Jean Louisa Kelly
Encyclopedia
Jean Louisa Kelly is an American
actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her long-running role as Kim Warner on the television sitcom Yes, Dear
.
cast of Sondheim's
Into the Woods
and as Tia Russell in the film Uncle Buck
with John Candy
. She also took roles in college productions, including with the Barnard College
Gilbert and Sullivan Society
.
After graduation from college, Kelly became well known in the mid-1990s for a series of television commercials she did for MCI
long distance, in which she played a telephone operator who challenged AT&T
. In 1995, she starred as Louisa in the musical film The Fantasticks
with Joey McIntyre and Joel Grey
, although the film was shelved until 2000. The same year, she appeared in her most prominent role since Tia, as Rowena Morgan, the muse
for the title character of Mr. Holland's Opus
. Other films followed in the 1990s. Later starring roles in films have included Landfall (2001), Little Red Light (2003) and Aspects of Love
(2005). Kelly appeared Off Broadway at the York Theatre as the title role in Paul McKibbins and B.T. McNicholl's The It Girl, based on the 1927 movie It. She also appeared in the York's "Mufti" series as Lois Lane
in It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman.
In 1996, Kelly voiced the title role in 10 episodes of the animated Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders
. After several made-for-TV movies, Kelly's broadest exposure came from her roles in situation comedies
, first guest starring in such shows as Mad About You
, and then as a cast member of the short-lived NBC
version of Cold Feet
. From 2000 to 2006, she starred as Kim Warner on the long-running sitcom Yes, Dear
. On April 30, 2006, she guest starred in the ABC drama Grey's Anatomy
and has continued to guest star in television dramas.
Kelly was cast in the 2010 ABC Family
TV series Pretty Little Liars
, based on the book series
by Sara Shepard
.
, Massachusetts
.
Her father was a high school English teacher and her mother taught piano. Jean attended Easton High School, located in Easton, Maryland. Kelly graduated in 1994 from Columbia University
's Columbia College
with a B.A. in English.
She married James Pitaro in 1997. They have two children together.
As of 2010, Kelly resides in Los Angeles
. She is close friends with Jennifer Garner
and was the host of her baby shower for daughter Violet Anne Affleck. She also interviewed Garner for Self
magazine in 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her long-running role as Kim Warner on the television sitcom Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear is a television sitcom that aired from October 2, 2000, to February 15, 2006, on CBS. It starred Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley and Liza Snyder....
.
Career
Before attending college she already had roles in the original BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
cast of Sondheim's
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim...
and as Tia Russell in the film Uncle Buck
Uncle Buck
Uncle Buck is a 1989 John Hughes comedy film starring John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffman, and Macaulay Culkin, and co-stars Jay Underwood and Laurie Metcalf.-Plot:Bob Russell Uncle Buck is a 1989 John Hughes comedy film starring John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby...
with John Candy
John Candy
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
. She also took roles in college productions, including with the Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
Gilbert and Sullivan Society
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
.
After graduation from college, Kelly became well known in the mid-1990s for a series of television commercials she did for MCI
MCI Inc.
MCI, Inc. is an American telecommunications subsidiary of Verizon Communications that is headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia...
long distance, in which she played a telephone operator who challenged AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
. In 1995, she starred as Louisa in the musical film The Fantasticks
The Fantasticks (film)
The Fantasticks is a 1995 musical film directed by Michael Ritchie. The screenplay by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt is based on their record-breaking off-Broadway production of the same name, which ran for 17,162 performances...
with Joey McIntyre and Joel Grey
Joel Grey
Joel Grey is an American stage and screen actor, singer, and dancer, best known for his role as the Master of Ceremonies in both the stage and film adaptation of the Kander & Ebb musical Cabaret. He has won the Academy Award, Tony Award and Golden Globe Award...
, although the film was shelved until 2000. The same year, she appeared in her most prominent role since Tia, as Rowena Morgan, the muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
for the title character of Mr. Holland's Opus
Mr. Holland's Opus
Mr. Holland's Opus is a 1995 American drama film directed by Stephen Herek, produced by Ted Field, Robert W. Cort, and Michael Nolin, and Executive Produced by Patrick Sheane Duncan. It stars Richard Dreyfuss in the title role, and the cast includes Glenne Headly, Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy...
. Other films followed in the 1990s. Later starring roles in films have included Landfall (2001), Little Red Light (2003) and Aspects of Love
Aspects of Love
Aspects of Love is a musical/chamber opera with a book and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart. It is famous for the song "Love Changes Everything."...
(2005). Kelly appeared Off Broadway at the York Theatre as the title role in Paul McKibbins and B.T. McNicholl's The It Girl, based on the 1927 movie It. She also appeared in the York's "Mufti" series as Lois Lane
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
in It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman.
In 1996, Kelly voiced the title role in 10 episodes of the animated Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders
Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders
Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders is a 1995 children's fantasy animated television series inspired by the Arthurian myths, produced by Bohbot Productions with association with Hong Ying Animation and internationally syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment.The series had two...
