Vicki Lewis

Last updated
Vicki Lewis
Vicki lewis.jpg
Vicki Lewis in 2011
Born (1960-03-17) March 17, 1960 (age 63)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1985–present
Spouse
Philip Allen
(m. 2008)
Partner Nick Nolte (1994–2003)
Website vickilewis.com

Vicki Lewis (born March 17, 1960 [1] ) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Beth in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio . She is also well known for her roles as Deb and Flo in Finding Nemo and Finding Dory , April Smuntz in Mouse Hunt , and Dr. Elsie Chapman in Godzilla . Additionally, she starred as Headmistress Knightslinger in Upside-Down Magic on Disney Channel.

Contents

Early life and education

Lewis was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, [2] the daughter of Jim and Marlene Lewis [3] —the former an air traffic supervisor, the latter a nursing administrator.[ citation needed ] She also has a sister, Denise. [3]

After graduating from Anderson High School in Cincinnati in 1978, she studied musical theater at the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music. [4] After receiving her diploma she moved to New York City. She proceeded to work in various on and off-Broadway shows.[ citation needed ]

Career

Lewis's film appearances include roles in Finding Nemo , Finding Dory , Mouse Hunt , Godzilla , Pushing Tin , 2007's California Dreaming with NewsRadio co-star Dave Foley, and 2010's Den Brother . On television, Lewis starred for 5 seasons on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio , followed by Three Sisters and the WB animated comedy Mission Hill .

She made guest appearances on Seinfeld (in the episodes "The Secretary" and "The Race") and Murphy Brown . In a recurring role on Home Improvement , she played Maureen Binford, producer of the show-within-a-show Tool Time . On How I Met Your Mother , she had the recurring role of Lily Aldrin's doctor, "Dr. Sonya".

She appeared on Caroline in the City , The Norm Show , Grace Under Fire , Phenom and The 5 Mrs. Buchanans . More recently, she made guest appearances on Surviving Suburbia , ABC's Grey's Anatomy , Disney Channel's Sonny with a Chance as Ms. Bitterman, the social worker on The Middle , and FX's Dirt . She recurred as Erica on Modern Family , as Mrs. Chadwick in Making History, and Dr. Chapman in Still The King, Miss Moffett in Angie Tribeca , and Marie Mortel in The Blacklist.

Aside from Mission Hill, her voice acting career includes characters in Justice League Heroes , Rugrats Pre-School Daze , King of the Hill , Hercules: The Animated Series , An Extremely Goofy Movie , Finding Nemo , Phineas and Ferb , and Justice League: The New Frontier . Most recently, she voiced Eve in the 2010 film Alpha and Omega and its sequel. [5]

On stage, Lewis has appeared in City of Angels and My One and Only in Los Angeles, and has performed as a soloist with the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. Her Broadway credits include I Can Get It For You Wholesale , Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? , Snoopy!!! The Musical , Damn Yankees , Chicago , The Crucible , and she was the final actress to play Countess Lily in Anastasia . She also appeared with Peter Gallagher and Patti LuPone in Pal Joey at the New York City Center. Lewis won the 2007 Ovation Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for the world premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's Hotel C'est L'amour.

She was part of the one-night celebrity-performed staging of Howard Ashman's unproduced musical Dreamstuff. The musical was re-imagined by Ashman's partners Marsha Malamet and Dennis Green and performed one night only at Los Angeles's Hayworth Theatre as part of the Bruno Kirby celebrity reading series.

Her debut solo album East of Midnight was released in May 2010. The eclectic rock album has songs penned by Lewis as well as three cover songs. Lewis considered the writing to be "dauntingly destructive and spiritually bereft. Locked in my office in Malibu, California I wrote what would become a self-fulfilling prophecy – it would also prove to be the making of me." [6]

In 2018, she starred on Broadway as Countess Lily in Anastasia , directed by Darko Tresnik. She played Ms. Winx/Mrs. Brown/Kyrie/Jessamyn Jacobs/Lady in Waiting in Between the Lines Off-Broadway in 2022.

