Cynthia Geary

Cynthia Geary is an American actress who grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and studied vocal performance at the University of Mississippi. Her career began with national commercials for Coca-Cola and General Motors before she moved into guest appearances on episodic television, TV movies, and independent films. She is best known for playing Shelly Tambo on the ensemble comedy Northern Exposure, set in rural Alaska, a role that earned her Primetime Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actress in 1992 and 1993. Her film work includes the female lead in 8 Seconds (1994), the Olsen twins' mother in To Grandmother's House We Go (1992), and a small part in Smoke Signals (1998), based on Sherman Alexie's short stories. Geary also voiced a character in a Professor Layton video game and starred for two seasons on the series Going Home.