Jayne Houdyshell
{{Short description|American actress}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jayne Houdyshell
| image = Jayne Houdyshell at Gimme A Break Gala (cropped).jpg
| caption = Houdyshell at a 2013 Gala
| birth_name = Jayne Houdyshell
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|09|25}}
| birth_place = Topeka, Kansas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = Academy of Dramatic Art at Oakland University
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor}}
| years_active = 1973–present
| spouse =
| works = Full list
| awards = Full list
| children =
| url =
}}
Jayne Houdyshell {{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|aʊ|d|i|ˌ|ʃ|ɛ|l}}As pronounced by Houdyshell in "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekt99r3BOLA Ask a Star: Jayne Houdyshell & Reed Birney of The Humans]" (born September 25, 1953) is an American actress. Known for being a prolific character actor in theater, film, and television, Houdyshell 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).{{Cite web|last=Nordyke|first=Kimberly|date=June 12, 2016|title=Tony Awards: The Winners List|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/tony-awards-2016-complete-list-901959/best-performance-by-an-actress-in-a-featured-role-in-a-play-2/|website=Hollywood Reporter}} 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 in 1974.[https://wwwp.oakland.edu/mtd/news/2016/Alumna-Jayne-Houdyshell-nominated-for-a-Tony-Award "Alumna Jayne Houdyshell nominated for a Tony Award"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506071457/http://wwwp.oakland.edu/mtd/news/2016/Alumna-Jayne-Houdyshell-nominated-for-a-Tony-Award |date=2016-05-06 }}, oakland.edu, May 4, 2016.
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.{{cite web|url= https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/3862-jayne-houdyshell|title= Jayne Houdyshell|accessdate= March 6, 2024}}
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."Pressley, Nelson. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/jayne-houdyshell-late-blooming-broadway-baby/2014/09/11/df37e9ce-36aa-11e4-9c9f-ebb47272e40e_story.html# "Jayne Houdyshell, late-blooming Broadway baby"], The Washington Post, September 12, 2014 She has appeared in numerous films, including Changing Lanes (2002) with Ben Affleck, Maid in Manhattan (2002) with Jennifer Lopez, and 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,[https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jayne-houdyshell-p344213 Jayne Houdyshell Filmography"] allmovie.com, retrieved September 12, 2018 and as Bunny Folger{{Cite web |last=McFarland |first=Melanie |date=2022-07-06 |title=In defense of The Arconia's grand dame on "Only Murders in the Building" |url=https://www.salon.com/2022/07/06/only-in-the-building-bunny/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Salon |language=en}} on Only Murders in the Building.{{Citation |title=Only Murders in the Building |date=2022-07-06 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Only_Murders_in_the_Building&oldid=1096708021 |work=Wikipedia |language=en |access-date=2022-07-06}} During this time she acted in Trust the Man (2006) with Julianne Moore, and Everybody's Fine (2009) with Robert De Niro, Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore, and Sam Rockwell. She also had a role in the 2010 film The Bounty Hunter with Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler[https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-bounty-hunter-v503433 The Bounty Hunter] allmovie.com, retrieved September 12, 2018
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.{{Citation | last = Wyatt | first = Rebecca | title = Former MBT actress receives Tony nomination | newspaper = Oakland University News | date = 2006-05-26 | url = http://www4.oakland.edu/view_news.aspx?sid=11&id=3216 | access-date = 2007-12-06 | archive-date = 2007-06-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070608213602/http://www4.oakland.edu/view_news.aspx?sid=11&id=3216 | url-status = dead }} 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.{{cite web | title = Jayne Houdyshell Biography | work = Broadway Buzz: Star Files | publisher = Broadway.com | url = http://www.broadway.com/buzz/star_files_detail.aspx?id=525785 | access-date = 2009-07-01}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}[http://lortel.org/Archives/Production/3108 " 'Well' Off-Broadway"], lortel.org, accessed May 25, 2016
