Jane Lynch

Jane Marie Lynch (born July 14, 1960) is an American actress, comedian, and singer. She gained fame in Christopher Guest's improv mockumentary pictures such as Best in Show and is currently known for playing the role of Sue Sylvester in the television series Glee for which she has won both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, and recurring role in the hit television series Two and a Half Men. She has also had notable roles in numerous mainstream comedies, such as Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Role Models, and The Three Stooges.

Early life[]

Lynch was born and raised in Dolton, Illinois, the daughter of a homemaker-secretary mother, Eileen (née Carney), and a banker father, Frank Lynch. Her father was of Irish descent and her mother was of Irish and Swedish ancestry. She was raised in a Catholic family and attended Thornridge High School. She received her bachelor's degree in theater from Illinois State University and her Master of Fine Arts in theater from Cornell University.

Career[]

Early work[]

Lynch spent fifteen years in Chicago, acting in the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and, at the time of her audition, was one of only two women picked to join The Second City comedy troupe. She then continued to hone her comical and improvisational skills at Annoyance Theater, playing Carol Brady in the theater's The Real Live Brady Bunch. Andy Richter played Mike Brady in the New York shows. He and Lynch became very good friends.

Films[]

Lynch got her start in films in 1988, playing a small role in the film Vice Versa. In 1993, she had a secondary role as a doctor alongside Harrison Ford in The Fugitive.

During the 1990s, she made numerous television commercials, including one for Frosted Flakes for an adult audience, directed by Christopher Guest. A few years later, Guest would remember Lynch, as he cast actors for his dog show mockumentary, Best in Show (2000). Lynch played Christy Cummings, a butch lesbian personal dog handler to trophy wife Sheri Ann Cabot ([Jennifer Coolidge). Since then, she has been a staple part of Guest's casts, appearing in the director's A Mighty Wind (2003) as porn actress-turned-folk singer Laurie Bohner and in For Your Consideration (2006) as an entertainment reporter.

Audiences and critics took notice of Lynch for her turn in Judd Apatow's The 40-Year-Old Virgin. She told Fresh Air's Terry Gross the role was originally intended for a man but, at the urging of Steve Carell's wife Nancy Walls, was offered to Lynch instead. Since then, she has had supporting roles in a series of films including Role Models, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Alvin & the Chipmunks, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Space Chimps, The Rocker, The Hammer, Another Cinderella Story, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and Spring Breakdown.

In Julie and Julia, she played the role of Dorothy McWilliams, Julia Child's sister. Entertainment Weekly dedicated an article on their website toward the possibility of her performance receiving an Academy Award nomination.

Television[]

Lynch has appeared in television roles for over a decade, including work in L.A. Law, Judging Amy, The West Wing, 7th Heaven, Desperate Housewives, Friends, Dawson's Creek, Felicity, Arrested Development, Lovespring International, Two and a Half Men, Weeds, Boston Legal, The L Word, Criminal Minds, Help Me Help You, Gilmore Girls, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Psych, Monk, and Party Down. She also starred with John Hannah and William Fichtner in 2002's MDs and has appeared in the crime drama Criminal Minds as Spencer Reid's schizophrenic mother.

Beginning 2009, Lynch appeared on the Fox series Glee. She won glowing reviews for her role as the aggressive cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester. Mary McNamara of the LA Times wrote, "Lynch alone makes Glee worth watching." Before her work with Glee, she was a series regular on the Starz comedy Party Down. Though the series was renewed for a second season, Lynch would not be returning, due to her work on Glee.

Lynch has garnered numerous accolades and awards throughout her career, particularly for her role as Sue Sylvester. In 2005, for example, Lynch was named as one of POWER UP's "10 Amazing Gay Women in Showbiz." On December 15, 2009, Lynch received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film for her role on Glee; she lost to Chloë Sevigny. The series itself also received nominations in three other categories. On August 29, 2010, Lynch won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series. In January 2011, Lynch was awarded the Golden Globe in The Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film Category.

In addition to her current work on Glee, Lynch continues to pursue other projects. Lynch hosted Saturday Night Live on October 9, 2010; the news of her hosting was accidentally broken to her by her Glee boss, Ryan Murphy, by text message. Lynch also guest-starred on the Nickelodeon show iCarly as Pam Puckett, Sam Puckett's mother, in the episode "iSam's Mom".

