Jane Lynch

Photo of Jane Lynch

Biography

A scene-stealing character actress first known to fans of Christopher Guest films for her breakout role as dog trainer Christy Cummings in "Best in Show" (2000), Jane Lynch eventually went on to earn lead actor status in a variety of projects. Lynch's talent for playing confident and normal characters with a suggestion of something slightly twisted beneath the surface made her a perfect fit for mainstream comedies like "The 40-Year Old Virgin" …
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Job Title

Actor

Born

July 14, 1960

Career Milestones

Guest-starred on several TV sitcoms such as, "Married... with Children" (Fox), "NewsRadio" (NBC) and "Frasier" (NBC)

Toured with The Second City comedy troupe

1988

Made her film debut with a small role in the body-switching comedy "Vice Versa"

1989

Wrote and starred in the award-winning play "Oh Sister, My Sister"; also kicked off the Lesbians in Theater program at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center in 2004

1991

Played Carol Brady in "The Real Live Brady Bunch" at Chicago's Annoyance Theatre

1992

Appeared in the Lifetime movie "In the Best Interest of the Children"

1993

Cast in a small role opposite Harrison Ford in "The Fugitive"

2000

Landed breakthrough film role as Christy Cummings, the butch personal dog handler to trophy wife Sheri Ann Cabot (Jennifer Coolidge) in Christopher Guest's "Best in Show"

2002

Cast as a 1940s-style receptionist in the TNT movie "The Big Time"

2002

Played a government agent in the action movie "Collateral Damage"

2002

Starred as a sarcastic nurse on the ABC medical comedy "MDs"

2003

Appeared in Guest's comedic take on folk music "A Mighty Wind" as porn actress turned singer Laurie Bohner

2004

Appeared in the teen comedy "Sleepover"

2004

Had a recurring role as Dr. Linda Freeman on CBS' "Two and a Half Men"

2005

Played a lesbian lawyer on the Showtime series "The L Word"

2006

Cast opposite Will Ferrell in the comedy "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"

2006

Played a coked-up producer of a reality TV show in the mockumentary "Surviving Eden"

2006

Reunited with Guest to play a TV host in "For Your Consideration"

2008

Co-starred with Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott in the comedy feature "Role Models"

2009

Cast as cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester on Fox's high-school musical series "Glee"

2009

Played Julia Child's (played by Meryl Streep) sister in Nora Ephron's "Julie & Julia"

2010

Cast in a guest-starring role on Nickelodeon's "iCarly," as the mother of Sam (played by Jennette McCurdy), the title character's best friend

2011

Named host of the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards

2011

Nominated for the 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

2011

Released her memoir Happy Accidents

2012

Appeared in the big screen remake of "The Three Stooges," directed by the Farrelly brothers

Awards

2009

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in Glee

2010

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in Glee

2010

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Comedy Series in Two and a Half Men

2010

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in Glee

2010

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in Glee

2011

Critics' Choice TV Award for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES in Glee

2011

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in Glee

2011

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in Glee

2012

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in Glee