Jane Curtin

Jane Therese Curtin (born September 6, 1947) is an American actress and comedian. First coming to prominence as an original cast member on the hit TV comedy series Saturday Night Live in 1975, she went on to win back-to-back Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series on the 1980s sitcom Kate & Allie portraying the role of Allison "Allie" Lowell. Curtin later starred in the hit series 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001), playing the role of Dr. Mary Albright. Curtin has also appeared in many movie roles, including Charlene in The Librarian series of movies (2004–2008). She reprised one of her Saturday Night Live characters, Prymaat (Clorhone) Conehead, in the 1993 film Coneheads. She is sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Deadpan". The Philadelphia Inquirer once called her a "refreshing drop of acid". She was included on a 1986 list of the "Top Prime Time Actors and Actresses of All Time".

Infobox

Born

Jane Therese Curtin (1947-09-06) September 6, 1947 (age 78)Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.

Education

Elizabeth Seton College (AA)Northeastern University

Occupations

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Years active

1971–present

Known for

Kate & AllieSaturday Night Live3rd Rock from the SunOur Town

Spouse

mw- 1975; died 2025)

Children

Relatives

Valerie Curtin (cousin)

Tables

· Filmography › Film

1978

Rabbit Test

Role(s)

Pashima

Notes

ref. film credits

1979

Mr. Mike's Mondo Video

Role(s)

Herself/Cameo

1980

How to Beat the High Cost of Living

Role(s)

Elaine

1987

O.C. and Stiggs

Role(s)

Elinore Schwab

1993

Coneheads

Role(s)

Prymatt Conehead/Mary Margaret DeCicco

1998

Antz

Role(s)

Muffy

Notes

Voice Only

2003

Recess: All Growed Down

Role(s)

Additional Voices

Notes

Video

2004

Geraldine's Fortune

Role(s)

Geraldine Liddle

2005

Brooklyn Lobster

Role(s)

Maureen Giorgio

2006

The Shaggy Dog

Role(s)

Judge Claire Whittaker

2009

I Love You, Man

Role(s)

Joyce Klaven

2011

I Don't Know How She Does It

Role(s)

Marla Reddy

2013

The Heat

Role(s)

Mrs. Mullins

2018

The Spy Who Dumped Me

Role(s)

Carol Freeman

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Role(s)

Marjorie

2019

Ode to Joy

Role(s)

Aunt Sylvia

2020

Godmothered

Role(s)

Moira

2021

Queen Bees

Role(s)

Janet

2023

Jules

Role(s)

Joyce

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1978	Rabbit Test	Pashima	ref. film credits
1979	Mr. Mike's Mondo Video	Herself/Cameo
1980	How to Beat the High Cost of Living	Elaine
1987	and Stiggs	Elinore Schwab
1993	Coneheads	Prymatt Conehead/Mary Margaret DeCicco
1998	Antz	Muffy	Voice Only
2003	Recess: All Growed Down	Additional Voices	Video
2004	Geraldine's Fortune	Geraldine Liddle
2005	Brooklyn Lobster	Maureen Giorgio
2006	The Shaggy Dog	Judge Claire Whittaker
2009	I Love You, Man	Joyce Klaven
2011	I Don't Know How She Does It	Marla Reddy
2013	The Heat	Mrs. Mullins
2018	The Spy Who Dumped Me	Carol Freeman
2018	Can You Ever Forgive Me?	Marjorie
2019	Ode to Joy	Aunt Sylvia
2020	Godmothered	Moira
2021	Queen Bees	Janet
2023	Jules	Joyce

· Filmography › Television

1977

The Love Boat

Role(s)

Regina Parker

Notes

Episode: "The Captain's Captain/Romance Roulette/Hounded (A Dog's Life)"

What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

Role(s)

Ivy

Notes

Episode: "Class Hustler"

1981

Bob & Ray, Jane, Laraine, & Gilda

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

TV movie

1982

Candida

Role(s)

Prossie

Divorce Wars: A Love Story

Role(s)

Vickey Sturgess

1983

The Coneheads

Role(s)

Prymaat (voice)

Notes

TV short

1984

Bedrooms

Role(s)

Laura

Notes

TV movie

1984–1989

Role(s)

Kate & Allie

Notes

Allison 'Allie' Lowell

1988

American Playhouse

Role(s)

Lina McLaidlaw

Notes

Episode: "Suspicion"

