Julia Duffy
Julia Margaret Duffy (née Hinds; June 27, 1951) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She began her career in television, appearing in minor guest roles before being cast in the role of Penny Davis in the series The Doctors from 1973 until 1978. She is best known for her role as Stephanie Vanderkellen in the hit TV series Newhart from 1982 to 1990. She subsequently starred in the acclaimed Broadway revival of Once in a Lifetime in 1978.
Julia Duffy | |
---|---|
Duffy on The Doctors in 1975 | |
Born | Julia Margaret Hinds June 27, 1951 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
Alma mater | American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1972–present |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 2 |
After appearing in the films Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981) and Wacko (1982), she was cast as Stephanie Vanderkellen on the sitcom Newhart, a role she portrayed from 1983 to 1990. Duffy's role on Newhart garnered her critical acclaim, including seven Primetime Emmy Award nominations, three Viewers for Quality Television awards, and a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
Following the conclusion of Newhart, Duffy continued to work in television, playing the original Maggie Campbell on Baby Talk (1991) and Allison Sugarbaker on Designing Women (1991–1992). In the 2000s, Duffy appeared in guest roles on Reba and Drake & Josh, as well as having supporting roles in the comedy films Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd and Intolerable Cruelty (both 2003). She subsequently had recurring guest roles on the series Shameless (2011–2013) and Looking (2014–2015), and appeared in a supporting role in the drama Camp X-Ray (2014).
Life and career
1951–1971: Early life
Julia Duffy was born Julia Margaret Hinds on June 27, 1951,[1] in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the youngest daughter of Joseph Hinds and Mary Duffy. She has three sisters.[2] When Duffy was seven years old, her father died, and her mother later remarried and worked as a real estate agent.[2]
Duffy began acting as an adolescent,[2] appearing in local stage productions at Minneapolis's Old Log Theatre.[3] At age 18, she appeared in a Minneapolis production of The Girl in the Freudian Slip.[2] In 1970, Duffy relocated to New York City where she enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts,[2] from which she graduated in 1972.[4] While attending, she worked as a waitress and hatcheck girl.[2]
1972–1982: Career beginnings
Her early career included parts in soap operas such as One Life to Live, The Doctors, and Love of Life. In 1978, Duffy starred in the critically acclaimed Broadway revival of Once in a Lifetime.[4]
She subsequently appeared in supporting roles in the exploitation horror film Night Warning (1981) opposite Jimmy McNichol and Susan Tyrell, as well as Cutter's Way (1981). She made an appearance on the television sitcom Cheers during the show's first season in 1982. Initially, she had been considered for the role of Diane Chambers, the sitcom's female lead.[5]
In 1983, she played Princess Ariel Baaldorf in the medieval spoof Wizards and Warriors, which had a short run on the CBS television network.
1983–1990: Newhart and critical acclaim
After being an unfamiliar actress in prime time, Duffy joined the main cast of the sitcom Newhart during its second season in 1983 as the Stratford Inn's self-infatuated, upper-class maid, Stephanie Vanderkellen.[4] She had initially made an appearance in the 14th episode of the first season of the series, playing the part of then-maid Leslie Vanderkellen's cousin. It is perhaps her most popular role and one she played for seven seasons. She earned Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the role every year from 1984 through 1990. She also received a Golden Globe nomination and won three Viewers For Quality Television awards and five American Comedy Awards nominations for her work. Julia was actually pregnant during several episodes of Newhart. To hide it, she wore baggy clothes and stood behind furniture.[6] She remains close to Bob Newhart.