Other work[]

Lynch wrote and starred in the award-winning play Oh Sister, My Sister. Originally produced in 1998, the play kicked off the Lesbians in Theater program at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center in 2004.

She starred in Comcast's XFinity ads, mainly with two different laptops and two different colored Persian cats. She also stars in LG Corp.'s Text Ed campaign to educate drivers about the dangers of texting while driving.

Lynch's first experience hosting an awards show was in 2010 when she hosted the 2010 VH1 DoSomething Awards. It was announced that she will be hosting the 2011 VH1 DoSomething Awards, airing on VH1 on August 18. Lynch hosted the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards on September 18, 2011, only the third woman in Emmy history to host the awards show solo According to September 19's Hollywood Reporter Lynch hosting the Emmys did not help ratings, as viewing was down 8% year over year and eight million less people watched the Emmys as watched Michael Vick's return to Atlanta on Sunday Night Football on NBC (21.5 million for Eagles-Falcons, 13.5 million for the Emmys)

Happy Accidents, was released Fall 2011 by Hyperion Voice. Lynch was inspired to write the book after reflecting upon the successes of her past year and wishing she could have told her more anxious, younger self to not worry as much. The memoir also includes detail about her years as an alcoholic and her success in battling this addiction. Lynch is openly lesbian, and married Lara Embry in 2010. A self-proclaimed animal lover, Lynch has two dogs and a cat. She has recorded a Public service announcement for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals encouraging the adoption of shelter animals. On February 23, 2012, it was announced that she would be the commencement speaker for Smith College's class of 2012.

In March 2012, Lynch was featured with Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Brad Pitt in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play, 8 — a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California's Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage — as Maggie Gallagher. The production was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and broadcast on YouTube to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

Filmography[]

Film
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1988	Taxi Killer
1988	Vice Versa	Ms. Linstrom
1992	In the Best Interest of the Children	Gwen Hatcher	TV Movie, as Jany Lynch
1992	Straight Talk	Gladys
1993	The Fugitive	Dr. Kathy Wahlund
1993	Fatal Instinct	Prison Reporter
1997	Touch Me	Counselor
2000	What Planet Are You From?	Doreen
	Red Lipstick	Final TV Newscaster
	Color Me Gay	Executive / Do-Rag Lesbian	Finalist at the 2nd PlanetOut.com Short Movie Awards
	Best in Show	Christy Cummings
2001	Nice Guys Finish Last	Mom	Comedy short
2001	Martini	Dr. Jane	Short
2002	Hiding in Walls	Diane Moffet	Comedy short
	Collateral Damage	Agent Russo
	The Big Time	Miss Rush	TV Movie
2003	A Mighty Wind	Laurie Bohner	Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
2003	Exposed	Julie Gross
2004	Little Black Boot	Grace	Comedy short
	Surviving Eden	Maude Silver
	Sleepover	Gabby Corky
	Memoirs of an Evil Stepmother	Blanche Monroe	Comedy short
	Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events	Realtor	Uncredited role
	The Aviator	Amelia Earhart	Scenes deleted from final cut
2005	Holly Hobbie and Friends: Surprise Party	Joan Hobbie / Minnie	Animated, voice actor
	Promtroversy	Mimi Nimby (Concerned Parent)	Comedy short
	The 40-Year-Old Virgin	Paula
	Bam Bam and Celeste	Darlene
	The Californians	Sybill Platt
2006	The List	Dr. Davina
	Separated at Worth	Jennifer	TV Movie
	Fifty Pills	Doreen
	Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby	Lucy Bobby
	For Your Consideration	Cindy	Nominated—Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast
	The Frank Anderson	Dr. Emily Brice	Comedy short
	Holly Hobbie and Friends: Christmas Wishes	Joan Hobbie / Minnie	Animated, voice actor
	Eye of the Dolphin	Glinton	Lovespring International
2007	I Do & I Don't	Nora Stelmack	Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival Jury Award for Best Actress Comedy
	Smiley Face	Casting Director
	Suffering Man's Charity	Ingrid
	Love is Love	Reverend Greeley	Comedy short
	Holly Hobbie and Friends: Best Friends Forever	Joan Hobbie / Minnie	Animated, voice actor
	Alvin and the Chipmunks	Gail
	Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story	News Interviewer	Uncredited role
2008	The Toe Tactic	Honey Strumpet
	The Hammer	Woman in hardware store
	Adventures of Power	Joni
	Tru Loved	Ms. Maple
	Space Chimps	Dr. Poole	voice actor
	The Rocker	Lisa
	Another Cinderella Story	Dominique Blatt	Direct-to-DVD
	Role Models	Gayle Sweeny
	Man Maid	Sabena
2009	Big Breaks	M.J.	Short
	Spring Breakdown	Senator Kay Bee Hartmann
	Weather Girl	J.D.
	Mr. Troop Mom	Ms. Hulka	Nickelodeon film
	Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust		Video Game/Voice Work
	Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs	Diatryma Mom	Voice Work
	Julie & Julia	Dorothy McWilliams
	Post Grad	Carmella Malby
2010	Shrek Forever After	Gretchen	Voice Work
2011	Rio	Alice	Voice
2011	Paul	Pat Stevenson
2012	The Three Stooges	Mother Superior
2012	Wreck-It Ralph	Sergeant Calhoun	voice