Personal life

Lewis was in a long-term relationship with Nick Nolte. [7] The two met during the filming of I'll Do Anything . She is married to sound designer Philip G. Allen. [8]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 I'll Do Anything Millie
1995 Bye Bye Birdie Gloria RasputinTelevision film
1997 Mouse Hunt April Smuntz
1998 Godzilla Dr. Elsie Chapman
1999 Breakfast of Champions Grace Le Sabre
Pushing Tin Tina Leary
2000 An Extremely Goofy Movie Beret GirlVoice, direct-to-video [9]
2003 Finding Nemo Deb / FloVoice [9]
2007California DreamingTeensie Porter
The Last Day of Summer PaigeTelevision film
2008 Justice League: The New Frontier Iris West Voice, direct-to-video [9]
Roadside Romeo MiniVoice, uncredited
2009 Wonder Woman Persephone Voice, direct-to-video [9]
Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts Chubster
The Ugly Truth Saleswoman
2010 Alpha and Omega EveVoice [9]
Den Brother Dina ReamsTelevision film
2012I Married Who?Vivienne
2014 Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon DrizeldaVoice, direct-to-video [9]
2016 Finding Dory Deb / FloVoice [9]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 CBS Schoolbreak Special Diane KaplanEpisode: "The Day the Senior Class Got Married"
1992 Home Improvement Maureen Binford3 episodes
1993 Murphy Brown Secretary No. 59Episode: "One"
Grace Under Fire WandaEpisode: "Say Goodnight, Gracie"
1994 Phenom BetsyEpisode: "Angela's Fifteen Minutes"
Seinfeld Ada2 episodes
1995 The 5 Mrs. Buchanans DonnaEpisode: "Viv'acious"
1995–1999 NewsRadio Beth94 episodes
1996 Caroline in the City Merle HellerEpisode: "Caroline in the Cereal"
1997, 1999, 2001–2003, 2005 Rugrats Miss Carol, Miss Weemer, Witch, Mother CatVoice, 6 episodes [9]
1998 Hercules Arachne Voice, episode: "Hercules and the Tapestry of Fate"
1999 The Wild Thornberrys WeaselVoice, episode: "Lost and Foundation" [9]
The Norm Show KyraEpisode: "Drive, Norm Say"
2000 King of the Hill KateVoice, episode: "Movin' on Up"
The Huntress Myrna FactorEpisode: "Pilot"
1999–2000, 2002 Mission Hill Posey Tyler, Natalie Leibowitz-HernandezVoice, 13 episodes
2001–2002 Three Sisters Nora Bernstein-Flynn18 episodes
2005 Rugrats Pre-School Daze Ms. WeemerVoice, 4 episodes [9]
2007–2008, 2010 Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures MollyVoice, 17 episodes
2007 Come on Over Actress VickiEpisode: "Thespians"
Grey's Anatomy HarrietEpisode: "Physical Attraction... Chemical Reaction"
2008 Dirt The BeauticianEpisode: "What Is This Thing Called?"
Phineas and Ferb Lulu JonesVoice, episode: "Leave the Busting to Us!" [9]
Ben 10: Alien Force SerenaVoice, episode: "X = Ben + 2" [9]
'Til Death Melissa3 episodes
2009 Bones Helen BridenbeckerEpisode: "The Skull in the Sculpture"
2009–2010 Sonny with a Chance Ms. Joy Bitterman5 episodes
2009 Surviving Suburbia Clerk2 episodes
Curb Your Enthusiasm StaceyEpisode: "The Table Read"
The Middle Ms. BarryEpisode: "The Scratch"
2011 Melissa & Joey Alexis McKennaEpisode: "The Settlement"
Batman: The Brave and the Bold Wonder Woman, Star Sapphire Voice, 2 episodes [9]
2011–2012 How I Met Your Mother Dr. Sonya3 episodes
2011 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Agent LockeVoice, episode: "The Widening Gyre"
2012Checked OutLisa3 episodes
2013 Doll & Em Carla2 episodes
Austin & Ally DonnaEpisode: "Family & Feuds"
2014 Turbo Fast Arctic Hare, Rich Lady #1Voice, episode: "The Escargot Affair" [9]
See Dad Run Kat2 episodes
Complete Works Ashley Spitzer
Doc McStuffins Dr. TundraVoice, episode: "McStuffins School of Medicine" [9]
2015 Modern Family Erica2 episodes
2016 Angie Tribeca Dog trainerEpisode: "Fleas Don't Kill Me"
2017 Making History Mrs. ChadwickEpisode: "Battle of the Basement"
2019 The Blacklist Marie MortelEpisode: "The Third Estate"
2020 Upside-Down Magic Headmistress Knightslinger Disney Channel Original Movie [10]
2021 The Goldbergs MaggieEpisode: “The Goldbergs' Excellent Adventure“

Video games

YearTitleVoice role
2003 Finding Nemo Deb / Flo
2009 Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks Serena [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Finding Nemo</i> 2003 film by Andrew Stanton