She received the 2005 Joseph Jefferson Award, Supporting Actress, Play for her performance in The Pain and the Itch for Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyLipton, Brian Scott. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/11-2005/2005-joseph-jefferson-award-winners-announced_7066.html "2005 Joseph Jefferson Award Winners Announced"], TheaterMania, November 8, 2005 and a 2005 Barrymore Award, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play for her work in The Clean House at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia.[http://www.theatrephiladelphia.org/barrymore-awards "Barrymore Awards, 2005"] theatrephiladelphia.org, accessed May 26, 2016Lipton, Brian Scott. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/08-2005/2005-barrymore-award-nominations-announced_6493.html "2005 Barrymore Award Nominations Announced"] theatermania.com, August 10, 2005
Houdyshell's Broadway credits include Wicked, Well, Bye Bye Birdie,Jones, Kenneth. [https://archive.today/20120910171221/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/132681 "Bye Bye Birdie, With Stamos, Gershon, Irwin, Houdyshell and Trimm, Returns to Broadway"], Playbill.com, September 10, 2009 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,{{cite journal|last1= Gans|first1= Andrew|year= 2011|title= DIVA TALK: Chatting with a "Broadway Baby," Follies Star Jayne Houdyshell|journal= Playbill|url= http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/153204-DIVA-TALK-Chatting-with-a-Broadway-Baby-Follies-Star-Jayne-Houdyshell|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111018180035/http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/153204-DIVA-TALK-Chatting-with-a-Broadway-Baby-Follies-Star-Jayne-Houdyshell|archive-date= 2011-10-18}} and received a 2012 Tony Award nomination, Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.Gans, Andrew; Jones, Kenneth; and Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/article/2012-tony-awards-nominations-announced-once-earns-11-nominations-com-193103# "2012 Tony Awards Nominations Announced; Once Earns 11 Nominations"], Playbill, May 1, 2012 Houdyshell played the Nurse in the 2013 Broadway revival of Romeo and Juliet.Gordon, David. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/11-2013/parting-is-such-sweet-sorrow-broadways-romeo-and-j_66693.html "Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow: Broadway's 'Romeo and Juliet', Starring Orlando Bloom, Will Close in December"], theatermania.com, November 20, 2013
= 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,Simoes, Monica. [http://www.playbill.com/article/first-pics-of-reed-birney-jayne-houdyshell-and-sarah-steele-in-roundabouts-the-humans-com-365182# "First Pics of Reed Birney, Jayne Houdyshell and Sarah Steele in Roundabout's 'The Humans'"], Playbill, October 1, 2015 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,Viagas, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/article/tony-time-its-broadways-biggest-night# " 'Hamilton' Tops Tony Awards With 11 Wins"], Playbill.com, June 12, 2016. the 2016 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Ensemble Performance,[http://www.playbill.com/production/the-humans-helen-hayes-theatre-vault-0000014154# "'The Humans' Broadway"], Playbill.com; accessed May 25, 2016 and the Obie Award, Performance.[https://variety.com/2016/legit/news/2016-obie-awards-full-list-1201781374/ "Obie Awards Winners Announced"], Variety.com, May 23, 2016. 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,{{Citation|last=Blankenship|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Blankenship|title=The Score and the Story, Inseparable|newspaper=New York Times|page=AR4|date=2009-06-07|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/theater/07Blan.html}} The New Century, at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center (2008);[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/4689 The New Century] lortel.org, retrieved September 12, 2018 The Receptionist at the Manhattan Theater Club (2007);[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/4590 The Receptionist]
