Jane Krakowski
American actress (born 1968) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American actress (born 1968) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jane Krakowski (/krəˈkaʊski/; née Krajkowski; born October 11, 1968) is an American actress.[1][2] She starred as Jenna Maroney in the NBC satirical comedy series 30 Rock (2006–2013, 2020), for which she received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Krakowski's other television roles have included Elaine Vassal in the Fox legal comedy-drama series Ally McBeal (1997–2002) and Jacqueline White in the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–2020). For the latter, she received another Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nomination.
Jane Krakowski | |
|---|---|
Krakowski in June 2023 | |
| Born | Jane Krajkowski October 11, 1968 Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Known for | 30 Rock Ally McBeal Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt |
| Partner | Robert Godley (2009–2013) |
| Children | 1 |
A trained singer, Krakowski has also worked on the stage. At age 18, she was chosen for the role of Dinah the Dining Car in the Broadway production of Starlight Express (1987). She has since won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for the revival of Nine (2003). Other Tony-nominated roles include in Grand Hotel (1989) and She Loves Me (2016). She received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the West End revival of Guys and Dolls (2005).[3] In film she has appeared in National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000).
Krakowski was born and raised in Parsippany, New Jersey,[4] the daughter of Ed Krajkowski, a chemical engineer, and Barbara (née Benoit), a college theater instructor and producing artistic director for the Women's Theater Company.[5][6] She has an older brother.[7] Krakowski's father's family is Polish,[8] and while she speaks very little Polish, her father and paternal grandparents are fluent.[9]
Krakowski grew up immersed in the local theater scene as a result of her parents' involvement, saying in one interview: "Instead of hiring baby sitters, they brought me along with them."[5] She took ballet lessons at age four, but later stopped because she had the wrong body shape, instead moving more towards Broadway dancing.[7] She attended Parsippany High School[10] and then the Professional Children's School in New York City and Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.[11][12]
Following a 1981 television commercial for the video game Solar Fox, Krakowski's first major role and feature film debut came at the age of 14, when she played Cousin Vicki Johnson in the 1983 road comedy National Lampoon's Vacation. Krakowski was originally cast in the 1983 horror film Sleepaway Camp, but dropped out just before filming began because she felt her character's death scene with a curling iron was too violent. In 1984, she began appearing as Theresa Rebecca "T.R." Kendall in the NBC soap opera Search for Tomorrow, part of the NBC Daytime programming block; she continued the role until the show ended in 1986 and was nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards in 1986 and 1987.[citation needed] She also appeared in several episodes of the soap opera Another World in 1989.
At age 18, Krakowski originated the role of Dinah the Dining Car in the 1987 Broadway production of Starlight Express. She appeared in the 1989 Broadway musical Grand Hotel as the typist and would-be film star Flaemmchen, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award.[13] Her solo number, "I Want to Go to Hollywood," is included on the original cast recording. In 1995, she played the ditzy flight attendant April in the Roundabout Theater Company's revival of Company, followed by a starring role alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in the 1996 Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress.
From 1997 to 2002, Krakowski played office assistant Elaine Vassal in the Fox comedy-drama series Ally McBeal; she received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1999.[14] She portrayed Betty Rubble in the 2000 film The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas. She also appeared in the music video for The Chicks's song "Goodbye Earl" in 2000,[15] and a recurring role on the drama series Everwood in 2003.
At the 2000 American Comedy Awards, Krakowski won rave reviews when she performed a sexually charged musical tribute and love letter to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. The following year, Krakowski appeared on the album Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays, singing the song "Santa Baby". She also collaborated with Jim Brickman on the song "You" for Brickman's 2002 album Love Songs & Lullabies;[14] the song became a hit on adult contemporary radio stations. Brickman and Krakowski later recorded a Christmas-themed alternate version of the song.
In 2003, she starred as Carla in the Broadway revival of Nine,[16] for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.[14] Krakowski's performance was noted for a "breathtaking" aerial stunt she performed during the number "A Call from the Vatican".[17] In 2005, Krakowski performed her own cabaret show, Better When It's Banned, at Lincoln Center,[18] and starred as Miss Adelaide in Michael Grandage's West End revival of Guys and Dolls at London's Piccadilly Theatre, for which she received the 2006 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.[14] Between 2007 and 2009, Krakowski performed in a workshop production of the musical Xanadu;[19] a New York City Center production of Damn Yankees alongside Sean Hayes and Cheyenne Jackson;[20] and a staged reading at Playwrights Horizons of the musical Mrs. Sharp.
