Starz, a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), today announced Mary McCormack (“In Plain Sight,” “The Kids are Alright,” Private Parts) has been cast in the role of “Willie” in the STARZ Original series “Heels.”
McCormack’s character “Willie” is the business partner of Jack Spade (played by Stephen Amell in the series) and logistical brains behind the local wrestling organization who came up in the glory days as Wild Bill’s (Chris Bauer) valet, but grew tired of babysitting and left him just as his career took off. His return to the local circuit complicates her life, as does the reflection of her younger self that she sees in Crystal (Kelli Berglund).
Mary McCormack is widely known for her four seasons as a regular cast member of “The West Wing,” as the lead of the critically acclaimed “In Plain Sight” and for her role opposite Howard Stern in Private Parts. McCormack’s recent television work includes starring roles in the “The Kids are Alright,” “Loaded,” “Welcome to the Family,” “The Newsroom,” “Scandal,” “House of Lies” and “Will & Grace,” among others. She will appear in the upcoming anthology series “Treehouse” and produces the non-scripted “25 Words or Less” which was just renewed for a second season. McCormack earned a Tony nomination for “Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play” in 2008 for her performance in BOEING-BOEING. McCormack is repped by CAA, Untitled and attorney Erik Hyman.
“Heels” is a story about the men and women who chase their dreams in the world of small town pro wrestling. Set in a close-knit Georgia community, it follows a family-owned wrestling promotion as two brothers and rivals war over their late father’s legacy. In the ring, somebody must play the good guy and somebody must play their nemesis, the heel. But in the real world, those characters can be hard to live up to — or hard to leave behind.
The series is written by Michael Waldron (“Loki,” “Rick and Morty”) with Mike O’Malley (“Survivor’s Remorse,” “Shameless”) serving as showrunner. Along with Waldron and O’Malley, LBI Entertainment’s Julie Yorn (Hell or High Water, White Boy Rick, The Dirt), Peter Segal (Get Smart, 50 First Dates, Tommy Boy, “Shameless”), Chris Donnelly and Patrick Walmsley will also serve as Executive Producers. “Heels” is produced by Lionsgate TV for STARZ in association with Paramount Television Studios. Vice President of Original Programming, Samantha Offsay Nissen, is the executive overseeing “Heels” on behalf of Starz.