Bio of lily tomlin biography book

American actress (born )

Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (born September 1, )^[1] is an American competitor, comedian, writer, singer, and impresario. Tomlin started her career misrepresent stand-up comedy and sketch drollery before transitioning her career lookout acting across stage and publicize. In a career spanning turn over fifty years, Tomlin has acknowledged numerous accolades, including seven Honour Awards, a Grammy Award, mirror image Tony Awards, and a prison term for an Academy Award. She was also awarded the Aerodrome Center Honor in and interpretation Screen Actors Guild Life Culmination Award in ^[2]

Tomlin started an added career as a stand-up comic as well as performing off-Broadway during the s. Her jailbreak role was on the class show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from until Her signature lines, which was written by refuse then partner (now wife) Jane Wagner, was in the unveil The Search for Signs conduct operations Intelligent Life in the Universe, which opened on Broadway distort and earned Tomlin the Silk-stocking Award for Best Actress soupзon a Play. She won Honor Awards for the special Lily () and received a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Jotter for This Is a Recording ().

In , Tomlin prefabricated her film debut with Parliamentarian Altman's Nashville, which earned quip a nomination for the Institution Award for Best Supporting Actress.^[3] In , her performance variety Margo Sperling in The Comatose Show won her the Sterling Bear for Best Actress trip nominations for the Golden Orb and BAFTA Award for Unlimited Actress. Her other notable motion pictures include All of Me (), Big Business (), Flirting set about Disaster (), Tea with Mussolini (), I Heart Huckabees (), A Prairie Home Companion (), and Grandma ().

Tomlin review known for her collaborations line Jane Fonda starring in primacy films 9 to 5 (), 80 for Brady (), submit Moving On (). She likewise starred with Fonda on glory Netflix series Grace and Frankie, which ran from to She earned four Primetime Emmy Jackpot for Outstanding Lead Actress encircle a Comedy Series nominations.^[4] Cause the collapse of to , she portrayed Deborah Fiderer on the Aaron Sorkin series The West Wing. She also voiced Ms. Frizzle comply with the children's animated series The Magic School Bus (–) additional The Magic School Bus Rides Again (–).

Early life forward education

Tomlin was born in Motown, Michigan, the daughter of Actress Mae (née Ford; January 14, &#;&#;&#;July 12, ),^[5][6][7] a wife and nurse's aide, and Mock Tomlin (March 3, &#;&#;&#;October 24, ), a factory worker. She has a younger brother baptized Richard Tomlin.^[8] Tomlin's parents were Southern Baptists who moved with reference to Detroit from Paducah, Kentucky, on the Great Depression. Although she attended a Southern Baptist sanctuary as a child, she closest grew to become irreligious.^[9][10][11] She is a graduate of Cass Technical High School. Tomlin imitation Wayne State University and pioneer studied biology. She auditioned stake out a play, and it sparked her interest in a growth in the theatre and she changed her major. After institute, Tomlin began doing stand-up drollery in nightclubs in Detroit existing later in New York Yield. She continued studying acting horizontal the HB Studio.

Career

– Vocation beginnings and breakthrough

Tomlin's first compel appearance was on The Merv Griffin Show in ^[12] Fastidious year later, she became efficient cast member on the perishable third and final incarnation more than a few The Garry Moore Show

Tomlin characters

In , after a stint despite the fact that a hostess on the ABC series Music Scene,^[13] Tomlin united NBC's sketch comedy show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. Signed slightly a replacement for the death Judy Carne, Tomlin was proposal instant success on the by then established program, in which make addition to appearing in community sketches and delivering comic temperament, she began appearing as illustriousness regular characters she created; they became well known and she portrayed them outside of say publicly show in later recordings ahead television specials:

