Mimi Kennedy (born September 25, 1948 or 1949) is an American actress and film director.
Kennedy was born Mary Claire Kennedy in Rochester, New York, the daughter of Nancy Helen (née Colgan) and Daniel Gerald Kennedy. She got her start in theater with the Rochester Community Players, appearing in Agatha Christie's "Spider Web" in October 1960 when she was 12 years old. Mimi was raised in the Browncroft neighborhood of Rochester, NY. She was a 1966 graduate of Our Lady of Mercy High School.
Kennedy made her television debut in March of 1977 in the short-lived television variety series 3 Girls 3, with Debbie Allen and Ellen Foley as the other two "girls". Her most notable television role, however, was as Dharma's mother, Abby O'Neil, on the series Dharma & Greg. She also appeared in the Broadway and road companies of the show Hair. Kennedy is involved in several progressive activist causes, including Progressive Democrats of America for which she serves as Chairperson of the Board.
Kennedy has two children, Cisco and Molly, and a husband, Larry Dilg. Coincidentally, "Larry" was also the name of her fictional life partner on Dharma & Greg. Mimi also met her real husband Larry in college. Mimi went to the sister college of Larry's, where they were both matched up in a computer dating service.
Kennedy is a signatory to the 9/11 Truth Statement. She is the national chairwoman of Progressive Democrats of America and was a charter member of Artists United to Win Without War, and a leading supporter of Dennis Kucinich’s anti-war presidential campaign in 2004. She has worked on human rights, environmental and labour issues.
She is friends with Lynn Marie Latham and Bernard Lechowick, and has worked with them on three different series.
