Julia Duffy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julia Duffy
Duffy on The Doctors in 1975
Born	Julia Margaret Hinds (1951-06-27) June 27, 1951 (age 74) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma mater	American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupation	Actress author
Years active	1972–present
Known for	Newhart Baby Talk Designing Women Drake & Josh
Spouse(s)	Jerry Lacy ​ (m. 1984)​
Children	2

Julia Margaret Duffy (born Hinds; June 27, 1951) is an American actress. She is well-known for her roles in many TV shows and movies.

From 1983 to 1990, she played Stephanie Vanderkellen in the TV series Newhart. This role made her very popular. She received many awards and nominations for her acting. These included seven nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards. She also won three awards from Viewers for Quality Television.

After Newhart, Julia Duffy continued acting on TV. She played Maggie Campbell in Baby Talk in 1991. She also played Allison Sugarbaker in Designing Women from 1991 to 1992. In the 2000s, she appeared in shows like Reba and Drake & Josh. She also had roles in the comedy films Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd and Intolerable Cruelty in 2003. Later, she had recurring roles in Shameless (2011–2013) and Looking (2014–2015). She also appeared in the drama film Camp X-Ray in 2014.

About Julia Duffy's Early Life

Julia Margaret Hinds was born on June 27, 1951. She was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was the youngest of four daughters. Her parents were Joseph Hinds and Mary Duffy. When Julia was seven, her father passed away. Her mother later remarried and worked as a real estate agent.

Julia started acting when she was a teenager. She performed in plays at the Old Log Theatre in Minneapolis. At 18, she was in a play called The Girl in the Freudian Slip. In 1970, Duffy moved to New York City. She studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She graduated from there in 1972. While studying, she worked as a waitress.

Julia Duffy's Acting Career

Starting Out in Television

Julia Duffy began her career in television. She had small guest roles in soap operas. These included Love of Life and One Life to Live. Then, she got the role of Penny Davis in The Doctors. She played this role from 1973 to 1977. In 1978, Duffy starred in a play on Broadway. It was a popular show called Once in a Lifetime.

She also appeared in supporting roles in movies. These included the horror film Night Warning (1981). She was also in Cutter's Way (1981). In 1982, she appeared in an episode of the TV show Cheers. She was even considered for the main female role in Cheers.

In 1983, she played Princess Ariel Baaldorf. This was in the TV series Wizards and Warriors. This show was a fantasy adventure comedy. It ran for one season on CBS.

Becoming Famous on Newhart

In 1982, Duffy was a guest star on the TV show Newhart. She played Stephanie Vanderkellen. Stephanie was a rich heiress. She was also the snobby cousin of the maid at the Stratford Inn. In the second season, Duffy became a main cast member. She took over as the maid at the Stratford Inn. She continued to play Stephanie for the rest of the show.

Her role earned her many awards and nominations. She was nominated for an Emmy Award every year from 1984 to 1990. She also received a Golden Globe nomination. She won three Viewers For Quality Television awards. She was also nominated for five American Comedy Awards.

Julia Duffy was pregnant twice while on Newhart. The first time, she wore loose clothes to hide her pregnancy. The second time, her pregnancy was written into the show. Her character, Stephanie, became a mother in the eighth season. Julia Duffy remained friends with Bob Newhart, who passed away in 2024.

After Newhart and Other Roles

After Newhart ended in 1990, Duffy briefly starred in Baby Talk. She then joined the cast of Designing Women in 1991. On Designing Women, she played Allison Sugarbaker. This was the previously unseen cousin of the main characters. Her time on the show's sixth season was very popular.

From 1993 to 1995, Duffy played Barb Ballantine. This was in the comedy series The Mommies. She also played Lindsay Mercer on The Drew Carey Show. She had a recurring role on the Nickelodeon show Drake & Josh. She played Mrs. Hayfer, a high school English teacher. She also appeared on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. She played a rich mother named Martha Harrington.

In 2009, Duffy acted in a play called The Little Foxes. She also had recurring roles in the 2010s. These included HBO's Looking and Showtime's Shameless. She also appeared in Scream Queens and Key and Peele. In 2014, she was in the drama film Camp X-Ray with Kristen Stewart.

Her theater work includes the Broadway show Once in a Lifetime. She has also performed in many regional plays. More recently, Duffy was in a play called Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. She also starred in the play ... and Education in 2016. In December 2016, Duffy was in an Off-Broadway play called Rancho Viejo. A critic from The New York Times praised her performance.

Other Activities

Julia Duffy also wrote a book. It is called Bad Auditions. It was published in 2018.

Julia Duffy's Personal Life

Julia Duffy married actor Jerry Lacy in 1984. He was a co-star on Dark Shadows. In 1986, they had their first child, a daughter named Kerry. In August 1989, Julia gave birth to their second child, a son named Daniel. Sadly, her son Daniel passed away in April 2019.

Film and Television Roles

Julia Duffy has appeared in many films and television shows throughout her career. Here are some of her notable roles:

Films

Television Shows

Stage Performances

Julia Duffy has also performed in many plays on stage.

Awards and Nominations

Julia Duffy has been recognized for her acting with several awards and nominations.

See also

In Spanish: Julia Duffy para niños