Kristen Johnston

Last updated
Kristen Johnston
2014 Voice Awards Kristen Johnston (20353233045).jpg
Johnston at the SAMHSA Special Recognition Award Ceremony in 2014
Born
Kristen Angela Johnston

(1967-09-20) September 20, 1967 (age 56)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Nationality American
Education New York University
OccupationActress
Years active1985–present
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [1]

Kristen Angela Johnston (born September 20, 1967) [2] is an American actress. Best known for her work on television sitcoms, she twice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Sally Solomon in 3rd Rock from the Sun . She starred as divorce attorney Holly Franklin on The Exes , and as recovering addict Tammy Diffendorf on Mom . She has also appeared in the films Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000), Music and Lyrics (2007), and Bride Wars (2009).

Contents

Her memoir Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster (2012) was a New York Times best-seller . [3] Through her nonprofit organization SLAM, she works as an advocate for sober high schools. [4]

Early life

Kristen Angela Johnston was born on September 20, 1967. Johnston is the daughter of former Wisconsin Republican state senator Rod Johnston. She is of English and German descent. [5] She grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1985. [6] [7] Johnston earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drama at New York University. [8]

Career

Johnston made her professional stage debut with New York's Atlantic Theater Company, founded by playwright David Mamet, where she appeared in many productions including As You Like It and Stage Door . She performed with the Naked Angels Theater Company in The Stand-In and Hot Keys, and with New York Stage and Film in Kim's Sister with David Strathairn and Jane Adams. For her performance in The Lights at Lincoln Center Theater, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Best Supporting Actress. [9]

A Carsey-Werner casting agent who saw her in The Lights recommended her for the role of Sally Solomon on the TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun. [10] After numerous auditions in 1996, she won the part [10] and starred on the show from 1996 to 2001, winning two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. [11]

Kristen Johnston speaks with the media - 2014 Voice Awards Kristen Johnston Speaks with the Media - 2014 Voice Awards.jpg
Kristen Johnston speaks with the media – 2014 Voice Awards

She made her feature film debut in The Debt, winner of Best Short at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. In 1995, she played Kate in the film Backfire! She played Esmeralda, a sea hag in Thrill Ride, a family friendly film released in 2016. Her other television credits include guest-starring roles on Chicago Hope , Hearts Afire , and The 5 Mrs. Buchanans . She narrated Microscopic Milton on the Disney Channel. Her significant roles in commercially successful movies include Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me in 1999, Ice Age , and Music and Lyrics in 2007. In 1998, she was a spokesmodel for the Clairol company.

Johnston appeared in the sixth and final season of HBO's comedy drama series Sex and the City . [12] In the "Splat!" episode, her character, Lexi Featherston, an aging party girl, accidentally falls out of a window and dies (after saying, "I'm so bored I could die"), prompting Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) to reexamine her life. In 2005, Johnston was featured in six episodes of NBC's ER . In 2009, she was cast as Patsy in a proposed American remake of the British TV series Absolutely Fabulous. A pilot was filmed but it wasn't picked up to series. [13] [14] She had a recurring role in the 2009 season of Ugly Betty, and had a single-episode appearance as a dominatrix in the second season opener of Bored to Death . [15] [16]

She starred in the TV Land sitcom The Exes , which ran for four seasons from November 30, 2011 to September 16, 2015. Her memoir, titled Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster was published on March 12, 2012 by Gallery Books. [17] The book became a New York Times best-seller. [3]

In 2018, she began a recurring role as Tammy Diffendorf on the CBS sitcom Mom , and was upgraded to series regular for the show's seventh season (2019–2020). [18]

Public image

She appeared on the cover of January 1998 issue of Milwaukee Magazine . She topped the magazine's list of "The Most Intriguing Milwaukeeans". [19] Johnston has also appeared on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide . [20] In 1998, she appeared in a television commercial for Clairol hair care products and voiced a commercial for Starbucks. [21]

Philanthropy and advocacy

Through her nonprofit organization SLAM (Sobriety, Learning and Motivation), she mentors high school girls from New York City with addiction and self-esteem issues [22] and has campaigned for the city to build a recovery high school. [23] [4]

Personal life

She dated actor Ryan Reynolds in 1999 and the two attended the film premiere of The Green Mile together. [24]

In her memoir, Johnston discusses an addiction to alcohol and pills that began when she was in high school. She wrote that at the height of her addiction, she drank on average two bottles of wine per evening. [25] In 2021, Johnston said she has been sober for 14 years. [26]

