Allison Janney
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox person
Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an American actress. Known for her performances across the screen and stage, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and seven Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for two Tony Awards.
Born in Boston and raised in Dayton, Ohio, Janney received a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London following her graduation from Kenyon College. After years of minor and uncredited film and television appearances, Janney's breakthrough came with the role of C. J. Cregg in the NBC political drama series The West Wing (1999–2006), for which she received four Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2014, for her guest role of Margaret Scully, a sexually repressed 1950s housewife on Showtime's period drama series Masters of Sex, she won a fifth Emmy. For her portrayal of Bonnie Plunkett, a cynical recovering addict on the CBS sitcom Mom (2013–2021), Janney won two more Emmys. In 2024, she guest starred in the Netflix drama series The Diplomat.
Janney made her professional stage debut with the Off-Broadway production Ladies (1989), and followed with numerous bit parts in various similar productions, before making her Broadway debut with the 1996 revival of Present Laughter. She won two Drama Desk Awards and has been nominated for two Tony Awards: for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in the Broadway revival of A View from the Bridge (1997), and for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the original Broadway production of the musical 9 to 5 (2009).
Janney has also played character roles in various films, including Primary Colors (1998), American Beauty (1999), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), The Hours (2002), Juno (2007), Hairspray (2007), The Help (2011), Spy (2015), Bad Education (2019), and Bombshell (2019). For her portrayal of LaVona Golden in the film I, Tonya (2017), Janney won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Early life and education
Allison Brooks Janney<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was born on November 19, 1959,<ref name="biography.com">Template:Cite web</ref> in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.<ref name=BAFTA>Janney in Template:Cite web Note: Sources including Biography.com, TVGuide.com, and The Broadway League's Internet Broadway Database list birthplace as Dayton, Ohio.</ref> She is the daughter of Macy Brooks Janney (née Putnam), a former actress, and Jervis Spencer Janney Jr., a real estate developer and jazz musician.<ref>Template:Cite news Photo caption: "Miss Macy Brooks Putnam". Template:Subscription required</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She has an older brother, Jay, and had a younger brother, Hal (1961–2011).<ref name="BAFTA" /><ref name="tvg">Template:Cite web</ref> Hal, who had battled depression and addiction for many years, died by suicide in 2011 at the age of 49.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Janney is a descendant of Stephen Hopkins through his daughter Constance Hopkins, both of whom came to the New World on the Mayflower, as she recounted on a 2022 episode of Who Do You Think You Are?.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
She attended the Miami Valley School in Dayton, where she was named a distinguished alumna in 2005,<ref name="Allison">Template:Cite web</ref> and the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, where she was named Alumna of the Year in 2016.<ref name="Allison"/> Janney initially aspired to a career in figure skating, but her height of 6 ft (183 cm) and a freak accident when she was a teenager put an end to that dream.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
She attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where she majored in theatre.<ref name=tvg /> During her freshman year, Janney met actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward at a play for the inaugural event of the college's newly built Bolton Theater, which Newman was directing. The couple encouraged her to continue acting and offered her guidance during the early days in her career.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She went on to train at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York and then received a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in mid-1984.<ref name="Allison"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
1989–1998: Early roles and Broadway debut
