Strong was born in Brightwood, Oregon and grew up near Portland, Oregon, graduating in 1978 from Sandy Union High School in Sandy, Oregon. She later moved to Arizona to attend college. She graduated from Arizona State University with Bachelor of Music in musical theatre. Strong was crowned Miss Arizona in 1980. Strong stands 6'0".

Her first break after college was a spot in Billy Crystal’s 1984 music video You Look Marvelous. Her first television appearances began in 1985 with brief stints on St. Elsewhere, MacGyver, and Cheers. She also made guest appearances on Matlock, Murphy Brown, Herman's Head, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Blossom, as well as a recurring role on the cult favorite Twin Peaks.

By the mid-90s, Read more...

Strong currently appears on the ABC hit dramedy Desperate Housewives, opposite Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria, Nicolette Sheridan, Dana Delany and Teri Hatcher. She plays the deceased Mary Alice Young, who narrates the events of her friends and neighbours lives from beyond the grave. She can be heard in every episode of the series (which was sparked by Mary Alice's death) with the Read more...