. After several made-for-TV movies, Kelly's broadest exposure came from her roles in situation comedies
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
, first guest starring in such shows as Mad About You
Mad About You
Mad About You is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 23, 1992 to May 24, 1999. The show starred Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a newly married couple in New York City. Reiser played Paul Buchman, a documentary film maker. Hunt played Jamie Stemple Buchman, a public relations specialist...
, and then as a cast member of the short-lived NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
version of Cold Feet
Cold Feet
Cold Feet is a British comedy-drama television series produced by Granada Television for the ITV network. The series was created and principally written by Mike Bullen as a follow-up to his award-winning 1997 Comedy Premiere of the same name. The storyline follows three couples experiencing the...
. From 2000 to 2006, she starred as Kim Warner on the long-running sitcom Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear is a television sitcom that aired from October 2, 2000, to February 15, 2006, on CBS. It starred Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley and Liza Snyder....
. On April 30, 2006, she guest starred in the ABC drama Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
and has continued to guest star in television dramas.
Kelly was cast in the 2010 ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
TV series Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars (TV series)
Pretty Little Liars is an American mystery-thriller teen drama television series created by Marlene King. Based on the popular series of novels written by Sara Shepard, the show premiered on June 8, 2010 on ABC Family...
, based on the book series
Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars is a series of more than 10 young adult novels by Sara Shepard, from 1981–present, which have been made into a television show . The series follows the lives of four girls — Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily — whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their leader,...
by Sara Shepard
Sara Shepard
Sara Shepard is an American author known for the bestselling Pretty Little Liars series of young-adult novels.-Biography:Shepard graduated from Downingtown West High School in Downingtown, Pennsylvania in 1995, and got her undergraduate degree from New York University. She later received an MFA...
.
Personal life
She was born in BoylstonBoylston, Massachusetts
Boylston is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,355 at the 2010 census.-History:Boylston was first settled by Europeans around 1706 in the north part of the present-day town, most notably by the Sawyer family...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Her father was a high school English teacher and her mother taught piano. Jean attended Easton High School, located in Easton, Maryland. Kelly graduated in 1994 from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
's Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
with a B.A. in English.
She married James Pitaro in 1997. They have two children together.
As of 2010, Kelly resides in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. She is close friends with Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Anne Affleck , better known as Jennifer Garner, is an American actress and film producer. Garner gained recognition on television for her performance as CIA agent Sydney Bristow in the thriller drama series Alias, which aired on ABC for five seasons from 2001 to 2006...
and was the host of her baby shower for daughter Violet Anne Affleck. She also interviewed Garner for Self
Self (magazine)
Self magazine is an American magazine for women that specializes in health, fitness, nutrition, beauty and happiness. Published by Condé Nast Publications 12 times a year, it has a circulation of 1,486,992 and a total audience of 5,541,000 readers, according to its corporate media kit. The...
magazine in 2005.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | Uncle Buck Uncle Buck Uncle Buck is a 1989 John Hughes comedy film starring John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffman, and Macaulay Culkin, and co-stars Jay Underwood and Laurie Metcalf.-Plot:Bob Russell Uncle Buck is a 1989 John Hughes comedy film starring John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby... |
Tia Russell | |
| 1991 | American Shaolin American Shaolin American Shaolin is a 1991 martial arts film, starring Reese Madigan, Kim Chan and Daniel Dae Kim. It was directed by Lucas Lowe.- Plot :... |
Maria | |
| 1994 | One More Mountain | Mary Graves | |
| Breathing Lessons Breathing Lessons Breathing Lessons is a 1988 novel by American author Anne Tyler. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1989 and was also Time Magazine's book of the year.... |
Daisy | ||
| 1995 | Mr. Holland's Opus Mr. Holland's Opus Mr. Holland's Opus is a 1995 American drama film directed by Stephen Herek, produced by Ted Field, Robert W. Cort, and Michael Nolin, and Executive Produced by Patrick Sheane Duncan. It stars Richard Dreyfuss in the title role, and the cast includes Glenne Headly, Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy... |
Rowena Morgan | |
| Tad | Julia Taft | ||
| The Fantasticks The Fantasticks (film) The Fantasticks is a 1995 musical film directed by Michael Ritchie. The screenplay by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt is based on their record-breaking off-Broadway production of the same name, which ran for 17,162 performances... |
Luisa Bellamy | ||
| 1996 | Harvest of Fire Harvest of Fire Harvest of Fire is an American television movie that aired on CBS on April 21, 1996. Directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman, the film stars stars Lolita Davidovich, J.A... |
Rachel | |
