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Lily Tomlin
ACTOR

Lily Tomlin

Known for The Simpsons · The X-Files · NCIS

Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (born September 1, 1939) is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer. She has won multiple awards from many quarters, including Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award and has also been nominated for an Academy Award.

Snapshot 2026-10-15

Born
Sep 1, 1939
Birthplace
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Known For
Acting

Biography

Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (born September 1, 1939) is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer. She has won multiple awards from many quarters, including Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award and has also been nominated for an Academy Award.

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Known For

TVThe Simpsons
The SimpsonsTammy (voice) · 1989
★ 8.0
TVThe X-Files
The X-FilesLydia · 1993
★ 8.4
TVNCIS
NCISPenelope Langston · 2003
★ 7.6
TVDesperate Housewives
Desperate HousewivesRoberta Simmons · 2004
★ 7.9
TVFrasier
FrasierRita (voice) · 1993
★ 7.7
TVLast Week Tonight with John Oliver
Last Week Tonight with John OliverSelf - Guest · 2014
★ 7.8
TVThe Daily Show
The Daily ShowSelf · 1996
★ 6.4
TVThe West Wing
The West WingDeborah Fiderer · 1999
★ 8.3

Filmography

Movies

Scarecrow in a Garden of CucumbersTelephone Voice (voice) (uncredited)
1972
Juke and OpalOpal
1973
Lily
1973
LilyWriter
1973
Flip Wilson... Of CourseSelf
1974
NashvilleLinnea Reese
1975
TVTV Looks at the OscarsJudy Beasley/Self
1976
The Late ShowMargo
1977
The Paul Simon SpecialSelf
1977
The Paul Simon SpecialWriter
1977
Moment by MomentTrisha Rawlings
1978
Appearing NitelySelf
1979
Nine to FiveViolet Newstead
1980
Lily: Sold OutSelf / Various Characters
1981
Lily: Sold OutExecutive Producer
1981
The Incredible Shrinking WomanPat Kramer / Judith Beasley / Telephone Operator
1981
The Muppets Go to the MoviesHerself
1981
Lily for President?Lily Tomlin / Various
1982
All of MeEdwina Cutwater
1984
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 YearsSelf (archive footage)
1986
WT
Waiting Tables
1986
Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional VaudevilleSelf
1987
Lily TomlinHerself
1987
Big BusinessRose Ratliff / Rose Shelton
1988
Free to Be... a FamilySelf
1988
AP
A Party For Richard PryorSelf
1991
Shadows and FogProstitute
1991
The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the UniverseTrudy the Bag Lady / Agnus Angst / Kate / Brandy / Tina / Chrissy / Lud / Marie / Vince / Edie / Lynn / Marge
1991
The PlayerLily Tomlin
1992
An Evening with Lily Tomlin and FriendsSelf / Ernestine / Judith Beasley / Mme Lupé / Others
1993
And the Band Played OnDr. Selma Dritz
1993
Luck, Trust & Ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver CountrySelf
1993
Sesame Street Stays Up Late!Ernestine the Telephone Operator(uncredited)
1993
Short CutsDoreen Piggot
1993
The Beverly HillbilliesMiss Jane Hathaway
1993
BS
But... SeriouslySelf (archive footage)
1994
Edith Ann: A Few Pieces of the PuzzleEdith Ann (voice)
1994
Edith Ann: A Few Pieces of the PuzzleExecutive Producer
1994
Edith Ann: Homeless Go HomeEdith Ann (voice)
1994
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!Ernestine (archive footage)
1994
Blue in the FaceWaffle eater
1995
Peter Allen: The Boy From OzSelf
1995
Edith Ann's Christmas (Just Say Noël)Edith Ann (voice)
1996
Edith Ann's Christmas (Just Say Noël)Executive Producer
1996
Flirting with DisasterMary Schlichting
1996
Getting Away with MurderInga Mueller
1996
Kids for CharacterMs. Valerie Frizzle(archive footage) (voice)
1996
The Celluloid ClosetNarrator (voice)
1996
The Celluloid ClosetCo-Executive Producer
1996
HB
Happy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of LifeSelf
1997
Krippendorf's TribeRuth Allen
1998
Get Bruce!Self
1999
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary SpecialSelf
1999
Tea with MussoliniGeorgina "Georgie" Rockwell
1999
Altman on His Own TermsSelf
2000
The KidJanet
2000
Orange CountyCharlotte Cobb
2002
Cher: The Farewell TourSelf (archive footage)
2003
Goodnight, We Love YouSelf
2004
Happy Birthday Oscar WildeSelf
2004
I ♥ HuckabeesVivian Jaffe
2004
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2004
Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie CurtisSelf
2004
Saturday Night Live in the '80s: Lost and FoundSelf
2005
A Prairie Home CompanionRhonda Johnson
2006
The Ant BullyMommo (voice)
2006
CE
Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70sSelf (archive footage)
2007
The WalkerAbigail Delorean
2007
The Pink Panther 2Mrs. Berenger
2009
VitoSelf
2011
Stars in ShortsJason's Mom
2012
The ProcessionJason's mom
2012
AdmissionSusannah
2013
An Apology to ElephantsNarrator (voice)
2013
An Apology to ElephantsExecutive Producer
2013
Inequality for AllViolet Newstead (archive footage)
2013
Richard Pryor: Omit the LogicSelf
2013
The Making of 'Nashville'Self
2013
Why We Laugh: Funny WomenSelf
2013
AltmanSelf
2014
I Am DivineSelf (archive)
2014
GrandmaElle
2015
The Fabulous Allan CarrSelf (archive footage)
2017
Feminists: What Were They Thinking?Self
2018
Jane Fonda in Five ActsSelf - (archive footage)
2018
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseAunt May (voice)
2018
TVTV: Video RevolutionariesSelf
2018
Dolly Parton: Here I AmSelf
2019
I Am Richard PryorSelf - Actress and Comedian
2019
I Am Richard PryorThanks
2019
Still Laugh-In: The Stars CelebrateSelf
2019
One World: Together at HomeSelf
2020
Radium GirlsExecutive Producer
2020
Waging ChangeSelf
2020
Emily @ the Edge of ChaosAyn Rand (voice)
2021
Live at Mister Kelly'sSelf
2021
Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin: Ladies Night LiveSelf
2022
Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration
2022
Still Working 9 to 5Self
2022
The Best of Netflix Is a Joke: The FestivalSelf
2022
The Martha Mitchell EffectSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
2022
80 for BradyLou
2023
Bella!Self
2023
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + LoveSelf - Guest
2023
Moving OnEvelyn
2023
An Unexpected CommunitySelf
2024
Outstanding: A Comedy RevolutionSelf
2024
The World According to Allee WillisSelf
2024
Janis Ian: Breaking SilenceSelf
2025
This Ordinary ThingSelf (voice)
2025
Dolly Parton: An American Original – Special Edition of 20/20Violet Newstead (archive footage)
2026
LorneSelf
2026

