Jill Eikenberry

Jill Susan Eikenberry (born January 21, 1947) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is known for her role as lawyer Ann Kelsey on the NBC drama L.A. Law (1986–94), for which she is a five-time Emmy Award and four-time Golden Globe Award nominee, winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 1989. She received an Obie Award in 1986 for the Off-Broadway plays Lemon Sky and Life Under Water, and was nominated for a 2011 Drama Desk Award for the Off-Broadway musical The Kid. Her film appearances include Hide in Plain Sight (1980), Arthur (1981) and The Manhattan Project (1986).

Infobox

Born

Jill Susan Eikenberry (1947-01-21) January 21, 1947 (age 78)New Haven, Connecticut, U.S

Education

Columbia UniversityYale University (MFA)

Occupation

Actress

Years active

1970–present

Spouse

mw- Michael Tucker (m. 1973)

Children

Tables

· Filmography › Film

1977

Between the Lines

Role(s)

Lynn

1978

A Night Full of Rain

An Unmarried Woman

Role(s)

Claire

Rush It

Role(s)

Merrill

1979

Butch and Sundance: The Early Days

Role(s)

Mary Parker

Rich Kids

Role(s)

Juilliard Student

1980

Hide in Plain Sight

Role(s)

Alisa Hacklin

1981

Arthur

Role(s)

Susan Johnson

1986

The Manhattan Project

Role(s)

Elizabeth Stephens

1993

Chantilly Lace

Role(s)

Val

1994

On Hope

Role(s)

Woman at Church

Notes

Short film

2002

Manna from Heaven

Role(s)

Dottie

2007

The Happiest Day of His Life

Role(s)

Penny Somerset

Suburban Girl

Role(s)

Marlene Eisenberg

2011

Something Borrowed

Role(s)

Bridget Thaler

Young Adult

Role(s)

Hedda Gary

2015

Keep in Touch

Role(s)

Barbara

2017

Humor Me

Role(s)

Jill Eikenberry

2018

In Reality

Role(s)

Aunt Doreen

2022

Chantilly Bridge

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	Between the Lines	Lynn
1978	A Night Full of Rain
1978	An Unmarried Woman	Claire
1978	Rush It	Merrill
1979	Butch and Sundance: The Early Days	Mary Parker
1979	Rich Kids	Juilliard Student
1980	Hide in Plain Sight	Alisa Hacklin
1981	Arthur	Susan Johnson
1986	The Manhattan Project	Elizabeth Stephens
1993	Chantilly Lace	Val
1994	On Hope	Woman at Church	Short film
2002	Manna from Heaven	Dottie
2007	The Happiest Day of His Life	Penny Somerset
2007	Suburban Girl	Marlene Eisenberg
2011	Something Borrowed	Bridget Thaler
2011	Young Adult	Hedda Gary
2015	Keep in Touch	Barbara
2017	Humor Me	Jill Eikenberry
2018	In Reality	Aunt Doreen
2022	Chantilly Bridge

· Filmography › Television

1971

They've Killed President Lincoln!

Role(s)

Anne Surratt

Notes

TV film

1977

The Deadliest Season

Role(s)

Carole Eskanazi

Notes

TV film

The Best of Families

Role(s)

Sarah Lathrop

Notes

TV miniseries

1979

Great Performances

Role(s)

Kate Quin

Notes

Episode: "Uncommon Women... and Others"

Orphan Train

Role(s)

Emma Symms

Notes

TV film

1980

Swan Song

Role(s)

Anna

Notes

TV film

1982

Nurse

Notes

Episode: "On the Line"

1983

Sessions

Role(s)

Maggie

Notes

TV film

1984

Hill Street Blues

Role(s)

Sarah Fimpel

Notes

2 episodes

1985

Kane & Abel

Role(s)

Susan Lester

Notes

TV miniseries

1986–1994

Role(s)

L.A. Law

Notes

Ann Kelsey

1987

Assault and Matrimony

Role(s)

Sylvia

Notes

TV film

Family Sins

Role(s)

Kate Williams

Notes

TV film

1988

Mickey's 60th Birthday

Role(s)

Mia Loud

Notes

TV film

ABC Afterschool Special

Role(s)

Clare Foster

Notes

Episode: "A Family Again"

