Jill Eikenberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jill Eikenberry
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Jill Eikenberry in 1989
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| Born |
Jill Susan Eikenberry
January 21, 1947 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S
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| Education | Columbia University Yale University (MFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Michael Tucker
(m. 1973) |
| Children | 1 |
Jill Susan Eikenberry, born on January 21, 1947, is an American actress who has starred in many films, stage plays, and television shows. She is most famous for playing the lawyer Ann Kelsey in the TV drama L.A. Law from 1986 to 1994. For this role, she was nominated for the Emmy Award five times and the Golden Globe Award four times, winning a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 1989. She also won an Obie Award in 1986 for her work in Off-Broadway plays and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 2011 for the musical The Kid. Some of her well-known movies include Hide in Plain Sight (1980), Arthur (1981), and The Manhattan Project (1986).
Life and Career
Jill Eikenberry was born in New Haven, Connecticut. She grew up in different places like Madison, Wisconsin, and St. Joseph and Kansas City, Missouri. She first studied anthropology at Barnard College of Columbia University. But in her second year, she tried out for the Yale School of Drama and was accepted!
Jill met her husband, Michael Tucker, at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.. They acted together in plays like The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail (1970) and Moonchildren (1971). They got married in 1973 and moved to New York City. Jill has a son named Max, and a stepdaughter named Allison Tucker, who is also an actress.
Her first movie role was a small part in a TV film called They've Killed President Lincoln (1971). She also appeared in movies like Between the Lines (1977) and An Unmarried Woman (1978).
Throughout the 1970s, Jill mostly focused on theater. She made her Broadway debut in 1974 in a play called All Over Town. She also performed in Off-Broadway plays like Uncommon Women and Others.
The 1980s were a big time for Jill. She appeared in several TV films and a successful movie called Arthur (1981), which starred Dudley Moore. In 1986, Jill and Michael Tucker both got major roles in the popular TV series L.A. Law. The show's producer, Steven Bochco, was very impressed with them from their earlier work on his show Hill Street Blues.
For her amazing acting in L.A. Law, Jill was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama. She won the Golden Globe in 1989! Around this time, Jill and Michael moved to Hollywood. It was also during this period that Jill found out she had breast cancer. Thankfully, she received successful treatment over the next two years.
This experience was very important to her. In 1989, she helped produce a documentary for NBC called Destined to Live. This film shared stories from other cancer survivors, including Nancy Reagan. Jill continues to be an active supporter of breast cancer research and encourages early detection.
After L.A. Law ended in 1994, Jill continued to appear in TV films and movies. She and Michael used their success from L.A. Law to produce several TV films where they acted together. These included Assault and Matrimony (1987) and Gone in a Heartbeat (1996). One of her more recent roles was in the comedy movie Manna from Heaven (2003).
Jill Eikenberry has also sung on stage and in movies. In recent years, she and her husband have even written their own songs. They now live in New York and Umbria, Italy.
Jill and Michael also became friends with artist Emile Norman and bought land near him in Big Sur, California. They produced a 2008 PBS documentary about him called Emile Norman: By His Own Design.
More recently, Jill has made guest appearances on TV shows like Numb3rs (2008), Law & Order (2009), and Body of Proof (2011). She played mothers in movies such as Suburban Girl (2007), Something Borrowed (2011), and Young Adult (2011). In 2015, she acted with Michael Tucker in a play he wrote called The M Spot. In 2022, Jill Eikenberry even returned to her famous role as Ann Kelsey in a new pilot episode for L.A. Law.
Awards and Recognition
Jill Eikenberry has been recognized for her acting with several awards and nominations:
- In 1986, she received an Obie Award for her performances in the plays Lemon Sky and Life Under Water.
- She was nominated five times for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in L.A. Law (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994).
- She was nominated four times for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama for L.A. Law (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991). She won this award in 1989!
- In 2011, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for The Kid.