Television

Golden Globe AwardsSelf · 1 eps
1944
The OscarsSelf · 1 eps
1953
Tony AwardsSelf - Special Award Recipient · 1 eps
1956
Tony AwardsSelf - Performer / Winner · 1 eps
1956
Tony AwardsSelf - Presenter · 6 eps
1956
Tony AwardsSelf - Nominee / Presenter · 1 eps
1956
The Mike Douglas ShowSelf · 5 eps
1961
The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Host · 1 eps
1961
The Merv Griffin ShowSelf · 3 eps
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 6 eps
1962
The Carol Burnett ShowSelf - Guest / Various Characters · 1 eps
1967
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InRegular Performer · 100 eps
1968
The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1968
The Glen Campbell Goodtime HourSelf · 4 eps
1969
The Music Scene17 eps
1969
The Flip Wilson ShowSelf · 4 eps
1970
The Electric CompanyErnestine the Operator · 3 eps
1971
The American Film Institute Salute to ...Self · 1 eps
1973
CherSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1975
Saturday Night LiveSelf - Host · 2 eps
1975
Saturday Night LiveSelf - Host & Musical Guest · 1 eps
1975
Saturday Night LiveSelf - Cameo (uncredited) · 1 eps
1975
Saturday Night LiveSelf · 1 eps
1975
Murphy BrownKay Carter-Shepley · 46 eps
1988
The SimpsonsTammy (voice) · 1 eps
1989
FrasierRita (voice) · 1 eps
1993
Homicide: Life on the StreetRose Halligan · 1 eps
1993
The X-FilesLydia · 1 eps
1993
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi GrasSelf · 1 eps
1994
The Magic School BusMs. Frizzle (voice) · 52 eps
1994
E! True Hollywood Story3 eps
1996
The Daily ShowSelf · 1 eps
1996
The ViewSelf · 1 eps
1997
Will & GraceMargot · 2 eps
1998
The Early ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1999
The West WingDeborah Fiderer · 34 eps
1999
Bette1 eps
2000
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Self - Guest · 1 eps
2003
NCISPenelope Langston · 1 eps
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres ShowSelf · 1 eps
2003
Desperate HousewivesRoberta Simmons · 6 eps
2004
DamagesMarilyn Tobin · 10 eps
2007
The Graham Norton ShowSelf · 1 eps
2007
Web TherapyPutsy Hodge · 7 eps
2008
Eastbound & DownTammy Powers · 3 eps
2009
RuPaul's Drag RaceSelf - Guest Judge · 1 eps
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest · 2 eps
2009
Web TherapyPutsy Hodge · 15 eps
2011
Inside ComedySelf · 1 eps
2012
Malibu CountryLillie Mae MacKenzie · 18 eps
2012
Last Week Tonight with John OliverSelf - Guest · 1 eps
2014
Late Night with Seth MeyersSelf - Guest · 1 eps
2014
Trailblazer HonorsSelf - Speaker · 1 eps
2014
Variety Studio: Actors on ActorsSelf · 1 eps
2014
Close Up with The Hollywood ReporterSelf · 1 eps
2015
Grace and FrankieFrankie Bergstein · 94 eps
2015
Grace and FrankieExecutive Producer
2015
The Late Late Show with James CordenSelf - Guest · 2 eps
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert1 eps
2015
Conversations with CocoSelf · 1 eps
2017
The Kelly Clarkson ShowSelf · 2 eps
2019
The Checkup with Dr. David AgusSelf · 1 eps
2022

Photos

Lily Tomlin photo
Lily Tomlin photo
Lily Tomlin photo
Lily Tomlin photo
Lily Tomlin photo
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