performed on Broadway. She made her television debut in 1981 in the soap opera Another World and her film debut in the 1989 feature An Innocent Man.

Baird continued to act in television and film after moving to Los Angeles in 1991, and became a member and teacher at the Groundlings, a troupe and improvisational theatre school. She acted in 2000s television series such as Bones, The X-Files and Six Feet Under, and provided the voices of Samara in the video game series Mass Effect, and various characters in the Saints Row game series. In 2009, Baird released her debut studio album, We Sail.

Baird married Patrick O'Connell in 1995, with whom she has two children: musicians Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish. She wrote and co-starred with her son Finneas in the 2013 film Life Inside Out, which garnered Baird critical acclaim for her performance. In 2016, she edited the music video for "Six Feet Under" for her daughter Billie.

Early life

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Maggie May Baird was born on March 29th, 1959 to Edith "Edie" Shaw and William "Bill" Norton Baird.[4][5][6][7] Baird was born and raised in Fruita, Colorado. Baird learned the piano and guitar as a teenager.[5][8][9] Her older brother is politician Brian Baird. She graduated from Fruita Monument High School in 1977.[5] While Baird was in her 20s, her mother passed away following a heart attack.[10] Her father followed in 2001 after battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Baird studied theater and dance at the University of Utah before later moving to New York City.[11]

Career

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Baird made her debut television appearance in 1981, playing a supporting role in the American soap opera Another World.[11] After moving to New York City, she performed in the 1985 revival of The Iceman Cometh on Broadway, and several Off-Broadway shows.[12][8] After several years in New York City, Baird was cast in a play that took place in Anchorage, Alaska, where she met her future husband, Patrick O'Connell on set.[10] In 1991, Baird moved to Los Angeles, California, where she acted in television and film productions such as L.A. Law, Murphy Brown, Walker, Texas Ranger and Picket Fences[8] before spending nine months touring with The Heidi Chronicles in 1990, where she played the role of one of Heidi's friends.[13][14] She played Taylor Baldwin on the soap opera As the World Turns in 1987 before making her film debut as Stacy in An Innocent Man in 1989.[15]

Baird and her son, Finneas, promoting Life Inside Out in 2014

From 1994 to 2000, Baird was a member and teacher at the Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe and school in Los Angeles.[16] While at the Groundlings, Baird taught and performed with actors such as Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, becoming McCarthy's first improv teacher.[17] Baird has been a voice actress in video games such as the Mass Effect series, the Saints Row series, the EverQuest II series, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Rogue Galaxy and Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption.[18]

Some of her notable acting roles from the 2000s to 2010s are Sharon Pearl in The X-Files in 2000, Sandra Hicks in Bones in 2009, Andrea Kuhn in Six Feet Under in 2005, and the asari Samara from the original Mass Effect trilogy.[19][20] In March 2009, Baird released her debut studio album We Sail, an eleven-track country record.[11][21]

Baird wrote, co-produced, acted and provided the soundtrack for the film Life Inside Out which was released in October 2013. The film, which explores the relationship between a mother and son through music, features Baird's real-life son Finneas. Gary Goldstein from Los Angeles Times wrote "A beautiful demonstration of a mother's love concludes this special little film on a hugely touching note."[22]

In 2016, Baird edited the music video for the US gold-certified song "Six Feet Under" by her daughter, Billie Eilish.[23] Baird portrayed Zach Galifianakis's sister in a deleted scene from the 2019 film Between Two Ferns: The Movie.[24]

In 2020, amid the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Baird, with the help of her two children, launched Support + Feed, a nonprofit organization that aims to provide plant-based meals to those suffering from food insecurity.[25]

Personal life

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Baird and her daughter Billie Eilish in Atlanta in November 2018

Baird is a hobby musician and has recorded two CDs, including We Sail, which is available on ITunes.[10] Baird was a teacher for Music Together for six years and made music a substantial part of her children's lives.[26]

In 1984, Baird met actor Patrick O'Connell while on the set of a play in Anchorage, Alaska.[10][27] After 11 years of dating, Baird and O'Connell married in 1995.[8][28][29] On July 30, 1997, Baird gave birth to the couple's first child, Finneas O'Connell.[30] On December 18, 2001, Baird gave birth to the couple's second child, Billie Eilish O'Connell, in Highland Park, Los Angeles.[31][28] Baird and O'Connell decided to homeschool their children, with Baird stating: "Homeschooling allows us to let them do the things that they really love to do and not have a giant academic schedule on top of it."[8][11]