Janney's first role on television was in the short-lived black-and-white faux-1940s comedy Morton & Hayes.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> She moved on to soap operas; she played the recurring role of Ginger, one of the Spaulding maids, on Guiding Light for two years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the spring of 1994, she appeared in the season-four finale of Law & Order, titled "Old Friends", as a reluctant witness against a member of the Russian mob.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She was also a cast member on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Janney made her professional stage debut in 1989 with an uncredited part in the Off-Broadway production Ladies.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following minor roles in similar productions like; Prescribed Laughter In The Emergency Café, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and Blue Window.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Janney made her Broadway debut with the 1996 revival of Noël Coward's Present Laughter. She played Liz Essendine, the estranged wife of the lead character (played by Frank Langella). Although a minor role, her performance garnered praise and attention with The New York Times calling it "The most fully accomplished performance on the stage".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> For her performance in the play, Janney won the Theatre World Award, Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Female, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play and received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Janney made her film debut with a minor part in Who Shot Pat? (1989).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This was followed by a series of minor roles in numerous films throughout the 1990s, including; Wolf (1994), Big Night (1996), Private Parts (1997), The Ice Storm (1997), The Object of My Affection (1998), The Impostors (1998), Primary Colors (1998), Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), and American Beauty (1999).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Janney starred in the Roundabout Theatre Company's 1998 revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge to positive reviews.<ref>"A View from the Bridge: Tense, searing take on outsiders' anguish", The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, October 26, 2017</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Janney starred opposite Anthony LaPaglia, Stephen Spinella, and Brittany Murphy. Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised Janney writing, "Allison Janney is splendid as Beatrice, a loving, patient woman of backbone who looks on helplessly but not quietly as her husband heads into the darkness".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Charles Isherwood of Variety agreed describing her performance as "affecting".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For her performance, Janney won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play, and received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1999–2006: The West Wing and acclaim
After a decade of small and uncredited parts, Janney had her breakthrough when she was cast as White House Press Secretary C. J. Cregg in the NBC political drama The West Wing. Creator Aaron Sorkin called Janney to audition for the role after seeing her in the film Primary Colors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Loosely based on Dee Dee Myers, the press secretary during Clinton administration, C. J. is a National Merit Scholar who ultimately succeeds Leo McGarry as White House Chief of Staff.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Writing for The Atlantic, John Reid says that "her capability and combination of strength and simple compassion represented the fantasy of the Bartlet White House better than anyone." The publication also ranks her as the best character from the series.<ref name="The Atlantic">Template:Cite web</ref> In their ranking of the best characters from all the television series created by Sorkin, Vulture, ranks C. J. at No. 2 and says; "If all the Sorkin women were as classy, self-assured, and legitimately funny (the turkey pardon!) as C. J., we'd never have had the Sorkin woman argument in the first place".<ref name="Vulture">Template:Cite web</ref> For her portrayal of C. J. Cregg, Janney won four Primetime Emmy Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Award, a Satellite Award and four nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, making her the most awarded cast member of the series.<ref name="Elle">Template:Cite web</ref> For the last of these she won the Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble.Template:Citation needed
She also appeared in Nurse Betty (2000), The Hours (2002), Finding Nemo (2003), How to Deal (2003), The Chumscrubber (2005), Winter Solstice (2004), and Our Very Own (2005).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the last of these, she received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. During this time Janney guest starred on the sitcom Frasier in the 2002 episode "Three Blind Dates".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2007–2016: Established actor
Janney appeared in the short-lived Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2007) as a guest.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2010, Janney appeared as Allison Pearson in In Plain Sight.Template:Citation needed In May 2010, she appeared one of the final episodes of the television series Lost as the adoptive mother of the show's two mythological opponents, Jacob and The Man in Black.Template:Citation needed She starred in the ABC network comedy Mr. Sunshine. The series, which was created by Matthew Perry, was a mid-season replacement for the 2010–11 television season.<ref name=hrJan1210>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2007, Janney starred in Jason Reitman's comedy-drama Juno, playing Bren MacGuff, the titular character's stepmother. In the same year, she appeared in the musical Hairspray, and won the Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards for Best Acting Ensemble.