Mary T. Mara (September 21, 1960 – June 26, 2022) was an American television and film actress known for her main role as Inspector Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges and appearances on primetime dramas ER and Law & Order.

[1][2] Her father, Roger, worked as the director of special events for the New York State Fair; her mother, Lucille, was an accountant.

[3] After graduating, she studied at San Francisco State University and the Yale School of Drama,[2][4] obtaining a Master of Fine Arts from the latter institution.

[2][5] In the same year, she participated in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of Twelfth Night, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Goldblum and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.

[2] When reflecting on that role several years later, she noted that it was a "male-dominated show", adding that although the writers "started to write for me really well about halfway through the season", the producers "were afraid I would stand out too much.

[2] During the later part of her career, Mara appeared as a recurring character in Dexter (2009) as Valerie Hodges and Ray Donovan (2013) as Mrs.