Both of their children are successful singer-songwriters, and in Finneas's case, an actor as well.[32][33] Baird and O'Connell have been supportive of both Eilish and Finneas's careers.[27] As of 2021, they reside in Highland Park, Los Angeles.[28][34]

While talking about her own religion in 2020, Eilish described her family, which includes, Baird, as not religious.[35]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1981 Another World Rhonda Sadowski Recurring
1987–1988 As the World Turns Taylor Baldwin Recurring
1992 L.A. Law Rachel Malone Episode: "Back to the Suture"
1994 Walker, Texas Ranger Jessica Ann Pritchard Episode: "The Reunion"
Picket Fences Marjorie Engrams 3 episodes
1996 The Naked Truth French Filmmaker's Wife Episode: "Hollywood Honours Male Prostitute"
Chicago Hope Gloria Neal Episode: "A Day in the Life"
1998 Buddy Faro Episode: "Get Me Cody Swift"
L.A. Doctors Episode: "Leap of Faith"
1999 Crashbox Verity Voice
Friends Casting Director No. 2 Episode: "The One Where Joey Loses His Insurance"
Jack & Jill Donna Episode: "Fear and Loathing in Gotham"
2000 JAG Vera Duke Episode: "Surface Warfare"
Cover Me Christy Ann Harnick Episode: "In Plain Sight"
Curb Your Enthusiasm Couple #1 Episode: "AAMCO"
The X-Files Sharon Pearl Episode: "Invocation"
2002 The West Wing Ms. Carney, Network News President #3 Episode: "The Black Vera Wang"
Birds of Prey Mother 2 episodes
2003 Charmed Doctor Episode: "The Day The Magic Died"
The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire Episode: "Little Girl Lost"
2005 Six Feet Under Andrea Kuhn Episode: "A Coat of White Primer"
Everwood Mrs. Harcourt Episode: "Put on a Happy Face"
2008 The Starter Wife Blair Episode: "The Remains of the Snow Day"
2009 Bones Sandra Hicks Episode: "Double Trouble in the Panhandle"
2011 Days of Our Lives Female T.V. Voice Episode #1.11586
2013 See Dad Run Hippie Mom Episode: "See Dad Host a Play Group"

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 Roe vs. Wade TV movie
An Innocent Man Stacy
1995 Siringo Blanche
White Dwarf Scarred Cultist
1999 Michael Jordan: An American Hero Reporter TV movie
The Big Split Tracy's Mom
2000 Dropping Out Waitress
Running Mates Newscaster #2
2001 Manic Rebecca
2004 Sake Bottle Battle Cathy Gaffney Short film
2005 Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Linda Sue
2006 Eragon Additional voices
2011 Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas Additional voices Short film
2013 Life Inside Out Laura Written, co-produced, soundtrack
2016 I Am Be Demeter Short film
2021 Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry Herself Documentary

Video games

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Year Title Role
1999 Battlezone II: Combat Commander Female Ensemble
2000 Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption Anezka
2004 EverQuest II
2005 Rogue Galaxy Amni Rhyza
EverQuest II: Desert of Flames
2006 Saints Row Stilwater's Resident
2008 Saints Row 2 Various
2010 Mass Effect 2 Samara
2012 Mass Effect 3
2013 Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Additional voices

Discography

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Title Album details
We Sail
  • Released: March 30, 2009[21]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Awards and nominations

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Year Organization Award Work Result Ref.
2013 Heartland International Film Festival Crystal Heart Award for Dramatic Feature Life Inside Out Won [36]
Crystal Heart Award for Best Premiere
2014 Phoenix Film Festival Cox Audience Award [37][38]
Best Picture Nominated
San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Won [39]