lortel.org, retrieved September 12, 2018 Much Ado About Nothing (Delacorte Theatre, 2004);[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/3374 Much Ado] lortel.org, retrieved September 12, 2018 Fighting Words, and The Pain and the Itch at Playwrights Horizons (2009);[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/4390 The Pain and the Itch] lortel.org, retrieved September 12, 2018 Attempts on Her Life at Soho Rep; and True Love at the Zipper Theater (2001).[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/3 True Love] lortel.org, retrieved September 12, 2018{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
In 2018, she starred on the third season of the ABC thriller Quantico as The Widow.{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Scoop-Coming-Up-On-Season-Three-Premiere-Of-QUANTICO-on-ABC-Thursday-April-26-2018-20180409|title=Scoop: Coming Up On Season Three Premiere Of Quantico on ABC - Thursday, April 26, 2018|publisher=Broadway World|date=April 9, 2018|access-date=April 10, 2018}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/worst-movies-the-cast-of-little-women-has-been-in-2019-12|title=The worst movies the cast of 'Little Women' has been in|first=Michelle|last=Larkin|website=Insider|accessdate=Feb 16, 2021}} 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.{{cite web|url= https://playbill.com/article/beanie-feldstein-jayne-houdyshell-and-amy-schumer-to-star-in-film-adaptation-of-the-humans|title= Beanie Feldstein, Jayne Houdyshell, and Amy Schumer to Star in Film Adaptation of The Humans|website= Playbill|accessdate= March 6, 2024}}{{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/2021/11/28/1059600320/looking-for-a-unique-holiday-movie-the-humans-is-a-dark-psychological-drama|title= Looking for a unique holiday movie? 'The Humans' is a dark, psychological drama|website= NPR|accessdate= March 6, 2024}} 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.{{cite web|url= https://playbill.com/article/checking-in-with...tony-winner-jayne-houdyshell-star-of-the-music-man-the-humans-well-follies-more|title= Checking In With…Tony Winner Jayne Houdyshell, Star of The Music Man, The Humans, Well, Follies, More|website= Playbill|accessdate= March 6, 2024}} For her performance she received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.{{cite web|url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tony-awards-2022-winners-nominees-how-to-watch/|title= Tony Awards 2022: Complete list of nominees and winners|website= CBS News|accessdate= March 6, 2024}} That same year she acted in the psychological drama film Causeway directed by Lila Neugebauer and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/apple-original-films-causeway-jennifer-lawrence-1235073314/|title=Apple Original Films Lands 'Causeway' Starring Jennifer Lawrence|website=Deadline|date=July 20, 2022|author=Justin Kroll|access-date=July 21, 2022}} It had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Causeway |url=https://tiff.net/events/causeway |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=TIFF |language=en}} It was released theatrically and on Apple TV+ on November 4, 2022. She returned to Broadway in the revival of Anton Chekov Uncle Vanya at Vivian Beaumont Theater starring Steve Carell, Allison Pill, William Jackson Harper, and Alfred Molina.{{cite web|url= https://playbill.com/article/go-inside-the-1st-rehearsal-for-uncle-vanya-starring-steve-carell-and-alison-pill|title= Go Inside the 1st Rehearsal for Uncle Vanya, Starring Steve Carell and Alison Pill|website= Playbill|accessdate= March 6, 2024}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2002
|Miss Tetley | |
| 2002
|Carmen | |
| 2004
|Mrs. Lubin | |
| 2005
|Sex Addicts Leader | |
| 2005
|Road |Postal Clerk | |
| 2006
|Pam Dupont | |
| 2006
|The Immaculate Conception |Sister Patricia | |
| 2009
|Alice | |
| 2010
|Landlady | |
| 2010
|Stage Manager | |
| 2014
| |
| 2014
|Harry's Landlady | |
| 2017
|Paul's Mother | |
| 2018
|Sister Delores | |
| 2019
|Hannah | |
| 2021
|Deirdre Blake | |
| 2022
|Sharon | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1999
|Jane |Episode: "Welcome to Camelot" |