Johnston said she was diagnosed in November 2013 with lupus, which caused her to miss filming some episodes of her series The Exes . A character played by Leah Remini was introduced in season 3 to cover her absence. [27] [28]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985The Orkly KidUnknown Short film
1992AmazoniaUnknown
1993The DebtAlice Kosnick
1995Backfire!Kate
1999 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Ivana Humpalot
2000 The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas Wilma Slaghoople
2002 Austin Powers in Goldmember DancerUncredited
2005 Strangers with Candy Coach Divers
2007 Music and Lyrics Rhonda
2009 Bride Wars Deb
2009 Finding Bliss Irene Fox
2011 Life Happens Francesca
2012 Vamps Mrs. Van Helsing
2012 Bad Parents Tracy
2013The Anonymous PeopleHerselfDocumentary film
2014 Lovesick Katherine
2016 Thrill Ride Esmeralda
2018 Swiped Professor Barnes
2018 For the Love of George Psychic Sara
2018 Hurricane Bianca 2: From Russia with Hate Roksana
2019 The Wedding Year Barbara
2020 Small Town Wisconsin Alicia

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Chicago Hope Dr. Wendy SmytheEpisode: "Genevieve and Fat Boy"
1994 The 5 Mrs. Buchanans ZenaEpisode: "Bad News Bert: There's Peanuts in the Peanut Butter"
1995 Hearts Afire MargotEpisode: "John and Georgie's Not-So-Excellent Adventure"
1996 London Suite Grace Chapman Television film
1996–2001 3rd Rock from the Sun Sally Solomon139 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1997, 1999)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1998)
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or TV Film (1997)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (1997)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (1997—1999)
1997 Microscopic Milton NarratorTelevision film
1998–2000 Hollywood Squares HerselfPanelist; 10 episodes
2004 Sex and the City Lexi FeatherstonEpisode: "Splat!"
2005 ER Head Nurse Eve Peyton6 episodes
2007 Kim Possible Warmonga3 episodes
2009 The New Adventures of Old Christine FrancieEpisode: "Too Close for Christine"
2009 Ab Fab PatsyUS remake of Absolutely Fabulous . Pilot episode only. Series not picked up. [13] [14]
2009–2010 Ugly Betty Helen3 episodes
2010 Bored to Death Mistress FlorenceEpisode: "Escape from the Dungeon!"
2011–2015 The Exes Holly Franklin64 episodes
2013 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself2 episodes
2014 Kirstie Waitress MaddieEpisode: "Maddie vs. Maddie"
2014 Modern Family BrendaEpisode: "Strangers in the Night"
2015 Getting On Marla PounderEpisode: "Please Partake of a Memorial Orange"
2017 Daytime Divas Anna Crouse6 episodes
2018–21 Mom Tammy Diffendorf57 episodes
Guest (season 5); Recurring (season 6); Main (seasons 7–8)
2019 Amphibia Braddock (voice)Episode: "Prison Break"; replaced by April Winchell afterwards
2022 Our Flag Means Death The Widow Evelyn Higgins2 episodes
2023 The Righteous Gemstones May-May Montgomery9 episodes [29]

Podcasts

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021The Pack ProjectVeronicaVoice; Episode: "Elevator Bride"
2022Marvel's Wastelanders: Doom She-Hulk 10 episodes
2022NaughtyPam5 episodes

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993The LightsRoseNominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
1997Baby AngerMary Kay Paterson [30]
1998 The Skin of Our Teeth Sabina [31]
2001 The Smell of the Kill Nicky [32]
2001–2002 The Women Sylvia
2002 Twelfth Night Maria [33]
2004 Aunt Dan and Lemon Aunt Dan
2004 The Baltimore Waltz Anna
2004 Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice
2004 The Skin of Our Teeth Sabina
2007ScarcityMartha
2006–2007Love SongJoan [34]
2007–2009So Help Me GodLily DarnleyNominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play (2007, 2010)
2008The UnderstudyTheresea Rebeck

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
1994 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play The LightsNominated [35]
1996 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film 3rd Rock from the Sun Nominated [36]
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated [37]
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated
1997 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Won [38]
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesNominated [39]
1998 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesNominated [38]
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesNominated [40]
1999 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesWon [38]
2010Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play So Help Me God!Nominated [35]

Autobiography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allison Janney</span> American actress (born 1959)

Allison Brooks Janney is an American actress. Known for her performances across the screen and stage, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and seven Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for two Tony Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marg Helgenberger</span> American actress

