Ellen Greene

Last updated

Ellen Greene
Ellen Greene - Glory.jpg
Greene in Glory! Glory! (1989)
Born
New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1973–present
Spouses
Tibor Hardik
​
​
(m. 1990;div. 1997)​
Christian Klikovits
​
​
(m. 2003;div. 2007)​

Ellen Greene is an American actress and singer. She has had a long and varied career as a singer, particularly in cabaret, as an actress and singer in numerous stage productions, [1] particularly musical theatre, as well as having performed in many films and television series. Her best-known roles are as Audrey in the original stage play and movie adaptation of Little Shop of Horrors , and as Vivian Charles in the ABC series Pushing Daisies .

Contents

Personal life

Greene was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother was a guidance counselor, and her father was a dentist. [2] [3] She attended W. Tresper Clarke High School in Westbury, New York. She spent summers at Cejwin Camps in Port Jervis, New York, where she performed in musical theatre productions, including the role of Tzeitel in a 1966 production of Fiddler on the Roof . She had a relationship with puppeteer Martin P. Robinson. [4] [5] Her first marriage was to Tibor Hardik. She married Christian Klikovits on September 25, 2003; they have since divorced. [6]

Career

Greene's career began as a nightclub singer in clubs such as The Brothers and Sisters, Continental Baths, Grand Finale, and Reno Sweeney's. She received rave reviews from critics such as Rex Reed, George Bell, and John S. Wilson. Around this time, she befriended the late Peter Allen. Her first starring role on Broadway was as the lead in the unsuccessful Broadway show Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You Ever Forget It) , which had 7 previews in 1973 but closed before officially opening. [7] She then played the starring role of Chrissy in Joseph Papp's production of In the Boom Boom Room at the Off-Broadway Public Theatre in November to December 1974. [8] Her reviews brought her to the attention of Paul Mazursky, who was at that time casting Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976). [9] She was cast in the role of Sarah, her first starring role in a film. [10]

Continuing her work with Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival, Greene next played the role of Jenny in The Three Penny Opera (1976) at the Vivian Beaumont Theater in Lincoln Center, for which she was nominated for a 1977 Tony Award, Featured Actress In A Musical. [11]

In addition to a number of other productions with the New York Shakespeare Festival and numerous other companies, Greene formed a close working relationship with the WPA Theatre, where she met Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. Their close, long-lasting friendship led to her landing the role of Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors , which she reprised in the film version opposite Rick Moranis. [12]

Greene has worked extensively in theater, such as the part of Suzanne/The Little Rose in The Little Prince and the Aviator (1981). [13] [14]

She has worked in films such as I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982), [15] Léon , Talk Radio (1987), [16] and Pump Up the Volume (1990). [17]

She has appeared on television in, among other programs, Miami Vice , The Adventures of Pete and Pete , Cybill , Law & Order , Suddenly Susan , The X-Files , and Heroes . In 1983 she was the voice of Creeping Ivy in the animated TV special The Magic of Herself the Elf .

Greene released an album in 2004 entitled In His Eyes, on which she was accompanied by her husband and musical director, Christian Klikovits. Other work includes the role of Vivian Charles on the television series Pushing Daisies (2007) [18] and the voice of Dolly Gopher in the animated Out of Jimmy's Head . Greene was the voice of the Priscilla Presley type of character Goldie in the Don Bluth film Rock-a-Doodle (1991). [19]

In July and August 2009, Greene starred as Miss Adelaide in a concert version of the musical Guys and Dolls , which had a 3-day engagement at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. Her co-stars included Scott Bakula as Nathan Detroit, Brian Stokes Mitchell as Sky Masterson, and Jessica Biel as Sarah Brown. [20] In 2011, she appeared in five episodes on the soap opera The Young and the Restless as Primrose DeVille. [21]

Greene performed in the musical Betwixt! at the Trafalgar Studios in London's West End from July 26 to August 20, 2011. [22]

She appeared in two episodes of the new ABC Family show Bunheads (2012), alongside Sutton Foster and Kelly Bishop. [23] She portrayed Doctor Gale Macones in The Walking Dead Webisodes: The Oath. [24]

In 2015, Greene reprised her signature role as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors in the staged concert at the New York City Center as part of their Encores! Off-Center Series. [25] Aged 64 at the time, there was a wide 30-year age gap between her and the show's male lead, Jake Gyllenhaal, 34.

