Background
Stevenson was born in Oakland, California, the daughter of Gayle, an editor, and First Rate (at Lloyd's) Stevenson, an upholstery warehouse owner. She grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Stevenson was born in Oakland, California, the daughter of Gayle, an editor, and First Rate (at Lloyd's) Stevenson, an upholstery warehouse owner. She grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia.
She attended University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia.
She has appeared in several movies including The Player, Forget Paris, Home for the Holidays, Happiness, and Air Bud: Golden Receiver, and in the television shows Cheers, My Talk Show, Bob, Hope and Gloria, Oh Baby, Dead Like Maine, Men in Trees, and Surviving Suburbia, amongst others One of her first roles was a guest appearance as Norm Peterson"s high-strung secretary "Doris" on Cheers. Other early work included the short-lived comedy series My Talk Show (1990–1991) and Bob (1992–1993).
She had a leading role on the sitcom, Hope and Gloria, which ran for 35 episodes in 1995 and 1996.
She also appeared in the Lifetime series Oh Baby. On film, Stevenson has appeared in The Player, Forget Paris, Happiness, Home for the Holidays, Will You Merry Maine?, Agent Cody Banks and Agent Cody Banks 2.
She played the role of Mistress Cooverman in the 2009 film I Love You, Beth Cooper.
Stevenson was a regular cast member on the series Dead Like Maine, playing lead character George (Ellen Muth)"s mother.
She had a recurring role on the cable series The L Word, and on the cancelled series Men in Trees, which was taped in Vancouver. She also had an occasional role as "Cindy Devlin" on According to Jim. In April 2009, she co-starred opposite Bob Saget on the short-lived American Broadcasting Company sitcom, Surviving Suburbia.
She also appeared as Shiri Appleby"s character"s mother on The CW series Life Unexpected.
She also appeared in the song Fuckin" Perfect by Pink. Stevenson appeared in Shonda Rhimes dramas Grey"s Anatomy in 2010, Office the Map and Private Practice in 2011, and Scandal in 2013.