A Stoning in Fulham County

Role(s)

Susan

Notes

TV film

1989

My Boyfriend's Back

Role(s)

Deborah McGuire

Notes

TV film

Cast the First Stone

Role(s)

Diane Martin

Notes

TV film

1990

The Secret Life of Archie's Wife

Role(s)

Bunny

Notes

TV film

1991

An Inconvenient Woman

Role(s)

Pauline Mendelson

Notes

TV miniseries

Living a Lie

Role(s)

Joanne

Notes

TV film

1992

A Town Torn Apart

Role(s)

Ellen Kreiger

Notes

TV film

1993

Chantilly Lace

Role(s)

Val

Notes

TV film

Tracey Ullman Takes on New York

Role(s)

Jessica Stern

Notes

TV film

1994

Aaahh!!! Real Monsters

Role(s)

Merf / Michelle

Notes

Voice, episode: "Where Have All the Monsters Gone?"

Parallel Lives

Role(s)

Lula Sparks

Notes

TV film

Without Consent

Role(s)

Michelle Mills

Notes

TV film

Rugged Gold

Role(s)

Martha Martin

Notes

TV film

1995

The Other Woman

Role(s)

Tessa Bryan

Notes

TV film

Dare to Love

Role(s)

Alicia Wells

Notes

TV film

1996

My Very Best Friend

Role(s)

Barbara Wilkins

Notes

TV film

Gone in a Heartbeat

Role(s)

Jan Hale

Notes

TV film

1999

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Notes

Episode: "No Less a Starfish"

Batman Beyond

Role(s)

Mrs. Wilson

Notes

Voice, episode: "Hidden Agenda"

2000

Strong Medicine

Role(s)

Councilwoman Evelyn Barrett

Notes

Episode: "Do No Harm"

Judging Amy

Role(s)

Sheila Townsend

Notes

Episode: "Waterworld"

2001

Stop at Nothing

Notes

TV film

2002

Roughing It

Role(s)

Livy Clemens

Notes

TV film

L.A. Law: The Movie

Role(s)

Ann Kelsey

Notes

TV film

2008

Numb3rs

Role(s)

Susan Doran

Notes

Episode: "Atomic No. 33"

2009

Law & Order

Role(s)

Irene Matson

Notes

Episode: "Anchors Away"

2011

Body of Proof

Role(s)

Lillian Parkson

Notes

Episode: "Broken Home"

2021

The Good Fight

Role(s)

Sharon Booth

Notes

Episode: "And the Firm Had Two Partners..."

2022

LA Law

Role(s)

Ann Kelsey

Notes

Pilot

2024

Elsbeth

Role(s)

Phyllis Pearson

Notes

Episode: "I See... Murder"

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1971	They've Killed President Lincoln!	Anne Surratt	TV film
1977	The Deadliest Season	Carole Eskanazi	TV film
1977	The Best of Families	Sarah Lathrop	TV miniseries
1979	Great Performances	Kate Quin	Episode: "Uncommon Women... and Others"
1979	Orphan Train	Emma Symms	TV film
1980	Swan Song	Anna	TV film
1982	Nurse		Episode: "On the Line"
1983	Sessions	Maggie	TV film
1984	Hill Street Blues	Sarah Fimpel	2 episodes
1985	Kane & Abel	Susan Lester	TV miniseries
1986–1994	Law	Ann Kelsey	Main role (169 episodes)
1987	Assault and Matrimony	Sylvia	TV film
1987	Family Sins	Kate Williams	TV film
1988	Mickey's 60th Birthday	Mia Loud	TV film
1988	ABC Afterschool Special	Clare Foster	Episode: "A Family Again"
1988	A Stoning in Fulham County	Susan	TV film
1989	My Boyfriend's Back	Deborah McGuire	TV film
1989	Cast the First Stone	Diane Martin	TV film
1990	The Secret Life of Archie's Wife	Bunny	TV film
1991	An Inconvenient Woman	Pauline Mendelson	TV miniseries
1991	Living a Lie	Joanne	TV film
1992	A Town Torn Apart	Ellen Kreiger	TV film
1993	Chantilly Lace	Val	TV film
1993	Tracey Ullman Takes on New York	Jessica Stern	TV film
1994	Aaahh!!! Real Monsters	Merf / Michelle	Voice, episode: "Where Have All the Monsters Gone?"
1994	Parallel Lives	Lula Sparks	TV film
1994	Without Consent	Michelle Mills	TV film
1994	Rugged Gold	Martha Martin	TV film
1995	The Other Woman	Tessa Bryan	TV film
1995	Dare to Love	Alicia Wells	TV film
1996	My Very Best Friend	Barbara Wilkins	TV film
1996	Gone in a Heartbeat	Jan Hale	TV film
1999	Chicken Soup for the Soul		Episode: "No Less a Starfish"
1999	Batman Beyond	Mrs. Wilson	Voice, episode: "Hidden Agenda"
2000	Strong Medicine	Councilwoman Evelyn Barrett	Episode: "Do No Harm"
2000	Judging Amy	Sheila Townsend	Episode: "Waterworld"
2001	Stop at Nothing		TV film
2002	Roughing It	Livy Clemens	TV film
2002	Law: The Movie	Ann Kelsey	TV film
2008	Numb3rs	Susan Doran	Episode: "Atomic No. 33"
2009	Law & Order	Irene Matson	Episode: "Anchors Away"
2011	Body of Proof	Lillian Parkson	Episode: "Broken Home"
2021	The Good Fight	Sharon Booth	Episode: "And the Firm Had Two Partners..."
2022	LA Law	Ann Kelsey	Pilot
2024	Elsbeth	Phyllis Pearson	Episode: "I See... Murder"

