Jennifer Coolidge

Jennifer Coolidge

Coolidge in March 2012
Born Jennifer Audrey Coolidge
June 1, 1961
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation Actress, comedian
Years active 1993–present

Jennifer Audrey Coolidge (/ˈklɪ/; born June 1, 1961) is an American actress and comedian, known for playing "Stifler's mom", a role prominent in the American Pie films; Paulette, the manicurist in Legally Blonde (2001) and its sequel (2003); Hilary Duff's evil stepmother in A Cinderella Story (2004); and as the voice of Aunt Fanny in the animated feature Robots (2005). She is also a regular actor in Christopher Guest's mockumentary films. Coolidge is an alumna of The Groundlings, an improv and sketch comedy troupe based in Los Angeles.[1] She currently stars in the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls as Sophie, Max and Caroline's Polish upstairs neighbor who owns a cleaning business.

Early life

Coolidge was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Gretchen (née Knauff) and Paul Constant Coolidge, a plastics manufacturer.[2] She was raised in Norwell, Massachusetts, and has a brother, Andrew, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Susannah. Coolidge attended Norwell High School, the Cambridge School of Weston, Emerson College in Boston and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.[3] Her charitable work has included a history of supporting AIDS assistance[4] and animal rights.

Career

Coolidge is known for her supporting roles in several comedy movies and guest spots on television.[5] She made her first appearance on TV in the Seinfeld episode "The Masseuse". Before gaining recognition, she received small roles, appearing in such films as A Bucket of Blood, Plump Fiction, and A Night at the Roxbury. She also voiced Luanne's beauty school teacher Miss Kremzer in a recurring role on King of the Hill.

In 1999, Coolidge got her big break playing Jeanine Stifler, or "Stifler's mom" in American Pie. The film was a box-office hit and took in a gross worldwide revenue of $235,483,004.[6][7] In 2001, she reprised her role in American Pie 2. Later in that same year, she had a supporting role in Legally Blonde as Paulette Bonafonté the manicurist. Legally Blonde was a box-office hit, grossing US$96 million domestically.[8] The film's box-office success led to her reprising the role in its 2003 sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, but the movie was not as financially successful as the first film and generated mostly negative reviews.[9] In 2003, she again played Jeanine Stifler in American Wedding.

In 2004, she had a supporting role in the romantic comedy A Cinderella Story playing Hilary Duff's vain, self-absorbed stepmother. The film went on to become a moderate box office hit despite negative critical reviews.[10][11]

Coolidge in 2005

Coolidge nearly received the role of Lynette Scavo on Desperate Housewives, but it eventually went to Felicity Huffman.[5] From 2004 to 2006, Coolidge had a role in the NBC comedy series Joey as Joey's oversexed agent Roberta "Bobbie" Morganstern. During its second season, she went from a series regular to a more prominent role, appearing in 37 out of 46 episodes in the series. NBC officially canceled the series in May 2006 citing low ratings.[12][13] She originally starred in an episode of Friends in its final season as Amanda, a tactless and uninhibited wannabe whom Phoebe and Monica try to shake off. Prior to her Friends appearance she was a regular on She TV, a very short-lived sketch comedy that also featured Nick Bakay, Elon Gold, Simbi Khali, and Linda Kash. She also has appeared on According to Jim, playing Jim's sister and in an episode of Sex and the City, and on Frasier as Frederica, Martin Crane's new physical therapist. Coolidge also appeared in the kiddie comedy Slappy and the Stinkers, and as the voice of Aunt Fanny in the animated feature Robots. The film was accompanied by an original short animated film based on Robots, titled Aunt Fanny's Tour of Booty; in which she reprised her role.[14][15]

In late 2005, Coolidge was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[16] In 2006, she guest starred on an episode of Top Chef, and played as Adam Sandler's wife's friend, Janine, in the comedy film Click. From 2000 to 2006 she played comic parts in the improv mockumentaries Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration, all directed by Christopher Guest.[17]

