Emmy-nominated actress Frances Sternhagen (Sex and the City) will return this season to TNT's "The Closer" as Brenda's slightly overbearing mother, Willie Ray Johnson. And now we'll meet Brenda's dad, the tough, but charming Clay Johnson, played by Emmy-nominated actor Barry Corbin (Northern Exposure, TNT's Monty Walsh). Clay is a retired military officer who owns auto parts stores around the metro Atlanta area. Both are slated to appear in episodes ten (August 20), eleven (August 27), fourteen (December) and fifteen (December).

"The Closer" comes to TNT from The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television and is executive-produced by Greer Shephard (Nip/Tuck, The D.A.), Michael M. Robin (Nip/Tuck, The D.A., NYPD Blue) and James Duff (The D.A., The Agency) and produced by Andrew J. Sacks (The D.A, Adaptation, Two Soliders) with Kyra Sedgwick also serving as producer. Gil Garcetti, Los Angeles district attorney from 1992 to 2000, is a consulting producer.