Television
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993	Bakersfield P.D.	Michelle Hathaway	Episode: "Bakersfield Madam"
1993	Empty Nest	Tammy	Episode: "The Girl Who Cried Baby"
1994	Married... with Children	Greta	Episode: "Valentine's Day Massacre"
1994	Party of Five	Dr. Pennant	Episode: "Much Ado"
1994	The John Larroquette Show	Evaluator	Episode: "The Tutor"
1995	In The House	Ruth	Episode: "Female Trouble"
1995	NewsRadio	Carol	Episode: "The Cane"
1996	Cybill	Mrs. Sweeney	Episode: "Educating Zoey"
1996	3rd Rock from the Sun	Mrs. Koppel	Episode: "Dick, Smoker"
1996, 1998	Caroline in the City	Hostess	2 Episodes: "Caroline and the Bad Date" and "Caroline and the First Date"
1996	Frasier	Cynthia	Episode: "A Lilith Thanksgiving"
1999	Dharma & Greg	Sheryl	Episode: "Play Lady Play"
1999–2000	Judging Amy	ASA Perkins	3 Episodes: "Pilot", "Drawing the Line" & "Waterworld"
2000	JAG		Episode: "The Witches of Gulfport"
2000	Gilmore Girls	Nurse	Episode: "Forgiveness and Stuff"
2000–2001	The West Wing}}	Reporter	2 Episodes: "In The Shadow of Two Gunmen: Part 1" & "Two Cathedrals"
2001	Dawson's Creek	Mrs. Witter	Episode: "The Te of Pacey"
2001	Cursed	Carla	Episode: "...And Then Jack Had Two Dates"
2001	Popular	Susie Klein	Episode: "I Know What You Did Last Spring Break"
2001	The Division		Episode: "The First Hit's Free, Baby"
2001	Arli$$		Episode: "Giving Something Back"
2001	Boston Public	Jane Morrell	Episode: "Chapter Twenty-Four"
2001	Family Law	Cheryl Bowman	Episode: "No Options"
2001	The X-Files	Mrs. Anne T. Lokensgard	Episode: "Lord of the Flies"
2001	The King of Queens	Dr. Foreman	Episode: "Ovary Action"
2001–2002	Family Guy	Dotty Campbell, the nudist	Voice actor, 4 Episodes
2001–2002	7th Heaven	Nurse	4 Episodes
2002	Titus	Prosecutor	Episode: "The Trial"
2002	Felicity	Professor Carnes	2 Episodes: "Ben Don't Leave" & "The Paper Chase"
2002	MDs	Aileen Poole, Registered nurse, PhD	Series regular
2003	Watching Ellie	Roman	Episode: "TV"
2003	{The Dead Zone	Flo McMurtry	Episode: "The Storm"
2003	Spider-Man: The New Animated Series	Oscorp Executive	Voice actor, Episode: "Heroes and Villains"
2003	According to Jim	Janice	Episode: "The Lemonade Stand"
2004	NYPD Blue	Susanna Howe	Episode: "You Da Bomb"
2004	Monk	Dr. Julie Waterford	Episode: "Mr. Monk Gets Married"
2004	Las Vegas	Helen Putasca	Episode: "You Can't Take It With You"
2004	Arrested Development	Cindi Lightballoon	3 Episodes: "Altar Egos", "Shock and Aww" & "Justice is Blind"
2004	Friends	Ellen the realtor	Episode: "The One Where Estelle Dies"
2004	Veronica Mars	Mrs. Donaldson	Episode: "Return of the Kane"
2005	Unscripted	Jane	2 Episodes: "Episode #1.6" & "Episode #1.7"
2005	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Ranger	Episode: "Unbearable"
2005	Blind Justice	Dr. Taylor	2 Episodes: "Four Feet Under" & "Rub a Tub Tub"
2005	The Life and Times of Juniper Lee	Madame Rothchild	Voice actor, Episode: "Magic Takes a Holiday"
2005	Weeds	The Candyman	Episode: "Fashion of the Christ"
2005	Illeanarama		Illeana Douglas project
2005–2006	Rodney	Amy O'Brien	2 Episodes: "Rodney Moonlights" & "Rodney Gets a Leg Up"
