Joanna Gleason

Joanna Gleason (née Hall; born June 2, 1950) is a Canadian actress and singer. She is a Tony Award–winning musical theatre actress and has also had a number of notable film and TV roles. She's known for originating the role of the Baker's Wife in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods where she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She is also known for her film work in Mike Nichols' Heartburn (1985), Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), and Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), and Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights (1997). She is also known for her television roles in shows such as Friends, The West Wing, The Good Wife and The Affair.

Joanna Gleason
Born
Joanne Hall[1]

(1950-06-02) June 2, 1950
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActress, singer
Years active1977–present
Spouse(s)
  • Paul G. Gleason
    (m. 1975; div. 1982)
  • Michael Bennahum
    (m. 1984; div. 1990)
  • (m. 1994)
Children1
Parents

Early life

Joanne Hall was born in Toronto, the eldest of three siblings born to television producer and game show personality Monty Hall, and his wife, Marilyn (née Plottel), both of whom died in 2017.[2] At the time of her birth, her father was working at the Canada Wheat Board and had changed his name from Halparin to Hall. He later started his TV career and went on to fame as host of Let's Make a Deal.[3]

In May 1956, the Hall family moved to New York and, in the early 1960s, they again moved to Los Angeles.

Hall graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1968.[1] She was in the school's productions of The Music Man, The Mikado, The Grass Harp, and The Madwoman of Chaillot. In high school, Gleason received acting instruction from John Ingle, the soap opera star, who taught at BHHS from 1955 to 1985. She continued her education at UCLA,[4] then Occidental College, from which she graduated. Gleason has been a teacher herself, holding classes and workshops all over the country.[5]

Career

Although Gleason started her acting career in television, she is best known for her stage and musical theatre work. She made her Broadway debut in 1977 in I Love My Wife,[6] for which she was honored with a Theatre World Award.[7]

Additional Broadway credits include Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing, Peter Nichols' A Day in the Death of Joe Egg,[8] Nick & Nora,[9] Into the Woods (for which she won several awards including a Tony Award in the lead role of the Baker's Wife,[10] which she also played in the PBS Great Performances production of the musical), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,[11] and The Cartells.[12]

Her film and television career began in 1977 with her first appearance on her father's program Let's Make A Deal. In 1979, she was cast as a supporting character in Hello, Larry, a role she held throughout the oft-maligned sitcom's two-season run. She had film roles in Hannah and Her Sisters and Heartburn (both 1986).[7] In the television movie Still the Beaver she played Beaver's ex-wife, Kimberly. Gleason worked again with Woody Allen in Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), this time playing the wife of Allen's character.[13] Gleason appeared in several films in the 1990s, including F/X2,[14] Mr. Holland's Opus, Boogie Nights, and The Boys. More recently she has appeared in The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, The Wedding Planner,[15] and The Newsroom. On television, she played the role of Nadine Berkus on the show Love & War (1992–95), several episodes of which she also directed.

She played Joan Silver on Temporarily Yours (1997).[16] Gleason starred in the Lifetime series Oh Baby as Charlotte from 1998 to 2000, also directing episodes of this show. Shortly following the end of this series, she starred opposite Bette Midler and Lindsay Lohan on Bette as agent Connie Randolph.[17] Her numerous guest starring TV credits include episodes of The West Wing, The Practice, King of the Hill, Friends, ‘’Password Plus’’,Tracey Takes On..., Murphy Brown, ER and The Outer Limits. Gleason appeared in 6 episodes of the Canadian black comedy series Sensitive Skin as Veronica, from 2014 to 2016.

In 2007, Gleason was honoured by the New England Theatre Conference with a Special Award for Achievement in Theatre.[18]

Personal life

Gleason has been married three times. She was married to acting coach Paul G. Gleason (not the actor Paul X. Gleason, also known as Paul Gleason), whose surname she kept professionally, although they divorced on June 28, 1982, in Nevada. Later, she married Michael Bennahum.[3] Gleason has one child, Aaron David Gleason, from her first marriage.

Gleason has been married to actor Chris Sarandon since 1994. The two met while performing in Broadway's short-lived 1991 musical Nick & Nora, returned to the stage together in 1998's Thorn and Bloom,[19] and collaborated on several films, such as Road Ends, Edie & Pen, Let the Devil Wear Black, and American Perfekt.

Gleason's siblings are television writer/director Sharon Hall Kessler and Emmy award-winning television writer/director Richard Hall.[20]

Work

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986Hannah and Her SistersCarol
1986HeartburnDiana
1989Crimes and MisdemeanorsWendy Stern
1991F/X2Liz Kennedy
1995Mr. Holland's OpusAdult Gertrude
1996Edie & PenMaudie
1997American PerfektShirley
1997Boogie NightsDirk's Mother
1997Road EndsArmacost
1999Let the Devil Wear BlackDr. Rona Hackley
2001The Wedding PlannerMrs. Donolly
2006Wedding DazeLois
2007The Girl in the ParkSarah
2008Sex and the CityTherapist
2008My Sassy GirlKitty/Aunt Sally
2008The WomenBarbara
2009The ReboundRoberta Finklestein
2013Last VegasMiriam Harris
2014The Skeleton TwinsJudy