From 2006 to 2013, Krakowski played the role of Jenna Maroney, a clueless and narcissistic actress, on the Tina Fey-created NBC comedy series 30 Rock. She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013.[21][22] Following 30 Rock's conclusion, Krakowski joined the cast of Fey's follow-up series, the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, in the role of the condescending socialite Jacqueline White. Schmidt ran from 2015-2019 and gave Krakowski her fifth Primetime Emmy Award nomination.[23]
Krakowski starred as Ilona Ritter in the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2016 Broadway revival of Jerry Bock's and Sheldon Harnick's She Loves Me.[24] For her performance, Krakowski won the 2016 Fred and Adele Astaire Award as Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show; the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical; and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. She was also nominated for the Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Musical.[25]
Since 2021, Krakowski has hosted a Fox reboot of the 1950s gameshow Name That Tune, with former American Idol judge Randy Jackson as bandleader.[26][27] Krakowski has said, "One of the reasons I wanted to do Name That Tune was to perform again in front of a live audience."[28] [29]
Krakowski became engaged to Robert Godley in 2009. They have a son,[30] born in April 2011.[31] The couple separated in 2013.[32]
In January 2021, the Daily Mail alleged that Krakowski had a nine-month relationship with Mike Lindell, the inventor of My Pillow, between late 2019 and the summer of 2020. Both Krakowski and Lindell denied the allegation, and Lindell sued the Daily Mail for libel.[33][34][35][36][37] The case was dismissed on the grounds that a "reasonable person" would not view anything in the Daily Mail article as defamatory.[38]
In November 2021, Krakowski contracted a breakthrough case of COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw from NBC's Annie Live! where she was to play Lily St. Regis.[39]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | National Lampoon's Vacation | Cousin Vicki Johnson | |
| 1987 | Fatal Attraction | Christine | |
| 1991 | Stepping Out | Lynne | |
| 1996 | Mrs. Winterbourne | Christine | |
| 1997 | Hudson River Blues | Diane | |
| 1998 | Dance With Me | Patricia Black | |
| 1999 | Go | Irene Halverson | |
| 2000 | The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas | Betty O'Shale | |
| 2002 | Ice Age | Rachel the Sloth | Voice[40] |
| 2003 | Marci X | Lauren Farb | |
| 2003 | When Zachary Beaver Came to Town | Heather Wilson | |
| 2004 | Alfie | Dorie | |
| 2005 | Pretty Persuasion | Emily Klein | |
| 2006 | Barnyard | Female Coyote | Voice |
| 2006 | Open Season | Giselle | Voice[40] |
| 2007 | Surf's Up | Sheila Limberfin | Voice, deleted scenes[citation needed] |
| 2008 | The Rocker | Carol | |
| 2008 | Kit Kittredge: An American Girl | Miss May Dooley | |
| 2008 | Open Season 2 | Giselle | Voice[40] |
| 2009 | Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant | Corma Limbs | |
| 2014 | Adult Beginners | Miss Jenn | |
| 2014 | Big Stone Gap | Sweet Sue Tinsley | |
| 2015 | Pixels | First Lady Jane Cooper | |
| 2018 | Henchmen | Jane | Voice[40] |
| 2020 | The Willoughbys | Mother Willoughby | Voice[40] |
| 2021 | My Little Pony: A New Generation | Queen Haven | Voice[40] |
| 2023 | Your Christmas or Mine 2 | Diane |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | No Big Deal | Margaret | Television film |
| 1984–1986 | Search for Tomorrow | Theresa Rebecca "T.R." Kendall | 107 episodes |
| 1989 | Another World | Tonya | 9 episodes |
| 1989 | When We Were Young | Linda Rosen | Television special |
| 1993 | Alex Haley's Queen | Jane Jackson | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | Dale Winter | Episode: "Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues" |
| 1994 | Due South | Catherine Burns | Episode: "An Invitation to Romance" |
| 1996 | Early Edition | Dr. Handleman | Episode: "Baby" |
| 1999 | Great Performances | Herself (performer) | Episode: "The Rodgers & Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty" |
| 1997–2002 | Ally McBeal | Elaine Vassal | Main role |
| 2001, 2005 | CatDog | CatDog's Mother (Sasquatch) / Pussycat Catfield | Voice, 2 episodes[40] |
| 2002 | Just a Walk in the Park | Rachel Morgan | Television film |
| 2002–2003 | Everwood | Dr. Gretchen Trott | 2 episodes |
| 2002, 2004 | Rocket Power | Breezy | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Emma Spevak | Episode: "Bound" |
| 2004 | Taste | Samantha Neal | Pilot |
| 2004 | Hack | Mrs. Smith | Episode: "One for My Baby" |
| 2004 | A Christmas Carol | Ghost of Christmas Past / Lamplighter | Television film |
| 2005 | Mom at Sixteen | Donna Cooper | Television film |
| 2006 | Sex, Love, Power, and Politics | Sloan | Pilot |
| 2006–2013, 2020 | 30 Rock | Jenna Maroney | Main role |
| 2008 | A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa | Claire's Mom | Television film |
| 2013 | The Simpsons | Zhenya | Voice, episode: "The Fabulous Faker Boy" |
| 2014, 2017 | Modern Family | Dr. Donna Duncan | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | American Dad! | Charlotte | Voice, episode: "Roger Passes the Bar" |
| 2015–2020 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Jacqueline White | Main role |
| 2015 | Younger | Annabelle Bancroft | Episode: "Shedonism"[41][42] |
| 2015 | Saturday Night Live | Jenna Maroney | Episode: "Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato" |
| 2016 | Dead Boss | Helen Stephens | Pilot |
| 2016 | Robot Chicken | Various voices | Episode: "Yogurt in a Bag" |
| 2016 | She Loves Me | Ilona Ritter | Television film |
| 2017 | Sofia the First | Sizzle | Voice, episode: "The Royal Dragon" |