Maybe Baby

Role(s)

Julia Gilbert

Notes

TV movie

1990

Common Ground

Role(s)

Alice McGoff

Working It Out

Role(s)

Sarah Marshall

Notes

13 episodes

1994

Dave's World

Role(s)

Anne

Notes

Episode: "Lost Weekend"

1995

Tad

Role(s)

Mary Todd Lincoln

Notes

TV movie

Mystery Dance

Role(s)

Susan Baker

Notes

Episode: "1.1"

1996–2001

Role(s)

3rd Rock from the Sun

Notes

Dr. Mary Albright

1998

Hercules

Role(s)

Hippolyte (voice)

Notes

Episode: "Hercules and the Girdle of Hippolyte"

Recess

Role(s)

Mrs. Clemperer (voice)

Notes

Episode: "Wild Child"

2000

Catch a Falling Star

Role(s)

Fran

Notes

TV movie

2003

Cyberchase

Role(s)

Lady Ada Byron Lovelace (voice)

Notes

Episode: "Hugs and Witches"

Our Town

Role(s)

Mrs. Webb

Notes

TV movieNominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film

2004

The Librarian: Quest for the Spear

Role(s)

Charlene

Notes

TV movie

2006

Crumbs

Role(s)

Suzanne Crumb

Notes

13 episodes

The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines

Role(s)

Charlene

Notes

TV movie

2007

Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office

Role(s)

Joy

2008

In the Motherhood

Role(s)

Mom

Notes

Episode: "Mother Dearest"

The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice

Role(s)

Charlene

Notes

TV movie

2008–2009

Role(s)

Gary Unmarried

Notes

Connie

2009

Sherri

Role(s)

Margo/Paula's Mom

Notes

Episode: "Birth"

2010

The Women of SNL

Role(s)

Various/Prymaat Conehead/Weekend Update

Notes

TV movie; archive footage

Rex Is Not Your Lawyer

Role(s)

Unknown

Notes

Episode: "Pilot"

2011

The Oprah Winfrey Show

Role(s)

Herself (guest)

Notes

Episode: "Saturday Night Live Class Reunion"

2012–2014

Role(s)

Unforgettable

Notes

Joanne Webster

2014–2017

Role(s)

The Librarians

Notes

Charlene

2015

The Good Wife

Role(s)

Judge Farley

Notes

Episode: "Bond"

2017

Broad City

Role(s)

Margo

Notes

Episode: "Witches"

2019–2021

Role(s)

The Good Fight

Notes

Judge Pamela Farley

2020

United We Fall

Role(s)

Sandy Ryan

Notes

8 episodes

2022

The Conners

Role(s)

Doris Goldufski

Notes

Episode: "The Dog Days of Christmas"

2023

Bupkis

Role(s)

Marie LaRocca

Notes

Episode: "Do as I Say, Not as I do"

2025

The Residence

Role(s)

