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So far this season we’ve had two mentions of Sarah’s mom, which is 200% more than we’d heard about her before. A popular thread in the ChuckTV.net forum is who should play Mama Walker (for lack of a better moniker; we have no idea what her name is), and it strikes me as a perfect topic for a Friday Five. We know so little about the character that predicting the right kind of actress is tough. But Chuck does have a “type”, so let’s give it a go. Here are my choices for Mama Walker.
- Cybill Shepherd – A veteran of comedy who can turn in a dramatic performance as well, she ought to be able to nail the tone on Chuck. She has a passing resemblance to Yvonne Strahovski, definitely a plus, and the Moonlighting connection is too good to pass up on a show proving that the lead couple can get together and still be interesting.
- Catherine Bach – The original Daisy Duke, she fits into the pop culture universe of Chuck. She’s no stranger to fast cars and villainous doings, so she ought to be able to handle the spy world. With some highlights and a pair of rockin’ boots, she’s a Sarah Walker doppelganger.
- Ellen Barkin – Classy and elegant, she could play Mama Walker the socialite who fell for a con man. Or the savvy con woman who found herself drawn to the competition. Remember Sarah from season 1? Eerily in control of her emotions and able to compartmentalize? Maybe she learned that from mom.
- Rene Russo – Yeah, we suggested her for Mama Bartowski, but Linda Hamilton was clearly the right choice for that role. Still, Rene would be a good fit for Chuck; she can do action (Lethal Weapon), espionage (The Thomas Crown Affair), drama (Ransom), and comedy (Tin Cup). Her brand of tough yet vulnerable echoes Yvonne Strahovski’s portrayal of Sarah, too.
- Lindsay Wagner – C’mon, she’s the Bionic Woman!
Assuming we meet Mama Walker this season, who do you think should play her?
To get chuck renewed for sure they should bring Justin Beiber to play her younger brother. (It worked for CSI)
No no no – don’t kill me by doing that. Besides, they might have a problem with ages, like when did Sarah’s mom have him and why did Sarah never mention him? (She did mention having a sister in Season 1 episode Chuck vs the Wookie though.) I think if they bring anybody on to play a surprise younger sibling or cousin for Sarah, it should be LittleChuckFan (Baily) on twitter. She’s so devoted to Chuck and she helps Yvonne with promoting the one rescue dog center.
I personally have no idea who I think should play Mama Walker. I think who ever the casting directors find will be great.
Bringing Bieber on the show is like signing the show’s death warrant.
I AGREE!!!!!!!!!
No Bieber! I won’t watch the episode if he’s on it!
Lindsey Wagner – Mom
Jewel Staite – younger sister
If it would get us S-5, I’d let Pee Wee Herman play her brother.
If they bring Bieber, the show will die. NO BIEBER! I can’t stand him. If you have kids you’ll understand my reasoning. Bring on Betty White as Casey’s grandma or something. She’s popular and freakin’ awesome.
Pee Wee Herman. Hehe hehe hehe.
jewel staite – older sister
This course of action would only be acceptable if he was killed before the opening credits.
I wish I could rate that comment up more than once.
With a flamethrower. Can you believe that goofy haired little D-bag gave an
Interview recently and called America evil? Moosehumper go home.
Hard to tell… I mean Nicole Richie came out fine in her appearances, right?
*crickets*
No, definitely a bad idea. We shouldn’t ruin a really great show with that mainstream pop auto-tuned trash.
Bieber would address Sarah as “Oh Girl” and she’d feed him to a woodchipper.
That’s a good one Doc.
Chuck Season 5 at all costs! All! Even if that means bringing El Bieber on board!
If BIEBER was on Chuck the only thing I’d like to see is him being beaten up by Chuck or Sarah or maybe even Casey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XD
I like the idea of Cybill Shepherd, but she played the mom of the wife on No Ordinary Family recently. A little too similar.
And the mom on Psych!
I’d say Michelle Pfeiffer, if she’s not busy nowadays.
But Rene Russo’s pretty good too.
Sigourney Weaver!
Ha. Wouldn’t that be great? Sarah Conner’s son getting married to Ellen Ripley’s daughter!
I don’t mind too much who gets to play her. I just really want to meet Mama Walker. You can’t give us a line like “I have a strange relationship with my mother” and expect the fans to sit back and not demand answers!
I think the line was “strained relationship”.
I’ve heard it both ways. 😉 (That’s right. Psych reference. What?)
Strained was what i heard… just sayin’.