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2010, Janney earned praise for her performance in Todd Solondz's comedy-drama Life During Wartime.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2009, Janney starred in the musical 9 to 5 alongside Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her performance garnered positive reviews,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Janney earned the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2011, Janney appeared in Tate Taylor's period drama The Help alongside Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Mary Steenburgen and others. She won the Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The film was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She also appeared in the drama Margaret (2011), the coming-of-age comedy Struck by Lightning (2012), and the comedy Liberal Arts (2012).Template:Citation needed
Following few short-lived shows and a brief sabbatical from television, Janney returned to the small screen with the CBS sitcom Mom, which ran from 2013 until 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Janney played Bonnie Plunkett, a self-centered, cynical recovering addict who tries to regain the love and trust of her daughter (played by Anna Faris). She was influenced to take on the role following the death of her younger brother from drug addiction, as well as her longtime desire to work on multicam comedy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> For her performance on the series, Janney garnered critical acclaim and six Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning twice as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She also received six nominations at the Critics' Choice Television Awards winning twice for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.<ref name=emmy>"Allison Janney Emmy" emmys.com, retrieved May 9, 2019</ref> From 2014 to 2016, Janney guest-starred in Showtime's period drama Masters of Sex, portraying a sexually repressed homemaker in 1950s who struggles to understand the disintegration of her marriage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="GoldDerby">Template:Cite web</ref> Her performance received praise with Janney receiving three consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series winning one in 2014, and winning the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series.<ref name=emmy/>
Janney later acted in the summer comedy The Way Way Back (2013), the spy comedy Spy (2015), the high school teen comedy The DUFF (2015), the fantasy film Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016), the comedy-drama Tallulah (2016), and psychological mystery thriller The Girl on the Train (2016).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She voiced Julia in The Simpsons episode "Friends and Family" (2016)Template:Citation needed and acted as herself in the IFC sketch series Comedy Bang! Bang! episode "Allison Janney Wears a Chambray Western Shirt and Suede Fringe Boots".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2017–present: Career expansion and continued acclaim
In 2017, Janney returned to Broadway with the revival of John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation in the role of Ouisa Kittredge.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Marilyn Stasio of Variety praised Janney's performance writing, "[Her] wicked, smart delivery is perfect for Guare's witty dialogue."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter concurred writing, "I found I couldn't take my eyes off her...she looks spectacular in costumer Clint Ramos' sleek socialite outfits, and she nails both the initial poise and the despairing needed [for the role]".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Janney received nominations for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play, Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance and won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play.Template:Citation needed
In 2017, Janney starred in Craig Gillespie's black comedy I, Tonya, based on the life of figure skater Tonya Harding.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Screenwriter Steven Rogers wrote the role of LaVona specifically for Janney and refused to sell his screenplay until Janney was cast in the film. Janney would consider the part as one of the most challenging of her career.<ref name=sagfull>Template:Cite interviewTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Janney's performance received widespread acclaim with Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post writing: 'Janney steals every scene she's in, playing LaVona, a harridan whose nodding goes beyond tough love.' She earned numerous accolades for her performance in the film including the Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics' Choice Movie Award, Independent Spirit Award, and BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Janney appeared as herself, in a 2019 episode of the second season of the Netflix series The Kominsky Method.