Joanna Gleason
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Joanna Gleason (born Joanne Halprin on June 2, 1950 in Winnipeg, Manitoba), is a Canadian-born actress, who has been a successful character actor in film, television and on stage.
She starred as the Baker's wife in the Broadway theatre production of the musical Into the Woods for which she received the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical in 1988. Gleason also appeared as the mother of Dirk Diggler in the award-winning film Boogie Nights. In 2005 she was nominated for another Tony Award for her performance in the musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. She also had a recurring role as Jordan Kendall, Special Counsel (and love interest) to White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, in the third and fourth seasons of The West Wing.
She is the daughter of Monty Hall, a well-known game show host, and his wife, Marilyn. Gleason is currently married to Greek-American actor Chris Sarandon, and they have a daughter. She was previously married to Paul G. Gleason (not to be confused with the late Paul Gleason who played Principal Richard Vernon in The Breakfast Club).
| Preceded by: Maryann Plunkett for Me and My Girl |
Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical 1988 for Into the Woods |
Succeeded by: Ruth Brown for Black and Blue |
