Joely Fisher

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Joely Fisher
Fisher in May 2014
Born (1967-10-29) October 29, 1967 (age 56)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materEmerson College
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
  • songwriter
  • producer
Years active1985–present
Spouse
Christopher Duddy
(m. 1996)
Children3
Parent(s)Eddie Fisher
Connie Stevens
Relatives

Joely Fisher (/ˈdʒoʊli/[1] born October 29, 1967[2]) is an American actress and singer, the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Connie Stevens, and half-sister of actress Carrie Fisher. Her breakthrough came in 1994, starring as Paige Clark in the ABC sitcom Ellen, for which she received a Golden Globe Award nomination. Fisher later starred in the 1999 comedy film Inspector Gadget and had leading roles in the Lifetime comedy-drama Wild Card (2003–2005), and Fox sitcom 'Til Death (2006–2010).

The national members of the trade union SAG-AFTRA elected Fisher as secretary-treasurer on September 2, 2021.[3][4]

Early life

Fisher was born on October 29, 1967, in Burbank, California, one of two children born to Edwin "Eddie" Fisher and Connie Stevens (née Concetta Ingolia), both entertainers.[2] Her father was Jewish, whose parents immigrated to the United States from the Russian Empire, whereas her mother was a Catholic and of Ashkenazi Jewish, Irish, and Italian descent.[5][6][7] Her parents' second child together was Tricia Leigh Fisher, and her parents divorced in 1969, after which she and Tricia were raised by Stevens.[2] She also had two older half-siblings, Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher, from her father's marriage to Debbie Reynolds.[2]

Fisher and her sister toured the world with Stevens, attending different schools and having

tutors. Fisher graduated from Beverly Hills High School, then attended Emerson College in Boston, as well as the University of Paris for one semester,[2] and, in the summer of 1987, an acting retreat conducted in Italy by coach Sandra Seacat.[8]

She was named

Career

Her first film role was Averil in the comedy Pretty Smart (1987), which starred her sister, Tricia. Joely then played Kris in TV's Schoolbreak Special drama Dedicated to the One I Love (1991) opposite Danielle Ferland. Next came the feature I'll Do Anything (1994) starring Nick Nolte, which helped her career as bigger roles followed. She also had a variety of guest roles on series such as Growing Pains, Blossom, Caroline in the City, The Golden Palace, The Outer Limits, Grace Under Fire and Coach.

Fisher in November 2007

In 1994, she was cast as Paige Clark on the sitcom

Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.[10] She followed Ellen with the role of Dr. Brenda Bradford in the film Inspector Gadget
(1999).

Fisher's Broadway debut was as a replacement in the revival of Grease (1994). She was also a replacement in the revival of Cabaret (1998). Her vocal range is alto.

Fisher's career in music not only landed her on Broadway but she was featured in Albums. Her most noted album was "Tradition; a family at Christmas" which she, her mother Connie Stevens all sang various Christmas carols. She sang her own solo "Grown Up Christmas List". Her vocals are also heard singing "One For My Baby" in Harold Arlen's album "STAGE"

From 2003 until 2005, Fisher starred in the Lifetime network's drama series Wild Card as insurance investigator Zoe Busiek. After that, she had a recurring role as Lynette's boss Nina on Desperate Housewives. From 2006 until 2010, Fisher starred opposite actor Brad Garrett as Joy Stark in the Fox TV sitcom 'Til Death.

In 2021, Fisher starred as Irene Cody in the Lifetime film Girl in the Basement which was inspired by the Fritzl case.[11]

Fisher serves on the advisory board of Voters of Tomorrow, an advocacy organization that promotes political engagement among Generation Z.[12]

Personal life

Fisher married cinematographer Christopher Duddy in 1996. They have three daughters, two who were born in 2001 and 2006,[13] and a third who was adopted in September 2008.[14] She is also stepmother to Duddy's two sons, Cameron, who is the bass guitarist for the country music band Midland, (born c. 1986) and Collin (born circa 1988).[14] As of at least 2004, the family lives in Los Angeles next to Fisher's sister Tricia, with whom she is close.[15]

In late 2008, she became an artist ambassador for Save the Children. She traveled to Xai-Xai, Mozambique, to visit with children that are part of the child sponsorship programs.[16]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1987 Pretty Smart Averil
1994 I'll Do Anything Female D Person
1994 The Mask Maggie
1994 Mixed Nuts Susan
1997 Family Plan Lauren Osborne Uncredited
1999 Inspector Gadget Dr. Brenda Bradford, Robo-Brenda (credited), Voice of Opera Hand (uncredited)
2000 Nostradamus Lucy Hudson
2005 Slingshot Emma
2007 Cougar Club Lulu
2007 Murdering Mama's Boy Claire Short film
2009 You Kimberly
2014 Killing Winston Jones Devon
2016 Search Engines Judy
2016 The Disappointments Room Psychiatrist
2017 The Tribes of Palos Verdes Janet
2019 Fall Girls Simone Wellington
2019 By the Rivers of Babylon Judith
2020 A Pity The Wife
2020 The Gift Charlotte Kelly
2020 Nosferatu Ruth
2020 Looking for Mr. Wonderful Barbara