She appeared in the 2006 film Date Movie as a spoof of Barbra Streisand's Meet the Fockers character. The film received unfavorable critic reviews and Rotten Tomatoes ranked the film 77th in the 100 worst reviewed films of the 2000s, with a rating of 6%.[18] However, Variety did praise Coolidge for providing a few bright moments with a spot-on spoof of Barbra Streisand, but was otherwise unimpressed describing the film as "padded and repetitious".[19] Epic Movie, released in 2007 and made by the same people behind Date Movie, was the first movie in which she received a starring role. In the film she played the "White Bitch" (the White Witch) of Gnarnia (Narnia), a lampoon of the Disney and Walden Media film The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. A. O. Scott of The New York Times called the film "irreverent and also appreciative, dragging its satiric prey down to the lowest pop-cultural denominator" and added, "The humor is coarse and occasionally funny. The archly bombastic score . . . is the only thing you might call witty. But happily, Jennifer Coolidge and Fred Willard show up . . . to add some easy, demented class."[20]

During 2007, Coolidge appeared on Thank God You're Here and The Closer, on TNT. In 2008, she guest starred on The Secret Life of the American Teenager as a call girl.[5] In the second season, she was a frequently recurring character, now playing the fiance of Ben's dad and future stepmother of Ben. She also starred in the 2008 Lifetime Television film Living Proof.

In 2009, Coolidge took a dramatic role in The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans as Genevieve McDonagh. The film premiered on September 9, 2009 at the 66th Venice International Film Festival, and It opened in general release in the United States on November 20, 2009.[21] Also In 2009, she starred alongside Heather Graham and Amber Heard in ExTerminators. A black comedy about a set of women who form their own "silent revolution", wreaking havoc on the abusive men in their lives.

In 2010, Coolidge appeared in Beauty & the Briefcase an ABC Family television film produced by Image Entertainment that originally aired on April 18, 2010.[22] It was Based on the novel Diary of a Working Girl by Daniella Brodsky.[23] The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the US on February 8, 2011.[24]

It was reported in October 2008 that Universal Pictures was planning to produce a third theatrically released sequel to American Pie.[25] In April 2010, the film entered pre-production, and in May 2011, Coolidge signed on to reprise her role of Stifler's Mom.[26] American Reunion opened in North America on April 6, 2012.

While In June 2011, Coolidge curated a Blake Nelson Boyd art show in New Orleans.[27] Same month Coolidge began to do standup. She hosted the “Women in Film” at the Beverly Hills Hotel. It went over so well, that she decided to take an act on the road. Coolidge ended up doing shows all over the country and the world for two years, Scotland included.[5] Coolidge told Australian radio show The Kyle & Jackie O Show that she would be touring Australia as part of her Yours for the Night stand-up tour.[28]

In October 2011, Coolidge began a recurring role in the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls as Sophie Kachinsky, a Polish neighbor of the two lead characters.[29] She has since been promoted to main cast.[30]

