Jan Hooks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jan Hooks
Hooks at the 40th Emmy Awards in 1988
Born	Janet Vivian Hooks (1957-04-23)April 23, 1957 Decatur, Georgia, U.S.
Died	October 9, 2014(2014-10-09) (aged 57) Woodstock, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress comedian
Years active	1980–2013

Janet Vivian Hooks (born April 23, 1957 – died October 9, 2014) was a talented American actress and comedian. She was most famous for her time on the TV show Saturday Night Live (SNL). She was a main cast member from 1986 to 1991.

After leaving SNL, Jan Hooks still made guest appearances until 1994. She also had roles on other TV shows like Designing Women and 3rd Rock from the Sun. You might also remember her voice from The Simpsons and her appearances on 30 Rock.

Early Life and Acting Beginnings

Jan Hooks was born and grew up in Decatur, Georgia. She went to Canby Lane Elementary School and Towers High School. In 1974, when she was a junior, her family moved to Fort Myers, Florida.

There, she attended Cypress Lake High School. It was at this school that she first performed on stage in a play. She graduated in 1975. Jan then studied theater at Edison State College before deciding to become a full-time actress.

Jan Hooks' Comedy Career

Jan Hooks started her comedy journey with a group called The Groundlings in Los Angeles. She also performed in an Atlanta nightclub act called The Wits End Players.

In the early 1980s, she appeared on the TV show Tush on WTBS. She also gained attention on the HBO comedy series Not Necessarily the News. Jan Hooks made her first movie appearance in Pee-wee's Big Adventure in 1985. She played a tour guide at the Alamo. She also appeared in the film Wildcats.

Joining Saturday Night Live

In 1985, Jan Hooks met with producer Lorne Michaels about joining Saturday Night Live. She didn't get a spot that year. However, after a tough season for the show, Michaels gave her another chance.

In 1986, Jan Hooks joined SNL along with other new cast members like Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman. This new group helped the show become popular again.

Famous Characters and Impressions

On SNL, Jan Hooks played many memorable characters. One popular act was Candy Sweeney from The Sweeney Sisters. She was also known for her impressions of famous people.

She played political wives like Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton. Her other famous impressions included Bette Davis, Sinéad O'Connor, and Tammy Faye Bakker.

Life After SNL

Jan Hooks left SNL in 1991. She joined the CBS sitcom Designing Women, playing Carlene Dobber for two seasons. She still made guest appearances on SNL until 1994, often playing Hillary Clinton.

She continued to work in supporting roles in TV and movies. She had a recurring role as Vicki Dubcek on 3rd Rock from the Sun. This role earned her an Emmy Award nomination.

Jan Hooks also lent her voice to cartoons. She voiced Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon, Apu's wife, on six episodes of The Simpsons. She also voiced the robot Angleyne in the Futurama episode "Bendless Love".

She played Dixie Glick in the series Primetime Glick and the movie Jiminy Glick in Lalawood. She had a small part in Batman Returns as Jen, the Penguin's image consultant. Her last live-action roles were two appearances on 30 Rock in 2010. Her final acting job was a voice role in The Cleveland Show in 2013.

Jan Hooks' Passing

Jan Hooks passed away on October 9, 2014, at the age of 57. She had been battling throat cancer. Her brother, Tom, was with her at her home in Woodstock, New York.

The Simpsons episode "Super Franchise Me" honored her on October 12, 2014. Her character, Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon, was remembered in the credits.

SNL Tribute: "Love Is a Dream"

Saturday Night Live paid tribute to Jan Hooks on October 11, 2014. Guest host Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig introduced a special segment. SNL re-aired a short film she made with Phil Hartman in 1988 called "Love Is a Dream".

This short film had also been shown to honor Phil Hartman after he passed away in 1998. It was a sweet tribute to a 1948 film called The Emperor Waltz. In the short, Jan Hooks played an older woman who imagined singing and dancing with a long-lost love (played by Hartman).

Critics noted that this tribute showed Jan Hooks' ability to captivate an audience even when she wasn't being funny. Both Hooks and Hartman were known for being quiet and reserved off-screen.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: Jan Hooks para niños

• Saturday Night Live parodies of Hillary Clinton