Awards · Awards and nominations

1986

Year

1986

Award

Obie Award

Category

Performance

Production

Lemon Sky and Life Under Water

Result

Nominated

1987

Year

1987

Award

Primetime Emmy

Category

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Production

L.A. Law

Result

Nominated

1988

Year

1988

Award

Primetime Emmy

Category

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Production

L.A. Law

Result

Nominated

1988

Year

1988

Award

Golden Globe

Category

Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama

Production

L.A. Law

Result

Nominated

1989

Year

1989

Award

Primetime Emmy

Category

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Production

L.A. Law

Result

Nominated

1989

Year

1989

Award

Golden Globe

Category

Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama

Production

L.A. Law

Result

Won

1990

Year

1990

Award

Primetime Emmy

Category

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Production

L.A. Law

Result

Nominated

1990

Year

1990

Award

Golden Globe

Category

Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama

Production

L.A. Law

Result

Nominated

1991

Year

1991

Award

Golden Globe

Category

Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama

Production

L.A. Law

Result

Nominated

1994

Year

1994

Award

Primetime Emmy

Category

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Production

L.A. Law

Result

Nominated

2011

Year

2011

Award

Drama Desk Award

Category

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Production

The Kid

Result

Nominated

Year	Award	Category	Production	Result
1986	Obie Award	Performance	Lemon Sky and Life Under Water	Nominated
1987	Primetime Emmy	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Law	Nominated
1988	Primetime Emmy	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Law	Nominated
1988	Golden Globe	Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama	Law	Nominated
1989	Primetime Emmy	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Law	Nominated
1989	Golden Globe	Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama	Law	Won
1990	Primetime Emmy	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Law	Nominated
1990	Golden Globe	Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama	Law	Nominated
1991	Golden Globe	Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama	Law	Nominated
1994	Primetime Emmy	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Law	Nominated
2011	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical	The Kid	Nominated

References

AllMovie
https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jill-eikenberry-p21375
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/greathomesanddestinations/06gh-italy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Hollywood.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20110604023958/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/188555/Jill_Eikenberry
Television Academy
https://www.emmys.com/bios/jill-eikenberry
www.goldenglobes.com
https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/jill-eikenberry
Marin Independent Journal
https://www.marinij.com/general-news/20091130/former-marin-residents-michael-tucker-and-jill-eikenberry-chronicle-how-an-aging-parents-illness-strengthened-their-family/
The Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-emile-norman27-2009sep27,0,4662372.story
"'L.A. Law': Jill Eikenberry To Guest Star In ABC Revival Pilot, Reprising Her Ann Kelsey Role"
https://deadline.com/2022/03/l-a-law-jill-eikenberry-guest-star-abc-revival-pilot-reprising-ann-kelsey-role-1234976032/