Jayne Houdyshell

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Jayne Houdyshell
Houdyshell at a 2013 Gala
Born
Jayne Houdyshell

(1953-09-25) September 25, 1953 (age 70)
EducationAcademy of Dramatic Art at Oakland University
Occupation
  • Actor
Years active1973–present
WorksFull list
AwardsFull list

Jayne Houdyshell /ˈhdiˌʃɛl/[1] (born September 25, 1953) is an American actress. Known for her character actor role on stage and screen she has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, two Obie Awards, and a Drama Desk Award.

She made her Broadway debut in the musical A Wonderful Life (2005). She went on to receive the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for The Humans (2016).[2] She was Tony-nominated for her roles in the Lisa Kron play Well (2006), the revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical Follies (2012), the new play by Lucas Hnath A Doll's House, Part 2 (2017), and the revival of Meredith Willson's The Music Man (2022).

She is also known for her supporting film roles in Alexander Payne's science fiction comedy Downsizing (2017) and Greta Gerwig's period piece Little Women, and for reprising her role in the 2021 film adaptation of The Humans. She has had recurring roles in various television series, including Third Watch, Law & Order, Blue Bloods, and The Good Fight. She currently stars as "Bunny Folger" on the hit Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building, for which she was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Early life and education

Raised in Topeka, Kansas, she is the youngest of four daughters born to Galen "Buzz" Houdyshell and Louella Taylor. She graduated from Topeka High School in 1971, and she went on to Emporia State University then on to graduate with honors from the Academy of Dramatic Art at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan[3] in 1974.

Career

1973–2004: Early roles

Since the mid-1970s, she has appeared in more than 200 plays at regional theaters throughout the United States, including the Meadow Brook Theater, Attic Theater, Missouri Repertory Theater, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Yale Repertory Theater, McCarter Theater, Delaware Theater Company, Wilma Theater, Syracuse Stage, Studio Arena, GeVa Theater, Actors Theater of Louisville, Steppenwolf Theater, American Conservatory Theater, Timber Lake Playhouse, Old Creamery Theatre, Totem Pole Playhouse, Peterborough Players, and others.[4]

Houdyshell reminisces that, after moving to Manhattan in 1980, “I was traveling all that 20 years...There was a community of actors who did that. We were itinerant actors who just continually moved around the country from theater to theater and job to job."[5] She has appeared in numerous films, including Changing Lanes (2002) with Ben Affleck, Maid in Manhattan (2002) with Jennifer Lopez, Garden State (2004) with Zach Braff and Natalie Portman.

2005–2014: Broadway debut and other roles

Houdyshell's television credits include appearances on Third Watch, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Blue Bloods, and The Good Fight,[6] and as Bunny Folger[7] on Only Murders in the Building.[8] During this time she acted in Trust the Man (2006) with Julianne Moore, and Everybody's Fine (2009) with Robert DeNiro, Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore, and Sam Rockwell.[6] She also had a role in the 2010 film The Bounty Hunter with Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler[9]

In New York, she is known for her role as "Ann Kron" in the Broadway production of Well by Lisa Kron. It was a role that garnered her a Tony Award nomination in 2006.[10] She won a Theater World Award and an Obie Award, Outstanding Performance, for the Off-Broadway production of Well, which ran in 2004 at the Public Theater.[11][12]

She received the 2005 Joseph Jefferson Award, Supporting Actress, Play for her performance in The Pain and the Itch for Steppenwolf Theatre Company[13] and a 2005 Barrymore Award, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play for her work in The Clean House at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia.[14][15]

Houdyshell's Broadway credits include Wicked, Well, Bye Bye Birdie,[16] and The Importance of Being Earnest. In 2010, she starred as the Stage Manager in the film Morning Glory opposite Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, and Rachel McAdams. She played the role of "Hattie" in the 2011 revival of Follies,[17] and received a 2012 Tony Award nomination, Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.[18] Houdyshell played the Nurse in the 2013 Broadway revival of Romeo and Juliet.[19]

2015–2020: The Humans and acclaim

She appeared in The Humans as "Deirdre Blake", first in its Off-Broadway engagement at the Roundabout Theatre Company in September 2015 to December 2015,[20] and then the Broadway production of the play which opened at the Helen Hayes Theatre on February 18, 2016. For The Humans she won the 2016 Tony Award, Featured Actress in a Play,[21] the 2016 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Ensemble Performance,[22] and the Obie Award, Performance.[23] She was also nominated for the 2016 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Actress in a Play.

In 2015, she starred as Rose Offer on the NBC limited series American Odyssey opposite Anna Friel and Peter Facinelli. In 2017, she appeared in Alexander Payne's science fiction comedy feature Downsizing opposite Matt Damon. In 2017 she played Ann Marie in Lucas Hnath's A Doll's House, Part 2.