Nan Cox, mother-in-law to the POTUS

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1975–1980; 2015	Saturday Night Live	Various	Cast member (1975–1980) and a guest appearance on SNL 40th Anniversary Special 108 episodesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
1977	The Love Boat	Regina Parker	Episode: "The Captain's Captain/Romance Roulette/Hounded (A Dog's Life)"
1977	What Really Happened to the Class of '65?	Ivy	Episode: "Class Hustler"
1981	Bob & Ray, Jane, Laraine, & Gilda	Herself	TV movie
1982	Candida	Prossie
1982	Divorce Wars: A Love Story	Vickey Sturgess
1983	The Coneheads	Prymaat (voice)	TV short
1984	Bedrooms	Laura	TV movie
1984–1989	Kate & Allie	Allison 'Allie' Lowell	122 episodesPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1984–1985)Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyNominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Performer (1984–1985)Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
1988	American Playhouse	Lina McLaidlaw	Episode: "Suspicion"
1988	Maybe Baby	Julia Gilbert	TV movie
1990	Common Ground	Alice McGoff	TV movie
1990	Working It Out	Sarah Marshall	13 episodes
1994	Dave's World	Anne	Episode: "Lost Weekend"
1995	Tad	Mary Todd Lincoln	TV movie
1995	Mystery Dance	Susan Baker	Episode: "1.1"
1996–2001	3rd Rock from the Sun	Dr. Mary Albright	137 episodesSatellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyNominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
1998	Hercules	Hippolyte (voice)	Episode: "Hercules and the Girdle of Hippolyte"
1998	Recess	Mrs. Clemperer (voice)	Episode: "Wild Child"
2000	Catch a Falling Star	Fran	TV movie
2003	Cyberchase	Lady Ada Byron Lovelace (voice)	Episode: "Hugs and Witches"
2003	Our Town	Mrs. Webb	TV movieNominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
2004	The Librarian: Quest for the Spear	Charlene	TV movie
2006	Crumbs	Suzanne Crumb	13 episodes
2006	The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines	Charlene	TV movie
2007	Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office	Joy	TV movie
2008	In the Motherhood	Mom	Episode: "Mother Dearest"
2008	The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice	Charlene	TV movie
2008–2009	Gary Unmarried	Connie	2 episodes
2009	Sherri	Margo/Paula's Mom	Episode: "Birth"
2010	The Women of SNL	Various/Prymaat Conehead/Weekend Update	TV movie; archive footage
2010	Rex Is Not Your Lawyer	Unknown	Episode: "Pilot"
2011	The Oprah Winfrey Show	Herself (guest)	Episode: "Saturday Night Live Class Reunion"
2012–2014	Unforgettable	Joanne Webster	34 episodes
2014–2017	The Librarians	Charlene	5 episodes
2015	The Good Wife	Judge Farley	Episode: "Bond"
2017	Broad City	Margo	Episode: "Witches"
2019–2021	The Good Fight	Judge Pamela Farley	3 episodes
2020	United We Fall	Sandy Ryan	8 episodes
2022	The Conners	Doris Goldufski	Episode: "The Dog Days of Christmas"
2023	Bupkis	Marie LaRocca	Episode: "Do as I Say, Not as I do"
2025	The Residence	Nan Cox, mother-in-law to the POTUS

· Theatre

1981

Candida

Role(s)

Proserpine Garnett

1989

Love Letters

Role(s)

Melissa Gardner

Notes

Replacement

2002

Noises Off

Role(s)

Dotty Otley

Our Town

Role(s)

Mrs. Webb

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1981	Candida	Proserpine Garnett
1989	Love Letters	Melissa Gardner	Replacement
2002	Noises Off	Dotty Otley	Replacement
2002	Our Town	Mrs. Webb

· External links

Preceded byChevy Chase

Media offices

Preceded byChevy Chase

Media offices

Weekend Update anchor 1976–1977

Media offices

Succeeded byDan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin

Preceded byJane Curtin

Media offices

Preceded byJane Curtin

Media offices

Weekend Update anchor (with Dan Aykroyd) 1977–1978

Media offices

Succeeded byJane Curtin and Bill Murray

Preceded byJane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd

Media offices

Preceded byJane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd

Media offices

Weekend Update anchor (with Bill Murray) 1978–1980

Media offices

Succeeded byCharles Rocket

Media offices
Preceded byChevy Chase	Weekend Update anchor 1976–1977	Succeeded byDan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin
Preceded byJane Curtin	Weekend Update anchor (with Dan Aykroyd) 1977–1978	Succeeded byJane Curtin and Bill Murray
Preceded byJane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd	Weekend Update anchor (with Bill Murray) 1978–1980	Succeeded byCharles Rocket

References

The New York Daily News
CBS News
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/queen-of-deadpan-jane-curtin-on-old-school-snl/
The Philadelphia Inquirer
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0EB2935D48929750&p_docnum=4&p_queryname=2
Times Union
https://archive.today/20130703063459/http://alb.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=5449726
The Baltimore Sun
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-07-05-1993186009-story.html
filmreference.com
http://www.filmreference.com/film/79/Jane-Curtin.html
The New Yorker
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/jane-curtin-is-playing-it-straight
Sun-Sentinel
https://web.archive.org/web/20141006114049/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-08-18/business/8602180950_1_film-tax-code-market
Boston Herald
http://bostonherald.com/2008/09/john_j_curtin_0
Museum of Broadcast Communications
https://web.archive.org/web/20131211080615/http://www.museum.tv/eotv/curtinjane.htm
Saturday Night Live
The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/article/Two-Professors-One-Valuable/48901/
The Women of SNL
https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/795402925
"Understanding (1994–2004)"
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1041883/
The Futon Critic
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20081110cbs08/
What's on Disney Plus
https://whatsondisneyplus.com/production-has-begun-on-new-disney-movie-godmothered/
Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television
https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/781178307