<ref>Chapter 16. A Thetan Arrives - The Kominsky Method S02E08 | TVmaze</ref> On the Disney Channel animated show Phineas and Ferb, Janney voiced Dr. Doofenshmirtz's ex-wife, Charlene. Janney appeared in five films in 2019. She had cameo appearances in the family comedy Troop Zero, the psychological thriller Ma, and Bombshell. For the last of these she received nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Award, and Critics' Choice Movie Award Best Acting Ensemble.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Janney also voiced Margaux Needler in the animated version of The Addams Family.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=DeadlineProfit>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Janney also appeared in Bad Education and Tate Taylor's comedy-drama Breaking News in Yuba County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She also had the title role in J. J. Abrams's thriller Lou.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2022, Janney appeared in an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? in which she learned she was descended from Stephen Hopkins, one of the settlers on the Mayflower.<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref> Janney subsequently appeared in the romantic comedy film The People We Hate at the Wedding (2022), and the science fiction film The Creator (2023).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2024, Janney began portraying Evelyn Rollins, a socialite in the 1950s in Apple TV+'s period comedy series Palm Royale.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The same year she guest starred in the final season of the sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, Janney began starring in Netflix's political drama The Diplomat as Vice President of the United States Grace Penn. Her first foray into the genre since The West Wing, Janney's performance garnered critical acclaim and nominations at the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards with Rolling Stone ranking her performance amongst "The 10 Best TV Performances of 2024".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Janney appears in the 2025 films Another Simple Favor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Everything's Going to Be Great.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
Janney has never been married and has no children, of which she said: "I've never had that instinct to have kids, I'm at peace with it".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She was romantically involved with computer programmer Dennis Gagomiros. The couple began dating in 1994, and were interested in getting married but ended their relationship after seven years together in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2002, she met actor Richard Jenik (her co-star in Our Very Own). The couple got engaged in 2004 but broke up two years later in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2012, Janney met production manager Philip Joncas. The two met on the set of The Way, Way Back and began dating soon after. The couple dated for five years before ending their relationship in 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In interviews related to her role on Mom, Janney discussed her brother, Hal, who fought drug addiction for years before his suicide. She has credited playing her character on Mom to people fighting addiction.<ref name="Esquire">Template:Cite web</ref> On March 4, 2018, Janney dedicated her Academy Award win to him during her acceptance speech.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2004, she began lending her voice to television and radio spots created by Kaiser Permanente in the health maintenance organization's broad "Thrive" media campaign, and in a radio campaign for the American Institute of Architects.<ref>"A Breath of Fresh Air for Health Care", opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com; December 13, 2009.</ref> In September 2010, it was announced that Janney would be the voice of the Aly San San spokesdroid in the Disney attraction Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.<ref name="mouseinfo">Template:Cite web</ref> The attraction later opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. In October 2016, Janney became the first woman to receive the Alumni Award of The Hotchkiss School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in the entertainment industry, located at 6100 Hollywood Boulevard.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Activism
Janney has campaigned for numerous issues like women's rights, LGBTQ rights, mental health, animal rights, and addiction recovery. In 2018, Janney participated in the 2018 Women's March in Los Angeles, part of a larger national movement for women's rights, human rights, and social justice.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She supports various charities including American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and GLAAD.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2016, Janney was honored at the White House at the event "Champions of Change", which honored 10 accomplished individuals from across the country who were being recognized for advancing addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. She also participated in a panel discussion with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to talk about the portrayal of addiction and recovery in the media.