Born: November 19, 1959
Age: 64
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts U.S.
![](/components/bar.png)
Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an American actress. A seven-time Primetime Emmy Award winner for her television work, her first four Emmy wins were for her role as C. J. Cregg on the NBC drama The West Wing (1999-2006). In 2014, she won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Margaret Scully on the Showtime series Masters of Sex. In 2014 and 2015, she won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Bonnie Plunkett on the CBS sitcom Mom.
Janney, who won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in the summer of 1984, made her Broadway debut in the 1996 revival of Present Laughter. She won Drama Desk Awards for the 1997 Broadway revival of A View From the Bridge, and the 2009 original Broadway production of the musical 9 to 5. She also received Tony Award nominations for both. Her film roles include Primary Colors (1998), Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), American Beauty (1999), The Hours (2002), Finding Nemo (2003), Hairspray (2007), Juno (2007), The Help (2011), The Way Way Back (2013), Get On Up (2014), and Spy (2015).
Janney was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Dayton, Ohio. 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. She is one of three siblings.
Janney 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, she studied with Paul Newman, an alumnus of Kenyon. He directed her 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 train at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and did summer programs at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She attended The Neighborhood Playhouse the same years as actor Dylan McDermott.
Janney's first role on television was in the short-lived black-and-white faux-1940s comedy Morton & Hayes; she appeared in two episodes of the 1991 CBS series as Eddie Hayes' wife. She then moved on to soap operas: she first played Vi Kaminski for a short time on As the World Turns, following up with a two-year role 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. She was also a cast member on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion.
She has appeared in numerous films, 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, she had roles in the feature films Margaret and Over the Hedge.
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. She was also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in the 2003 and 2006 Primetime Emmys.
Janney won two Screen Actors Guild awards for Best Actress in a dramatic series, in 2001 and 2002. The cast of The West Wing won the Screen Actor's Guild award for Best Ensemble in a dramatic series the same two years. 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. In January 2006, West Wing's cast was also nominated by the Screen Actors Guild for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast.
In 2006, Janney was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her performance in the film Our Very Own. In 2007, she appeared in 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. She appeared in the short-lived Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in a guest appearance as herself (episode: "The Disaster Show").
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. Her first Broadway role was in Present Laughter, opposite Frank Langella. In 2007, she participated in a workshop for a new musical of the film 9 to 5.
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 starred as Violet Newstead, the super-efficient office manager played by Lily Tomlin in the original film. She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for the role.
In 2004, she 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. In 2010, she appeared as Allison Pearson in In Plain Sight. In May 2010, she 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.
She 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.
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. The attraction later opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. She appeared in such films as The Help (2011), Struck By Lightning (2012) and Liberal Arts (2012).
In 2014, Janney won two Emmy Awards. For her role in the series Mom, opposite Anna Faris, she won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, while for her recurring role in Masters of Sex, she won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. On the Disney Channel animated show Phineas and Ferb Janney voiced Charlene. In 2015, she appeared in the films Spy and The Duff. She is set to star in the upcoming fantasy film Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
Janney has never married and has no children. In September 2015, it was reported that she is in a relationship with IATSE production coordinator Philip Joncas.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Who Shot Patakango? | Miss Penny | |
1994 | Dead Funny | Jennifer | |
1994 | Cowboy Way, TheThe Cowboy Way | NYPD computer operator | |
1994 | Wolf | Party guest | |
1994 | Miracle on 34th Street | Christmas shopper | |
1995 | Heading Home | Unknown role | |
1996 | Flux | Heather | |
1996 | Rescuing Desire | Betsy | |
1996 | Walking and Talking | Gum Puller | |
1996 | Big Night | Ann | |
1996 | Faithful | Saleswoman | |
1996 | Associate, TheThe Associate | Sandy | |
1997 | Anita Liberty | Gynecologist | Short film |
1997 | Private Parts | Dee Dee | |
1997 | Ice Storm, TheThe Ice Storm | Dot Halford | |
1997 | Julian Po | Lilah Leech | |
1998 | Primary Colors | Miss Walsh | |
1998 | Object of My Affection, TheThe Object of My Affection | Constance Miller | |
1998 | Impostors, TheThe 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 | |
1999 | The Debtors | Unknown | |
2000 | Leaving Drew | Paula | Short film |
2000 | Auto Motives | Gretchen | Short film |
2000 | Nurse Betty | Lyla Branch | |
2000 | Rooftop Kisses | Melissa | Short film |
2002 | Hours, TheThe Hours | Sally Lester | |
2003 | Finding Nemo | Peach (voice) | |
2003 | How to Deal | Lydia Martin | |
2003 | Chicken Party | Barbara Strasser | Short film |
2004 | Piccadilly Jim | Eugenia Crocker | |
2004 | Winter Solstice | Molly Ripkin | |
2005 | Strangers with Candy | Alice | |
2005 | Chumscrubber, TheThe Chumscrubber | Allie Stifle | |
2005 | Our Very Own | Joan Whitfield | |
2006 | Over the Hedge | Gladys Sharp (voice) | |
2007 | Hairspray | Prudy Pingleton | |
2007 | Juno | Brenda 'Bren' MacGuff | |
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 | |
2011 | Margaret | Wounded woman / Monica Patterson | |
2011 | Thousand Words, AA Thousand Words | Samantha Davis | |
2011 | Help, TheThe Help | Charlotte Phelan | |
2012 | Oranges, TheThe Oranges | Cathy Ostroff | |
2012 | Struck By Lightning | Sheryl Phillips | |
2012 | Liberal Arts | Prof. Judith Fairfield | |
2013 | Way Way Back, TheThe Way Way Back | Betty | |