1991–present: Television and stage
After the end of Newhart in 1990, Duffy briefly starred in the sitcom Baby Talk alongside George Clooney, but asked to be released after Clooney walked off the troubled set. The new producers accommodated her, allowing her to then join the cast of Designing Women. Baby Talk was then retooled and Duffy was replaced by Mary Page Keller.[7] She worked again with Clooney some years later in the Coen Brothers' comedy Intolerable Cruelty. In 1991, she joined the cast of Designing Women, essentially replacing Delta Burke, the show's breakout star, who was fired after quarrels with producers. Duffy played Allison Sugarbaker, Burke and Dixie Carter's previously unseen cousin on the show. Duffy's tenure on the sitcom's sixth season turned out to be the highest-rated season in the show's history, partly because of the highly publicized cast additions of Duffy and Jan Hooks. However, because of conflicting ideas about her character, she was amicably released from her contract, thus leading her to be replaced by Judith Ivey.[8][9]
From 1993 to 1995, Duffy played Barb Ballantine on the short-lived comedy series The Mommies. Duffy played Lindsay Mercer, one of the failed buyers of Winfred-Lauder and the ex-wife of Lord Mercer on The Drew Carey Show. She has a recurring role on the Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh as Linda Hayfer, a high-school English teacher who despises Drake. She appeared on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody as the rich mother of Jason, a boy who goes on a date with Maddie Fitzpatrick (Ashley Tisdale). She made a brief appearance in the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP as the owner of a stage that LuLu wanted to rent.
In 2009, Duffy co-starred with Kelly McGillis in a stage production of The Little Foxes at the Pasadena Playhouse.[10] She later appeared again at the Playhouse in 'The Heiress' starring Richard Chamberlain. In the 2010s, Duffy had recurring roles on HBO's Looking and Showtime's Shameless, as well as Scream Queens, Key and Peele, and other guest roles. In 2014, she appeared in a supporting role opposite Kristen Stewart in the drama film Camp X-Ray.
Her theatre credits include the Broadway production "Once in a Lifetime" as well as numerous regional theatre credits. Most recently, Duffy appeared in a stage production of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner at the Huntington Theatre in Boston, directed by David Esbjornson, for which she received an IRNE Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama,[11] followed by a lead in the play Sex and Education at the Laguna Playhouse in the spring of 2016.[12] In December 2016, Duffy co-starred with Mare Winningham and Mark Blum in an Off-Broadway production of Rancho Viejo directed by Daniel AukinPlaywrights Horizons.[13] Ben Brantley of The New York Times described Duffy's performance as "hilariously withering."[13]Most recently she starred in the ensemble comedy 'The Outsider' at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, along with Broadway veterans Lenny Wolpe, Kelley Curran and Manoel Felciano, directed by David Esbjornson.
She has written a book, Bad Auditions, published by Smith and Kraus, which was to be released in 2017.
Personal life
Duffy married actor Jerry Lacy, co-star of Dark Shadows and Love of Life, in 1984.[2] In 1986, they had their first child, a daughter, Kerry.[2] In August 1989, Duffy gave birth to their second child, a son, Daniel.[14] Daniel committed suicide in April 2019.[15][16]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | Battle Beyond the Stars | Mol | [17] | |
1981 | Cutter's Way | Young Girl | [17] | |
1982 | Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker | Julia | Alternate title: Night Warning | [17] |
1982 | Wacko | Mary Graves | [17] | |
1984 | Children in the Crossfire | Dee Malone | Television film | [17] |
1988 | Maybe Baby | Casey | Television film | [17] |
1989 | The Cover Girl and the Cop | Jackie Flanders | Television film Alternate title: Beauty and Denise |
[17] |
1990 | The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage | Myrna Foley | Television film | [17] |
1990 | Menu for Murder | Susan | Television film | [17] |