Marg Helgenberger is an American actress. She began her career in the early 1980s and first came to attention for playing the role of Siobhan Ryan on the daytime soap opera Ryan's Hope from 1982 to 1986. She is best known for her role as Catherine Willows in the CBS police procedural drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–13), the subsequent television film Immortality (2015), and the second and third seasons of the sequel series CSI: Vegas (2022–2024). Helgenberger is also known for playing the role of K.C. Koloski in the ABC drama China Beach (1988–91), which earned her the 1990 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She is also known for roles in the TV series Under the Dome and Intelligence, and the films Species (1995), Species II (1998), Erin Brockovich (2000), and Mr. Brooks (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen Bell</span> American actress (born 1980)

Kristen Anne Bell is an American actress. She began her acting career starring in stage productions, while attending the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She made her Broadway stage debut as Becky Thatcher in the comedy musical The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and appeared in a Broadway revival of The Crucible the following year. She later appeared in the action thriller film Spartan (2004) and received praise for her performance in the television drama film Gracie's Choice (2004).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathleen Quinlan</span> American actress (born 1954)

Kathleen Denise Quinlan is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her Golden Globe-nominated performance in the 1977 film of the novel I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, and her Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated role in the 1995 film Apollo 13, along with many roles in other feature films, television movies and series, in a career spanning almost five decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie J. Block</span> American actress and singer (born 1972)

Stephanie Janette Block is an American actress and singer, best known for her work on the Broadway stage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Ryan</span> American actress (born 1968)

Amy Beth Dziewiontkowski, known professionally as Amy Ryan, is an American actress of stage and screen. A graduate of New York's High School of Performing Arts, she is an Academy Award nominee and two-time Tony Award nominee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen Wiig</span> American actress and comedian (born 1973)

Kristen Carroll Wiig is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. First breaking through as a performer with the Los Angeles comedy troupe The Groundlings, Wiig achieved stardom during her seven-season tenure on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathryn Hahn</span> American actress (born 1973)

Kathryn Marie Hahn is an American actress and comedian. She began her career on television, starring as grief counselor Lily Lebowski in the NBC crime drama series Crossing Jordan (2001–2007). Hahn gained prominence appearing as a supporting actress in a number of comedy films, including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Step Brothers (2008), The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009), Our Idiot Brother (2011), We're the Millers and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Glass Onion (2022).

Rachel York is an American actress and singer. She is known for stage roles, including award winning performances in Camelot, Hello, Dolly!, Into The Woods and Anything Goes. She also has performed in film and on television, including her portrayal of Lucille Ball in the 2003 television movie Lucy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Maxwell</span> American actress

Janice Elaine Maxwell was an American stage and television actress. She was a five-time Tony Award nominee and two-time Drama Desk Award winner. In a career spanning over thirty years, Maxwell was one of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed stage actresses of her time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayne Houdyshell</span> American actress

Jayne Houdyshell is an American actress. Known for her character actor role on stage and screen she has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, two Obie Awards, and a Drama Desk Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoe Kazan</span> American actress (born 1983)

Zoe Swicord Kazan is an American actress, playwright, and screenwriter. She made her acting debut in the film Swordswallowers and Thin Men (2003) and later acted in films such as The Savages (2007), Revolutionary Road (2008), and It's Complicated (2009). She starred in Happythankyoumoreplease (2010), Meek's Cutoff (2010), Ruby Sparks (2012), What If (2013), The Big Sick (2017), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), and She Said (2021). She also wrote Ruby Sparks and co-wrote Wildlife (2018) with her partner Paul Dano.

<i>Bridesmaids</i> (2011 film) Film by Paul Feig

Bridesmaids is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, and produced by Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel and Clayton Townsend. It stars Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, and Chris O'Dowd. The film focuses on a woman who experiences a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as maid of honor for her best friend.

<i>The Exes</i> American TV series or program

The Exes is an American sitcom starring Donald Faison, Wayne Knight, Kristen Johnston, David Alan Basche, and Kelly Stables. It debuted on TV Land on November 30, 2011, airing on Wednesday nights at 10:30 p.m. The series was created by Mark Reisman and follows three divorced men who live in a New York City apartment owned by their divorce lawyer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zazie Beetz</span> German-American actress (born 1991)

Zazie Olivia Beetz is a German-American actress. She is best known for her role in the FX comedy-drama series Atlanta (2016–2022), for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She starred in the Netflix anthology series Easy (2016–2019) and currently voices Amber Bennett in the adult animated superhero series Invincible (2021–present).

Karen Pittman is an American actress. She had recurring roles in The Americans and Luke Cage before starring as Mia Jordan in the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show (2019–present) and as Dr. Nya Wallace in the HBO Max comedy-drama, And Just Like That... (2021–present).