I listened to it several times because I couldn’t tell if it was “strange” or “strained”. And I still can’t tell. Guess I’ll just have to wait until the season 4 DVDs ship, and watch it with “English for the Hearing Impaired” turned on.
if you go on Hulu its gives the option for captions
Did not know. Thanks!
Update: I tried LuvChuck’s suggestion: the Hulu caption says she has a STRAINED relationship with her mother.
In ” Cougars ” Sarah went to her 10th High School reunion.
That would make about 30 now. Her mother would be in her
mid to late 50’s. Of the five , Bach hasn’t worked in years, don’t
even know if she’s still in show biz. Barkin likewise. Russo is
still a viable film actress, doubt she’d do TV. Saw Wagner recently
on ” Warehouse 13 ” , she would be a good fit. Of the five I’d
vote for Shepherd.
Did you see Ellen Barkin in Ocean’s Thirteen? That wasn’t too long ago, and being in a heist flick is a great way to tie in to a show like Chuck.
If her father is a master thief. They should go in the same vein as the Thomas Crowne Affair and make Renee Russo her mother.
Think we could get Pierce Brosnan to play her father?
Gary Cole has already played that role.
Brosnan and Russo were in the ” Thomas Crowne Affair ”
remake. If you have to explain the joke……
she already has a dad!
Rebecca De Mornay!
If people want to go with the “skilled at seduction” bit, then yeah, Rebecca De Mornay is a nice choice too!
Rebecca De Mornay
I still vote for Anne Lockhart, who played Sheba in the original BSG.
Russo would be the best fit. Sigourney Weaver would be a stretch to get.
However, let me throw a wild card out there, since Sarah was playing with Han Solo and Chewbacca action figures this week: Carrie Fisher as Sarah’s mom.
Plus, who can forget the image of Yvonne wearing the Princess Leia outfit in “Chuck vs. the Sandworm?”
So how about that? Sarah Connor is Chuck’s mom, and Princess Leia is Sarah’s.
Fisher, in case anyone is wondering is 54 (according to Wikipedia, her DOB is Oct. 21, 1956.) She would be the ideal age to be Sarah’s mother.
I was totally thinking Carrie Fisher because of season 1 and there tends to be a good amount of star wars jokes.
And Carrie Fisher is hilarious!!! She could totally play the crazy mom or turn around and be super awesome!
Have you seen Fisher lately? Looks like a bowling ball with hair.
I could see Carrie Fisher playing Jeff’s mom, but not Mama Walker.
SHELLY LONG. Sarah can actually be from the brady bunch then.
Peta Wilson
Tall
Blond
Australian
Played Nikita
Sure, but she is also way too young.
Yeah, Peta Wilson could be a great choice for momma walker, but she’s to young for playing that character
Tanya Roberts
Peta Wilson would be perfect… but she’s only 40… she could not be Sarah´s mom.
Petra Wilson would be perfect …………… and her age is fine. Don’t confuse the age of the actress with the age a Sarah’s mom. In “North by Northwest,” Jessie Royce Landis played Cary Grant’s mom — and she was only 8 years older than he was.
This reminds me of a interview I saw with Vik Sahay – someone approached him on the street and told him he was a jerk, confusing him (the actor) with Lester (the character he plays).
Rene Russo. Rene Russo. Rene Russo. She’s in Thor which is in theatres in May–might help with promotion during May sweeps.
I like the idea of Cybil Sheppard but here are some that I would like to see on the small screen:
Kim Catrell
Kim Basinger
Michelle Pfeifer
Jamie Lee Curtis
I know these may be a stretch but I think they would be enteraining all are in their 50’s.
Bingo! Jamie Lee Curtis would be perfect. Just saw her in a
commercial. She could use the work.
Kim Basinger would be interesting…plus she was Vicki Vale! It would be apt and a nice callback to the pilot.
“Stop the Presses” Kim Bassinger would be perfect and who could forget the first scene of Chuck and Sarahs courtship
Ally Walker, I think she just fits the part…
Cheryl Ladd
Kathy Baker
Beverly D’Angelo
Marg Helgenberger
Markie Post
Cheryl Ladd has my vote!
Kathy Baker? In what alternate drunken universe did this conception
take place?
Now, now…play nice…
Yikes! Confused Baker with Bates . No offense to eighter
actress, attempt at humor goes South ….. Again.
Post was Elliot’s mom on Scrubs. I’d have a hard time getting the drunken cougar image out of my mind.
Then cleanse your thoughts with images of her from her “Night Court” days with John Larroquette.