2006	Desperate Housewives	Maxine Bennett	Episode: "Silly People"
2006	Night Stalker	Scientist	Episode: "Into Night", uncredited
2006	Lovespring International	Victoria Ratchford	Series regular
2006	Help Me Help You	Raquel Janes	Recurring role, 5 episodes
2006–2008	Criminal Minds	Diana Reid	5 Episodes: "The Fisher King: Part 1", "The Fisher King: Part 2", "Revelations", "The Instincts" & "Memoriam"
2006–2008	Boston Legal	Joanna Monroe	4 Episodes: "Can't We All Get A Lung?", "Dances with Wolves", "The Good Lawyer" & "The Verdict"
2007	Untitled Christine Taylor Project
2007	Campus Ladies	Professor	Episode: "Psych 101"
2007	The New Adventures of Old Christine	Ms. Hammond	2 Episodes: "The Real Thing" & "Friends"
2007	American Dad!	Various	Voice actor, 2 Episodes: "Surro-Gate" & "The Most Adequate Christmas Ever"
2004–present	Two and a Half Men	Dr. Linda Freeman	Recurring minor role; 13 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress – Comedy Series (2010)
2007–present	Handy Manny	Jackie Greenway	Recurring role/voice work
2005–2009	The L Word	Joyce Wischnia	Recurring role
2008	My Name Is Earl	Sissy	Episode: "I Won't Die With a Little Help From My Friends"
2008	Psych	Barbara Dunlap	Episode: "There Might Be Blood"
2009	The Spectacular Spider-Man	Joan Jameson	Voice actor, Episode: "Gangland"
2009	Party Down	Constance Carmell	Series regular
2009	Reno 911	Counselor	Episode: "Wiegel's Couple's Therapy"
2009–present	Glee	Sue Sylvester	Series regular Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (2010) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2010) People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actress (2011) Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (2010) Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2010) Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (2009) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2011) Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (2011) Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (2010–2011) Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2011) Nominated – People's Choice Award]] for Favorite TV Comedy Actress (2012)
2010–2011	The Cleveland Show	Ms. Eck/Sue Sylvester	Episode: "Love Rollercoaster"/"How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?"
2010	Neighbors from Hell	Alex	Episode: "Screw the EPA"
2010	iCarly	Pam Puckett	Season Four, Episode 2 (Episode 72) "iSam's Mom"
2010	VH1 Do Something Awards	Herself	Host
2010	Saturday Night Live	Herself	Host
2011	Phineas and Ferb	Mrs. Johnson	Episodes: "Run, Candace, Run", "Canderemy" and "Bad Hair Day"
2011	Web Therapy	Claire Dudek	Episode: "Public Relations"
2011	The Simpsons	Roz Davis	1 Episode: Replaceable You
2012	Word Girl	Miss Power	1 Episode: The Rise of Miss Power
2012	The Ellen DeGeneres Show	Ellen DeGeneres' Wax Figure

Discography[]

Soundtracks

2003: A Mighty Wind
2008: Another Cinderella Story
2010: Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna
2010: Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers
2010: Ohio [Glee Cast Version] (Featuring Carol Burnett) – Single

External links[]

Jane Lynch at the Internet Movie Database