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Allison Janney

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Allison Janney
Janney at The Heart Truth Fashion Show, 2008
Born
Allison Brooks Janney

(1959-11-19) November 19, 1959 (age 65)
OccupationActress
Years active1989–present

Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an American actress, best known for her role as C.J. Cregg on the television series The West Wing (1999–2006), for which she won four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Satellite Award and four Screen Actors Guild Awards and was nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, an AFI Award and a further two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Satellite Award and seven Screen Actors Guild Awards. Her films include Big Night (1996), Primary Colors (1998), Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), American Beauty (1999), The Hours (2003), Hairspray (2007), Juno (2007) and The Help (2011).

Personal life

Janney was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in Dayton, Ohio.[1] She is the daughter of Macy Brooks (née Putnam), a former actress and homemaker, and Jervis Spencer Janney, Jr., a real estate developer and jazz musician.[2][3] She has an older brother, Jay, and a younger brother, Hal.[4] She attended The Miami Valley School in Dayton, where she was named a distinguished alumna in 2004, and the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. She then attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. At Kenyon, Janney studied under another Kenyon alum, actor Paul Newman. Newman directed Janney in a play as the inaugural event of the school's newly dedicated Bolton Theater. Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward encouraged Janney to continue acting. She then went on to study drama at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[citation needed] She attended The Neighborhood Playhouse the same years as actor Dylan McDermott.[citation needed]

A house Janney co-owned in Palm Springs went into foreclosure in 2012. Janney and longtime friend George Rapp bought the house at the height of the real estate bubble for $3.95 million in 2006. The foreclosing bank has put the property on the market for $2.25 million.[5]

Career

Janney's first roles on television were as comedic foils on soap operas: she first played Vi Kaminski for a short time on As the World Turns, following up with a two-year stint as one of the Spaulding maids, Ginger on Guiding Light. In the spring of 1994, she appeared in the season finale of Law & Order, as a reluctant witness against a member of the Russian mob.

Janney has appeared in a number of films with roles of various sizes, including the 1990s films American Beauty, The Object of My Affection, Big Night, The Impostors, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Ice Storm, Primary Colors, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Private Parts, and the 2000s films Nurse Betty, The Hours, The Chumscrubber, How to Deal, Winter Solstice and a considerable role in the animated movie, Finding Nemo, voicing Peach, the starfish. In 2006, Janney carried notable roles in the movies Margaret and Over the Hedge, an animated comedy.

In 1999, she was cast in the role of presidential press secretary C.J. Cregg on the television drama The West Wing, for which she eventually won four Emmy Awards. Two of the Emmys were for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Drama Series in 2000 and 2001, and two were for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Drama Series in the years 2002 and 2004.[citation needed] She was also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in the 2003 and 2006 Primetime Emmys.[citation needed] Janney also won two Screen Actor's Guild awards for Best Actress in a dramatic series, in 2001 and 2002, for her portrayal of C.J Cregg.[citation needed] The cast of The West Wing won the Screen Actor's Guild award for Best Ensemble in a dramatic series the same two years.[citation needed] Additional accolades for Janney's work in The West Wing include four Golden Globe award nominations, and a nomination in 2002 for American Film Institute's Actor of the Year.[citation needed]

Weekend trips to Washington, D.C. were frequently a part of Janney's schedule, as many outdoor scenes on The West Wing were filmed in the nation's capital. Janney also met several times with former White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers[citation needed] who served in the Clinton Administration from 1993–1994. Janney met with Myers in New York City to help portray her character more authentically.

Janney at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival

The West Wing concluded in January 2006, and the last episode aired in May of that year. Even though the latter seasons were plagued by declining ratings, the overall rating of Janney remained a relatively positive one, touted by Entertainment Weekly as "one to watch", "uncommonly beautiful and infinitely expressive".[6] In January 2006, West Wing's cast was also nominated by the Screen Actors Guild for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast. Janney, Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney, and other members of the cast appeared at the SAG Awards to honor their late castmate and friend, John Spencer.[citation needed]

In 2006, she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her performance in the film Our Very Own.[citation needed] Many of Janney's long time friends were involved with Our Very Own, including its producer Shannon McMahon Lichte and cast member Allison Mackie. All three were in the same class at the Neighborhood Playhouse.[citation needed] The writer/director Cameron Watson, also a longtime friend, wrote the role of Joan for her.[citation needed]

In 2007, Janney appeared in the Academy-Award-nominated film, Juno, playing the part of Bren MacGuff, the title character's stepmother, for which she won Best Supporting Actress in the Austin Film Critics Association Awards 2007. In the same year, Janney appeared in the Golden-Globe-nominated film, Hairspray, as Prudy Pingleton, Penny's (Amanda Bynes) strict and religious mother.