Not Cybil Sheppard. Anyone but her. I’ve never been able to stand her in anything she’s been in. Lindsay Wagner would be OK, but to me, Cheryl Ladd is perfect for the role. She looks the part and there’s the whole Charlie’s Angels/CAT squard connection going on.
Jeri Ryan would be my choice. She kinda looks like Yvonne and she’s a great actress!
Sorry, Ryan just turned 43. To young.
Heather Locklear – age 50 – might be a little petite to play Sarah’s mom (she’s 5’4″), but definitely a staple of 1980’s tv (Dynasty and TJ Hooker).
I also agree that Cybill Shepherd would be great for the role.
I’v always wondered after seeing moma and popa B where the kids got their height.
Nutrition! Apparently Stephen made sure his kids were eating healthy before he left, and Ellie just took it from there.
Sorry Mel but how could you not include Cheryl Ladd? To me she is the obvious choice much more than any of the otehr five listed.
I’m not that familiar with Cheryl Ladd (I didn’t watch Charlie’s Angels), but she looks like a good possibility for Mama W!
She was also in the show Vegas a few years back and at least at that time still looked pretty good.
I think Cheryl Ladd would be perfect. I also wonder about Olivia Newton John. Wouldn’t it be cool if Sarah had an Australian mom?
Cybil Shepherd or Lindsay Wagner. Can’t really see any of the other ladies in the role of MamaW.
Sharon Stone. Although, she probably wouldn’t do TV, not Chuck anyway.
what about the actress who played kill bill i think she could nail it
Uma Thurman? She’s only 39.
Yvonne herself did make this suggestion, but no, Uma indeed is too young for this.
it a bit Tron Related but how about Cindy Morgan AKA Dr. Lora Baines/Yori
Jacyln Smith would be a kick-ass Mrs. W.
Jacylin Smith would be a great Mrs. W.
Hey guys, whichever actress they get to play her mother I don’t think would be called “Mrs. Walker.” If anything, it would be Burton or something totally different don’t you think?
Walker is the name the CIA gave Sarah. Burton isn’t her real
name either. Her con family history is murky. Don’t know when
her Mom left but according to ” Delorean ” Sarah and her Dad
were on there own by the time Sarah was 10.
Yes, that’s why I said at the beginning of the article that we’re calling her Mama Walker by default because we don’t know her real name.
Possible Candidates for Mama Walker
Helen Hunt
Jacylin Smith
Michelle Pfeiffer
Kim Cattrall
Sharon Stone
Sigourney Weaver
ABSOLUTELY NO BIEBER!!!!!!!!!! Sorry but i just don’t get what everybody sees in him! lol
oh but definetly Cybill Shepard! She has lots of resemblances! lol 😀
wouldn’t it be great if they could bring in one of the old bond girls?
like barbara bach. And, she looks a lot like yvonne when she has blonde hair.
Robin Wright
I LOVE Robin Wright. But I think she’s a little “too big of a star” to get her on CHUCK. Would be an EXCELLENT choice, however.
thanks, now I can’t get Freebird out of my head…
Robin Wright seems just PERFECT for the part!!!
Robin is 44 . Again too young.
I kinda agree w/Sharon Stone and she could certainly do the action and drama. By the way, did anyone notice the uncanny resemblance between Sarah and Vivian???
How about Pamela Anderson? 🙂 I know she is only 43 but maybe Sarah left home because she wasn’t the best looking babe in the house even though I like Yvonne better.
Strahovski vs. Anderson? If anyone had to flee in shame it surely wouldn’t have been Yvonne.
The concept of Yvonne’s mom may just be left hanging out their—kind of like the real name episode–Sam.
Good point. MOM may never be found – or never “show” for the big event. Hopefully DAD will, considering there is a recent past with DAD – and he’s the one with whom she appears to have spent most of her childhood and teen years.
The “SAM” thing. I don’t think they’re going to touch that with a 10 foot pole. The closest I think they’d ever get to broaching that subject again would be if they could get Elizabeth Montgomery (Sam/Samantha from Bewitched), but I’m pretty sure she’s been deceased now for quite some time!
I doubt it. They’ve given us two significant scenes with Sarah talking about her mom this season, after 3 years of silence on the subject. That’s not going to be left hanging.
I like the suggestion of Rene Russo. Especially since we found out a few episodes ago that Sarah’s mom’s family owned a little Italian restaurant. I could see Rene Russo as an ex-Italian restaurant owner. Or maybe Nancy Travis, she did a great job running “Meats of the World.” 🙂 I like Cybill, but she’s Shawn’s mom, and the crossover would be weird for me. I was a big fan of the Bionic Woman, so Lindsay Wagner would be my third choice. Cheryl Ladd would be a fine choice too. And I don’t like Bieber either…
Come on…how about Olivia Newton-John.