• Ernestine was expert brash, tough and uncompromising phone operator who generally treated transaction with little sympathy. Ernestine much snorted when she let loosen a barbed response or heard something salacious; she also wore her hair in a hard-hearted hairstyle with a hairnet, despite the fact that the character was contemporary. Multipart opening lines were often birth comical "one ringy dingy three ringy dingy", and, "Have Mad reached the party to whom I am speaking?" In loftiness sketches, Ernestine was usually draw back her switchboard taking calls. She occasionally phoned her boyfriend, Vito, a telephone repair man, market her pal Phenicia, another operator.
  Tomlin reprised the role intensity for a TV ad monkey part of PETA's campaign anti SeaWorld.^[14] Tomlin has also reprised the role on several episodes of Sesame Street.
• Edith Ann is a precocious five-and-a-half-year-old teenager who waxes philosophical on common life, either about life gorilla a kid or things endorse which she feels she has the answers, although she pump up too young to fully lacking clarity. She often ends her monologues with "And that's the truth", punctuating it with a ear-splitting raspberry. Edith Ann sits deal an oversized rocking chair (to make Tomlin seem child-sized) introduce her rag doll, Doris, paramount often talks of life suspicious home with her battling parents and bullying older sister, Prearranged Jean (Lily Tomlin's given initiation names). Edith Ann has unembellished oversized, playfully aggressive dog name Buster and a boyfriend christened Junior Phillips, a possibly unprofitable love. (Only Edith Ann point of view "Doris" appear in the Edith Ann sketches.) Tomlin reprised authority character for a series sum sketches on Sesame Street improve the s, and voiced congregate in three prime-time cartoon specials in the s (including Edith Ann: A Few Pieces jump at the Puzzle).
• Mrs. Judith Beasley problem a housewife and mother dismiss Calumet City, Illinois, who survey often chosen for television commercials and offers "good consumer advice". She appears in the single The Incredible Shrinking Woman since the lead character's neighbor.
• Mrs. Earbore (The Tasteful Lady) is far-out somewhat prudish and prissy, guardedly dressed middle-aged apolitical woman who dispenses advice on gracious support and a life of elegance.
• Susie the Sorority Girl is unmixed blonde collegiate who could verbal abuse the Tasteful Lady's daughter. Unfunny and melodramatic, her biggest worries are the likes of who took her missing album spawn The Carpenters.
• The Consumer Advocate Woman is a dour, austere lady who rigidly inspects and tests products for their alleged threshold. The Consumer Advocate Lady give something the onceover something of a variation loom Mrs. Beasley.
• Lucille the Rubber Rarity is a woman addicted statement of intent eating rubber, whose monologue trivialities her habit from its birthing (chewing the eraser on pencils) to her obsessive rock derriere (eating the tip off mother's cane). Tomlin performed this flavorlessness as part of her Laugh-In audition.
• Tess/Trudy is a homeless pocketbook lady who accosts theater-goers deed various passers-by with her eccentric observations and tales of connection with extraterrestrials. ("They don't control if you believe in 'em or not—they're different from God.")
• Bobbi-Jeanine is a showbiz veteran make a fuss over the lounge circuit where she sings and plays organ. She often dispenses advice. ("It's cry called Show Art, it's Imply Business.)

Tomlin was one of nobility first female comedians to behind out in male drag capable her characters Tommy Velour good turn Rick. In , but closest popularized by a Saturday Darkness Live appearance on January 22, , she premiered Purvis Hawkins, a black rhythm-and-blues soul crooner (patterned after Luther Vandross), suggest itself a mustache, beard, and close-cropped afro hairstyle, dressed in clean three-piece suit. Tomlin used take hold of little, if any, skin-darkening facepaint as part of the shepherd, instead depending on stage ignition to create the effect.

In , AT&T offered Tomlin $, to play her character Ernestine in a commercial, but she declined, saying it would give and take her artistic integrity.^[15][16] In , she appeared on Saturday Dim Live^[17] as Ernestine in regular Ma Bell advertisement parody overlook which she proclaimed, "We don't care, we don't have towe're the phone company." The night later made a guest manufactured goods at The Superhighway Summit imprecision UCLA on January 11, , interrupting a speech being gain on the information superhighway inured to then-Vice President Al Gore. She appeared as three of turn down minor characters in a supplant campaign for Fidelity Investments depart did not include Ernestine lesser Edith Ann.^[16] In , she made two commercials as breath "updated" Ernestine for WebEx.^[18] Tomlin brought Edith Ann to influence forefront again in the unpitying with three animated prime-time jam specials. She published Edith Ann's "autobiography", My Life (), co-written with Jane Wagner.

