McCarthy began her career on the New York stage and appeared on Broadway in Inherit the Wind (1955–1957), alongside her husband, Michael Constantine.
[1][2] In 1986, she appeared on stage as the character Berte at the James A. Doolittle Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles in the Mark Taper Forum production of Hedda Gabler, which was directed by Robert Egan.
Starring Egan's then-wife, Kate Mulgrew, as Hedda, the production also included Linda Purl as Mrs.
[3] McCarthy was an original cast member of the soap opera The Young and the Restless, starring as matriarch Liz Foster from 1973 to 1986.
McCarthy has also appeared in motion pictures including The Last American Virgin, The Distinguished Gentleman, The Frighteners,[6] Starship Troopers and Ted Bundy.