Television

Year TV show Role Notes
1988 Something Is Out There Leanne Healy Episode: "The Keeper"
1989 Starting from Scratch Sylvia Episode: "Kate Leaves Home"
1990 Mulberry Street Rosalie Television film
1990 Growing Pains Sally Garner 2 episodes
1991 Blossom Bambi Episode: "Tough Love"
1991 CBS Schoolbreak Special Kris Stone Episode: "Dedicated to the One I Love"
1993 The Golden Palace Paula Webb Episode: "Runaways"
1994 ABC Weekend Specials Princess Pamina Voice, episode: "The Magic Flute"
1994 The Companion Stacy Television film
1994–98 Ellen Paige Clark Main role
1996 Caroline in the City Jill Episode: "Caroline and the Ex-Wife"
1996 The Outer Limits Amy Episode: "
Out of Body
"
1996–98 Superman: The Animated Series Lana Lang Voice, 3 episodes
1997 Seduction in a Small Town Sandy Barlow Television film
1997 Coach Paige Clark Episode: "Viva Las Ratings"
1997 Grace Under Fire Episode: "Vegas"
1997 The Drew Carey Show Episode: "Drew Gets Married"
1997 Jitters Rita Domino Television film
1998 In the Loop TV series
1998 Icebergs: The Secret Life of a Refrigerator Television film
1998 Perfect Prey Elizabeth Crane Television film
1998
Thirst
Susan Miller Television film
1999 Love, American Style Jeannie Segment: "Love and The Heimlich Maneuver"
1999 Coming Unglued Laura Hartwood Television film
1999 Kidnapped in Paradise Beth Emerson Television film
2000 Grosse Pointe Hope Lustig Recurring role
2000 Normal, Ohio Pamela Theresa Gamble-Miller Main role
2001 Danny Molly Main role
2002–03 Baby Bob Lizzy Collins Spencer Main role
2003–05 Wild Card Zoe Busiek Main role
2005 Fertile Ground Dr. Jamie Novak Television film
2005 Desperate Housewives Nina Fletcher Recurring role
2006–10 'Til Death Joy Stark Main role (81 episodes)
2011 Wizards of Waverly Place Meg Robinson Episode: "Alex the Puppetmaster"
2012 Cupid, Inc. Eve Lovett Television film
2012 RuPaul's Drag U Guest Professor Episode: "Time to Grow Up"
2014 Fatal Acquittal Cassidy Miller Television film
2014–15
Celebrity Name Game
Herself Recurring role
2014–16 Last Man Standing Wendi Recurring role
2016 Modern Family Maggie Braithwaite Episode: "The Alliance"
2018 Station 19 Denise Episode: "No Recovery"
2019 9-1-1 Moira's Sister Episode: "Triggers"
2021
Girl in the Basement
Irene Cody Television film
2022 How I Met Your Father Sue Episode: "Jay Street"
2023 Fantasy Island Joy Summers Episode: "The Urn"
Theater
Year Production Role Notes
1994 Grease Betty Rizzo
1998 Cabaret Sally Bowles

Discography

  • 1993: Tradition: A Family at Christmas; she sang 3 songs with her mother Connie Stevens and sister Tricia Leigh Fisher. She has 1 solo: Grown Up Christmas List
  • 1995: S.T.A.G.E. Music of Harold Arlen "One for my Baby"
  • 1998: Lerner, Lowe, Lane and Friends, "Come Back to Me"
  • 2000: Adler, Brock, and Coleman, "Welcome to Holiday Inn"

References

  1. ^ Carrie Fisher's Sisters Interview on Star's Death, archived from the original on December 22, 2021, retrieved January 23, 2020
  2. ^
    FYI / A&E Networks). Archived from the original
    on February 13, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  3. ^ Maddaus, Gene (September 2, 2021). "Fran Drescher Elected President of SAG-AFTRA, Rival Joely Fisher Wins Secretary-Treasurer". Variety. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "SAG-AFTRA Members Elect Fran Drescher President of Union and Joely Fisher as Secretary-Treasurer". www.sagaftra.org. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  5. ^ Biography, tcm.com; accessed April 3, 2017.
  6. ^ Genealogy.com – Ancestry of Carrie Fisher Archived February 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine [Dead link]
  7. ^ 'Jewish Sinatra' tells all Archived 2012-11-20 at archive.today [Dead link]
  8. ^ Fisher, Joey; Myers, Marc. "Joely Fisher on Kate Bush". The Wall Street Journal. January 23, 2018.
  9. ^ "Miss Golden Globe: Through The Years". Access Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017. Slide #11.
  10. ^ "Joely Fisher". www.goldenglobes.com.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 6, 2020). "Lifetime Greenlights 'Girl In The Basement' Movie Starring Stefanie Scott, Judd Nelson & Joely Fisher; Elisabeth Rohm Directs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "About Us". Voters of Tomorrow. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Gee, Alison (February 2, 2006). "Joely Fisher Has a Baby Girl". People. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  14. ^
    People
    . Retrieved September 30, 2008. ...the recent adoption of a newborn baby girl, Fisher's rep, Brit Reece, tells People exclusively. New daughter Olivia Luna Fisher-Duddy joins older brothers, Cameron, 22, Collin, 20, and sisters, Skylar, 7, and True, 2.
  15. ^ "In Step With: Joely Fisher". Parade. July 18, 2004. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013.
  16. ^ "Actress Joely Fisher Joins Save the Children to Promote Child Sponsorship Programs" (Press release). Save the Children. September 8, 2008. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2009.

External links