Table of Contents
Who Is Lily Tomlin?
Lily Tomlin is a renowned comedian, actress, and writer, best known for her unique blend of wit and eccentric character portrayals. She gained widespread recognition on the iconic comedy show Laugh-In (1969-1973), where she introduced several memorable characters that helped catapult her to stardom. Tomlin’s versatility allowed her to transition seamlessly between comedy and drama, with notable performances in films such as Nashville and Nine to Five. In 1985, she earned a Tony Award for her critically acclaimed one-woman Broadway show, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. More recently, Tomlin has been celebrated for her Emmy-nominated role in the hit series Grace and Frankie, where she stars alongside Jane Fonda.
Early Years of Lily Tomlin
Lily Tomlin, born Mary Jean Tomlin on September 1, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, is a renowned comedian, actress, and writer. Her parents, Guy and Lillie Mae Tomlin, had recently moved to Michigan from Kentucky shortly before her birth. Tomlin grew up with one sibling, her younger brother Richard.
From a young age, Tomlin was inspired by trailblazing female comedians such as Lucille Ball, Bea Lillie, Imogene Coca, and Jean Carroll. Although she initially pursued a different path after high school, enrolling at Wayne State University with the intention of studying medicine, her interest shifted. During her time at the university, Tomlin took theater arts classes, sparking her passion for performance. This led her to leave college and begin performing in local coffeehouses.
In 1965, Tomlin relocated to New York City to further pursue her career. She performed at well-known clubs such as the Improv, Café Au Go Go, the Upstairs at the Downstairs, and the Downstairs Room, where she had the opportunity to open for legendary singer Mabel Mercer.
‘The Merv Griffin Show’ to ‘Laugh-In’
Lily Tomlin made her television debut in 1966 on The Garry Moore Show, followed by appearances on The Merv Griffin Show and as a regular on Music Scene. Her big break came in 1969 when she joined the cast of Laugh-In, a move that skyrocketed her to fame. Audiences were captivated by the memorable characters she created, including Edith Ann, a mischievous 6-year-old, and Ernestine, a sharp-tongued telephone operator. Tomlin remained a part of the show until its conclusion in 1973.
After her Laugh-In success, Tomlin starred in six television comedy specials, which she co-wrote with Jane Wagner. The two met in 1971 when Tomlin sought a writer to help develop Edith Ann’s character. Their collaboration quickly blossomed into both a professional and personal partnership.
‘Nashville’ and Other Big-Screen Successes
Lily Tomlin made her film debut in Robert Altman’s critically acclaimed Nashville (1975). Her portrayal of a gospel singer and mother of two deaf children earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
In the following years, Tomlin appeared in several notable films, including The Late Show (1977) alongside Art Carney, Moment by Moment (1978) with John Travolta, and the hit comedy Nine to Five (1980) with Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda. She starred in The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981) and All of Me (1984) opposite Steve Martin. Other standout performances include Big Business (1988) with Bette Midler, Woody Allen’s Shadows and Fog (1993), and Robert Altman’s Short Cuts (1993). She also appeared in Flirting with Disaster (1996) with Ben Stiller and Tea with Mussolini (1999) alongside Judi Dench and Cher, directed by Franco Zeffirelli.
After a brief hiatus from film, Tomlin returned with roles in I Heart Huckabees (2004) with Dustin Hoffman, Altman’s final film A Prairie Home Companion (2006), Pink Panther II (2009) with Steve Martin, Admission (2013) with Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, and Grandma (2015) directed by Paul Weitz.
Theater Roles
While making her mark on the big screen, Lily Tomlin made her Broadway debut in Appearing Nitely (1977), a production written and directed by Richard Wagner. This show featured beloved Tomlin characters such as Ernestine and housewife Judith Beasley, while also introducing new personas like Trudy the bag lady, Rick the singles bar cruiser, and Sister Boogie Woman, a 77-year-old blues revivalist.
Tomlin returned to Broadway in 1985 with The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, a one-woman show also written by Wagner. Her performance earned her a Tony Award. Following a successful year-long run on Broadway, the show embarked on a national tour, was adapted into a film in 1991, and was revived on Broadway in 2000.
“And the Band Played On” and Later Work
In 1993, Lily Tomlin expanded her television repertoire with a notable appearance in HBO’s special, And the Band Played On, which focused on the AIDS epidemic. Her television career includes a diverse array of guest roles across several acclaimed shows, such as Frasier, The X-Files, Homicide: Life on the Street, Desperate Housewives, Will & Grace, NCIS, and Eastbound & Down.
Tomlin’s extensive television work also features recurring roles with significant impact. She portrayed Murphy’s boss on Murphy Brown, President Bartlett’s assistant, Debbie Fiderer, on The West Wing, and the matriarch on Damages, a role that earned her an Emmy nomination among numerous other accolades. Additionally, she played the narcissistic mother of Lisa Kudrow’s character on Web Therapy.
Her voiceover work is equally distinguished. Tomlin voiced Ms. Frizzle, the science teacher, on the beloved animated series The Magic School Bus, a role that garnered her a Daytime Emmy. She also voiced Tammy in the The Simpsons episode “The Last of the Red Hat Mamas” and lent her voice to Mommo in the 2006 animated feature film The Ant Bully.
Grace and Frankie
In 2015, Tomlin starred alongside Jane Fonda in the acclaimed series Grace and Frankie, portraying two women whose lives are upended when their husbands fall in love with each other. For her performance, Tomlin earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Additionally, she received two Golden Globe nominations: one for her role in Grace and Frankie and another for her performance in the film Grandma.
Personal Life and Marriage
In August 2013, it was reported that Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner might marry following their 42 years together. This announcement came shortly after a federal ruling declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and struck down Proposition 8, legalizing same-sex marriage.
On New Year’s Eve 2014, the couple made their relationship official by marrying in a private ceremony in Los Angeles, California. At the time, Tomlin was 74 years old and Wagner was 78.
In January 2019, during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Tomlin disclosed that she had been offered the opportunity to “come out” on the cover of Time magazine in 1975. She declined the offer, stating, “I just decided that I wasn’t going to play their game. I wanted to be recognized for my performance.”