Karen Robinson is a British-Canadian film, television, and stage actress. She won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance in a Guest Role in a Drama Series at the 7th Canadian Screen Awards in 2019 for her appearance on the television series Mary Kills People. She also won a 2021 Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the Schitt's Creek cast.

References

  1. ↑ Triggs, Charlotte (January 19, 2009). "Bride Wars' Kristen Johnston: 'I Was Way Too Thin'". People . Vol. 71. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Kristen Johnston: Biography". TVGuide.com . Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  3. 1 2 Guts. 2013-01-22. ISBN   978-1-4516-3506-5.
  4. 1 2 "SLAM With Kristen Johnston". HuffPost. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  5. ↑ Aikin, Jefferson J.; Fehring, Thomas H. (2017). Historic Whitefish Bay: A Celebration of Architecture and Character. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN   9781467137591.
  6. ↑ "Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster by Kristen Johnston". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  7. ↑ "Kristen Johnston - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  8. ↑ "Kristen Johnston Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  9. ↑ "The 39th Annual Drama Desk Awards presented by The Drama Desk at the Criterion Center Stage Right, Jun 05, 1994 – 1994 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Play". ibdb.com. The Broadway League. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Kristen Johnston". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  11. ↑ "Kristen Johnston – Television Academy – Awards & Nominations". emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  12. ↑ "Kristen Johnston on drugs, recovery, and 'Guts'". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  13. 1 2 January 31, Tanner Stransky Updated; EST, 2009 at 10:01 PM. "Kristen Johnston: The scoop on her 'Absolutely Fabulous' return to TV". EW.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. 1 2 Bullard, Alexandra (January 7, 2023). "Long-lost AbFab American remake with Kathryn Hahn leaves Brits cringing". MyLondon.
  15. ↑ "'Ugly Betty' scoop: Kristen Johnston in, Paula Abdul out!". ew.com (Entertainment Weekly). Meredith Corporation. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  16. ↑ "Bored to Death S2 Ep 1: Escape From the Dungeon!". hbo.com. Home Box Office, Inc. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  17. ↑ Johnston, Kristen (2012-03-13). Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster. Gallery Books. ISBN   978-1-4516-3505-8.
  18. ↑ Gelman, Vlada (July 18, 2019). "'Mom': Kristen Johnston Promoted to Series Regular for Season 7". TVLine.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Amazon.com: Milwaukee Magazine, vol. 23, no. 1 (January 1998) (Kristen Johnston cover (Third Rock from the Sun)): People of the Year Issue; Sheepshead; Planet Brett (Favre) : Milwaukee Magazine: Home & Kitchen". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  20. ↑ "Kristen Johnston magazines". FamousFix.com. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  21. ↑ "Kristen Johnston - Other works". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  22. ↑ Collins, Clark (March 10, 2012). "Kristen Johnston talks about her drug addiction, her life-threatening illness, her recovery, and her new memoir, 'Guts'". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  23. ↑ Johnston, Kristen (July 19, 2013). "Turning Addiction Into a Sideshow". New York Times . Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  24. ↑ "Kristen Johnston Fondly Recalls Dating Ryan Reynolds in the '90s: He's a 'Lovely Person'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  25. ↑ Napoli, Jessica (2021-03-10). "Kristen Johnston talks her sobriety after 'very abusive relationship' with drugs, alcohol". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  26. ↑ "Kristen Johnston Says She 'Married' Drugs After 3rd Rock from the Sun Ended, Calls Addiction 'Very Abusive'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  27. ↑ Johnston, Kristen (December 17, 2013). "[Untitled]". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  28. ↑ Blumm, K. C. (December 18, 2013). "Kristen Johnston Diagnosed with Lupus Myelitis". People . Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  29. ↑ Schager, Nick (14 June 2023). "'The Righteous Gemstones' Is the Perfect Replacement for 'Succession' in Your Life". The Daily Beast . Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  30. ↑ "Kristen Johnston Takes a Baby Break from 3rd Rock". Playbill. 1997-06-09. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  31. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (1998-06-29). "The Skin of Our Teeth". Variety. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  32. ↑ Taylor, Markland (2001-08-03). "The Smell of the Kill". Variety. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  33. ↑ "Kristen Johnston Joins Stiles in Central Park Twelfth Night". Playbill. 2002-04-26. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  34. ↑ "Molly Regan Steps in for Ailing Kristen Johnston in London Love Song". broadway.com.
  35. 1 2 "Kristen Johnston Awards". IBDB. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  36. ↑ "Kristen Johnston". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  37. ↑ "The 3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  38. 1 2 3 "Kristen Johnston". Television Academy. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  39. ↑ "The 4th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  40. ↑ "The 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.