| 1997 | Stolen Women: Captured Hearts Stolen Women: Captured Hearts - Plot :A western love story set on the plains of Kansas in 1868. Tokalah is a warrior who is mysteriously drawn to a white settler named Anna, whom he had seen in a vision when he was a boy... |
Sarah White | |
| 1998 | The Day Lincoln Was Shot | Lucy Lambert Hale Lucy Lambert Hale Lucy Lambert Hale was the daughter of US Senator John Parker Hale of New Hampshire, and was a noted Washington, DC society belle. She attracted many admirers including Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Robert Todd Lincoln; and stage actor and presidential assassin John Wilkes Booth, to whom she was... |
|
| Ruby Bridges Ruby Bridges (film) Ruby Bridges is a 1998 made-for-television movie.Written by Toni Ann Johnson about the true story of the first black student to attend integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1960. As a six-year old, Ruby Bridges was one of four black first graders, selected on the basis of test scores, to... |
Jane Coles | ||
| Stranger in the Kingdom | Athena Allen | ||
| Origin of the Species | Laura | ||
| 1999 | The Cyberstalking | Holly Moon | |
| 2001 | Landfall | Marguerite Harris | |
| 2003 | Little Red Light | Amanda Meyer | |
| 2005 | Aspects of Love | Jenny Dillingham | |
| 2009 | The Three Gifts | Cherie Green | |
| 2010 | Public Access Public Access Public Access is a 1993 American drama film directed by Bryan Singer in his feature film debut. Singer also wrote the screenplay with Christopher McQuarrie and Michael Feit Dougan. The film was shot in 18 days for US$250,000. It was screened at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival, where it was... |
Nancy | completed |
| 2010 | Maternal Instinct | ||
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders is a 1995 children's fantasy animated television series inspired by the Arthurian myths, produced by Bohbot Productions with association with Hong Ying Animation and internationally syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment.The series had two... |
Princess Gwenevere (voice) | 10 episodes |
| 1997 | Homicide: Life on the Street Homicide: Life on the Street Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons on NBC from 1993 to 1999, and was succeeded by a TV movie, which also acted as the de-facto series finale... |
Sarah Langdon | |1 episode |
| 1998 | Law & Order Law & Order Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,... |
Coral Galvin | 1 episode |
| Mad About You Mad About You Mad About You is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 23, 1992 to May 24, 1999. The show starred Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a newly married couple in New York City. Reiser played Paul Buchman, a documentary film maker. Hunt played Jamie Stemple Buchman, a public relations specialist... |
Diane | 3 episodes, 1998–1999 | |
| 1999 | Cold Feet Cold Feet (U.S. TV series) Cold Feet is an American television series produced by Kerry Ehrin Productions and Granada Entertainment USA for NBC. Based on the British TV series of the same name, the series follows three Seattle couples, each at different stages of their romantic relationships. It premiered on September 24,... |
Shelley Sullivan | 4 episode aired, 4 didn't air |
| 2000–2006 | Yes, Dear Yes, Dear Yes, Dear is a television sitcom that aired from October 2, 2000, to February 15, 2006, on CBS. It starred Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley and Liza Snyder.... |
Kim Warner | 122 episodes |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal Ally McBeal Ally McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama series which aired on the Fox network from 1997 to 2002. The series was created by David E. Kelley, who also served as the executive producer, along with Bill D'Elia... |
Lisa | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in... |
Rose Ward | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Ghost Whisperer Ghost Whisperer Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts... |
Jennifer Quinlan / Nora Sutherland | 1 episode |
| Gary Unmarried Gary Unmarried Gary Unmarried was an American sitcom created by Ed Yeager, which ran on CBS from September 24, 2008 to March 17, 2010. The series focuses on a recently divorced couple sharing custody of their kids while starting new relationships... |
Beth | 1 episode | |
| Eli Stone Eli Stone Eli Stone is an American TV series, and also the name of the title character.San Francisco lawyer Eli Stone begins to see things, which leads him to discover a brain aneurysm... |
Julie Lazer | 1 episode | |
| 2009 | Surviving Suburbia Surviving Suburbia Surviving Suburbia is an American sitcom starring Bob Saget and Cynthia Stevenson that premiered on April 6, 2009 at 9:30PM Eastern/8:30PM Central on ABC. Surviving Suburbia aired its final episode at 8:30PM Eastern/7:30PM Central on August 7, 2009... |
Melissa Mann | 1 episode |
| 2010 | The Glades The Glades (TV series) The Glades is an A&E Network drama television series created by Clifton Campbell. The one-hour drama premiered on Sunday, July 11, 2010. The series stars Matt Passmore as Det... |
Becky | 1 episode |
| Pretty Little Liars Pretty Little Liars (TV series) Pretty Little Liars is an American mystery-thriller teen drama television series created by Marlene King. Based on the popular series of novels written by Sara Shepard, the show premiered on June 8, 2010 on ABC Family... |
Unknown | TV series- filming | |
| Burn Notice Burn notice A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons... |
Emily | 1 episode | |
| LEGO Hero Factory LEGO Hero Factory LEGO Hero Factory is a continuing mini-series first aired on September 20, 2010 on Nickelodeon. The series started airing in Denmark and Norway on August 29, 2010 on Cartoon Network.-Season 1 :-Season 2 :- Voice Cast:... |
Natalie Breez/Operator Lucy/corrupted Waspix (voices) | Continuing in 2011 | |
External links
- Official website
- Self magazine interview transcript (June 2005)
- March 1996 article in the Columbia University Record