| 2017 | Difficult People | Lizzie McCormick | Episode: "Cindarestylox" |
| 2017 | BoJack Horseman | Honey Sugarman | Voice, episode: "The Old Sugarman Place" |
| 2017 | Tangled: The Series | Willow | Voice, episode: "The Way of the Willow"[40] |
| 2017–2020 | At Home with Amy Sedaris | Herself / Beverly | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | A Christmas Story Live! | Miss Shields | Television special |
| 2017–2020 | Match Game | Herself (panelist) | Multiple episodes[43] |
| 2018 | Drunk History | Sheralee | Episode: "Sex" |
| 2019 | Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | Spokesperson | Episode: "June 2, 2019" |
| 2019–2021 | Dickinson | Emily Norcross Dickinson | Main cast |
| 2020 | AJ and the Queen | Beth Barnes Beagle | Episode: "Fort Worth" |
| 2020 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Veronica | Episode: "The Ugly Section" |
| 2020 | RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars | Guest judge | Episode: "Stand-Up Smackdown" |
| 2021–present | Name That Tune | Herself | Host [44] |
| 2021–2022 | Ziwe | Mom / Jane | 2 episodes |
| 2021–2023 | Schmigadoon! | The Countess / Bobbie Flanagan | Main role[45] |
| 2024 | Elsbeth | Joann Lenox | Episode: "A Classic New York Character" |
| Year | Song | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Goodbye Earl" | The Chicks | Wanda |
| 2022 | "Surrender My Heart" | Carly Rae Jepsen | Herself |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | A Little Night Music | Fredrika Armfeldt | Theatre at St. Peter's Church | Off-Off-Broadway[46] |
| 1987 | Starlight Express | Dinah the Dining Car | Gershwin Theatre | Broadway |
| 1989 | Grand Hotel | Frieda "Flaemmchen" Flamm | Martin Beck Theatre | Broadway |
| 1993 | Face Value | Jessica Ryan | Cort Theatre | Broadway |
| 1995 | Company | April | Criterion Center Stage Right | Broadway |
| 1996 | One Touch of Venus | Gloria Kramer | New York City Center | Off-Broadway |
| 1996 | Tartuffe | Mariane | Circle in the Square Theatre | Broadway |
| 1996 | Once Upon a Mattress | Lady Larken | Broadhurst Theatre | Broadway |
| 2000 | Mack & Mabel | Mabel Normand | UCLA | LA Concert |
| 2002 | Funny Girl | Fanny Brice | New Amsterdam Theatre | Broadway Concert |
| 2003 | Nine | Carla Albanese | Eugene O'Neill Theatre | Broadway |
| 2005 | Guys and Dolls | Adelaide | Piccadilly Theatre | West End |
| 2007 | Xanadu | Clio / Kira | Workshop | Reading |
| 2008 | Damn Yankees | Lola | New York City Center | Encores! |
| 2009 | Mrs. Sharp | Mrs. Sharp | Workshop | Reading |
| 2016 | She Loves Me | Ilona Ritter | Studio 54 | Broadway |
| 2018 | Beauty and the Beast | Mrs. Potts | Hollywood Bowl | Los Angeles |
| 2024 | Shit. Meet. Fan. | Eve | MCC Theater | Off-Broadway |
Krakowski released her debut solo album on July 15, 2010. It is an album of cover versions called Laziest Gal in Town. It released on DRG Records.[47]
Selected recordings include:
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (January 2023) |
Film and television
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 13th Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Ingenue in a Daytime Drama Series | Search for Tomorrow | Nominated | |
| 1987 | 14th Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Ingenue in a Daytime Drama Series | Search for Tomorrow | Nominated | |
| 1998 | 4th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Ally McBeal | Nominated | |
| 1999 | 5th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Ally McBeal | Won | |
| 56th Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Ally McBeal | Nominated | ||
| 2000 | 6th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Ally McBeal | Nominated | |
| 2001 | 7th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Ally McBeal | Nominated | |
| 5th Golden Satellite Awards | Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy | Ally McBeal | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | 14th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | |
| 2009 | 15th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Won | |
| 61st Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | [48] | |
| 2010 | 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | |
| 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | [48] | |
| 2011 | 17th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | |
| 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | [48] | |
| 1st Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | |
| 2013 | 19th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | |
| 65th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | [48] | |
| 2014 | 20th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated | |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Nominated | [48] |
| 2016 | 7th Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Won | |
| 2021 | 1st Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Villain in a Movie | The Willoughbys | Nominated |
Theater
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Grand Hotel | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Grand Hotel | Nominated | |
| 2003 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Nine | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nine | Won | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nine | Won | |
| 2006 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress in a Musical | Guys and Dolls | Won |
| 2016 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | She Loves Me | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | She Loves Me | Won | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | She Loves Me | Won | |
| Astaire Award | Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show | She Loves Me | Won |
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