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Christine Ebersole

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Christine Ebersole
Ebersole on February 7, 2005
Born (1953-02-21) February 21, 1953 (age 71)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, comedian
Years active1972–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1976; div. 1981)​
Bill Moloney
​
(m. 1988)​
Children3

Christine Ebersole (born February 21, 1953) is an American actress, singer and comedian. She has appeared in film, television, and on stage. She has received two Tony Awards, and a Drama Desk Award as well as a nomination for a Daytime Emmy Award.

Ebersole made her Broadway debut in the play Angel Street (1975). She won two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for playing a prima donna in the musical revival 42nd Street (2001) and for her dual roles as Edith Bouvier Beale and Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale in the original musical Grey Gardens (2009). She was Tony-nominated for Dinner at Eight (2003), and War Paint (2017).

On film, she made her film debut with a minor role as an actress the romantic comedy Tootsie (1982) before portraying Caterina Cavalieri in Academy Award-winning period biographical drama film Amadeus (1984). She has also acted in films such as Mac and Me (1988), Dead Again (1991), Black Sheep (1996), True Crime (1999), The Big Wedding (2013), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and Licorice Pizza (2021).

On television, she got her start on the soap opera Ryan's Hope (1977–1980) and as a cast member of Saturday Night Live (1981–1982). She earned an Emmy Award nomination for her work in One Life to Live. She has co-starred on the TBS sitcom Sullivan & Son (2012–2014), the comedy-drama Royal Pains, the animated series Steven Universe (2018–2019), and the CBS sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola (2019–2024)

Early life, family and education

Ebersole was born outside of Chicago in Winnetka, Illinois, the daughter of Marian Esther (née Goodley) and Robert "Bob" Ebersole.[1][2] Her father was the president of a steel company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[3] She has Swiss-German and Irish ancestry.[4]

Ebersole graduated from New Trier High School in 1971. She attended MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois,[5] class of 1975, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[6]

Career

Ebersole in a Saturday Night Live promotional photo, 1981

She met Marc Shaiman when he was 19 and the musical director of her first club act.[7] She appeared in two different parts on Ryan's Hope in 1977 (as a nurse) and 1980 (as Lily Darnell).

Ebersole was a cast member of Saturday Night Live during 1981–82, the first full season under new producer Dick Ebersol (their similar surnames being a coincidence),[8] acting as "Weekend Update" co-anchor with Brian Doyle-Murray. Among her impersonations were Mary Travers, Cheryl Tiegs, Barbara Mandrell, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Rona Barrett.[9]

Following SNL, she appeared in One Life to Live as daffy Maxie McDermott (receiving an Emmy nomination) and Valerie. She co-starred with Barnard Hughes on the sitcom The Cavanaughs, played the title role in the short-lived sitcom Rachel Gunn, R.N., and guest-starred on Will & Grace, Dolly!, Just Shoot Me, Murphy Brown, Ally McBeal, Samantha Who, Boston Legal, The Colbert Report, and Royal Pains. In 1991, she appeared as the titular Miss Jones in a pilot for an ABC series about a single mother, but the series was not taken up.[10]

She appeared in the 1993 television film adaptation of Gypsy starring Bette Midler, and in the 2000 ABC-TV film Mary and Rhoda starring Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper.

In 2011, she had a recurring role on the TV Land sitcom Retired at 35.[11] In 2014, she played Carol Walsh on the TBS sitcom Sullivan & Son. She has a recurring role on the USA Network television show Royal Pains as Ms. Newberg.[12][13]

Ebersole's films have included Tootsie (1982), Amadeus (1984), Three Men and a Baby (1987), Mac and Me (1988), My Girl 2 (1994), Richie Rich (1994), Black Sheep (1996), and My Favorite Martian (1999).

Stage career

Ebersole has found considerable success on stage. She appeared in Going Hollywood, a musical by David Zippel and Jeremy Shaeffer. She was in the chorus in 1983 with Jerry Mitchell. They were both excited about the possibility of going to Broadway but never made it.[7] She was featured in Paper Moon by Larry Grossman and Ellen Fitzhugh and Carol Hall, which ran at the Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn, New Jersey) in September 1993.[14] Off-Broadway, she has appeared in Three Sisters and Talking Heads, and her Broadway credits include On the Twentieth Century, the 1979 revival of Oklahoma! (as Ado Annie), the 1980 revival of Camelot and the 2000 revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man.

