Known For
Acting
Born
Feb 12, 1931
Died
Nov 23, 2024
Place of Birth
London, England, UK
Credits
34 titles
Brenda McDonald
Biography
Brenda McDonald (born Brenda Olive Nicholls; February 12, 1931 – November 23, 2024) was a Canadian actress. Born in London, Brenda moved to Canada at 21, settling first in Toronto, then in Vancouver, where she met her first husband, Thomas Guy, and had four children with him. She graduated from UBC with a teaching degree in 1977, soon after Thomas had died of a heart attack. She taught English, French and Drama for nine years before quitting to follow her dream of acting. Her career spanned 33 years. She performed on stage, in film, and in training and educational videos, as well as doing voice-over work. She was also very active in community theatre with North Vancouver Community Players and United Players in Jericho. Her first film gig of note was as a body double for Katharine Hepburn, and over the years she shared the set with many of the greats: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Anthony Quinn, Paul Hogan and many others. She worked on many Vancouver-shot series, including X-Files, Stargate: Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She is known by many for a single line delivered while playing the nun in Elf: “But the children love the books!” Brenda had an active personal life: she remarried twice, surviving all of her husbands, had 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She maintained her independence by keeping her driving licence until she was 92, played saxophone, attended art classes, walked every day, and she was a passionate fan of Vancouver Canucks.
Known For
Filmography
Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights
Blitzen / Donner / Nillá (voice)
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Dezmelda
Little Pink House
Agnes Vecchiarelli
Garage Sale Mystery: The Wedding Dress
Librarian
Seventh Son
Timeless Hag (uncredited)
Clue: A Movie Mystery Adventure
Old Woman
Witches of East End
Elderly Elizabeth
Grave Encounters 2
Delia Rogerson
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
Killer Old Lady
Messages Deleted
Screaming Woman
Sanctuary
Navajo Woman
Reaper
Mary Ann Fitzgerald
Blood Ties
Emily
88 Minutes
Mrs. Lowinsky
Pelts
Mother Mayter
Scary Movie 4
Old Lady Henderson
She's the Man
Old Lady in Beauty Parlor
The Engagement Ring
Nana
Masters of Horror
Mother Mayter
The Big White
Mrs Wherry
Supernatural
Rose Thompson
School of Life
Maggie Little
Stargate Atlantis
Charin
Elf
Nun
Hellraiser: Hellseeker
Angular Nurse
Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice
Elderly Woman
The New Adventures of Spin and Marty: Suspect Behavior
Mary's Friend
Trial By Fire: A North of 60 Mystery
Mary Edzo
Mr. Magoo
Opera Patron
The Wonderful World of Disney
Mary's Friend
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
Zerelda Hart (segment "Mysterious Strangers")
The Outer Limits
Mrs. Eikenberry
Viper
Mrs. Fletcher
The X-Files
Auntie Janet