Finding Nemo is a 2003 American animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Andrew Stanton with co-direction by Lee Unkrich, the screenplay was written by Stanton, Bob Peterson, and David Reynolds from a story by Stanton. The film stars the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, and Geoffrey Rush. It tells the story of an overprotective clownfish named Marlin (Brooks) who, along with a forgetful regal blue tang named Dory (DeGeneres), searches for his missing son Nemo (Gould). Along the way, Marlin learns to take risks and comes to terms with Nemo taking care of himself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bebe Neuwirth</span> American actress (born 1958)

Beatrice "Bebe" Jane Neuwirth is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her roles on stage and screen, she has received two Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Drama Desk Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodi Benson</span> American actress and singer (born 1961)

Jodi Marie Benson is an American actress and singer. She is best known for providing the voice of Ariel in Disney's 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid and throughout other films, including its sequel, prequel, and television series spin-off, as well as many other Disney works going up to the present day of the 2020s. Benson also filled in for Paige O'Hara as the voice of Belle in House of Mouse and voiced the character Barbie in the second and third films of the Toy Story franchise (1999–2010), and in the Toy Story Toons short Hawaiian Vacation (2011). For her contributions to Disney, Benson was named a Disney Legend in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Perkins</span> American actress (born 1960)

Elizabeth Ann Perkins is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films including About Last Night (1986), Big (1988), Avalon (1990), and He Said, She Said (1991), The Flintstones (1994), Miracle on 34th Street (1994), and her brief voice role as Coral in the Disney/Pixar animated film Finding Nemo (2003). She is also well known for her role as Celia Hodes in the Showtime TV series Weeds, for which she received three Primetime Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendie Malick</span> American actress (born 1950)

Wendie Malick is an American actress and former fashion model, known for her roles in various television comedies. She starred as Judith Tupper Stone in the HBO sitcom Dream On, and as Nina Van Horn in the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me!, for which she was nominated for two Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe Award.

Dorothy Lyman is an American television actress, director, and producer. She is most known for her work as Gwen Frame on Another World, on All My Children as the original Opal Sue Gardner, as Rebecca Whitmore on Generations, and on the sitcom Mama's Family as Naomi Harper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenifer Lewis</span> American actress

Jenifer Jeanette Lewis is an American actress. She began her career appearing in Broadway musicals and worked as a back-up singer for Bette Midler before appearing in films Beaches (1988) and Sister Act (1992). Lewis is known for playing roles of mothers in the films What's Love Got to Do With It (1993), Poetic Justice (1993), The Preacher's Wife (1996), The Brothers (2001), The Cookout (2004), Think Like a Man (2012) and in the sequel Think Like a Man Too (2014), Baggage Claim (2013) and The Wedding Ringer (2015), as well as in The Temptations miniseries (1998).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dawnn Lewis</span> American actress and singer (born 1961)

Dawnn Jewel Lewis is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Jaleesa Vinson–Taylor on the NBC television sitcom A Different World from the series beginning in 1987 until the end of its fifth season in 1992, in addition to co-writing the opening theme song for the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie D'Abruzzo</span> American actress

Stephanie Ann D'Abruzzo is an American actress, puppeteer and singer. She has performed various Muppets in the TV program Sesame Street. She held starring roles on Oobi and The Book of Pooh. She was one of the original cast members of the stage musical Avenue Q, receiving a nomination for the 2004 Best Actress in a Musical.

Ursula (<i>The Little Mermaid</i>) Disney character

Ursula is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' animated film The Little Mermaid (1989). Voiced by actress Pat Carroll, Ursula is a villainous Cecaelian sea witch who offers a mermaid princess named Ariel a temporary opportunity to become human so that she may earn the love of Prince Eric within three days. However, Ursula is, in fact, determined to sabotage Ariel's chances so that she can ultimately usurp King Triton's position as ruler of the oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Brown</span> American actress

Ashley Brown is an American singer and actress who is best known for playing the titular character in the United States national tour and Broadway productions of Mary Poppins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Reinders</span> American actress and singer

Kate Reinders is an American actress and singer, who has performed as lead and understudy in several Broadway shows. Reinders was born in Seattle, Washington, but raised in Spring Lake, Michigan. She attended Western Michigan Christian High School, graduating in 1998.

Michele Pawk is an American actress and singer. She is also an associate theater professor.

Dory (<i>Finding Nemo</i>) Fictional character

Dory is a fictional blue tang and a major character of the American animated film series Finding Nemo. She suffers from the disability short-term memory-loss, which often causes frustration to Marlin, especially while his son Nemo is in danger. However, her childlike optimism and ability to communicate different languages from both humans and whales have helped both her and Marlin advance their quest to find Nemo.

