Jennifer Tilly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jennifer Tilly
Tilly at the 2024 WonderCon
Born	Jennifer Ellen Chan (1958-09-16) September 16, 1958 (age 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Stephens College
Occupation	Actress poker player
Years active	1983–present
Spouse(s)	Sam Simon ​ ​ (m. 1984; div. 1991)​
Partner(s)	Phil Laak (2004–present)
Relatives	Meg Tilly (sister)

Jennifer Tilly (born Jennifer Ellen Chan; September 16, 1958) is an American-Canadian actress and professional poker player. She is known for her unique voice and funny acting. Jennifer has won several awards, including a Saturn Award and a Fantasporto Award. She was also nominated for an Academy Award.

After many small roles in the 1980s, Tilly became well-known for her part as Olive Neal in Bullets Over Broadway (1994). For this role, she was nominated for an Oscar. She also received praise for playing Violet in Bound (1996). Jennifer Tilly became very famous when she played Tiffany Valentine in Bride of Chucky (1998). She has played this character many times in the Child's Play film series and the TV show Chucky (2021–2024). This role has made her a pop culture icon. Since 1999, Tilly has also voiced Bonnie Swanson on the animated TV show Family Guy.

Jennifer Tilly has also appeared in other movies like The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), Liar Liar (1997), Stuart Little (1999), and Monsters, Inc. (2001). On stage, she performed in Broadway plays such as The Women (2001). She won a Theatre World Award in 1993 for her acting in the play One Shoe Off.

Tilly is also a successful poker player. She won a World Series of Poker bracelet in 2005, becoming the first celebrity to win such a tournament. Her poker winnings were over $1 million by 2019.

Early Life and Background

Jennifer Ellen Chan was born in Harbor City, Los Angeles. Her father, Harry Chan, sold used cars, and her mother, Patricia Tilly, was a schoolteacher and former actress from Canada. Her father was of Chinese descent, and her mother had Irish and Finnish family roots. Jennifer has an older brother, Steve, and two younger sisters, Meg and Rebecca.

When she was five, her parents divorced. Jennifer was then raised by her mother and stepfather, John Ward, on Texada Island in British Columbia, Canada.

Jennifer Tilly earned a bachelor's degree in theater from Stephens College in Missouri.

Acting Career Highlights

In 1983, Jennifer Tilly started her acting career with small roles. She had a recurring part on Hill Street Blues as Gina Srignoli. She also appeared on Cheers and later on Frasier.

Tilly had a notable role in the 1989 comedy Let It Ride. Her breakthrough movie role was in The Fabulous Baker Boys, where she played a waitress. This part was written just for her. In 1994, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Olive Neal in Woody Allen's comedy Bullets Over Broadway. She also had a small role in The Getaway that year.

Jennifer Tilly at the 2007 World Poker Tour

Tilly starred in Bound (1996), directed by the Wachowskis. In this movie, her character has a relationship with another woman, played by Gina Gershon. She also played Samantha Cole in the comedy Liar Liar (1997) with Jim Carrey. She played gossip writer Louella Parsons in the historical drama The Cat's Meow (2001).

She became even more popular for playing the doll Tiffany Valentine in the Child's Play horror movie series. Tiffany first appeared in Bride of Chucky (1998). Jennifer Tilly has continued to play Tiffany in Seed of Chucky (2004), Curse of Chucky (2013), Cult of Chucky (2017), and the TV series Chucky (2021). In Seed of Chucky, she voiced Tiffany and also played a funny version of herself.

In 2001, she acted in the Broadway play The Women. She also did voice work for animated films like Monsters, Inc., Stuart Little, and Home on the Range. In Disney's The Haunted Mansion, she played Madame Leota, a head in a crystal ball.

Around 2005, Tilly started spending more time on professional poker. By the end of 2008, she returned to acting. In 2009, she made her first Chinese film, Empire of Silver.

In 2012, she returned to Broadway in Don't Dress for Dinner. In 2024, it was announced that Tilly would appear on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a friend of the main cast.

Poker Career

Jennifer Tilly
Tilly after her win at the 2005 World Series of Poker $1,000 Ladies Only Event – No Limit Hold'em
Nickname(s)	The Unabombshell, J Tilla the Killa
Residence	Los Angeles, California
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
Information accurate as of 28 October 2021.

Jennifer Tilly's father was a gambler and poker player. He introduced her to the game. Later, her boyfriend taught her how to play real poker when she moved to Hollywood.

On June 27, 2005, Tilly won a World Series of Poker bracelet. This was in the Ladies' No-Limit Texas hold 'em event, and she won $158,625. She beat 600 other players. On September 1, 2005, she also won the third World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament. Tilly has appeared on poker TV shows like GSN's Poker Royale and Poker After Dark.

In 2008, Tilly announced she would stop playing poker professionally. However, in January 2010, she started playing poker again. She was nominated for the PokerListings' Spirit of Poker Living Legend Award in 2014. By July 2019, her total winnings from live tournaments were more than $1 million.

Personal Life

Jennifer Tilly was married to Sam Simon, who helped create and produce The Simpsons. They were married from 1984 to 1991. Since 2004, she has been in a relationship with professional poker player Phil Laak.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web

Video games

Awards and Nominations

Acting Awards

She also received Drama-Logue Awards for her work in the theater plays Vanities and One Shoe Off.

Poker Awards

• World Series of Poker Bracelet: In 2005, Tilly won the $1,000 Ladies' No Limit Hold'em. The prize was $158,335.
• CardPlayer Best Celebrity Player of the Year, 2005
• WPT Ladies Invitational Tournament, 2005 ($25,000)
• WPT Bellagio Cup 5K, 2010 ($124,455)
• Women in Poker Hall of Fame Inductee, 2022

See also

In Spanish: Jennifer Tilly para niños