Judith Ivey facts for kids

Judith Lee Ivey (born September 4, 1951) is an American actress and theatre director. This means she performs in plays and movies, and also helps guide actors and plays from behind the scenes. She is famous for winning two Tony Awards. These awards are like big prizes for amazing performances in live theatre shows. She won them for her roles in the plays Steaming (1981) and Hurlyburly (1984).

Judith Ivey has also appeared in many movies, including The Woman in Red (1984) and The Devil's Advocate (1997). More recently, she was praised for her role in the film Women Talking (2022). On television, she played main roles in the sitcom Down Home (1990-91) and as Bonnie Jean "BJ" Poteet in Designing Women (1992-93). She was even nominated for an Emmy Award for her work in the TV film What the Deaf Man Heard (1997).

Early Life and Education

Judith Lee Ivey was born on September 4, 1951, in El Paso, Texas. Her father, Nathan Aldean Ivey, was a college instructor and dean. Her mother, Dorothy Lee, was a teacher.

She attended Union High School in Dowagiac, Michigan, from 1965 to 1968. She then graduated from Marion High School in Marion, Illinois, in 1970. After high school, she continued her education at John A. Logan College, Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

Career Highlights in Theatre and Film

Judith Ivey has had a very successful career in theatre. She won two Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Play. These were for her roles in Steaming in 1983 and Hurlyburly in 1985. She was also nominated for a Tony Award for Park Your Car in Harvard Yard in 1992 and for a new version of The Heiress in 2013.

Her other Broadway theatre shows include Piaf, Bedroom Farce, Blithe Spirit, Voices in the Dark, and Follies.

Notable Stage Performances

Ivey played the character Amanda in The Glass Menagerie at the Long Wharf Theatre. She performed this role again in New York and Los Angeles. For this role, she received the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Actress. She also played Ann Landers in a one-person play called The Lady with All the Answers. This performance earned her nominations for the Lucille Lortel Award and the Drama Desk Award. In 2016, she returned to the Cherry Lane Theatre in a play called Out of the Mouths of Babes.

Film and Television Appearances

Judith Ivey has acted in many films. Some of her movie roles include Brighton Beach Memoirs, Miles from Home, Compromising Positions, Harry & Son, The Woman in Red, Sister, Sister, In Country, Hello Again, The Lonely Guy, There Goes the Neighborhood, The Devil's Advocate, What Alice Found, and Flags of Our Fathers.

On television, Ivey is often remembered for her role as B.J. Poteet in the last season of Designing Women. She also appeared in popular TV shows like Will & Grace, Grey's Anatomy, Person of Interest, White Collar, Nurse Jackie, Big Love, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

She had a main role as Kate McCrorey in the TV series Down Home (1990–1991). She also starred in The 5 Mrs. Buchanans (1994-1995) and Buddies (1996). Ivey was in the 1985 TV movie The Long Hot Summer. She received an Emmy nomination for her performance in What the Deaf Man Heard. She also lent her voice to the character Eleanor Sherman in the animated series The Critic. Ivey appeared in the TV miniseries Rose Red, which was written by Stephen King.

Personal Life

Judith Ivey is married to Tim Braine. They have two children together.

Filmography

Film

Television