1996 | Kidz in the Wood | Felicia Duffy | Television film | [17] |
2003 | Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure | Charlotte | Voice cameo | [17] |
2003 | Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd | Jessica's Mom | [17] | |
2003 | Intolerable Cruelty | Sarah Batista O'Flanagan Sorkin | [17] | |
2007 | Be My Baby | Doris | [17] | |
2008 | Together Again for the First Time | Audrey Wolders Frobisher | Television film | [17] |
2008 | 7 Things to Do Before I'm 30 | Vanessa Madisen | Television film | |
2010 | On Strike for Christmas | Erna | Television film | [17] |
2014 | Camp X-Ray | Betty Cole | [17] | |
2015 | All She Wishes | Grace | [17] | |
2019 | Grand-Daddy Day Care | Bonnie | [17] | |
2019 | Fair Market Value | Isabel | [18] | |
2019 | Christmas at the Plaza | Amanda Clark | Television film | |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | Love of Life | Geri Braylee | ||
1973–1978 | The Doctors | Penny Davis | ||
1977 | One Life to Live | Karen Wolek | Episode: "#1.7659" | |
1979 | The Love Boat | Sandy | Episodes: "Alaska Wedding Cruise" (parts 1 & 2) | |
1981 | Lou Grant | Charlene | Episode: "Rape" | |
1982 | Cheers | Rebecca Prout | Season one, episode six | |
1982 | Voyagers! | Nellie Bly | Episode: "Jack's Back" | |
1982 | The Blue and the Gray | Mary Hale | Miniseries | [19] |
1983 | Simon & Simon | Jody Carmichael | Episode: "Room 3502" | [19] |
1983 | Wizards and Warriors | Princess Ariel | 8 episodes | [19] |
1983–1990 | Newhart | Stephanie Vanderkellen | 163 episodes | [19] |
1984 | The Love Boat | Paula | Episode: "The Last Heist" | [19] |
1985 | Hotel | Arlene Greenspan | Episode: "Hearts and Minds" | |
1991 | Baby Talk | Maggie Campbell | 12 episodes | |
1991–1992 | Designing Women | Allison Sugarbaker | 23 episodes | [19] |
1993–1995 | The Mommies | Barb Ballantine | 28 episodes | [19] |
1996 | Pinky and the Brain | Delilah | Episode: "A Little Off the Top" | |
1997 | Social Studies | Frances Harman | 6 episodes | [19] |
1997 | Pepper Ann | Aunt Fanny (voice) | Episode: "Thanksgiving Dad" | |
1998 | Grace Under Fire | Bev | 2 episodes | [19] |
1999 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Lucy Kraft | Episode: "Mrs. Kraft" | |
1999 | Diagnosis: Murder | Lorraine Kay | Episode: "The Roast" | [19] |
2001–2002 | Reba | Mrs. Hodge | 4 episodes | [19] |
2002 | The Drew Carey Show | Lindsay Mercer | Episode: "Rich Woman, Poor Man" | [19] |
2004–2006 | Drake & Josh | Mrs. Hayfer | 5 episodes | |
2005 | CSI: NY | Millie Hanford | Episode: "Recycling" | |
2005 | The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Martha Harrington | Episode: "Maddie Checks In" | [19] |
2006 | 7th Heaven | Mrs. Porter | Episode: "Got MLK?" | |
2008 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Mrs. Angela | Episode: "Credit Check" | [19] |
2010 | Melissa & Joey | Myrna Sherwood | Episode: "A Fright in the Attic" | [19] |
2011–2013 | Shameless | Candace Lishman | 4 episodes | |
2012 | The League | Martha MacArthur | Episode: "The Breastalyzer" | [19] |
2014 | Anger Management | Phyllis | Episode: "Charlie Gets Date Rated" | [19] |
2014 | Suburgatory | Emmaline | Episode: "The Ballad of Piggy Duckworth" | [19] |
2014 | Key & Peele | Mom | Episode: "Terrorist Meeting" | |
2014–2015 | Looking | Dana Murray | 2 episodes | [19] |
2015 | Scream Queens | Bunny Radwell | Episode: "Thanksgiving" | [19] |
2016 | Hitting the Breaks | Abigail Dochard | Episode: "Safe House" | |
2017 | Adoptable | Sarah Steinberg | 2 episodes | |
2017 | American Housewife | Amanda Otto | Episode: "Family Secrets" | [19] |
2018 | The Cool Kids | Francine | Episode: "Thanksgiving at Murray's" | [19] |
Stage credits
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | Once in a Lifetime | Susan Walker | Circle in the Square Theatre | [20] |
2009 | The Little Foxes | Birdie Hubbard | Pasadena Playhouse | [10] |
2010 | Boom | Barbara | Carrie Hamilton Theatre and Pasadena Playhouse | [21] |
2012 | The Heiress | Aunt Lavinia | Pasadena Playhouse | [22] |
2014 | Guess Who's Coming to Dinner | Christina Drayton | Huntington Theatre | [23] |
2016 | Sex and Education | Miss Edwards | Laguna Playhouse | [12] |
2016 | Rancho Viejo | Patti | Playwrights Horizons | [13] |
Accolades
-1989 Funniest Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series {nom}