Janney appeared in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, also created by Aaron Sorkin. She made a guest appearance as herself in "The Disaster Show", as the guest host of the week's episode of Studio 60.[citation needed] Many of the characters made references to her part in The West Wing, even those played by fellow West Wing actors.

Janney has remained active in theater. In 1998, she was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge.[citation needed] Her first Broadway role was in Present Laughter opposite Frank Langella.[citation needed] In 2007, she participated in a workshop for a new musical of the film 9 to 5.[7] In late 2008, Janney joined Broadway stars Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty and Marc Kudisch in the new musical, 9 to 5. Based on the film of the same name, Janney is starring as Violet Newstead, the super efficient office manager played by Lily Tomlin in the original film. Janney has signed on for a one-year contract with the 9 to 5 production.[citation needed] She was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her work in 9 to 5.[8] In May 2009, she won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for the role of Violet Newstead.[9] She also appeared alongside Jack Black and John C. Reilly in Prop 8 (The Musical), a satirical musical protesting the passing of California Proposition 8.[citation needed]

In 2004, Janney began lending her voice to television and radio spots created by Kaiser Permanente in the health maintenance organization's broad "Thrive" media campaign, and in a radio campaign for the American Institute of Architects.[10]

In 2010, she appeared as Allison Pearson in In Plain Sight.

In May 2010, Janney appeared in the antepenultimate episode of the ABC television series Lost as the adoptive mother of the show's two mythological opponents, Jacob and the Man in Black.[citation needed]

Janney starred in the ABC network comedy Mr. Sunshine. The series, which was created by Matthew Perry, was a midseason replacement for the 2010–11 television season.[11][12]

In September 2010, it was announced that Janney would be the voice of the Aly San San spokesdroid in the Disney attraction, Star Tours: The Adventure Continues.[13] The attraction later opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland.

Janney played the protagonist's mother in the 2011 film The Help.

Janney also appeared in the 2012 Films "Struck By Lightning" and "Liberal Arts".

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1989 Who Shot Patakango? Miss Penny
1994 Dead Funny Jennifer
1994 The Cowboy Way NYPD computer operator
1994 Wolf Party guest
1994 Miracle on 34th Street Christmas shop woman
1995 Heading Home Unknown role
1996 Flux Heather
1996 Rescuing Desire Betsy
1996 Walking and Talking Gum Puller
1996 Big Night Ann Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress
1996 Faithful Saleswoman
1996 The Associate Sandy
1997 Anita Liberty Gynecologist
1997 Private Parts Dee Dee
1997 The Ice Storm Dot Halford
1997 Julian Pro Lilah Leech
1998 Primary Colors Miss Walsh
1998 The Object of My Affection Constance Miller
1998 The Impostors Maxine
1998 Six Days Seven Nights Marjorie, Robin's boss
1998 Celebrity Evelyn Isaacs
1999 10 Things I Hate About You Ms. Perky
1999 Drop Dead Gorgeous Loretta
1999 American Beauty Barbara Fitts Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
1999 The Debtors
2000 Leaving Drew Paula
2000 Auto Motives Gretchen
2000 Nurse Betty Lyla Branch
2002 Rooftop Kisses Melissa
2002 The Hours Sally Lester Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2003 Finding Nemo Peach Voice
2003 How to Deal Lydia Martin
2003 Chicken Party Barbara Strasser
2004 Piccadilly Jim Eugenia Crocker
2004 Winter Solstice Molly Ripkin
2005 Strangers with Candy Alice
2005 The Chumscrubber Allie Stiffle
2005 Our Very Own Joan Whitfield Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
2006 Over the Hedge Gladys Sharp Voice
2007 Hairspray Prudy Pingleton Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Hollywood Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble
Palm Springs International Film Festival Award for Best Cast]]
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2007 Juno Brenda 'Bren' MacGuff Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress
2008 Pretty Ugly People Suzanna
2008 Prop 8: The Musical Prop 8 leader's wife
2009 Away We Go Lily
2009 Life During Wartime Trish Mar del Plata Film Festival Award for Best Actress
Nominated — Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast
Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
2011 Margaret Wounded woman / Monica Patterson
2011 A Thousand Words Samantha Davis
2011 The Oranges Carol Ostroff
2011 The Help Charlotte Phelan Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
Hollywood Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble
National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
2012 Struck By Lightning Sheryl Phillips
2012 Liberal Arts Prof. Judith Fairfield
2013 The Way, Way Back Betty
2014 Mr. Peabody & Sherman Mrs. Grunion

