Which actress plays Leslie Knope's mother Marlene?

Pamela Reed plays Leslie Knope’s mother, Marlene Griggs-Knope, on Parks and Recreation.

Marlene is a prominent figure in Pawnee’s education system and a successful local politician. Leslie admires her fiercely and spends much of the series trying to earn her approval, even though Marlene often seems less impressed by Leslie’s accomplishments than Leslie expects.

The character helps explain Leslie’s intense ambition. Marlene is practical, politically experienced, and considerably more cynical about government than her daughter. She is also willing to use back-room deals when she believes they will produce the desired result, contrasting with Leslie’s more idealistic approach.

Pamela Reed first appears as Marlene in the show’s first season. A common mix-up is confusing her with Megan Mullally, who plays Ron Swanson’s ex-wife Tammy, or Mo Collins, who plays television personality Joan Callamezzo. Marlene’s surname is Griggs-Knope, reflecting her marriage to Leslie’s father.