Greene performed in the 2016 Democratic National Convention's "Fight Song" video. [26]

Filmography

Greene (left) with fellow Pushing Daisies star Swoosie Kurtz in July 2008 Ellen Greene crop.jpg
Greene (left) with fellow Pushing Daisies star Swoosie Kurtz in July 2008

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976 Next Stop, Greenwich Village Sarah Roth
1982 I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can Karen Mulligan
1986 Little Shop of Horrors Audrey
1988 Me and Him Annette Uttanzi
Talk Radio Ellen
1990 Pump Up the Volume Jan Emerson
1991 Rock-a-Doodle Goldie (voice)
Stepping Out Maxine
1992 Fathers & Sons Judy
1994 Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult Louise
Wagons East Belle
Léon: The Professional Margie Lando, Mathilda's mother
1995 Killer: A Journal of Murder Elizabeth Wyatt
1996An Occasional HellDella
One Fine Day Elaine Lieberman
1997States of ControlCarol
1998 Jaded Louise Smith
2001 Alex in Wonder Clarice
2003 The Cooler Doris
Love Object Typing Supervisor
2010PrivilegedMrs. RothmanVideo
2016Muddy CormanDawn Denford
2017Love's Last ResortMs. Leigh
2019The Untold StoryLydia

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977 Seventh Avenue Paula ClassTV miniseries
1978The Rock RainbowJessTV film
1983 The Magic of Herself the Elf Creeping Ivy (voice)TV film
1985 Miami Vice DarleneEpisode: "Made for Each Other"
1987Morning MaggieMaggie McAllisterTV film
1988Superman 50th AnniversaryAriel DickensonTV film documentary
1989 Glory! Glory! RuthTV film
CBS Summer Playhouse Sally MaggioEpisode: "Road Show"
Dinner at Eight Kitty PackardTV film
1994 The Adventures of Pete & Pete Abilene JonesEpisode: "Time Tunnel"
1995 Cybill SharonEpisodes: "How Can I Call You My Ex-Husbands If You Won't Go Away?", "Look Who's Stalking"
Law & Order Karen GainesEpisode: "Bitter Fruit"
1997 Dellaventura Elizabeth BrodkinEpisode: "Above Reproach"
2000 Suddenly Susan Harriet GrahamEpisode: "The Break Up"
2002 The X-Files Vicki Louise BurdickEpisode: "Improbable"
Crossing Jordan Mrs. DunhamEpisode: "Secrets & Lies: Part 2"
2005 Mystery Woman: Sing Me a Murder CarlyTV film
Fielder's ChoiceJillTV film
2006 Re-Animated Dolly Gopher (voice)TV film
2007–08 Out of Jimmy's Head Dolly Gopher (voice)Main role
2007–2009 Pushing Daisies Vivian Charles Main role
Heroes Virginia GreyEpisodes: "The Hard Part", "I Am Sylar", "Tabula Rasa"
2009 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Mrs. Manface (voice)Episode: "Night of the Huntress!"
2011 The Young and the Restless Primrose DeVille Recurring role
2012 Pound Puppies Gertrude Washburn (voice)Episode: "Olaf in Love"
Bunheads Wiccan FriendEpisodes: "For Fanny", "Movie Truck"
2013 Hannibal Mrs. KomedaEpisode: "Sorbet"
The Walking Dead: The Oath GaleEpisodes: "Bond", "Choice"
2017 Tangled: The Series Mrs. Sugarby (voice)Episode: "Painter's Block"

Stage

Sources: Internet Off-Broadway Database; [27] Playbill Vault [28]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated WorkResult
1977 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical [35] The Threepenny Opera Nominated
1983 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical [36] Little Shop of Horrors Nominated
Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical [37] Nominated

