Constance Shulman

Last updated

Constance Shulman
Born
Constance Ann Shulman

(1958-04-04) April 4, 1958 (age 66)
Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma mater University of Tennessee
OccupationActress
Years active1987–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2, including Gus Birney

Constance Ann Shulman [1] (born April 4, 1958 [2] ) is an American actress. In 1987, Shulman originated the role of Annelle in the first production of Steel Magnolias off Broadway. She later appeared in films Fletch Lives (1989), Men Don't Leave (1990), and Fried Green Tomatoes (1991). She voiced Patti Mayonnaise in the animated sitcom Doug (1991–99) and the 1999 film Doug's 1st Movie . She played Yoga Jones in the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black from 2013 to 2017, for which she received three Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Contents

Life and career

A native of Johnson City, Tennessee, [3] Shulman is one of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Lipner Shulman, [4] a Jewish-American couple who had recently relocated from Fall River, Massachusetts. [3] She is also the granddaughter of Judge Sadie Lipner Shulman. [5] [1] In 1980, she graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in both speech and theater. [6] She moved to New York City to study acting at the Circle in the Square Theatre School and pursue an acting career. [7] In 1987, Shulman originated the role of Annelle in the first production of Steel Magnolias on Off-Broadway. [8] In 1989, she made her screen debut in the comedy film Fletch Lives , playing Cindy Mae. She later had supporting parts in films Lost Angels (1989), Men Don't Leave (1990), and Fried Green Tomatoes (1991).

On television, Shulman worked as a voice actress, playing Patti Mayonnaise on Doug from 1991 to 1999. [9] In the early 1990s, Shulman appeared in a series of Kraft mayonnaise commercials. [10] She was also a regular cast member in the short-lived 1996 ABC sitcom, The Faculty , playing the best friend of Meredith Baxter's character, [11] and the Dolly Parton unaired CBS sitcom Heavens to Betsy (1994). [12] In the late 1990s Shulman left the screen to raise her two children. [7]

In 2013, Shulman was cast in a recurring role as "Yoga Jones" in the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black . Along with the rest of the cast, she received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2015, 2016 and 2017. [13] She left the series after five seasons in 2017 and appeared in the series finale in 2019. She later appeared in films Nasty Baby (2015) and Most Likely to Murder (2018) and guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , Broad City , and The Blacklist .

In 2015, Shulman starred in off-Broadway production of Barbecue receiving Barbecue nomination. [14] In 2018, Shulman received positive reviews and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play nomination for her performance in the play Bobbie Clearly. [15] [16] [17] In 2019 she performed in the Broadway revival of The Rose Tattoo . [18] In 2021, Shulman starred in the independent films Giving Birth to a Butterfly playing a former actress like Norma Desmond, [19] and Strawberry Mansion . Both films have received positive reviews from critics. [20] [21] In 2022, she had a recurring role in the HBO Max comedy series, Search Party and later was cast as a series regular in the Showtime comedy The Curse . [22] In 2023 she starred in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of The Best We Could. [23]

Personal life

She is married to fellow actor Reed Birney, and their daughter Gus Birney is an actress. [24]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989 Fletch Lives Cindy Mae
1989 Lost Angels Beautician
1990 Men Don't Leave Carly
1990 Reversal of Fortune PharmacistUncredited
1991 He Said, She Said Make-Up Girl
1991 McBain Dr. Blazier
1991 Fried Green Tomatoes Missy
1993 Weekend at Bernie's II Tour Operator
1999 Doug's 1st Movie Patti MayonnaiseVoice role
1999 Sweet and Lowdown Hazel
2008A Jersey ChristmasConnie
2009Finding Jean LewisConnie LewisShort film
2015 Nasty Baby Bishop's Girlfriend
2016 Better Off Single Unemployment Worker
2017SylvioTina
2017The Broken OnesRowland
2018Mama JaneJaneShort film
2018 Most Likely to Murder Lowell's Mom
2020Central StandardPoppy
2020SmithtownCindy Cohen
2021 Giving Birth to a Butterfly Monica
2021 Strawberry Mansion Martha
2022 Funny Pages Mrs. Ochs
2024 Darla in Space Leona Peterson
TBA Caravan Margaux

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989 The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Bonnie SaylesEpisodes: "Here's Why You Should Lock Your Bathroom Door" and "Here's a Little Night Music"
1991 Lethal Innocence Nell WillisTelevision film
1991–1992 Loving MaggieRecurring role
1991–1999 Doug Patti MayonnaiseVoice role
Main role, 52 episodes
1994 Heavens to Betsy Donna6 episodes
1996 The Faculty Shelly Ray13 episodes
2013–2017; 2019 Orange Is the New Black Yoga Jones Recurring role, 48 episodes
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2015–17)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2014 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Daycare ManagerEpisode: "Wednesday's Child"
2017 Broad City OdaEpisode: "Sliding Doors"
2017 Star vs. the Forces of Evil Milly SparklesVoice role, 1 episode
2018 The Blacklist FionaEpisode: "Ilyas Surkov (No. 54)"
2019 OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Dr. SphinxsonEpisode: "Radical Rescue"
2022 Search Party Helen3 episodes
2023– The Curse ElizabethRecurring role

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References

  1. 1 2 "Miss Shulman, Mr. Taylor". The Daily News Journal . June 15, 1975. p. 22. Retrieved August 30, 2023. See also:
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