| 1997–2002
| Various Characters | 3 episodes |
| 2002–17
|Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |Judge Ruth Linden | 10 episodes |
| 2005
| Ruth Pear | Episode: "The Unblinking Eye" |
| 2006
|Judge Roberta Palski | 2 episodes |
| 2009
|Mrs. Finkelman |Television movie |
| 2009
|Judge Burslem |Episode #1.15659 |
| 2010
|Gertie Stellvertretter |Pilot |
| 2014
|Roseanne Galecki |Episode: "Open Secrets" |
| 2015
|Carla |Episode: "Hemlock" |
| 2015
|Rose Offer |8 episodes |
| 2015
|Jane Cotton |2 episodes |
| 2017
|The Accidental Wolf |Rach |Episode: "Kathryn" |
| 2017–18
|Renée Rampling |2 episodes |
| 2018
|The Widow |Episode: "The Conscience Code" |
| 2019
|Black Market Bob |Episode: "Magic is Real" |
| 2020
|Evil |Judge Sara Carl Shire |Episode: "Justice x 2" |
| 2021–22
|Bunny Folger |Recurring |
= Theatre =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2005
|Mrs. Martini |Sam S. Shubert Theatre, Broadway |
| 2006
|Well | Ann |Longacre Theatre, Broadway |
| 2006–08
| Madame Morrible (replacement) | Gershwin Theatre, Broadway |
| 2009–10
|Mae Peterson |Henry Miller's Theatre, Broadway |
| 2010
|Madame Morrible (replacement) |Emerald City Tour |
| 2011
|The Importance of Being Earnest |Miss Prism (replacement) |American Airlines Theatre, Broadway |
| 2011–12
|Hattie Walker |Marquis Theatre, Broadway |
| 2011
|8 |Maggie Gallagher |Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway |
| 2012–13
|Barbara |Music Box Theatre, Broadway |
| 2013
|Nurse |Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway |
| 2015
|Gloria Drexel |Cort Theatre, Broadway |
| 2015–17
|Deirdre Blake |Laura Pels Theatre |
| 2017
|Anne Marie |John Golden Theatre, Broadway |
| 2018
|Deirdre Blake |Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles |
| 2019
|Earl of Gloucester |Cort Theatre, Broadway |
| 2022
|Mrs. Shinn |Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway |
| 2024
|Mama Voinitski |Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"| 2004
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | rowspan="2"| Well | {{nom}} | ||||
| Obie Award
| Distinguished Performance by an Actress | {{win}} | ||||
| rowspan="2"| 2005
| Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play | {{win}} | ||||
| Barrymore Award
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play | {{win}} | ||||
| rowspan="2"| 2006
| Best Featured Actress in a Play | rowspan="2"| Well | {{nom}} | ||||
| colspan="2"| Theatre World Award
| {{win}} | ||||
| rowspan="2"| 2012
| Best Featured Actress in a Musical | rowspan="2"| Follies | {{nom}} | ||||
| Outer Critics Circle Award
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | {{nom}} | ||||
| rowspan="6"| 2016
| Best Featured Actress in a Play | rowspan="6"| The Humans | {{win}} | ||||
| Drama Desk Award
| Outstanding Ensemble | {{win}} | ||||
| Drama League Award
| Distinguished Performance | {{nom}} | ||||
| Outer Critics Circle Award
| Outstanding Actress in a Play | {{nom}} | ||||
| Obie Award
| Distinguished Performance by an Actress | {{win}} | ||||
| Lucille Lortel Award
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play | {{nom}} | ||||
| rowspan="3" | 2017
|Best Featured Actress in a Play | rowspan="3" |A Doll's House, Part 2 |{{nom}} | ||||
| Drama Desk Award
|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play |{{nom}} | ||||
| Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play |{{nom}} | ||||
| 2021
| rowspan=2|Screen Actors Guild Award | rowspan=2|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | rowspan=2|Only Murders in the Building | {{nom}} | ||||
| rowspan=2|2022
| {{nom}} | ||||
| Tony Award
| Best Featured Actress in a Musical | {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{cc}}
- {{IMDb name|1159251}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{iobdb name|104}}
{{TonyAward PlayFeaturedActress 2001–2025}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Houdyshell, Jayne}}
Category:American film actresses
Category:American musical theatre actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:Oakland University alumni
Category:Actresses from Topeka, Kansas
Category:Obie Award recipients
Category:Theatre World Award winners
Category:20th-century American actresses