Biography
With an illustrious career that spanned decades on stage and screen beginning in the 1960s, academic-minded actress-comedian Lily Tomlin found a penchant for mimicry and social commentary that wove its way into the fabric of American culture. After making her debut on "The Garry Moore Show" (CBS, 1950-1967), Tomlin made a splash on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" (NBC, 1968-1973), particularly as the nasally telephone operator Ernestine. She …
Lily Tomlin SlideShow
1 - 3 of 3
Career Milestones
2010 | Joined the cast in the third season of FX's "Damages"; earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series |
2008 | Joined the fifth season of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" in the recurring role of Roberta, the sister of Mrs. McCluskey (played by Kathryn Joosten) |
2006 | Voiced Lucas' kooky grandmother Mommo in the animated feature, "The Ant Bully" |
2006 | Re-teamed with director Robert Altman, playing half of a middle-aged Midwestern singing duo with Meryl Streep, in the ensemble feature "A Prairie Home Companion" |
2005 | Had a recurring role as Will Truman's boss Margot on NBC's "Will & Grace" |
2004 | Received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word for The World According to Mr. Rogers |
2004 | Re-teamed with director David O. Russell to play an existential detective in "I Heart Huckabees" |
2002 | Joined the NBC drama, "The West Wing," in the recurring role of presidential secretary Deborah Fiderer; earned a SAG nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series |
2000 | Reprised her Tony-winning role in a Broadway revival of "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe" |
1999 | Co-starred in Franco Zeffirelli's semi-autobiographical film, "Tea With Mussolini" |
1998 | Joined Ed Asner for a memorable episode of "The X-Files" (FOX) playing husband-and-wife ghosts |
1996 | Reprised her "Laugh-In" character for ABC television special, "Edith Ann's Christmas: Just Say Noel" |
1996 | Joined the series as producer Kay Carter-Shepley, replacing Grant Shaud for the show's final seasons, on the CBS series "Murphy Brown" |
1996 | Co-starred with Alan Alda as Ben Stiller's biological parents in David O Russell's "Flirting with Disaster" |
1995 | Narrated and executive produced the HBO film, "The Celluloid Closet" |
1995 | Had a memorable guest appearance on "Homicide: Life on the Street" (NBC) |
1994 | Voiced the science teacher Ms. Frizzle on the popular children's animated series, "The Magic School Bus" |
1993 | Cast as San Francisco health official Selma Dritz in the HBO special about the AIDS epidemic, "And the Band Played On" |
1993 | Played chain-smoking waitress Doreen Piggott, opposite Tom Waits, in Robert Altman's "Short Cuts" |
1992 | Appeared as part of an ensemble cast in Woody Allen's "Shadows and Fog" |
1991 | Starred in the film adaptation of "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life In the Universe" |
1988 | Teamed with Bette Midler, playing two pairs of identical twins who were switched at birth, in the comedy "Big Business" |
1986 | Was the subject of the documentary, "Lily Tomlin" (by Nicholas Broomfield and Joan Churchill) featuring scenes from the one-woman stage show, "The Search For Intelligent Life in the Universe" |
1985 | Appeared on Broadway in Jane Wagner's critically-acclaimed, "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe" |
1984 | Co-starred with Steve Martin playing a sickly heiress in Carl Reiner's "All of Me" |
1981 | Played the lead role of a happy homemaker who became "The Incredible Shrinking Woman"; screenplay by Jane Wagner |
1981 | TV debut as executive producer, "Lily: Sold Out" (also star and co-writer) |
1980 | Teamed with Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton in the Colin Higgins' comedy, "9 to 5" |
1977 | Starred opposite Art Carney as a would-be actress living on the fringes of Hollywood in Robert Benton's "The Late Show" |
1977 | Broadway debut in the one-woman show, "Appearing Nitely" (also co-writer and co-director with Jane Wagner) |
1975 | Made film debut as a troubled gospel singer in Robert Altman's "Nashville"; received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress |
1975 | Co-wrote and starred in the primetime special, "The Lily Tomlin Show" (co-wrote with Jane Wagner and Richard Pryor) |
1973 | First comedy variety show special, "Lily" (CBS) |
1971 | Recorded first album, This Is a Recording |
1969 | Joined the sketch comedy show "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" |
1969 | Made Off-Broadway debut in "Arf" |
1966 | First performed comic monologues on TV as a regular on "The Garry Moore Show" (CBS) |
1965 | First television appearance was on "The Merv Griffin Show" |
1965 | Moved to NYC and began performing skits on the coffee-house circuit (including the Improvisation, Upstairs at the Downstairs and Cafe a Go Go) |
Awards
2010 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Drama Series in Damages |
2005 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in The West Wing |
2003 | Palm Springs International Film Festival for Emcee |
2003 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series in The West Wing |
2003 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in The West Wing |
1997 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female in Flirting With Disaster |
1996 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Drama Series in Homicide: Life on the Street |
1996 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Special in The Celluloid Closet |
1994 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Special in And the Band Played On |
1994 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance In a Variety or Music Program in Growing Up Funny |
1993 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance In a Variety or Music Program in The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe |
1993 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special in The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe |
1992 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe |
1991 | Seattle International Film Festival for Best Actress Gold Space Needle Award in The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe |
1986 | Tony Award for Actress (Play) |
1984 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in All of Me |
1981 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program in Lily -- Sold Out |
1978 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy-Variety or Music Special in The Paul Simon Special |
1977 | Tony Award for Special Award |
1977 | BAFTA Award for Actress in The Late Show |
1977 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in The Late Show |
1977 | Berlin International Film Festival for Silver Bear for Best Actress in The Late Show |
1975 | Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actress |
1975 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special - Comedy-Variety or Music in Lily |
1975 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy-Variety or Music Special in Lily |
1975 | Academy Award for Actress In a Supporting Role in Nashville |
1975 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Nashville |
1975 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress in Nashville |
1975 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress in Nashville |
1975 | BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer To Leading Film Roles in Nashville |
1974 | Primetime Emmy Award for Best Writing In Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music in Lily |
1974 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music Special in Lily |
1973 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement By a Supporting Performer In in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In |
1973 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement In Comedy, Variety in The Lily Tomlin Show |
1972 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement By a Performer In Music or Variety in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In |
1971 | Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording |
1971 | Golden Globe Award for Actress in a Supporting Role - Series Or Television Movie in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In |
1971 | Primetime Emmy Award for Special Classification of Outstanding Program and in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In |