Jane Curtin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Curtin
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Curtin in 1989
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| Born |
Jane Therese Curtin
September 6, 1947 Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Education | Elizabeth Seton College (AA) Northeastern University |
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| Years active | 1971–present |
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| Spouse(s) |
Patrick Lynch
(m. 1975) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Valerie Curtin (cousin) |
Jane Therese Curtin (born September 6, 1947) is an American actress and comedian. She first became famous as one of the original cast members of the hit comedy show Saturday Night Live in 1975.
Later, she won two Emmy Awards for her role as Allie Lowell in the 1980s TV show Kate & Allie. She also starred as Dr. Mary Albright in the popular series 3rd Rock from the Sun from 1996 to 2001.
Curtin has acted in many movies. She played Charlene in The Librarian movie series and brought her Saturday Night Live character, Prymaat Conehead, to the big screen in the movie Coneheads. She is known for her deadpan style of comedy, where she delivers funny lines with a serious expression. This earned her the nickname "Queen of Deadpan."
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Early Life and Education
Jane Therese Curtin was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was one of four children. Her father, John Joseph Curtin, owned an insurance agency. Her family has Irish roots.
She grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and was raised in the Roman Catholic faith. After high school, she went to Elizabeth Seton College in New York City and earned a degree in 1967. She then attended Northeastern University for a year but left to start her career in comedy.
Career in Comedy and Television
In 1968, Curtin decided to become a professional comedian. She joined a comedy group called The Proposition and performed with them for four years.
Saturday Night Live
In 1975, Curtin became one of the first cast members of NBC's Saturday Night Live. She was known for being very professional and focused on her work.
On the show, she often played the "straight woman." This means she acted as a serious character to make the sillier characters, played by comedians like John Belushi and Gilda Radner, seem even funnier.
From 1976 to 1980, Curtin was an anchor for the "Weekend Update" news segment on SNL. She co-hosted with Dan Aykroyd and later with Bill Murray. One famous recurring sketch was a debate called "Point-Counterpoint." Curtin would present a calm, liberal viewpoint. Aykroyd would then argue against her with an over-the-top conservative view, often starting with the line, "Jane, you ignorant `...`."
Curtin was also famous for playing Prymaat in the "Conehead" sketches. She played the mother of a family of aliens trying to fit in on Earth.
Famous TV Roles After SNL
After leaving SNL, Curtin continued to work mostly in television. She starred in two very successful sitcoms.
From 1984 to 1989, she played Allie Lowell, a single mother, in Kate & Allie. Her performance was so popular that she won two Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
From 1996 to 2001, she starred in 3rd Rock from the Sun. She played Dr. Mary Albright, a human professor who was often confused by the strange behavior of her alien friends, the Solomon family.
She has also appeared in many other shows, including The Librarians and Unforgettable. In 2020, she co-starred in the ABC sitcom United We Fall.
Film and Other Work
Curtin has appeared in several movies. In 1993, she and Dan Aykroyd starred in the movie Coneheads, based on their SNL sketch. She also voiced a character in the animated movie Antz. More recently, she appeared in I Love You, Man (2009), The Heat (2013), and the Disney movie Godmothered (2020).
Curtin has also performed in Broadway plays, including Candida and Our Town. In 2010, she competed on the Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational and won $250,000 for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
Personal Life
Curtin married television producer Patrick Francis Lynch in 1975. They have one daughter and live in Sharon, Connecticut.
Selected Film and Television Roles
Film
- How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980) as Elaine
- Coneheads (1993) as Prymatt Conehead
- Antz (1998) as Muffy (voice)
- I Love You, Man (2009) as Joyce Klaven
- The Heat (2013) as Mrs. Mullins
- Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) as Marjorie
- Godmothered (2020) as Moira
- Queen Bees (2021) as Janet
- Jules (2023) as Joyce
Television
- Saturday Night Live (1975–1980) as Various Characters
- Kate & Allie (1984–1989) as Allison 'Allie' Lowell
- 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001) as Dr. Mary Albright
- The Librarian movie series (2004–2008) as Charlene
- Unforgettable (2012–2014) as Dr. Joanne Webster
- The Librarians (2014–2017) as Charlene
- The Good Fight (2019–2021) as Judge Pamela Farley
- United We Fall (2020) as Sandy Ryan
See also
In Spanish: Jane Curtin para niños