Award | Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Comedy Awards | 1987 | Funniest Leading Female in a Comedy Series | Newhart | Nominated | |
Nominated | |||||
Golden Globe Awards | 1988 | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated | [24] | |
IRNE Awards | 2014 | Best Supporting Actress | Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner | Nominated | [11] |
Primetime Emmy Awards | 1984 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Newhart | Nominated | [25] |
1985 | Nominated | ||||
1986 | Nominated | ||||
1987 | Nominated | ||||
1988 | Nominated | ||||
1989 | Nominated | ||||
1990 | Nominated | ||||
Viewers for Quality Television | 1986 | Best Supporting Actress — Comedy Series | Won | ||
1987 | Won | ||||
1988 | Won | ||||
References
- "Julia Duffy Biography". AllMovie. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- Dougherty, Margot (October 5, 1987). "Newhart's Brat, Julia Duffy, Says She's Not Like That at All". People. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- BroadwayWorld News Desk (June 20, 2010). "Furious Theater Co's BOOM Closes 6/20". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- "Julia Duffy Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on December 10, 2017.
- Meade, Peter (29 April 1984). "We'll Cry In Our Beers As Sam, Diane Split". Spartanburg Herald-Journal TV Update. p. 85. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- Salas, Randy A. (28 February 2008). "'Newhart' is home to Julia Duffy". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
- Zurawik, David (8 March 1991). "Julia Duffy is a mom it's hard to feel sorry for". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
- "20 TV Shows That Replaced a Star". Entertainment Weekly. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
- Carter, Bill (November 4, 1991). "Television Gets on the Bandwagon Of the Thomas-Hill Contretemps". New York Times. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- Melville, Lee (June 17, 2009). "Kelly McGillis and Julia Duffy: The Women of Little Foxes". This Stage. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- "HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY NOMINATED FOR 35 IRNE AWARDS FOR ITS 2014 PRODUCTIONS". Huntington Theatre Company. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- Nicholson, Frances Baum (May 9, 2016). "Theater review: Moving lessons in 'Sex and Education' at the Laguna Playhouse". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- Brantley, Ben (December 6, 2016). "Review: 'Rancho Viejo,' Where Banality and Trouble Cohabitate". The New York Times. New York City, New York. Archived from the original on December 17, 2016.
- "`NEWHART`S` DUFFY STILL A MOM". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. September 10, 1989. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- Bolton, Tom (April 8, 2019). "Authorities Release Name of Man Who Jumped from Cold Spring Bridge". Noozhawk. Santa Barbara, California. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- "Daniel Lacy Obituary". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020 – via Legacy.com.
- "Julia Duffy Filmography". AllMovie. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- Jaafar, Ali (June 9, 2015). "Luisana Lopilato Boards 'Fair Market Value' For Reelhouse Productions". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- "Julia Duffy Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- "Julia Duffy". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- Nichols, David (May 28, 2010). "Theater review: 'boom' at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- Jones, Kenneth (February 16, 2012). "Pasadena Playhouse's Heiress Will Star Heather Tom, Julia Duffy and Richard Chamberlain". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- O'Rourke, John (September 10, 2014). "Huntington Presents Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". Boston University. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- "Julia Duffy". Golden Globe Awards. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020.
- "Julia Duffy". Emmy Awards. Television Academy. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019.
External links
- Julia Duffy on IMDb