On August 2013, Coolidge and actress Megan Mullally joined the cast of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; Coolidge playing Ms. Suggs, The driving instructor.[31] The film was released in North America on October 10, 2014.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1995 Not of This Earth Nurse
1995 Bucket of Blood, AA Bucket of Blood Stupid girl
1995 Love and Happiness Jeringir
1997 Plump Fiction Sister Sister
1997 Trial and Error Jacqueline "Jackie" Turreau
1998 Slappy and the Stinkers Harriet
1998 Men in White N/A Television film
1998 Night at the Roxbury, AA Night at the Roxbury Hottie police officer
1998 Brown's Requiem Helen
1999 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Woman at football game
1999 American Pie Jeanine Stifler (Stifler's mom)
2000 Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy, TheThe Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy Betty
2000 Best in Show Sherri Ann Cabot
2001 Down to Earth Mrs. Wellington
2001 Legally Blonde Paulette Bonafonté
2001 Pootie Tang Ireenie
2001 American Pie 2 Jeanine Stifler (Stifler's mom) Uncredited
2001 Zoolander American designer
2002 Women vs. Men Shelly Television film
2003 Mighty Wind, AA Mighty Wind Amber Cole
2003 As Virgins Fall Janice Denver
2003 Carolina Aunt Marilyn
2003 Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Paulette Bonafonté Parcelle
2003 American Wedding Jeanine Stifler (Stifler's mom)
2003 Testosterone Louise
2004 Cinderella Story, AA Cinderella Story Fiona Montgomery Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Sleazebag
2004 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events White-faced woman
2005 Robots Aunt Fanny (voice)
2006 Date Movie Roz Fockyerdoder
2006 American Dreamz Martha Kendoo
2006 Click Janine
2006 For Your Consideration Whitney Taylor Brown
2007 Epic Movie The White Bitch of Gnarnia
2008 Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief Daisy (voice) Direct-to-video
2008 Foreign Exchange Principal Lonnatini
2008 Igor Jaclyn/Heidi (voice)
2008 Living Proof Tish Television film
2008 Soul Men Rosalee
2009 ExTerminators Stella
2009 Good Funeral, AA Good Funeral Helen
2009 Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, TheThe Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Genevieve McDonagh
2009 Gentlemen Broncos Judith Purvis
2010 Jack of Spades, TheThe Jack of Spades Monica
2010 Beauty & the Briefcase Felisa McCollin Television film
2011 Mangus! Cookie Richardson
2012 American Reunion Jeanine Stifler (Stifler's mom)
2013 Austenland Miss Elizabeth Charming
2014 Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Ms. Suggs
2015 Hell & Back Durmessa (voice) In post-production
TBA B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations Carol Sue (voice) Filming
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Seinfeld Jodi Episode: "The Masseuse"
1994 She TV Various
1995 Monroes, TheThe Monroes Marcia Kelly Episode: "Educating Billy"
1996 Saturday Night Special Various
1997–99 King of the Hill Miss Kremzer (voice) 4 episodes
1998 Alright Already Rhonda Episode: "Again with the Hockey Player: Part 1"
1998 Rude Awakening Sue 2 episodes
1999 Ladies Man Helen Episode: "Neutered Jimmy"
2001 Andy Dick Show, TheThe Andy Dick Show Nancy Bunting Episode: "Kid Krist"
2001 Frasier Frederica Episode: "Forgotten But Not Gone"
2001 Sketch Pad The Groundlings
2002 Do Over Gwen Brody Episode: "Cold War"
2003–04 According to Jim Roxanne 3 episodes
2003 Sex and the City Victoria Episode: "The Perfect Present"
2003 Friends Amanda Buffamonteezi Episode: "The One with Ross's Tan"
2004 Game Over Ramona (voice) Episode: "Into the Woods"
2004 MADtv Herself/Ivanka Season 9, episode 23
2004–06 Joey Roberta "Bobbie" Morganstern Main cast; 46 episodes
2004 Father of the Pride Tracy (voice) Episode: "And the Revolution Continues"
2004 As Told by Ginger Nikki Laporte (voice) Episode: "The Wedding Frame"
2005 Hopeless Pictures Traci (voice) 3 episodes
2006 Comic Relief 2006 "Fur" Stand-up comedy benefit concert in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
2007–09 Nip/Tuck Candy Richards/CoCo 3 episodes
2008–09 Yin Yang Yo! Coop's mother (voice) 4 episodes
2008 Closer, TheThe Closer Angie Serabian Episode: "Dial M for Provenza"
2008–12 Secret Life of the American Teenager, TheThe Secret Life of the American Teenager Betty 35 episodes
2008 Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World Fannie Mae (voice) Episode: "Mom Fight"
2009 Kath & Kim Lenore Episode: "Celebrity"
2009 Party Down Bobbie St. Brown 2 episodes
2010, 2012 Life & Times of Tim, TheThe Life & Times of Tim Various voices 3 episodes
2010–13 Hero Factory Daniella Capricorn 3 episodes
2011–14 Fish Hooks Ms. Lips (voice) Recurring
2012 Game, TheThe Game Marissa Episode: "Skeletons"
2012 Napoleon Dynamite Mrs. Moser (voice) 2 episodes
2012–present 2 Broke Girls Sophie Kachinsky Recurring (season 1); main cast (season 2–present)
2012–present Gravity Falls Lazy Susan Wentworth (voice) Recurring
2015 Glee Whitney S. Pierce Recurring (season 6)

