If you’ve watched a really good show lately and found yourself thinking, "Who is that woman with the incredible timing?" there’s a massive chance you were looking at Mary Hollis Inboden. Seriously. She’s everywhere, but she has this chameleon-like quality that makes her blend into the world of the show until she suddenly steals the scene.
Most people know her from Kevin Can F**k Himself, where she played Patty O’Connor, the neighbor who started as a sitcom trope and ended as the beating heart of a dark, genre-bending drama. But her career goes way deeper than just one breakout hit on AMC.
The Roles That Defined Her Career
Let's talk about The Real O'Neals. That was my first real introduction to her. She played Aunt Jodi, and honestly, she was the funniest part of that entire ABC sitcom. She has this way of delivering a line—just slightly dry, a little bit chaotic—that makes even a standard network joke feel like something much weirder and better.
Then you have The Righteous Gemstones. If you haven't seen her as Mandy, you're missing out on some of the best "blink and you'll miss it" comedy on HBO. She fits perfectly into the Danny McBride universe because she isn't afraid to look a little ridiculous or play characters who are deeply, hilariously flawed.
👉 See also: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
A Quick List of Must-Watch TV Shows With Mary Hollis Inboden:
- Kevin Can Fk Himself**: You have to start here. Her chemistry with Annie Murphy is the whole show.
- The Real O'Neals: This is where she proved she could handle a 22-minute sitcom format with her eyes closed.
- The Righteous Gemstones: She plays Mandy, part of the extended, messy Gemstone orbit.
- American Princess: A shorter-lived series, but she’s fantastic as Delilah Quaid.
- Boss: Way back in the day, she was in this Kelsey Grammer political drama. It's dark, gritty, and shows her range early on.
- The Chicago Code: Another early role where she played "Mary." It’s a solid police procedural if you’re into that.
- Murderville: She showed up in the episode with Conan O’Brien. If you can keep a straight face next to Conan, you’re a pro.
What Makes Her So Different?
Basically, it comes down to her background. She didn't just walk onto a set in Hollywood. Mary Hollis Inboden cut her teeth in the Chicago storefront theater scene. That's a brutal, high-energy environment where you learn how to hold an audience's attention with nothing but a folding chair and a script.
She's also a survivor of a school shooting—the 1998 Westside Middle School tragedy in Arkansas. She’s been very open about how that trauma shaped her and how she turned it into art. She even co-wrote a play called The Warriors about it. When you see her play Patty in Kevin Can F**k Himself, and you see that layer of "I’ve seen some things" in her eyes, it’s not just acting. It’s a depth of experience most actors just don't have.
The 2026 Landscape and "The Paper"
If you're keeping up with the latest industry buzz, you might have heard her name pop up in relation to The Paper. This is the 2026 The Office spin-off everyone is talking about. Inboden guest-starred as "Mare," a woman who goes undercover to expose a mattress store scam. It’s a classic example of how she can take a guest spot and make it the most talked-about part of an episode.
✨ Don't miss: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
People are finally starting to realize that if you want a character who feels like a real person you'd meet at a dive bar in the Midwest, you hire Mary Hollis. She doesn't do "Hollywood shiny." She does "real."
Why You Should Care
We're in an era of TV where everything feels a bit over-polished. Shows are filled with people who look like they’ve never eaten a carb in their lives. Mary Hollis Inboden feels like your best friend, your sister, or that cool cousin who always has a secret.
She brings a specific kind of "female rage" and "female friendship" to the screen that feels earned. In Kevin Can F**k Himself, the show is ostensibly about a woman wanting to kill her husband, but the real story is about Patty and Allison finding each other. That’s why the show worked. Without Inboden’s groundedness, it would have just been a gimmick.
🔗 Read more: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you want to support her work, start by binge-watching the two seasons of Kevin Can F**k Himself. It’s a complete story, so you won't be left hanging by a cancellation.
After that, dive into The Righteous Gemstones on Max. She isn't the lead, but tracking her appearances is like a fun Easter egg hunt for fans of character acting. You can also find her on various podcasts—she’s a great interview because she’s actually honest about the industry and her life. Check out her episode on Office Ladies 6.0 or the Judging Meghan podcast for some real, raw conversation about her journey.
The best thing you can do as a viewer is keep an eye on the credits. When you see her name, you know the show is probably going to have a bit more soul than your average production.