Lily Tomlin

Mary Jean “Lily” Tomlin, American comedian, singer, writer, actress, and producer. Born in 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, during the last year of the Great Depression. She found inspiration and interest in the diverse cultural and political backgrounds of her neighbors. With a successful career spanning over 50 years, Tomlin has garnered a whopping 106 award nominations and 46 award wins. Her wins include Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Comedy-Variety Special for Lily in 1973, Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for An Apology to Elephants (2013), as well as, The Tony Award for Best Actress in the Broadway play The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (1986). She attended Wayne State University where she auditioned for her first play, thereafter changing her major to support her new interest in acting. She began performing stand-up comedy in clubs in Detroit and New York before her first television appearance on The Merv Griffin Show in 1965. Tomlin became one of the first female comedians to don male drag for her characters, including Pervis Hawkins, a performance which premiered on Saturday Night Live in 1982. Lily released her first comedy album, This is a Recording in 1971. The album saw great success, rising to No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 200, and earned her a Grammy award for Best Comedy Recording. Lily Tomlin made her motion picture debut in the film Nashville. Tomlin co-starred in 9 to 5 alongside Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton; the trio were a hit, and the film was one of the year’s top grossing films. Lily’s career is enduring and successful. She’s also added Universal Life Church Ordained Minister to her list of accomplishments and has famously officiated the wedding of Kathy Griffin and Randy Blick, among others. In 2022 Tomlin was awarded the Peabody Career Achievement Award, and continues to leave her mark on the industry.

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