Brenda McDonald
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- February 12, 1931
- Died
- November 23, 2024 (aged 93)
- Birthplace
- London, England, UK
Biography
Brenda McDonald (born Brenda Olive Nicholls; February 12, 1931 – November 23, 2024) was a Canadian actress. Born in London, Brenda moved to Canada at 21, settling first in Toronto, then in Vancouver, where she met her first husband, Thomas Guy, and had four children with him. She graduated from UBC with a teaching degree in 1977, soon after Thomas had died of a heart attack. She taught English, French and Drama for nine years before quitting to follow her dream of acting. Her career spanned 33 years. She performed on stage, in film, and in training and educational videos, as well as doing voice-over work. She was also very active in community theatre with North Vancouver Community Players and United Players in Jericho. Her first film gig of note was as a body double for Katharine Hepburn, and over the years she shared the set with many of the greats: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Anthony Quinn, Paul Hogan and many others. She worked on many Vancouver-shot series, including X-Files, Stargate: Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She is known by many for a single line delivered while playing the nun in Elf: “But the children love the books!” Brenda had an active personal life: she remarried twice, surviving all of her husbands, had 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She maintained her independence by keeping her driving licence until she was 92, played saxophone, attended art classes, walked every day, and she was a passionate fan of Vancouver Canucks.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights
Movie · as Blitzen / Donner / Nillá (voice)
Little Pink House
Movie · as Agnes Vecchiarelli
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
TV · as Dezmelda · 1 ep
Garage Sale Mystery: The Wedding Dress
Movie · as Librarian
Seventh Son
Movie · as Timeless Hag (uncredited)
Clue: A Movie Mystery Adventure
Movie · as Old Woman
Witches of East End
TV · as Elderly Elizabeth · 1 ep
Grave Encounters 2
Movie · as Delia Rogerson
Messages Deleted
Movie · as Screaming Woman
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
TV · as Killer Old Lady · 2 eps
Sanctuary
TV · as Navajo Woman · 1 ep
88 Minutes
Movie · as Mrs. Lowinsky
Blood Ties
TV · as Emily · 1 ep
Reaper
TV · as Mary Ann Fitzgerald · 1 ep
Pelts
Movie · as Mother Mayter
She's the Man
Movie · as Old Lady in Beauty Parlor
Scary Movie 4
Movie · as Old Lady Henderson
The Big White
Movie · as Mrs Wherry
The Engagement Ring
Movie · as Nana
School of Life
Movie · as Maggie Little
Masters of Horror
TV · as Mother Mayter · 1 ep
Supernatural
TV · as Rose Thompson · 1 ep
Stargate Atlantis
TV · as Charin · 2 eps
Elf
Movie · as Nun
Hellraiser: Hellseeker
Movie · as Angular Nurse
Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice
Movie · as Elderly Woman
The New Adventures of Spin and Marty: Suspect Behavior
Movie · as Mary's Friend
Trial By Fire: A North of 60 Mystery
Movie · as Mary Edzo
Atomic Train
TV · as Older Woman · 2 eps
Floating Away
Movie · as Mum
Mr. Magoo
Movie · as Opera Patron
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV · as Mary's Friend · 1 ep
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
TV · as Zerelda Hart (segment "Mysterious Strangers") · 1 ep
The Outer Limits
TV · as Mrs. Eikenberry, Old Arthritic Woman · 1 ep
Viper
TV · as Mrs. Fletcher · 1 ep
The X-Files
TV · as Auntie Janet, Mrs. Loach · 1 ep