Born in Chicago, IL, Mills went to Bennington College in Bennington, VT and then to Yale University and to The London Academy of Music and Art. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Art History, graduated magna cum laude.

After college, Mills spent some time in New York City, where she performed in several off-Broadway shows, before moving to LA, where her career took off. However, it can be said that Mills made her TV debut on the Patti Page Show when Mills was only 8 years old.

Although Alley Mills played the good-natured mother (Donna Arnold) to young Fred Savage (Kevin) on "The Wonder Years", she has many other television credits to her name. The list includes "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman", "Yes, Dear", "Sabrina the Teenage Witch", "Touched by an Angel", "Roseanne", "Moonlighting", and "Hill Street Blues" to name just a few.

She is married to actor/author Orson Bean and has played opposite him in "The Playboy of the Western World."

Bold and the Beautiful - Pamela Douglas (2006-present)
Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman - Marjorie Quinn (1993-1998)
The Wonder Years - Norma Arnold (1988-1993)