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, Janney donated $250,000 to Planned Parenthood.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2020 with the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Janney donated $10,000 to the Dayton Foodbank, an organization providing food to the homeless.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Janney has also been an active supporter of voter registration, posting about voter ID issues and suggesting fans check VoteRiders for details.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She and her West Wing co-stars were part of Michelle Obama's When We All Vote initiative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> More recently, she participated in Divas for Democracy: United We Slay, a streaming variety show supporting voter registration.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Who Shot Pat? | Miss Penny | |
| 1994 | Dead Funny | Jennifer | |
| Template:Sortname | NYPD computer operator | ||
| Wolf | Party Guest | ||
| Miracle on 34th Street | Woman in Christmas Shop | ||
| Heading Home | Mary Polanski | ||
| 1996 | Flux | Heather | |
| Rescuing Desire | Betsy | ||
| Walking and Talking | Gum Puller | ||
| Big Night | Ann | ||
| Faithful | Saleswoman | ||
| Template:Sortname | Sandy | ||
| 1997 | Anita Liberty | Gynecologist | Short film |
| Private Parts | Dee Dee | ||
| Template:Sortname | Dot Halford | ||
| Julian Po | Lilah Leech | ||
| 1998 | Primary Colors | Miss Walsh | |
| Template:Sortname | Constance Miller | ||
| Template:Sortname | Maxine | ||
| Six Days, Seven Nights | Marjorie Smith, Robin's Boss | ||
| Celebrity | Evelyn Isaacs | ||
| 1999 | 10 Things I Hate About You | Ms. Perky | |
| Drop Dead Gorgeous | Loretta | ||
| American Beauty | Barbara Fitts | ||
| The Debtors | |||
| 2000 | Leaving Drew | Paula | Short film |
| Auto Motives | Gretchen | ||
| Nurse Betty | Lyla Branch | ||
| Rooftop Kisses | Melissa | Short film | |
| 2002 | Template:Sortname | Sally Lester | |
| 2003 | Finding Nemo | Peach | Voice |
| How to Deal | Lydia Martin | ||
| Chicken Party | Barbara Strasser | Short film | |
| 2004 | Piccadilly Jim | Eugenia Crocker | |
| Winter Solstice | Molly Ripkin | ||
| 2005 | Strangers with Candy | Alice | |
| Our Very Own | Joan Whitfield | ||
| The Chumscrubber | Allie Stifle | ||
| 2006 | Over the Hedge | Gladys Sharp | Voice |
| 2007 | Hairspray | Prudy Pingleton | |
| Juno | Brenda "Bren" MacGuff | ||
| 2008 | Pretty Ugly People | Suzanna | |
| Prop 8: The Musical | Prop 8 leader's wife | ||
| 2009 | Away We Go | Lily Anderson | |
| Life During Wartime | Trish Maplewood | ||
| 2011 | Margaret | Wounded woman / Monica Patterson | |
| Template:Sortname | Charlotte Phelan | ||
| Template:Sortname | Cathy Ostroff | ||
| 2012 | Template:Sortname | Samantha Davis | |
| Struck by Lightning | Sheryl Phillips | ||
| Liberal Arts | Prof. Judith Fairfield | ||
| 2013 | The Way, Way Back | Betty Thompson | |
| Days and Nights | Elizabeth | ||
| Bad Words | Dr. Bernice Deagan | ||
| Trust Me | Meg | ||
| Brightest Star | The Astronomer | ||
| 2014 | Tammy | Deb | |
| Mr. Peabody & Sherman | Ms. Grunion | Voice | |
| The Rewrite | Prof. Mary Weldon | ||
| Get On Up | Kathy | ||
| 2015 | The DUFF | Dottie Piper | |
| Spy | Elaine Crocker | ||
| Minions | Madge Nelson | Voice | |
| 2016 | Tallulah | Margaret "Margo" Mooney | |
| Finding Dory | Peach | Voice, cameo | |
| Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children | Dr. Nancy Golan / Mr. Barron | ||
| The Girl on the Train | Detective Riley | ||
| 2017 | A Happening of Monumental Proportions | Principal Nichols | |
| Sun Dogs | Rose Chipley | ||
| I, Tonya | LaVona Golden | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 2019 | Troop Zero | Miss Massey | |
| Ma | Dr. Brooks | Cameo | |
| Bad Education | Pamela "Pam" Gluckin | ||
| The Addams Family | Margaux Needler | Voice | |
| Bombshell | Susan Estrich | ||
| 2020 | Lazy Susan | Velvet Swensen | |
| The Great Man Himself | Jan | Short film | |
| 2021 | Breaking News in Yuba County | Sue Buttons | Also executive producer |
| 2022 | To Leslie | Nancy | |
| Lou | Lou Adell | Also executive producer | |
| The People We Hate at the Wedding | Donna | ||
| 2023 | The Creator | Colonel Howell | |
| 2025 | Another Simple Favor | Aunt Linda McLanden | |
| Everything's Going to Be Great | Macy Smart | ||
| The Roses | Eleanor |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Morton & Hayes | Beatrice Caldicott-Hayes | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Law & Order | Nora | Episode: "Star Struck" |
| 1993 | Blind Spot | Doreen | Television film |
| 1993–95 | Guiding Light | Ginger | Numerous episodes |
| 1994 | Law & Order | Ann Madsen | Episode: "Old Friends" |
| 1995 | The Wright Verdicts | Alice Klein | Episode: "Sins of the Father" |
| 1995 | New York Undercover | Vivian | Episode: "Digital Underground" |
| 1996 | Aliens in the Family | Principal Sherman | Episode: "A Very Brody Tweeznax" |
| 1996 | Cosby | Podiatric Nurse | Episode: "Happily Ever Hilton" |
| 1997 | ...First Do No Harm | Dr. Melanie Abbasac | Television film |
| 1997 | Path to Paradise | Assistant District Attorney | Television film |
| 1998 | David and Lisa | Alix | Television film |
| 1999 | LateLine | Helen Marschant | Episode: "The Minister of Television" |
