Jane Lynch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Lynch
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Lynch at the 2016 Willfilm Awards
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| Born |
Jane Marie Lynch
July 14, 1960 Evergreen Park, Illinois, U.S.
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| Education | Illinois State University (BA) Cornell University (MFA) |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Lara Embry
(m. 2010; div. 2014)Jennifer Cheyne
(m. 2021) |
Jane Marie Lynch (born July 14, 1960) is a talented American actress, comedian, and singer. She is famous for her funny roles in TV shows and movies. Jane has won many awards, including a Golden Globe Award and five Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2013, she received a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
Jane Lynch became very well-known for playing Sue Sylvester in the musical comedy series Glee (2009–2015). Before that, she appeared in shows like Two and a Half Men (2004–2014). After Glee, she had roles in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023) and Only Murders in the Building (2021–2024). She also hosted the game show Hollywood Game Night (2013–2020) and now hosts The Weakest Link (American version) since 2020.
She has worked with director Christopher Guest on funny movies like Best in Show (2000) and A Mighty Wind (2003). Jane has also been in many popular comedy films, including The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006). You might also recognize her voice from animated movies like Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), Rio (2011), and the Wreck-It Ralph movies (2012–2018).
Jane Lynch has also performed on stage. She made her Broadway debut in 2013 as Miss Hannigan in the musical Annie. She returned to Broadway in 2022 in the musical Funny Girl.
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Early Life and Education
Jane Marie Lynch was born on July 14, 1960, in Evergreen Park, Illinois. She grew up in Dolton, Illinois. Her father, Frank Joseph Lynch, was a banker, and her mother, Eileen Lynch, was a homemaker. Jane attended Thornridge High School.
After high school, Jane studied theater at Illinois State University, graduating in 1982. She continued her education at Cornell University.
Career Highlights
Early Acting Work
Jane Lynch spent 15 years acting in Chicago. She performed with the famous Steppenwolf Theatre Company. She was also one of only two women chosen to join The Second City comedy group, which is known for its improvisation. She further developed her comedy skills at the Annoyance Theater.
Film Roles
Jane Lynch started her film career in 1988 with a small part in Vice Versa. In 1993, she appeared with Harrison Ford in The Fugitive.
She became more widely known for her role in the comedy The 40-Year-Old Virgin. The part was originally for a man, but it was offered to Jane instead. She then took on supporting roles in many other films. These include Role Models, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Jane also lent her voice to animated movies. She was in Space Chimps, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and Wreck-It Ralph. In Julie and Julia, she played Dorothy McWilliams, who was Julia Child's sister.
Television Appearances
Jane Lynch has been in many popular television series. Some of these include The X-Files, Friends, Desperate Housewives, and Arrested Development. She also appeared in Criminal Minds as Spencer Reid's mother.
In 2009, Jane joined the cast of the Fox series Glee. She played the tough cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester. Her performance received great reviews. Many critics said she made the show worth watching. While working on Glee, she also hosted Saturday Night Live in 2010. She guest-starred on the Nickelodeon comedy iCarly as Pam Puckett, Sam Puckett's mother.
Starting in 2013, Jane hosted the NBC game show Hollywood Game Night. On this show, teams of regular people and celebrities played fun party games. She also co-hosted the New Year's Eve with Carson Daly special in 2013.
In 2017, Jane played Janet Reno in the TV series Manhunt: Unabomber. She also guest-starred in Marvelous Mrs Maisel as the comic Sophie Lennon. In 2019, she joined the cast of Final Space as the voice of A.V.A.
In 2020, Jane began hosting a new version of Weakest Link on NBC. In 2021, she voiced Ole Golley in the animated series Harriet the Spy. Since 2021, she has played the recurring character Sazz in the comedy mystery series Only Murders in the Building.
Other Projects
Jane Lynch has also written and starred in plays, like Oh Sister, My Sister. She has appeared in commercials, including ones for Comcast and LG.
She has hosted several awards shows. In 2010 and 2011, she hosted the VH1 DoSomething Awards. She also hosted the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2011.
Jane wrote an autobiography called Happy Accidents in 2011. She is a big animal lover and has four rescue dogs. She has made public service announcements for PETA. These encourage people to adopt animals from shelters. She also sponsors an annual animal adoption event.
In 2014, Jane joined the Ban Bossy campaign. This campaign encourages girls to take on leadership roles.
In 2015, Jane started a cabaret show called See Jane Sing. In this show, she sings with other performers and a band. She also released a Christmas album called A Swingin' Little Christmas in 2016.
Personal Life
Jane Lynch is deaf in her right ear. She believes this might have been caused by a high fever when she was a baby. She loves animals and supports animal adoption.
Awards and Achievements
For her role as Sue Sylvester in Glee, Jane Lynch won many awards. These include a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Overall, she has won five Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In 2013, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Images for kids
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(l-r) Don Norte, Dr. Lara Embry, Jane Lynch, and Norte's husband, gay activist Kevin Norte, at Autum P-FLAG 2010's Charitable Event at The London Hotel, West Hollywood
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See Also
In Spanish: Jane Lynch para niños