References

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  1. ^ Baird, Maggie May. "ASCAP Ace Search". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  2. ^ "Maggie May Baird (@maggiembaird) • Instagram photos and videos". maggiembaird [confirmed account]. Instagram. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  3. ^ Hatcher, Kirsty (March 30, 2023). "billie eilish shares birthday tribute mom maggie baird". People. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  4. ^ "brian baird". October 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Mawdsley, Melinda (May 15, 2015). "Fruita grad's indy film garners acclaim". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  6. ^ "Maggie Baird - Latest News, Updates, Photos and Videos | Yahoo". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "Obituary for Bill Baird, 1927-2001". The Daily Sentinel. February 21, 2001. p. 16. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e Paeff, Colleen (June 22, 2012). "Meet Maggie Baird". How Many Homeschoolers Does it Take to Make a Movie?. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  9. ^ "Maggie Baird: Folk from Los Angeles, CA". ReverbNation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d Remy-Milora, Valerie (October 1, 2013). "Scrumptious Mom Maggie Baird - October 2013". Scrumptious Moms: Vibrantly Healthy Moms Living Life to the Fullest. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d Gomez, Jasmine (September 16, 2019). "Here's Everything You Need to Know About Billie Eilish's Parents and Brother, Finneas". Seventeen. Archived from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  12. ^ "Maggie Baird Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos". broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  13. ^ Allman, Kevin (October 16, 1990). "The Party Chronicles: a First-Night Fete". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  14. ^ Rose, Lloyd (March 22, 1991). "STAGE REVIEW : Ladies of the '80s". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  15. ^ "Maggie Baird". TV Guide. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  16. ^ "Maggie Baird". The Groundlings Theatre & School. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  17. ^ Marine, Brooke (July 31, 2019). "Billie Eilish Isn't Allowed to Drink Soda". W Magazine. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  18. ^ Priestman, Chris (February 6, 2020). "Billie Eilish's Mom Was in Saints Row and Mass Effect 2". IGN. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  19. ^ Cirisano, Tatiana (March 27, 2019). "Sibling Revelry: Finneas, Billie Eilish's Brother & Co-Writer, Steps Out". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  20. ^ Bailey, Dustin (February 4, 2020). "Billie Eilish's mom was in Mass Effect". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  21. ^ a b "We Sail by Maggie Baird", Apple Music, archived from the original on December 2, 2019, retrieved December 2, 2019
  22. ^ Goldstein, Gary (October 17, 2014). "Review: When it's 'Life Inside Out,' they turn to music". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  23. ^ "Billie Eilish - Six Feet Under", Billie Eilish [confirmed account], June 30, 2016, archived from the original on January 5, 2020, retrieved December 3, 2019 – via YouTube
  24. ^ "Costume Designer Erica Rice on Dressing All The Celebs In 'Between Two Ferns: The Movie'". Beyond Fashion Magazine. October 31, 2019. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  25. ^ "Meet Maggie Baird: Billie Eilish's GOAT Mom on a Mission to Support + Feed the Planet". Los Angeles. November 22, 2024. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  26. ^ "Music Together: Creating a Musical Home Life (and a Global Pop Star!): An Interview With Maggie Baird". Music Together. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  27. ^ a b LaCroix, Emy (March 11, 2024). "All About Billie Eilish's Parents, Maggie Baird and Patrick O'Connell". Peoplemag. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Eells, Josh (July 31, 2019). "Billie Eilish and the Triumph of the Weird". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  29. ^ Mishra, Akanksha (May 3, 2024). "What did Billie Eilish's parents do? All about Maggie Baird and Patrick O'Connell". Sportskeeda. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  30. ^ "Finneas O'Connell: 18 facts about the singer-songwriter and Billie Eilish's brother". Capital. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  31. ^ "Billie Eilish | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  32. ^ "Billie Eilish | Biography, Songs, What Was I Made For, & Awards | Britannica". Britannica. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  33. ^ Sager, Jessica (July 16, 2024). "All About Billie Eilish's Brother Finneas and Their Sibling Bond". Peoplemag. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  34. ^ Barlow, Eve (September 5, 2019). "The Highs and Lows of Being Billie Eilish". ELLE. Archived from the original on November 30, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  35. ^ Harmata, Claudia (July 20, 2020). "Billie Eilish Reveals She Was Once 'Super Religious' Even Though Her Family Wasn't: 'It Was Weird'". People. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  36. ^ "2013 Heartland Film Festival Concludes with Special Presentation of "The Book Thief," Announces Audience Choice & Best Premiere Award Winners". Heartandfilm.org. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  37. ^ "2014 Award Winners Announced!". Phoenix Film Festival. April 10, 2014. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  38. ^ "Maggie Baird: Awards". IMDb. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  39. ^ Linn, Sarah (March 8, 2014). "Jeff Bridges accepts King Vidor award at SLO Film Festival". The Tribune. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
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