Jennifer Tilly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jennifer Tilly
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Tilly in 2024
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Jennifer Ellen Chan
September 16, 1958 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Stephens College |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Phil Laak (2004–present) |
| Relatives | Meg Tilly (sister) |
Jennifer Tilly (born Jennifer Ellen Chan on September 16, 1958) is an American and Canadian actress and a professional poker player. She is famous for her unique, breathy voice and her talent for comedy. Tilly has won several awards, including a Saturn Award, and was nominated for an Academy Award.
Tilly became well-known for her role as Olive Neal in the movie Bullets Over Broadway (1994). This performance earned her a nomination for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She also received praise for playing Violet in the film Bound (1996).
Many people know her as the voice of the doll Tiffany Valentine in the Child's Play horror series, starting with Bride of Chucky (1998). She has played this character in many movies and the TV show Chucky. This role has made her a pop culture icon and a famous scream queen. Since 1999, she has also been the voice of Bonnie Swanson in the animated show Family Guy.
Tilly is also a champion poker player. In 2005, she won a World Series of Poker bracelet, making her the first celebrity to win such a big tournament.
Contents
Early Life and Education
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Jennifer Tilly was born Jennifer Ellen Chan in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Harry Chan, was a used car salesman, and her mother, Patricia Tilly, was a schoolteacher and former stage actress. Jennifer is one of four children. She has an older brother, Steve, and two younger sisters, Meg and Rebecca. Her sister Meg is also an actress.
When Jennifer was five, her parents divorced. She moved with her mother and stepfather to Texada Island in British Columbia, Canada. When she was 16, her mother divorced again, and the family moved to a suburb of Victoria.
In high school, Jennifer became very interested in theater. Her mother encouraged her, and she started acting in plays. After graduating, she went to Stephens College in Missouri and earned a degree in theater.
Acting Career
Early Roles and Breakthrough
In 1983, Tilly began her acting career with small parts in TV shows. She had a recurring role on Hill Street Blues and appeared in an episode of Cheers.
Her big break in movies came with The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989). She played a waitress trying to become a singer. Her role in the 1994 comedy Bullets Over Broadway earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Major Film and TV Roles
In 1996, Tilly starred in the movie Bound. The next year, she appeared in the hit comedy Liar Liar with Jim Carrey.
Tilly became even more famous when she played Tiffany Valentine in the horror movie Bride of Chucky (1998). She has returned to this popular role in several sequels, including Seed of Chucky (2004), Curse of Chucky (2013), and Cult of Chucky (2017). She also appears in the TV series Chucky. In Seed of Chucky, she played two parts: the voice of Tiffany and a funny version of herself.
Voice Acting and Stage Work
Tilly is a talented voice actress. Since 1999, she has voiced Bonnie Swanson, the Griffin family's neighbor, on the animated show Family Guy. She also provided voices for popular animated movies like Monsters, Inc. (as Celia Mae), Stuart Little, and Home on the Range.
Besides movies and TV, Tilly has also performed on stage. She appeared in the Broadway revival of The Women in 2001. In 2012, she returned to Broadway in Don't Dress for Dinner. She won a Theatre World Award in 1993 for her performance in a play called One Shoe Off.
Poker Career
| Jennifer Tilly | |
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Tilly after her win at the 2005 World Series of Poker $1,000 Ladies Only Event – No Limit Hold'em
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| Nickname(s) | The Unabombshell, J Tilla the Killa |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 1 |
| Money finish(es) | 20 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish |
None |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | None |
| Money finish(es) | 6 |
Jennifer Tilly's father was a poker player who gave her a video game called World Series of Poker. This sparked her interest in the game. Later, her boyfriend taught her how to play for real.
On June 27, 2005, Tilly achieved a major victory. She won a World Series of Poker bracelet in the Ladies' No-Limit Texas hold 'em event. She beat 600 other players to win the $158,625 prize. Later that year, she won the third World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament.
Tilly has appeared on many poker TV shows, like Poker Royale and Poker After Dark. For a while, she said she was more interested in poker than acting. In 2008, she announced she would treat poker more like a hobby than a career.
However, she returned to professional poker in 2010. By 2019, her total winnings from live tournaments were over $1 million.
Personal Life
From 1984 to 1991, Tilly was married to Sam Simon, one of the creators of the TV show The Simpsons. Since 2004, she has been in a relationship with professional poker player Phil Laak.
Images for kids
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Tilly in 2024
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Tilly in 1991
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Tilly at the 2007 World Poker Tour
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Tilly after her win at the 2005 World Series of Poker $1,000 Ladies Only Event – No Limit Hold'em
See also
In Spanish: Jennifer Tilly para niños
