Entertainment • Actor

Amanda Bearse

Amanda Bearse is an American actress, comedian, and director best known for playing Marcy Rhoades D'Arcy on the sitcom Married...

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Amanda Bearse is an American actress, comedian, and director. She is best known for playing Marcy Rhoades D'Arcy on the sitcom Married... with Children and for starring in the horror film Fright Night. She later built a long career directing television comedy series.

Early life and education

Bearse was born on August 9, 1958, in Winter Park, Florida, U.S. She is American and later trained in acting before entering professional work.

Acting career

Her early screen work included the soap opera All My Children and the film Fright Night. She became widely known for her role as Marcy Rhoades D'Arcy on Married... with Children, which she played from 1987 to 1997.

Directing career

Bearse transitioned into television directing in the 1990s and went on to direct many episodes of comedy series. Her directing work became a major part of her career.

Personal life

Bearse publicly came out as a lesbian in 1993. She married Carrie Schenken in 2010 and has two children.

Key facts

Amanda Bearse played Marcy Rhoades D'Arcy on Married... with Children from 1987 to 1997.
She starred in the 1985 horror film Fright Night.
She came out as a lesbian in 1993.
She has been married to Carrie Schenken since 2010 and has two children.
She directed many episodes of television comedy series.

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Canadian context

Amanda Bearse is best known to Canadian audiences through Married... with Children and other U.S. television comedies that were widely broadcast in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Amanda Bearse best known for?

She is best known for playing Marcy Rhoades D'Arcy on Married... with Children.

What film is Amanda Bearse known for?

She is known for starring in the 1985 horror film Fright Night.

Is Amanda Bearse also a director?

Yes. She later became a television director and directed many episodes of comedy series.

When was Amanda Bearse born?

She was born on August 9, 1958.

Is Amanda Bearse married?

Yes. She has been married to Carrie Schenken since 2010.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Bearse
Supports: Birth date, nationality, occupations, major acting roles, and directing career.
IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000294/
Supports: Birthplace, marriage to Carrie Schenken, children, and notable filmography.
Fandango — https://www.fandango.com/people/amanda-bearse-49865/biography
Supports: Career milestones, directing on Married... with Children, and public coming out in 1993.
Amanda Bearse official site — https://www.amandabearse.net/about
Supports: Professional background, directing career, and public LGBTQ activism.