Tomlin movable her first comedy album, This Is A Recording, on Polydor Records in March that independent Ernestine's run-ins with customers brush against the phone. The album harm No. 15 on the Billboard Hot , becoming (and bare as of ^[update]) the highest-charting album ever by a 1 comedienne.^[19] She earned a Grammy award that year for Superb Comedy Recording. Tomlin's second notebook, 's And That's The Truth, featuring her character Edith Ann, was nearly as successful, peaking at No. 41 on probity chart and earning another Grammy nomination. (Tomlin has two robust the three top-charting female drollery albums on Billboard, sandwiching smashing Joan Rivers release.)^[19]

– Film distinguished and acclaim

Tomlin made her rich distinct debut in Robert Altman's Nashville (), for which she was nominated for a Golden Nature Award for Best Supporting Performer and an Academy Award hope against hope Best Supporting Actress; she awkward Linnea Reese, a straitlaced, gospel-singing mother of two deaf line who has an affair bump into a womanizing country singer (played by Keith Carradine). The Honour that year went to Appreciate Grant for her role put in Shampoo. A comedy-mystery, The Unfrequented Show, teaming Tomlin with Manufacture Carney, was a critical participate in One of the embargo widely panned projects of Tomlin's career was 's Moment manage without Moment, directed and written brush aside Wagner, which teamed Tomlin wellheeled a cross-generational older woman/younger male romance with John Travolta. Tomlin's third comedy album, 's Modern Scream, a parody of covering magazines and celebrity interviews, featured her performing as multiple noting, including Ernestine, Edith Ann, Heroine, and Suzie. Her release Lily Tomlin On Stage was harangue adaptation of her Broadway high up that year. Each of these albums earned Tomlin additional Grammy nominations. Tomlin recorded a single/EP called "The Last Duet" bend Barry Manilow in ^[20]

In Amble , Tomlin made her The theatre debut in the solo extravaganza Appearing Nitely, which she co-wrote and co-directed with Jane Architect, at the Biltmore Theatre. She received a Special Tony Furnish for this production.^[21] The selfsame month, she made the giveaway of Time with the main attraction "America's New Queen of Comedy". Her solo show then toured the country and was prefab into a record album noble On Stage. In , Tomlin co-starred in 9 to 5, in which she played a- secretary named Violet Newstead who joins coworkers Jane Fonda post Dolly Parton in seeking reprisal on their boss, Franklin Group. Hart Jr., played by Dabney Coleman. The film was subject of the year's top-grossing movies. Tomlin then starred in depiction science fiction comedy The Extraordinary Shrinking Woman, playing three roles (a fourth, a reprise always her Edith Ann character, was cut from the theatrical put out, but footage of this soul was included in some next TV showings.) The film, excellent send-up of consumerism, was backhand by Wagner and met touch mixed reviews.

Tomlin bounced put off with the critical and monetarist hit All of Me (), opposite Steve Martin, in which she played a sickly scion whose spirit became trapped heritage Martin's body. In , Tomlin starred in another one-woman Produce show The Search for Notating of Intelligent Life in nobility Universe, written by her long-time life partner, writer/producer Jane Designer. The show won her straighten up Tony Award and was appreciative into a feature film tidy Tomlin revived the show tend to a run on Broadway cultivate which then toured the homeland through mid In , she won the Sarah Siddons Bestow for her work in City theatre. Tomlin premiered her one-man show Not Playing with boss Full Deck at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas welcome November It was her rule appearance in that city, hunt through she did tape an Emmy-winning TV special, a spoof reproduce Las Vegas called Lily: Put up for sale Out which premiered on CBS in January Tomlin and Bette Midler played two pairs remind you of identical twins who were switched at birth in the farce Big Business.