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1979Diff'rent StrokesMorgan Winslow3 episodes
1979-80Hello, Larry37 episodes
1981Bosom BuddiesFaith CraneEpisode: What Price Glory?
1982Love, SidneyGailEpisode: The Activist
1983The New Leave It to BeaverKimberlyEpisode: Still the Beaver
1983Great DayJennifer SimpsonTelevision movie
1987Into the WoodsBaker's WifeTelevised Broadway Performance
1991The BoysMarieTelevision Movie
1992For Richer, for PoorerIreneTelevision Movie
1993Born Too SoonAnnemarieTelevision Movie
1994For the Love of AaronShirleyTelevision Movie
1992-95Love & WarNadine Berkus67 episodes
1996The Outer LimitsLeslieEpisode: Inconstant Moon
1996ERIris3 episodes
1996If These Walls Could TalkJulia (segment: 1974)Television Movie
1997Adventures from the Book of VirtuesDelia YoungVoice; Episode: Generosity
1997Temporarily YoursJoan Silver6 episodes
1997Perversions of ScienceMrs. RabeEpisode: Anatomy Lesson
1997Murphy BrownAthena GillingtonEpisode: Petty Woman
1998George & LeoPerformerEpisode: The Teacher
1996-98Tracey Takes On...Katherine Hawkins
LeAnne the Stewardess
2 episodes
1999FriendsKim Clozzi2 episodes
1998-00Oh BabyCharlotte St. John28 episodes
2000-01BetteConnie Randolph18 episodes
2001The PracticeHenrietta Lightstone2 episodes
2001-02The West WingJordan Kendall5 episodes
1997-04King of the HillVarious RolesVoice; 8 episodes
2005Fathers and SonsSilviaTelevision Movie
2010How to Make It in AmericaBen's MotherEpisode: Paper, Denim + Dollars
2010DelocatedDr. MitchellEpisode: Conversions
2011Royal PainsEvelyn WoodwardEpisode: Rash Talk
2009-12The Good WifeJudge Romano3 episodes
2013Blue BloodsGrace Newhouse2 episodes
2014The NewsroomNancy SkinnerEpisode: What Kind of Day Has it Been
2015The AffairYvonne3 episodes
2014-16Sensitive SkinVeronica6 episodes
2019Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtJanice HoffmanEpisode: Kimmy is in a Love Square!

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1977-79I Love My WifeMonicaEthel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway
1985A Day in the Death of Joe EggPamLongacre Theatre, Broadway
1986It's Only a PlayVirginia NoylesManhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway
1986-87Social SecurityTrudy HeymanEthel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway
1987-88Into the WoodsThe Baker's WifeMartin Beck Theatre, Broadway
1991The Odd CoupleGwendolynBelasco Theatre, Broadway
1991Nick & NoraNora CharlesMarquis Theatre, Broadway
2004The Normal HeartDr. Emma BrooknerThe Public Theatre, Off-Broadway
2005-06Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsMuriel EubanksImperial Theatre, Broadway
2008Something You DidAlisonPrimary Stages, Off-Broadway
2009HappinessArleneLincoln Center Theatre, Off-Broadway
2011-12Sons of the ProphetGloriaRoundabout Theatre Company, Off-Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Project Result
1985 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Nominated
1988 Best Actress in a Musical Into the Woods Won
2005 Best Featured Actress in a Musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Nominated
1985 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Joe Egg Nominated
1986 It's Only a Play Won
Social Security Won
1988 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Into the Woods Won
2005 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Nominated
1988Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Actress in a MusicalInto the WoodsWon
2005Outstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalDirty Rotten ScoundrelsNominated
2012Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlaySons of the ProphetNominated
1977 Theatre World Award N/A I Love My Wife Won

References

  1. Hall, Monty; Bill Libby (1973). Emcee Monty Hall. New York: Grosset & Dunlap. ISBN 978-0-4480-1551-4.
  2. "Joanna Gleason profile". filmreference.com. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  3. Kleiman, Dena (May 4, 1986). "Joanna Gleason keeps a secret as acting tool". The New York Times.
  4. "Notable Alumni Actors". UCLA School of Theater, Film and television. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  5. "Susan Stroman, Joanna Gleason & More to Teach Masterclasses at Open Jar Institute's 10th Anniversary, 8/2". Broadway World. July 12, 2013.
  6. Berkvist, Robert (May 27, 1977). "New Face: Joanna Gleason". The New York Times.
  7. Klein, Alvin (February 23, 1986). "THEATER; Joanna Gleason: At age 35, a character actress emerges". The New York Times.
  8. Rich, Frank (January 7, 1985). "Stage: Dale and Channing in Nichols's 'Joe Egg'". The New York Times.
  9. Rich, Frank (December 9, 1991). "Review/Theater: Bostwick and Gleason in 'Nick and Nora'". The New York Times.
  10. "The Tony Winners". The New York Times. June 7, 1988.
  11. Jones, Kenneth (July 16, 2004). "Complete Casting Announced for 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' Musical". Playbill.
  12. Genzlinger, Neil (October 19, 2006). "Fit for a Soap, Made for the Stage, the Tribulations of an Oil Family". The New York Times.
  13. Canby, Vincent (October 13, 1989). "Review/Film: 'Crimes and Misdemeanors', New from Woody Allen". The New York Times.
  14. Holden, Stephen (May 10, 1991). "Review/Film; The Old Gift for Gadgetry And a New Robotic Sidekick". The New York Times.
  15. Scott, A.O. (January 26, 2001). "FILM REVIEW; Some Things Just Can't Be Planned". The New York Times.
  16. Marks, Peter (March 30, 1997). "Like 'Mary Tyler Moore', With Attitude and Accent". The New York Times.
  17. Salamon, Julie (October 11, 2000). "TELEVISION REVIEW: Divining Miss M, So Supremely Anxiety-Ridden". The New York Times.
  18. "Joanna Gleason". broadwaymentorsprogram.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  19. Simonson, Robert (July 9, 1988). "Joanna Gleason and Chris Sarandon Pluck L.A. Thorn & Bloom July 9". Playbill.
  20. Simonson, Robert (September 28, 2011). "Joanna Gleason: Choosing Parts Wisely". Playbill.
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