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References

  1. ↑ Ellen Greene at the Internet Broadway Database
  2. ↑ Klein, Alvin (March 6, 1983). "'I Love Being Different Characters'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Gay Mens Chorus - Ellen Greene - Gay Holiday News". December 8, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  4. ↑ Ellen Greene biography, tvguide.com; accessed June 11, 2017.
  5. ↑ Staff. "Puppeteer Martin Robinson Finds His Work Life Blooming in the Maw of a Man-Munching Plant" People, September 12, 1983
  6. ↑ "Ever Greene". Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  7. ↑ Internet Broadway Database, retrieved November 24, 2017
  8. ↑ In the Boom Boom Room lortel.org, retrieved November 24, 2017
  9. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "In Her Own Words: Little Shop's Ellen Greene Remembers Her Friend and Mentor, Filmmaker Paul Mazursky" Playbill, July 21, 2014
  10. ↑ 8 Next Stop, Greenwich Village afi.com, retrieved November 24, 2017
  11. ↑ The Three Penny Opera Playbill (vault), retrieved November 24, 2017
  12. ↑ Little Shop of Horrors lortel.org, retrieved November 24, 2017
  13. ↑ The Little Prince and the Aviator Playbill, retrieved November 24, 2017
  14. ↑ The Little Prince and the Aviator ibdb.com, retrieved November 24, 2017
  15. ↑ "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can" tcm.com, retrieved November 24, 2017
  16. ↑ Talk Radio" tcm.com, retrieved November 24, 2017
  17. ↑ "Pump Up the Volume" tcm.com, retrieved November 24, 2017
  18. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "DIVA TALK: Chatting with 'Pushing Daisies' Star Ellen Greene Plus Clark's 'Fifteen Seconds of Grace' " Playbill, November 16, 2007
  19. ↑ Rock-a-Doodle tcm.com, retrieved November 24, 2017
  20. 1 2 Gans, Andrew. " 'Luck Be a Lady': 'Guys and Dolls' in Concert Plays the Hollywood Bowl July 31-Aug. 2" Playbill, July 31, 2009
  21. ↑ "Ellen Greene Soaps Up for a Gig on The Young and the Restless". TVGuide.com. January 4, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  22. 1 2 Shenton, Mark. "Ellen Greene Is 'Betwixt!' in New London Musical, Opening July 28" Playbill, July 28, 2011
  23. ↑ Champion, Lindsay. "Barre Hopping: Sutton Foster Copes With Devastating News on 'Bunheads' " broadway.com, June 19, 2012
  24. ↑ "Watch "The Walking Dead" Season 4 Webisodes Online NowAll That's Epic - Epic Cosplay, Gaming, Comic-Con, Movies, Anime and More". All That's Epic - Epic Cosplay, Gaming, Comic-Con, Movies, Anime and More. October 1, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  25. ↑ Schulman, Michael. "Eternally Audrey", The New Yorker, July 6, 2015
  26. ↑ McDermott, Maeve (July 27, 2016). "Hillary Clinton's celeb supporters unite for 'Fight Song' DNC video". USA Today . Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Greene Off-Broadway" lortel.org, retrieved November 24, 2017
  28. ↑ "Greene Broadway" Playbill (vault), retrieved November 24, 2017
  29. ↑ Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You Ever Forget It) Playbill (vault), retrieved November 2017
  30. ↑ Gussow, Mel. "Stage: 'Teeth 'n' Smiles', World of Rock 'n' Roll" The New York Times, August 14, 1979
  31. ↑ Green, Kay (ed.) "'They're Playing Our Song'" Broadway Musicals, Show by Show, Hal Leonard Corporation, 1996, ISBN   0793577500, p.252
  32. ↑ McGrath, Sean. "Ellen Greene Picked for Picture Show at San Fran's ACT, May 6-June 6", Playbill.com, April 7, 1999.
  33. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "A Broadway Diva Christmas — with Greene, Days, Brier, Pedi and Schaffel — Begins Nov. 23" Playbill, November 23, 2005
  34. ↑ Betwixt! officiallondontheatre.com, retrieved November 24, 2017
  35. ↑ "Search Past Tony Award Winners and Nominees - TonyAwards.com - The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards - Official Website by IBM". TonyAwards.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Drama Desk". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Olivier Award, 1983" olivierawards.com, retrieved November 24, 2017
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