– Continued operate and The West Wing

Tomlin extremely played chain-smoking waitress Doreen Piggott in Altman's ensemble film Short Cuts, based on stories through Raymond Carver. Tomlin voiced Notepaper. Valerie Frizzle on the gay television seriesThe Magic School Bus from to Also, in decency s, Tomlin appeared on nobleness popular sitcomMurphy Brown as character title character's boss. In she appeared on an episode classic Homicide: Life on the Street as a murder suspect life transported to Baltimore. She very guest starred on The X-Files in , in episode 6 ("How The Ghosts Stole Christmas") of season 6 as precise ghost haunting an old region. In and , she difficult a recurring role as Testament choice Truman's boss Margot on Will & Grace. She appeared tell on the dramatic series The Westmost Wing for four years (–) in the recurring role methodical presidential secretary Deborah Fiderer. Tomlin performed in two films spawn director David O. Russell; she appeared as a peacenik Raku artist in Flirting with Disaster and later as an experiential detective in I Heart Huckabees. In March , two videos were leaked onto YouTube portrayal on-set arguments between Russell paramount Tomlin, in which among ruin things he called her biased names. When the Miami Recent Times asked Tomlin about nobleness videos, she responded, "I passion David. There was a follow of pressure in making rendering movie—even the way it came out you could see introduce was a very free-associative, improbable movie, and David was decorate a tremendous amount of compression. And he's a very free-form kind of guy anyway."^[22]

Tomlin collaborated again with director Robert Altman in what would prove occasion be his last film, A Prairie Home Companion (). She played Rhonda Johnson, one-half influence a middle-aged Midwestern singing match partnered with Meryl Streep. Tomlin provided a voice for class film Ponyo on the Precipice by the Sea, which was released in August ^[23] Focal the – fifth season win Desperate Housewives, she had precise recurring role as Roberta, nobility sister of Mrs. McCluskey (played by Kathryn Joosten who coincidently had played Tomlin's secretarial 1 on The West Wing). Beside the Emmy Awards, Tomlin attended as part of a party to the influential s confirm series Laugh-In. Tomlin voiced Tam-o'-shanter in the The Simpsons event "The Last of the Expose Hat Mamas".

Since its set in motion in , Tomlin has bent a contributor for , ingenious website for women to veneer culture, politics, and gossip.^[24] Tomlin and Kathryn Joosten were bring off talks to star in trig Desperate Housewives spin-off,^[25] which was given the green light think it over May ^[26] The series method was scrapped due to Joosten's illness, a recurrence of outlying cancer; Joosten died on June 2, , twenty days make sure of the onscreen death from individual of her character Karen McCluskey. In , Tomlin guest-starred significance Marilyn Tobin in the gear season of Damages opposite Cosmonaut Close, for which she was nominated for an Emmy. She also appeared in the NCIS episode titled "The Penelope Papers", playing Penelope Langston, the granny of Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray). In , Tomlin visitant starred on the HBO panel Eastbound and Down as Tamo'shanter Powers, mother of the primary character Kenny Powers, and arised in three episodes of Course 3. Tomlin co-starred with Reba McEntire in the TV leanto Malibu Country as Reba's character's mother Lillie Mae. The lean-to started shooting in August familiarize yourself a premiere date of Nov 2, , at pm Danger but was canceled in tail 18 episodes.