Houdyshell's other New York credits include Harrison, TX: Three Plays by Horton Foote at Primary Stages, Coraline,[24] The New Century, at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center (2008);[25] The Receptionist at the Manhattan Theater Club (2007);[26] Much Ado About Nothing (Delacorte Theatre, 2004);[27] Fighting Words, and The Pain and the Itch at Playwrights Horizons (2009);[28] Attempts on Her Life at Soho Rep; and True Love at the Zipper Theater (2001).[29][citation needed]

In 2018, she starred on the third season of the ABC thriller Quantico as The Widow.[30] In 2019, she appeared as the housekeeper Hannah in Greta Gerwig's critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated film adaptation of Little Women starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, and Meryl Streep.[31] In April 2019, Houdyshell returned to Broadway as the Earl of Gloucester in the Sam Gold directed production of King Lear, with Glenda Jackson in the title role.

2021–present: Career expansion

In 2021, she reprised her Tony-winning role of Deidre Blake in The Humans, the film adaptation of her Broadway play. The movie co-starred Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer, Beanie Feldstein, Steven Yeun, and June Squibb. It had its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2021. The film was released by A24 on November 24, 2021, both in theaters and on Showtime.[32][33] In 2021 and 2022, she played the memorable role of Bunny Folger on seasons 1 and 2 of the hit, Emmy-nominated Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, opposite Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. For her performance she received two nominations alongside the cast for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

In 2022 Houdyshell played Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn in musical revival of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster.[34] For her performance she received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.[35] That same year she acted in the psychological drama film Causeway directed by Lila Neugebauer and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry.[36] It had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022.[37] It was released theatrically and on Apple TV+ on November 4, 2022. She will return to Broadway in the revival of Anton Chekov Uncle Vanya at Lincoln Center Theatre starring Steve Carell, Allison Pill, William Jackson Harper, and Alfred Molina.[38]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Changing Lanes Miss Tetley
2002 Maid in Manhattan Carmen
2004 Garden State Mrs. Lubin
2005 Trust the Man Sex Addicts Leader
2005 Road Postal Clerk
2006 Things That Hang from Trees Pam Dupont
2006 The Immaculate Conception Sister Patricia
2009 Everybody's Fine Alice
2010 The Bounty Hunter Landlady
2010 Morning Glory Stage Manager
2014 Romeo and Juliet Nurse
2014 Lucky Stiff Harry's Landlady
2017 Downsizing Paul's Mother
2018 The Chaperone Sister Delores
2019 Little Women Hannah
2021 The Humans Deirdre Blake
2022 Causeway Sharon

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Third Watch Jane Episode: "Welcome to Camelot"
1997–2002 Law & Order Various Characters 3 episodes
2002–17 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Judge Ruth Linden 10 episodes
2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Ruth Pear Episode: "The Unblinking Eye"
2006 Conviction Judge Roberta Palski 2 episodes
2009 Loving Leah Mrs. Finkelman Television movie
2009 Guiding Light Judger Burslem Episode #1.15659
2010 Running Wilde Gertie Stellvertretter Pilot
2014 Blue Bloods Roseanne Galecki Episode: "Open Secrets"
2015 Elementary Carla Episode: "Hemlock"
2015 American Odyssey Rose Offer 8 episodes
2015 Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter Jane Cotton 2 episodes
2017 The Accidental Wolf Rach Episode: "Kathryn"
2017–18 The Good Fight Renée Rampling 2 episodes
2018 Quantico The Widow Episode: "The Conscience Code"
2019 The Tick Black Market Bob Episode: "Magic is Real"
2020 Evil Judge Sara Carl Shire Episode: "Justice x 2"
2021–22 Only Murders in the Building Bunny Folger Recurring

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2005 A Wonderful Life Mrs. Martini Sam S. Shubert Theatre, Broadway
2006 Well Ann Longacre Theatre, Broadway
2006–08 Wicked Madame Morrible (replacement) Gershwin Theatre, Broadway
2009–10 Bye Bye Birdie Mae Peterson Henry Miller's Theatre, Broadway
2010 Wicked Madame Morrible (replacement) Emerald City Tour
2011 The Importance of Being Earnest Miss Prism (replacement) American Airlines Theatre, Broadway
2011–12 Follies Hattie Walker Marquis Theatre, Broadway
Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles
2011 8 Maggie Gallagher Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway
2012–13 Dead Accounts Barbara Music Box Theatre, Broadway
2013 Romeo and Juliet Nurse Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway
2015 Fish in the Dark Gloria Drexel Cort Theatre, Broadway
2015–17 The Humans Deirdre Blake Laura Pels Theatre
Helen Hayes Theatre
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
2017 A Doll's House, Part 2 Anne Marie John Golden Theatre, Broadway
2018 The Humans Deirdre Blake Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles
Hampstead Theatre, London
2019 King Lear Earl of Gloucester Cort Theatre, Broadway
2022 The Music Man Mrs. Shinn Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway
2024 Uncle Vanya Mama Voinitski Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2004 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Well Nominated
Obie Award Distinguished Performance by an Actress Won
2005 Joseph Jefferson Award Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play The Pain and the Itch Won
Barrymore Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play The Clean House Won
2006 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Well Nominated
Theatre World Award Won
2012 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Musical Follies Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated
2016 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play The Humans Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Ensemble Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Nominated
Obie Award Distinguished Performance by an Actress Won
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play Nominated
2017 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play A Doll's House, Part 2 Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Nominated
2021 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Only Murders in the Building Nominated
2022 Nominated
Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Musical The Music Man Nominated