<i>Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!</i> Live puppet and musical stage show at Disneys Animal Kingdom theme park

Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond! is a live puppet and musical stage show based on Disney/Pixar's 2003 film Finding Nemo, located at the Theater in the Wild in DinoLand U.S.A at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The original 40-minute show titled Finding Nemo – The Musical started holding previews on November 5, 2006, officially opening on January 24, 2007. The music is composed by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who also composed the music for Frozen, using direct lines from the film.

"Belle" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman for Walt Disney Pictures' animated film Beauty and the Beast (1991). Originally recorded by American actress and singer Paige O'Hara and American actor Richard White, "Belle", a mid-tempo French and classical music-inspired song, incorporates both Broadway and musical theatre elements. The film's first song and opening number, "Belle" appears during Beauty and the Beast as a large scale operetta-style production number that introduces the film's heroine Belle, considered a book-loving nonconformist by the townspeople of the village, who has grown weary of the provincial life in which she is supposed to live, and Gaston, the film's narcissistic villain who wishes to desire her hand in marriage despite Belle's repeated rejections.

<i>Finding Dory</i> 2016 film by Andrew Stanton

Finding Dory is a 2016 American animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Andrew Stanton, co-directed by Angus MacLane, produced by Lindsey Collins, and written by Stanton and Victoria Strouse, the film is a sequel/spin-off to Finding Nemo (2003). Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks reprise their roles from the first film, with Hayden Rolence, Ed O'Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy joining the cast. The film focuses on the amnesiac fish Dory (DeGeneres), who journeys to be reunited with her parents.

<i>Finding Nemo</i> (franchise) Film series and media franchise

Finding Nemo is a CGI animated film series and Disney media franchise that began with the 2003 film of the same name, produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The original film was followed by a sequel, Finding Dory, released in 2016. Both films were directed by Andrew Stanton. The film series received widespread critical acclaim from critics and audiences with two films released to-date, the series has grossed $1.9 billion worldwide.

Christina Rose Polkowski is an American actress and producer best known to audiences for her work in Grease on Broadway, the award-winning movie musical How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song, and as the voice of Celes Chere in World of Final Fantasy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rama Messinger</span> Israeli actress

Rama Messenger was an Israeli actress, voice actress and singer.

References

  1. "Today's Birthdays". Daily Record . March 17, 2000. p. 2. ProQuest   2373066253. Actor Kurt Russell is 49. Actress Lesley-Anne Down is 46. Actress Vicki Lewis is 40. See also:
    • "Celebrity Birthdays". Tallahassee Democrat. March 17, 2023. p. 9A. ProQuest   2789679154. Actor Kurt Russell is 72. [...] Actor Vicki Lewis ("NewsRadio") is 63.
  2. Reid, Dixie (July 13, 2008). "Onstage: 'Gypsy' in her soul: Vicki Lewis taps her inner fire to play the formidable Mama Rose". McClatchy - Tribune Business News. p. 2. ProQuest   464722023. 'Gypsy' marks Lewis' Music Circus debut. [..] Lewis was born and raised in Cincinnati. She lived in New York City for 13 years and made her Broadway debut in 'Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?' in 1982. The show ran for five performances over four days before it closed. She continued to work in the theater before auditioning in New York for director James L. Brooks, who was casting singers for his 1994 movie musical 'I'll Do Anything,' starring Nolte and Albert Brooks. Lewis landed a role and moved to Los Angeles. She lived on one coast or the other over the next several years, as TV, movie and Broadway roles came her way. She now has a home in Marina del Rey, and she's thrilled to be back on stage, and singing.
  3. 1 2 Paeth, Greg (December 17, 1997). "Movies, National Anthem Keeping Vicki Lewis Busy". Cincinnati Post. p. 41. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  4. Everett, Carole J. (2009). "University of Cincinnati College—Conservatory of Music". College Guide for Performing Arts Majors: The Real-World Admission Guide for Dance, Music, and Theater Majors. Peterson's. p. 325. ISBN   9780768926989. Alumni continue to hold key positions in the performing and media arts. Numbered among them are ... Vicki Lewis ...
  5. "Front and back of Alpha and Omega 2 DVD case". DVD Box. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  6. Lewis, Vicki (2010). East of Midnight (CD/album). USA: Betting On the Muse. Liner Notes. 250385.
  7. Voll, Daniel (January 29, 2007). "Nick Nolte Has a Drawer Full of Tourniquets". Esquire . Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  8. "Vicki Lewis Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Vicki Lewis (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 2, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  10. Petski, Denise (August 19, 2019). "Disney Channel Sets Cast For 'Upside-Down Magic' Movie As Production Begins". Deadline. Retrieved August 20, 2019.