2013 | Days and Nights | Elizabeth | |
2013 | Bad Words | Dr. Bernice Deagan | |
2013 | Trust Me | Meg | |
2014 | Tammy | Deb | |
2014 | Mr. Peabody & Sherman | Mrs. Grunion (voice) | |
2014 | The Rewrite | Mary Weldon | |
2014 | Get On Up | Kathy | |
2015 | The Duff | Dottie | |
2015 | Spy | Elaine Crocker | |
2015 | Minions | Madge Nelson (voice) | |
2016 | Tallulah | Margo | |
2016 | Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children | Dr. Golan | Filming |
2016 | The Girl on the Train | Filming | |
2017 | Gabriel Lim's DeanMen Means Day | Tooth Fairy Girl | Filming |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | Morton & Hayes | Beatrice Caldicott | Episode: "Society Saps" |
1991 | Morton & Hayes | Mrs. Hayes | Episode: "Home Buddies" |
1992 | Law & Order | Nora | Episode: "Star Struck" |
1993 | Blind Spot | Doreen | Television film |
1993-95 | Guiding Light | Ginger | Unknown episodes |
1994 | Law & Order | Ann Madsen | Episode: "Old Friends" |
1995 | The Wright Verdicts | Alice Klein | 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" |
1999-2006 | West Wing, TheThe West Wing | C.J. Cregg | 145 episodes |
2000 | A Girl Thing | Kathy McCormack | Television film |
2001 | Frasier | Phyllis (voice) | Episode: "The Two Hundredth" |
2002 | Frasier | Susanna | Episode: "Three Blind Dates" |
2003 | King of the Hill | Laura (voice) | Episode: "Full Metal Dust Jacket" |
2005 | Weeds | Ms. Greenstein | Episode: "Lude Awakening" |
2007 | Two and a Half Men | Beverly | Episode: "My Damn Stalker" |
2007 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | Herself | Episode: "The Disaster Show" |
2008-13 | Phineas and Ferb | Charlene Doofenshmirtz (voice) | 9 episodes |
2010 | Shameless | Sheila | Episode: "Pilot" |
2010-2015 | Family Guy | Mistress Vita/Crystal Quagmire/Teen People Editor (voice) | 3 episodes |
2010 | Lost | "Mother" | Episode: "Across the Sea" |
2010 | In Plain Sight | Allison Pearson | 2 episodes |
2011 | Glenn Martin, DDS | Marcia | Episode: "GlennHog Day" |
2011 | Mr. Sunshine | Crystal Cohen | 13 episodes |
2012 | The Big C | Rita Strauss | Episode: "Life Rights" |
2012 | Robot Chicken | Grammi Gummi/Woman (voice) | Episode: "In Bed Surrounded by Loved Ones" |
2013 | Veep | Janet Ryland | Episode: "First Response" |
2013-present | Masters of Sex | Margaret Scully | 9 episodes |
2013-present | Mom | Bonnie Plunkett | 66 episodes |
2014 | Web Therapy | Judith Frick | 2 episodes |
Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Online Film Critics Society Awards | Best Cast | American Beauty | Won |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | The West Wing | Won | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | American Beauty | Won | |
Television Critics Association Awards | Individual Achievement in Drama | The West Wing | Nominated | |
Viewers for Quality Television | Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series | Nominated | ||
2001 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated | |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Won | ||
Satellite Awards | Best Actress - Television Series Drama | Won | ||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Won | ||
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | |||
2002 | American Film Institute | Female Actor in a Television Series | Nominated | |
Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated | ||
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Won | ||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Won | ||
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | |||
2003 | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Cast | The Hours | Nominated |
Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress - Television Series Drama | The West Wing | Nominated | |
Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Outstanding Actress - Drama Series | Won | ||
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Best Cast | The Hours | Nominated | |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | The West Wing | Nominated | |
Satellite Awards | Best Actress - Television Series Drama | Nominated | ||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | The Hours | Nominated | |
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | The West Wing | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | |||
Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress - Television Series Drama | Nominated | ||
2004 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Won | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | |||
2005 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | |||
2006 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Female | Our Very Own | Nominated |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | The West Wing | Nominated | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
2007 | Austin Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actress | Juno | Nominated |
Hollywood Film Festival | Best Cast | Hairspray | Won | |
Prism Awards | Performance in a Television Movie | Our Very Own | Won | |
2008 | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Cast | Hairspray | Won |
Juno | Nominated | |||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Hairspray | Nominated | |
2009 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | 9 to 5 | Won |
Tony Awards | Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
Ovation Awards | Lead Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
2010 | Gotham Awards | Best Cast | Life During Wartime | Nominated |
2011 | Hollywood Film Festival | Best Cast | The Help | Won |
Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Female | Life During Wartime | Nominated | |
National Board of Review | Best Cast | The Help | Won | |
Satellite Awards | Best Cast - Motion Picture | Won | ||
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards | Best Cast | Won | ||
2012 | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Cast | Won | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Won | ||
2013 | Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Best Cast | The Way Way Back | Nominated |
2014 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series | Masters of Sex | Won |
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Mom | Won | ||
People's Choice Awards | Favorite Actress in a New Television Series | Nominated | ||
Prism Awards | Performance in a Comedy Series | Won | ||
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Masters of Sex | Won | |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Mom | Won | |
2015 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated | |
Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Won | ||
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Won | ||
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Masters of Sex | Nominated |
Charities
Allison Janney supports the following charitable causes: Cancer, Animals, Breast Cancer.
[ Source: Wikipedia ]