References

  1. ^ As pronounced by Houdyshell in "Ask a Star: Jayne Houdyshell & Reed Birney of The Humans"
  2. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (June 12, 2016). "Tony Awards: The Winners List". Hollywood Reporter.
  3. ^ "Alumna Jayne Houdyshell nominated for a Tony Award" Archived 2016-05-06 at the Wayback Machine, oakland.edu, May 4, 2016.
  4. ^ "Jayne Houdyshell". Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Pressley, Nelson. "Jayne Houdyshell, late-blooming Broadway baby", The Washington Post, September 12, 2014
  6. ^ a b Jayne Houdyshell Filmography" allmovie.com, retrieved September 12, 2018
  7. ^ McFarland, Melanie (2022-07-06). "In defense of The Arconia's grand dame on "Only Murders in the Building"". Salon. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  8. ^ "Only Murders in the Building", Wikipedia, 2022-07-06, retrieved 2022-07-06
  9. ^ The Bounty Hunter allmovie.com, retrieved September 12, 2018
  10. ^ Wyatt, Rebecca (2006-05-26), "Former MBT actress receives Tony nomination", Oakland University News
  11. ^ "Jayne Houdyshell Biography". Broadway Buzz: Star Files. Broadway.com. Retrieved 2009-07-01.[dead link]
  12. ^ " 'Well' Off-Broadway", lortel.org, accessed May 25, 2016
  13. ^ Lipton, Brian Scott. "2005 Joseph Jefferson Award Winners Announced", TheaterMania, November 8, 2005
  14. ^ "Barrymore Awards, 2005" theatrephiladelphia.org, accessed May 26, 2016
  15. ^ Lipton, Brian Scott. "2005 Barrymore Award Nominations Announced" theatermania.com, August 10, 2005
  16. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Bye Bye Birdie, With Stamos, Gershon, Irwin, Houdyshell and Trimm, Returns to Broadway", Playbill.com, September 10, 2009
  17. ^ Gans, Andrew (2011). "DIVA TALK: Chatting with a "Broadway Baby," Follies Star Jayne Houdyshell". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2011-10-18.
  18. ^ Gans, Andrew; Jones, Kenneth; and Hetrick, Adam. "2012 Tony Awards Nominations Announced; Once Earns 11 Nominations", Playbill, May 1, 2012
  19. ^ Gordon, David. "Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow: Broadway's 'Romeo and Juliet', Starring Orlando Bloom, Will Close in December", theatermania.com, November 20, 2013
  20. ^ Simoes, Monica. "First Pics of Reed Birney, Jayne Houdyshell and Sarah Steele in Roundabout's 'The Humans'", Playbill, October 1, 2015
  21. ^ Viagas, Robert. " 'Hamilton' Tops Tony Awards With 11 Wins", Playbill.com, June 12, 2016.
  22. ^ "'The Humans' Broadway", Playbill.com; accessed May 25, 2016
  23. ^ "Obie Awards Winners Announced", Variety.com, May 23, 2016.
  24. ^ Blankenship, Mark (2009-06-07), "The Score and the Story, Inseparable", New York Times, p. AR4
  25. ^ The New Century lortel.org, retrieved September 12, 2018
  26. ^ The Receptionist lortel.org, retrieved September 12, 2018
  27. ^ Much Ado lortel.org, retrieved September 12, 2018
  28. ^ The Pain and the Itch lortel.org, retrieved September 12, 2018
  29. ^ True Love lortel.org, retrieved September 12, 2018
  30. ^ "Scoop: Coming Up On Season Three Premiere Of Quantico on ABC - Thursday, April 26, 2018". Broadway World. April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  31. ^ Larkin, Michelle. "The worst movies the cast of 'Little Women' has been in". Insider. Retrieved Feb 16, 2021.
  32. ^ "Beanie Feldstein, Jayne Houdyshell, and Amy Schumer to Star in Film Adaptation of The Humans". Playbill. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  33. ^ "Looking for a unique holiday movie? 'The Humans' is a dark, psychological drama". NPR. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  34. ^ "Checking In With…Tony Winner Jayne Houdyshell, Star of The Music Man, The Humans, Well, Follies, More". Playbill. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  35. ^ "Tony Awards 2022: Complete list of nominees and winners". CBS News. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  36. ^ Justin Kroll (July 20, 2022). "Apple Original Films Lands 'Causeway' Starring Jennifer Lawrence". Deadline. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  37. ^ "Causeway". TIFF. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  38. ^ "Go Inside the 1st Rehearsal for Uncle Vanya, Starring Steve Carell and Alison Pill". Playbill. Retrieved March 6, 2024.

External links