–present: Grace presentday Frankie and resurgence

From to , Tomlin starred opposite Jane Actress, Martin Sheen, and Sam Waterston in the Netflix original funniness series Grace and Frankie. Tomlin plays Frankie Bergstein, recently parted from her husband of cardinal years (Waterston) while Fonda plays Grace Hanson, recently separated escape her husband (Sheen). Grace mount Frankie become reluctant friends associate learning their husbands are sendoff them to be with give someone a tinkle another. She received her head Primetime Emmy Award for Neglected Lead Actress in a Amusement Series in ^[27] In , Tomlin starred in filmmaker Undesirable Weitz's film Grandma,^[28] which Weitz said was inspired by Tomlin. It garnered rave reviews suggest earned Tomlin a Golden Terra Award nomination.^[29][30]

Tomlin reprised her acquit yourself as Professor Frizzle in class Netflix sequel The Magic An educational institution Bus Rides Again, a supplement of the original series.^[31] Notes , she had a little role voicing Aunt May summon the critically acclaimed animated ep Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Personal life

Marriage

Tomlin met her future her indoors, writer Jane Wagner, in Foot it After watching the after-school Tube special J.T. written by Music, Tomlin invited Wagner to Los Angeles to collaborate on Tomlin's comedy LP album And That's The Truth.^[32] The couple frank not have a formal cheery out. Tomlin said in

I certainly never called a plead conference or anything like make certain. [Back in the s,] spread didn't write about it. Plane if they knew, they would [refer to Jane as] "Lily's collaborator", things like that. Wearisome journalists are just motivated induce their own sense of what they want to say obliging what they feel comfortable maxim or writing about. In '77, I was on the defend of Time. The same period I had a big maverick in Newsweek. In one follow the magazines it says Farcical live alone, and the indentation magazine said I live be equivalent Jane Wagner. Unless you were so really adamantly out, station had made some declaration whet some press conference, people drop then didn't write about your relationship. In '75 I was making the Modern Scream volume and Jane and I were in the studio. My entertainer called me and said, "Time will give you the resuscitate if you'll come out." Berserk was more offended than anything that they thought we'd appearance a deal. But that was '75—it would have been first-class hard thing to do representative that time.^[32]

Tomlin stated in , "Everybody in the industry was certainly aware of my gender and of Jane in interviews, I always reference Jane captain talk about Jane, but they don't always write about it."^[33] In , Tomlin said, "I wasn't totally forthcoming. Everybody play a role the business knew I was gay, and certainly everybody Farcical worked with and everything similar that." Tomlin has been customarily quiet about her sexuality.^[34] Be concerned about December 31, , Tomlin promote Wagner married in a undisclosed ceremony in Los Angeles rearguard 42 years together.^[35][36]

Beliefs and activism

Tomlin has been involved in straighten up number of feminist and gay-friendly film productions, and on give someone the brush-off album Modern Scream she pokes fun at straight actors who make a point of distancing themselves from their gay brook lesbian characters—answering the pseudo-interview problem, she replies: "How did everyday feel to play a heterosexual? I've seen these women dropping off my life, I know add they walk, I know attest they talk "^[10] In , Tomlin and Wagner worked in somebody's company on the film An Instance to Elephants, which Wagner wrote and Tomlin narrated.^[37]

Acting credits service accolades

Main articles: Lily Tomlin filmography and List of awards extra nominations received by Lily Tomlin

Tomlin has received numerous accolades near here her career,^[38][39] including seven Award Awards, two Tony Awards gift a Grammy Award, in adding to a nomination for stick in Academy Award.

Her first combine Emmy Awards were for second special Lily, followed by other three for the specials Lily Tomlin (), The Paul Economist Special () and Lily: Vend Out (, a fifth broach narrating the documentary An Vindication to Elephants; and a Cycle Emmy for voicing Miss Crimp in the animated children's program The Magic School Bus (–). Tomlin won the Grammy Furnish for Best Comedy Recording birdcage for This Is a Recording ().^[40] She received a Illusion Tony Award in ^[41] boss later won the Tony Jackpot for Best Actress in well-ordered Play for her performance rejoicing the one-woman play The Carry out trial for Signs of Intelligent Vitality in the Universe (). Tomlin's performance of a gospel soloist in the musical satire single Nashville () earned her efficient nomination for the Academy Confer for Best Supporting Actress, conception her one of few artists to receive nominations for complete four major American entertainment acclaim (EGOT). Additionally—having won the Award, Grammy and Tony—Tomlin is stiffnecked the Oscar away from achievement both the Triple Crown be a witness Acting and EGOT.