Don’t get me wrong…I loved, loved, LOVED Lindsay Wagner as the Bionic Woman, but saw her in other stuff (movies of the week, etc) afterward that just made me cringe; I feel very so-so with her as Sarah’s mom. I’d love to see Michelle Pfieffer or Rene Russo as her mom. I kind of get the vibe that all her quirks and guile she got from her dad, but her fight/temper came from her mom. That’s why I can’t necessarily see Cybill Shepard as her mom — just a little too quirky. As for Cindy Morgan, I’d absolutely love to see her as Sarah’s mom, her playing straight man to Chevy Chase in Caddyshack is similar to the way Sarah has reacted to some of Chuck’s silliness on occasions, but getting her may just be a pipe dream for me.
I wrote this already two. three weeks ago on another Chuck-site but I don’t come there anymore anyway:
My candidate for Sarah’s mother would be Christine Baranski.
Why?
1. Also of Polish descent as Yvonne Strahovksi and that is very good to see, the same Slavic characteristics
2. Can play very good a mother that is estranged from her child (see 3)
3. She plays the mother of Leonard in The Big Bang Theory in very funny way
4. She could play almost the same part as in TBBT only less over the top (she can play serious drama very well too, see her current role in The Good Wife)
5. If she would also be a psychiatrist and use the same name (or parody version) of her character in TBBT, Dr Beverly Hofstadter then that would make a funny connection with TBBT (see 6)
6. This connection would be fitting because of the Nerd settings of both shows. The TBBT guys and Chuck/Morgan could exchange Star Wars stuff etc, Morgan needs a buyer for his stuff anyway if he wants to have a house with Alex.. It would also make Sarah Walker a sort of sister of Leonard. The TBBT-gang could have very nice cameos at the wedding.
7. In The Good Wife she played approx a year ago in 3 episodes and very recently in a fourth having a kind of “opposites attract”-PLI connection with a man played by… Gary Cole !
Okay, my point 6 is a fan boy’s dream and not very realistic seen from a business point of view, but in theory it is possible. Johnny Galecki (Leonard) and Yvonne Strahovski had already in the past once a little funny act together at an award show were Galecki was hinting on the fact that YS’s character had a crush on a nerd and that he also played a nerd so would she.. There was some chemistry, YS made even a good move to joke a bit with their differences in heigth (JG started this himself btw). See the clip at YouTube if you didn’t see it yet.
Biggest practical problem probably is Christine Baranski’s schedule with shooting The Good Wife.
Maria Bello
Similar Looks probably due to polish/italian background and acted with Scott Bakula in Mr and Mrs Smith TV series
yes 43 but she can always act older
Just a thought
Mary McDonnell.
Awesome actress, right age, has the nerd credentials (President Roslin!).
Yes she is brunette while Yvonne is blonde but so am I and my Mum is brunette- o.k. that supporting argument is a bit lame but come on, PRESIDENT ROSLIN.
Someone said it earlier Lindsey Wagner as Sarah’s mom and to add to the twist Michelle Ryan as her sister Both versions of the Bionic woman and an added plus Ms Ryan also played a cat burglar on a Dr. Who special.
How about Helen Slater? Would be another fun Superman tie in.
Helen is 47. She is still working, but I don’t know she could be convincing as Sarahs
Mom. Just seems to young to me IMO.
Joanna Pacula is the perfect choice. She was in Gorky Park with William Hurt, she is Polish. She is 5’9″ and she is absolutely stunning. She is 54 years old, so she would be 24-25 when Sarah was born. Check her out at imdb.
Mel I’m serious. Any of the five you mentioned could get the job done.
All these choices are pretty good, in my opinion. However I was also thinking Amanda tapping (Stargate SG-1 and lately of Sanctuary) might be a good choice as well.
I love Sam Carter too, but Amanda is 45 . Sorry to be a broken record, still too young.
Go SG-1 !
I think Shelly Long would be great. I can see why Sarah and Mom might not get on perfectly with a girly/girl mom.
Keep in mind, they don’t need an action mom because Sarah’s mother probably isn’t a spy; in fact, she probably doesn’t know Sarah’s a spy.
she probably still thinks Sarahs a criminal like her dad, hence the ‘strained’ relationship. How about Heather Thomas, who used to be in the 80’s show “the fall guy”. She’s about 53 now.