References

  1. Jacobs, Alexandra (2004-10-03). "Jennifer Coolidge, Queen of the Ugly Stepsisters". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  2. Jennifer Coolidge Biography (1963–). Filmreference.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-12.
  3. Jennifer Coolidge. Tops in Lex (2011-03-01).
  4. Aid For AIDS Celebrity Support. aidforaids.net
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Interview with Jennifer Coolidge". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2009-07-22. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  6. American Pie (1999) Box Office Mojo
  7. American Pie – Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information The Numbers
  8. "Reese Witherspoon". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 2, 2007.
  9. Puig, Claudia (July 2, 2003). "Legally Blonde 2 Review". USA Today. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  10. "A Cinderella Story (2004) - Box Office Mojo". Boxofficemojo. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  11. Chauncey, Sarah. "A Cinderella Story (2004)". Reel.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
  12. Banham, Mark (2006-05-17). "NBC cancels 'Friends' spin-off Joey". brandrepublic.com. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  13. {{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1174196,00.html|title=Friendly Fire|last=Rice|first=Lynette|date=2006-03-17|publisher=ew.com|accessdate=4 December 2012}}
  14. Gilchrist, Todd (September 28, 2005). "Robots". IGN. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  15. Foster, Dave (August 24, 2005). "Robots (R2) in September - Menus added". The Digital Fix. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  16. Academy Invites 112 to Membership. oscars.org (2005-06-24).
  17. "Interview: Jennifer Coolidge makes Atlanta laugh". Project Q Atlanta. 2010-03-18. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  18. "Worst of the Worst 2000–2009". Retrieved 2013-07-29.
  19. Leydon, Joe (February 17, 2006). "Date Movie". Variety.
  20. New York Times review
  21. http://www.24framespersecond.net/index.php?/24frames/news_details/herzogs-bad-lieutenant-gets-a-us-release-date
  22. "Hilary Duff Portrays a New York Fashion Writer Who Goes Undercover to Find Love in the Corporate World in the New ABC Family Original Movie, "Beauty & The Briefcase," Premiering on Sunday, April 18th, At 8:00 pm ET/PT" (Press release). ABC Family. February 25, 2010. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  23. Carter, Nicole (2009-10-21). "New Hilary Duff movie The Business of Falling in Love". New York: NY Daily News. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
  24. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=Beauty+%26+the+Briefcase&x=0&y=0
  25. Sciretta, Peter (October 28, 2008). "Universal Eyeing American Pie 4? |". /Film. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  26. [http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/jennifer-coolidge-joins- american-pie-reunion_1220721 "Jennifer Coolidge Joins American Pie Reunion"]. Contact Music. May 23, 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  27. "Blake Boyd: My Pinocchio Syndrome for Abigail...Ten Years Later. This Ain't Disney Jeff.". artnet. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  28. http://austereo.castmetrix.net/podcast/378302368699185950/1/TheKyleandJackieOShow.mp3
  29. Jennifer Coolidge to Join Cast of CBS' 2 Broke Girls – Theater News – Oct 27, 2011. Theatermania.com (2011-10-27). Retrieved on 2012-07-12.
  30. ""Partners" makes its debut on CBS; new seasons start for other Monday night shows". CBS News. September 24, 2012.
  31. Ford, Rebecca (August 29, 2013). "Jennifer Coolidge, Megan Mullally Join 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 29, 2013.

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