| 1999–2006 | Template:Sortname | C. J. Cregg | Main cast; 155 episodes |
| 2000–03 | Scruff | Holly | Voice, main role |
| 2000 | A Girl Thing | Kathy McCormack | Television film |
| 2001–02 | Frasier | Phyllis / Susanna | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | King of the Hill | Laura | Episode: "Full Metal Dust Jacket" |
| 2005 | Weeds | Ms. Greenstein | Episode: "Lude Awakening" |
| 2007 | Two and a Half Men | Beverly | Episode: "My Damn Stalker" |
| 2007 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | Herself | Episode: "The Disaster Show" |
| 2008–13 | Phineas and Ferb | Charlene Doofenshmirtz | Voice, 9 episodes |
| 2010–15 | Family Guy | Various | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Lost | "Mother" | Episode: "Across the Sea" |
| 2010 | In Plain Sight | Allison Pearson | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Glenn Martin, DDS | Marcia | Episode: "GlennHog Day" |
| 2011 | Mr. Sunshine | Crystal Cohen | Main cast; 13 episodes |
| 2012 | The Big C | Rita Strauss | Episode: "Life Rights" |
| 2012 | Robot Chicken | Grammi Gummi / Woman | Voice, episode: "In Bed Surrounded by Loved Ones" |
| 2013 | Veep | Janet Ryland | Episode: "First Response" |
| 2013–15 | Masters of Sex | Margaret Scully | 9 episodes |
| 2013–21 | Mom | Bonnie Plunkett | Main role; 170 episodes |
| 2014 | Web Therapy | Judith Frick | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Key & Peele | Various | Episode: "Key & Peele's Super Bowl Special" |
| 2016 | The Simpsons | Julia | Voice, episode: "Friends and Family" |
| 2016 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Herself | Episode: "Allison Janney Wears a Chambray Western Shirt and Suede Fringe Boots" |
| 2017–18 | F Is for Family | Henrietta Van Horne | Voice, 5 episodes<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2017 | Nobodies | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | American Dad! | Jessie | Voice, episode: "Family Plan" |
| 2018–20 | DuckTales | Goldie O'Gilt | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2019 | The Kominsky Method | Herself | Episode: "Chapter 16. A Thetan Arrives" |
| 2020 | A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote | C. J. Cregg | Television special |
| 2020 | Celebrity IOU | Herself | Episode: "Alison Janney Gifts A Showstopper" |
| 2021 | Q-Force | Unknown | Voice, episode: "WeHo Confidential" |
| 2022 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Herself | Episode: "Allison Janney" |
| 2024–present | Palm Royale | Evelyn Rollins | Main role |
| 2024 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Cynthia | Episode: "No Lessons Learned" |
| 2024–present | The Diplomat | Grace Penn | 6 episodes |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Ladies | Performer | Off-Broadway | |
| 1991 | Prescribed Laughter In The Emergency Café | |||
| 1992 | Making Book | Megan Chamber | ||
| 1993 | Five Women Wearing the Same Dress | Mindy | Manhattan Class Company, Off-Broadway | |
| 1993 | Class One Acts | Performer | Off-Broadway | |
| 1993 | Breaking Up | Alice | Delacorte Theater, Off-Broadway | |
| 1995 | New England | Gemma Baker | New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway | |
| 1996 | Blue Window | Boo | Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway | |
| 1996 | Present Laughter | Liz Essendine | Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway |
|
| 1997 | A View from the Bridge | Beatrice Carbone | Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway | |
| 1999 | The Taming of the Shrew | Katherina | Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway | |
| 2007 | The Autumn Garden | Constance Tuckerman | Williamstown Theatre Festival | |
| 2009 | 9 to 5: The Musical | Violet Newstead | Marquis Theatre, Broadway | |
| 2017 | Six Degrees of Separation | Ouisa Kittredge | Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway |
Music video
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Let Me Be Your Girl"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Clown | Artist: Rachael Yamagata; Director: Josh Radnor |
Awards and nominations
See also
- List of Kenyon College people
- List of Primetime Emmy Award winners
- List of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- List of actors with Academy Award nominations
- List of alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
References
External links
- 1959 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from Boston
- Actresses from Dayton, Ohio
- Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
- American film actresses
- American musical theatre actresses
- American soap opera actresses
- American stage actresses
- American television actresses
- American voice actresses
- Audiobook narrators
- Best Supporting Actress AACTA International Award winners
- Best Supporting Actress Academy Award winners
- Best Supporting Actress BAFTA Award winners
- Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (film) winners
- Drama Desk Award winners
- Hotchkiss School alumni
- Best Supporting Female Independent Spirit Award winners
- Kenyon College alumni
- Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre alumni
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
- Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
- Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
- Theatre World Award winners