Lily Tomlin

American actress

Born: September 1, 1939

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Lily Tomlin
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Who is Lily Tomlin?

Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (born September 1, 1939) is an American actress, comedian, writer, singer, and producer. Tomlin started her career in stand-up comedy and sketch comedy before transitioning her career to acting across stage and screen. Tomlin started her career as a stand-up comedian as well as performing off-Broadway during the 1960s. Her breakout role was on the variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1969 until 1973.

Tomlin as Mrs. Earbore (The Tasteful Lady) with Rita Hayworth on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1971)
Tomlin as Mrs. Earbore (The Tasteful Lady) with Rita Hayworth on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1971)
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Historical significance

In a career spanning more than fifty years, Tomlin has received numerous accolades, including seven Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, two Tony Awards, and a nomination for an Academy Award. She was also awarded the Kennedy Center Honor in 2014 and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2017. Her signature role, which was written by her then-partner (now wife) Jane Wagner, was in the show The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, which opened on Broadway in 1985 and earned Tomlin the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She won Emmy Awards for the special Lily (1973) and received a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for This Is a Recording (1972), the very first solo female to do so.

Tomlin as Edith Ann, 1975
Tomlin as Edith Ann, 1975
Selected movies: Lily Tomlin Full IMDb filmography
The Pink Panther 2 2009 · View on IMDb Nashville 1975 · View on IMDb The Player 1992 · View on IMDb Short Cuts 1993 · View on IMDb A Prairie Home Companion 2006 · View on IMDb Shadows and Fog 1991 · View on IMDb
Selected exact acting credits from Wikidata. Title links open on IMDb; ratings, reviews, images, and descriptions are not imported.
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MLA

“Lily Tomlin.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/lily-tomlin/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

APA

Lily Tomlin. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/lily-tomlin/

Chicago

“Lily Tomlin.” thisDay. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/lily-tomlin/.

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