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Morton & Hayes Beatrice Caldicott Episode: "Society Saps"
Episode: "Homes Buddies"
1993 Blind Spot Doreen Television film
1993–95 Guiding Light Ginger Recurring role
1992–94 Law & Order Ann Madsen/Nora Episode: "Star Struck"
Episode: "Old Friends"
1995 The Wright Verdicts Episode: "Sins of the Father"
1995 New York Undercover Vivian Episode: "Digital Underground"
1996 Aliens in the Family Principal Sherman Episode: "A Very Brody Tweeznax"
1996 Cosby Podiatric Nurse Episode: "Happily Ever Hilton"
1997 ...First Do No Harm Dr. Melanie Abbasac Television film
1997 Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing Assistant District Attorney Television film
1998 David and Lisa Alix Television film
1999 LateLine Helen Marschant Episode: "The Minister of Television"
2000 A Girl Thing Kathy McCormack Television film
2001–02 Frasier Phyllis Episode: "The Two Hundredth
Episode: Three Blind Dates"
2003 King of the Hill Laura Episode: "Full Metal Dust Jacket"
2005 Weeds Ms. Greenstein – Attorney Episode: "Lude Awakening"
1999–2006 The West Wing C.J. Cregg 154 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2000–01)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2002, 2004)
Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (2001)
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2001–02)
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (2001–02)
Nominated – AFI Award for Actor of the Year – Female – Series
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (2001–02)
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (2003–04)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2003, 2006)
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (2003)
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2003–06)
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (2003–05)
2007 Two and a Half Men Beverly Episode: "My Damn Stalker"
2007 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Herself Episode: "The Disaster Show"
2008–09 Phineas and Ferb Charlene Doofenshmirtz Episodes: "I Scream, You Scream", "Hail Doofania!", "Thaddeus and Thor" and "Finding Mary McGuffin"
2009 63rd Tony Awards Violet from 9 to 5/Herself
2010 Shameless (U.S. TV series) Sheila Episode: "Pilot"
2010 Family Guy Teen People Editor Episode: "Dial Meg for Murder"
2010 Lost "Mother" Episode: "Across the Sea"
2010 In Plain Sight Allison Pearson Episode: "When Mary Met Marshall"
Episode: "Coma Chameleon"
2011 Mr. Sunshine Crystal Cohen 9 Episodes
Main cast

References

  1. ^ http://emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/allison-janney#
  2. ^ Allison Janney Biography (1960?-)
  3. ^ "MACY B. PUTNAM ENGAGED TO WED; Bennett Alumna Is Fiancee of Jervis S. Janney Jr., a Graduate of Princeton" December 15, 1956, New York Times
  4. ^ Mistry, Elizabeth (July 14, 2007). "'I was told all I could play were lesbians and aliens'". Sunday Herald. Retrieved July 21, 2007. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ http://www.inquisitr.com/411678/west-wing-star-allison-janney-loses-palm-springs-home-to-foreclosure/
  6. ^ NBC.com > Cast Biographies > Allison Janney
  7. ^ Jones, Kenneth (August 29, 2007). "Dolly Parton Says 9 to 5 Will Play Broadway in 2009". Playbill. Archived from the original on 25 January 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ 2009 Tony Award nominations: 'Next to Normal' wins big, but no 'Desire'
  9. ^ Billy Elliot Leads Winners of 2009 Drama Desk Awards
  10. ^ A Breath of Fresh Air for Health Care By ALLISON ARIEFF December 13, 2009, New York Times
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 12, 2010). "Matthew Perry project a go at ABC". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 25, 2010. [dead link]
  12. ^ Hibberd, James (May 18, 2010). "ABC's new fall schedule". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Allison Janney Joining New Star Tours plus AC-38 Droid to Pilot Starspeeder 1000 in 2011". September 24, 2010. Archived from the original on 28 September 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

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