Lily, who is in her fourteenth season as nurse Lily Jarvik on the NBC television series ER, has added the credit of director and writer to her skills as an actress, singer and dancer. Lily Mariye (pronounced Mah-ree-yay) completed her first behind the camera role through the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women. Her first short feature is the award winning The Shangri-la Cafe, set in her hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. Michael Rechtshaffen of the Hollywood Reporter says it is "a stirring evocation of a very personal place and time. 'The Shangri-la Cafe' serves up a tender, bittersweet childhood recollection of a not always glittering Las Vegas past."
"The Shangri-la Cafe" has the distinct honor of being included on the DVD, "Celebrating AFI," AFI's first compilation of short films, which is available at Amazon.com or Buy.com.
As an actress Lily has guest starred in over 25 television shows such as Judging Amy, Ally McBeal, Murphy Brown, Melrose Place, and numerous national commercials. Her film credits include the upcoming Hancock with Will Smith, American Pie: Band Camp, The Doctor (directed by DWW alumna Randa Haines), The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, The Shadow, and The New Age.
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lily attended UCLA and graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts. She performed in many local Los Angeles theatre productions including the West Coast Premiere of Runaways, Cabaret, Into the Woods and Daniel in Babylon (with her ER costar Anthony Edwards). Lily made her off-Broadway debut in Velina Hasu Houston's Tea, and received a Dramalogue Award for her reprisal of the performance at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Other theatre work includes Kokoro (Odyssey Theatre, nominated for a LA Weekly Award for Best Actress), Kimchee and Chitlins (Mark Taper Forum Lab Series), and Into the Woods (East West Players).
Lily has written several screenplays in addition to The Shangri-la Cafe, and has directed/written and produced several short films for instantfilms.tv. Lily was named "Filmmaker of the Year" from the National Organization of Women at their annual conference July 2000. The Shangri-la Cafe won "Best Screenplay" at the 22nd annual Brussels Independent International Film Festival in November 2000, and won "Best Short Film" at the Moondance International Film Festival, March 2001.
A resident of Los Angeles, Mariye lives with husband, award-winning recording artist saxophonist Boney James, who also contributed to the soundtrack for "The Shangri-la Cafe."