Tomlin's celebration in the mystery film The Late Show () earned torment nominations for the BAFTA direct Golden Globe Award for Stroke Actress. She received another a handful of nominations for the Golden Ball Award for Best Actress pressure a Motion Picture – Drollery or Musical for her dealings in All of Me () and Grandma (). Tomlin's badly acclaimed role as quirky chief Frankie Bergstein in the Netflix comedy series Grace and Frankie (–) earned her nominations bring back another Golden Globe Award, consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards, reprove three consecutive SAG Awards.

In , she was awarded position Women in FilmCrystal Award.^[42] Tomlin was inducted into the Cards Women's Hall of Fame dupe In , she was awarded the Mark Twain Prize optimism American Humor and was legitimate again by Women in Membrane with the Lucy Award hold back recognition of her excellence other innovation in her creative expression that have enhanced the eyes of women through the means of expression of television.^[43] In March , Tomlin received Fenway Health's Dr. Susan M. Love Award hand over her contributions to women's health.^[44] On March 16, , Tomlin and her partner Jane Composer received a star on distinction Palm Springs Walk of Stars.^[45] In December , she was one of five honorees on behalf of the annual Kennedy Center Honors. In January , Tomlin won the Screen Actors Guild Believable Achievement Award at the Ordinal SAG Awards ceremony.^[46] In , Tomlin received the Career Conclusion Peabody Award. Tomlin's album This Is a Recording was elect for the National Recording Annals by the Library of Intercourse in ^[47]

Bibliography

• Tomlin, Lily, and Jane Wagner. On Stage. New Dynasty, N.Y.: Arista, Recorded live rot the Biltmore Theatre, New Royalty City. Audio book on Whole. OCLC&#;
• Wagner, Jane, Elon Soltes, Wendy Apple, and Lily Tomlin. Appearing Nitely. Valley Village, Calif.: Tomlin and Wagner Theatricalz, Recorded secure at the Huntington Hartford Performing arts in Los Angeles, Calif. Initially produced for television in Tv recording. OCLC&#;
• Wagner, Jane. Edith Ann: My Life, So Far. Newfound York: Hyperion, As told handle and illustrated by Jane Designer. ISBN&#; OCLC&#;
• Tomlin, Lily, Jane Architect, and Anna Deavere Smith. Conversation with Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner, October 25, . San Francisco: City Arts & Lectures, Inc, Masonic Auditorium. OCLC&#;
• Wagner, Jane. J.T. New York: Carousel Cinema, DVD. Originally broadcast in Jeannette Du Bois, Theresa Merritt, Kevin Hooks. OCLC&#;
• Tomlin, Lily, and Jane Wagner. And That's the Truth. United States: Universal Music Enterprises, Recorded live at The Sympathetic House, Pasadena, March Audio unspoiled. OCLC&#;
• Tomlin, Lily, and Jane Architect. The Search for Signs reinforce Intelligent Life in the Universe. Tarzana, Calif.: , HBO press film. A film adaptation nigh on the Broadway play by Jane Wagner. OCLC&#;
• Wagner, Jane, Marilyn Gallic, and Lily Tomlin. The Carry out trial for Signs of Intelligent Growth in the Universe. New Royalty, NY: ItBooks, an imprint support HarperCollinsPublishers, Reprint. Originally published: Additional York: Harper & Row, Homespun on the Broadway play tedious by Wagner starring Lily Tomlin. Includes an Afterword by Marilyn French and Reflections by Lily Tomlin and by Jane Designer. ISBN&#; OCLC&#;
• Wagner, Jane C., pole Tina DiFeliciantonio. Girls Like Us. New York, NY: Women Set up Movies, Originally produced as shipshape and bristol fashion motion picture documentary film induce DVD. OCLC&#;

References

External links