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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

7.5

Blitzen / Donner / Nillá (voice)

Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights

2024

8.2

Dezmelda

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

2018

6.1

Agnes Vecchiarelli

Little Pink House

2018

6.3

Librarian

Garage Sale Mystery: The Wedding Dress

2015

5.5

Timeless Hag (uncredited)

Seventh Son

2014

7.3

Elderly Elizabeth

Witches of East End

2013

5.5

Delia Rogerson

Grave Encounters 2

2012

8.2

Killer Old Lady

R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour

2010

5.3

Screaming Woman

Messages Deleted

2010

7.2

Navajo Woman

Sanctuary

2008

Credits

Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights

as Blitzen / Donner / Nillá (voice)

2024

7.5

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

as Dezmelda

2018

8.2

Little Pink House

as Agnes Vecchiarelli

2018

6.1

Garage Sale Mystery: The Wedding Dress

as Librarian

2015

6.3

Seventh Son

as Timeless Hag (uncredited)

2014

5.5

Witches of East End

as Elderly Elizabeth

2013

7.3

Grave Encounters 2

as Delia Rogerson

2012

5.5

R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour

as Killer Old Lady

2010

8.2

Messages Deleted

as Screaming Woman

2010

5.3

Sanctuary

as Navajo Woman

2008

7.2

Reaper

as Mary Ann Fitzgerald

2007

7.0

Blood Ties

as Emily

2007

7.6

88 Minutes

as Mrs. Lowinsky

2007

5.8

Pelts

as Mother Mayter

2006

5.6

Scary Movie 4

as Old Lady Henderson

2006

5.5

She's the Man

as Old Lady in Beauty Parlor

2006

6.8

The Engagement Ring

as Nana

2005

4.8

Masters of Horror

as Mother Mayter

2005

7.1

The Big White

as Mrs Wherry

2005

6.2

Supernatural

as Rose Thompson

2005

8.3

School of Life

as Maggie Little

2005

6.4

Stargate Atlantis

as Charin

2004

8.0

Elf

as Nun

2003

6.7

Hellraiser: Hellseeker

as Angular Nurse

2002

5.0

Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice

as Elderly Woman

2002

4.1

The New Adventures of Spin and Marty: Suspect Behavior

as Mary's Friend

2000

10.0

Trial By Fire: A North of 60 Mystery

as Mary Edzo

2000

0.0

Mr. Magoo

as Opera Patron

1997

4.5

The Wonderful World of Disney

as Mary's Friend

1997

6.7

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

as Zerelda Hart (segment "Mysterious Strangers")

1997

7.2

The Outer Limits

as Mrs. Eikenberry

1995

7.7

The Outer Limits

as Old Arthritic Woman

1995

7.7

Viper

as Mrs. Fletcher

1994

6.1

The X-Files

as Auntie Janet

1993

8.4

The X-Files

as Mrs. Loach

1993

8.4