In 2001, she appeared in the Broadway revival of 42nd Street as Dorothy Brock, for which she won her first Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical,[15] She next appeared in the 2002 Broadway revival of Dinner at Eight as Millicent Jordan for which she was nominated for the Tony Award, Featured Actress in a Play.[16] In 2005, she played M'Lynn in the Broadway production of Steel Magnolias.[17]

Ebersole performing in Broadway on Broadway, a free promotional concert for Broadway shows, 2006

In 2006, Ebersole took the dual roles of Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale ("Big Edie") and Edith Bouvier Beale ("Little Edie") in Grey Gardens, a musical based upon the film of the same name. After a sold-out off-Broadway run, Ebersole remained with the roles when the production moved to Broadway in November 2006, and remained with the show through its closing in July 2007. For this role, she won her second Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.[18] She appeared as Elvira in the 2009 Broadway revival of the Noël Coward comedy Blithe Spirit.[19]

She appeared in the musical War Paint, which premiered at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago on June 28, 2016, for a run through August 2016. The show began previews at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway on March 7, 2017, and opened on April 6, 2017. It closed on November 5, 2017. She played the role of Elizabeth Arden, opposite Patti LuPone as Helena Rubinstein. The musical had a book by Doug Wright with the music composed by Scott Frankel (music) and Michael Korie (lyrics).[20][21]

Concerts

Ebersole appears in concerts and cabaret engagements at venues such as the Cinegrill and Cafe Carlyle. She won the 2010 Nightlife Award for Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist in a Major Engagement for her 2009 Café Carlyle cabaret.[22] In 2009 she performed with Michael Feinstein at his club, Feinstein's at Loews Regency, (New York City) in a cabaret titled "Good Friends".[23] She was one of the performers on the Playbill Cruise in September 2011.[24] In November 2011, she performed for two sold-out nights at Birdland in New York City with jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein and his trio.[25]

In 2015, Ebersole toured her show Big Noise from Winnetka, which included the 1938 jazz song Big Noise from Winnetka and a stop in Illinois.[26]

Recording

She also has appeared on several albums. She was featured on the Bright Lights, Big City concept album.[7] She also released an album of Noël Coward songs after browsing through them for scene change music for Blithe Spirit.[27] She also voiced White Diamond in Steven Universe.

Personal life

Ebersole has been married twice, to actor Peter Bergman from 1976 through 1981, and since 1988 to Bill Moloney, with whom she has adopted three children.[28] She lives in Maplewood, New Jersey, with her family.[29]

Ebersole claims to have experienced psychic phenomena.[30] In 2012, Ebersole appeared on InfoWars' radio program The Alex Jones Show, expressing her misgivings about the Federal Reserve System and the Council on Foreign Relations.[31] She has professed belief in the debunked conspiracy theory that the September 11 attacks were carried out by the United States government.[30][32]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Tootsie Linda
1984 Amadeus Caterina Cavalieri
1984 Thief of Hearts Janie Pointer
1988 Mac and Me Janet Cruise
1990 Ghost Dad Carol
1991 Dead Again Lydia Larsen
1992 Folks! Arlene Aldrich
1992 The Lounge People Cynthia Lewis
1994 My Girl 2 Rose Zsigmond
1994 Richie Rich Regina Rich
1996 Black Sheep Governor Evelyn Tracy
1996 Pie in the Sky Mom Dunlap
1997 'Til There Was You Beebee Moss
1999 My Favorite Martian Mrs. Brown
1999 True Crime Bridget Rossiter
2009 Confessions of a Shopaholic TV show host
2010 The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie! Bossom Buddies Singer
2013 The Big Wedding Muffin
2013 The Wolf of Wall Street Leah Belfort
2019 Steven Universe: The Movie White Diamond Voice role
2019 Driveways Linda
2021 Licorice Pizza Lucille Doolittle

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977–80 Ryan's Hope Lily Darnell 12 episodes
1981–82 Saturday Night Live Various 20 episodes
1982 Love, Sidney Nurse Loring Episode: "The Accident"
1983–85 One Life to Live Maxie McDermott Unknown episodes
1984 The Dollmaker Miss Vashinski Television film
1986 Valerie Barbara Goodwin 6 episodes
1986 Acceptable Risks Lee Snyder Television film
1986-89 The Cavanaughs Kit Cavanaugh 26 episodes
1990 American Dreamer Kathleen 2 episodes
1990 Murphy Brown Maddy Episode: "The Bummer of 42"
1991 Empty Nest Laura Episode: "All About Harry"
1992 Rachel Gunn, R.N. Rachel Gunn 13 episodes
1993 Dying to Love You Cheryl New Television film
1993 Gypsy Tessie Tura Television film
1996 Hey Arnold! Lana Vail Voice, episode: "Heat/Snow"
1998 Ally McBeal Marie Stokes Episode: "Just Looking"
1996 An Unexpected Family Ruth Whitney Television film
1998 Just Shoot Me! Margo Langhorne Episode: "How Nina Got Her Groove Back"
1999 Double Platinum Peggy Television film
2000 Mary and Rhoda Cecile Andrews Television film
2001 Will & Grace Candy Pruitt Episode: "Poker? I Don't Even Like Her"
2003 The Electric Piper Pat Dixon Voice, television film
2003 An Unexpected Love Sandy Television film
2004 Crossing Jordan Mrs. Maguire Episode: "Fire in the Sky"
2005–06 Related Renee 10 episodes
2008 Cashmere Mafia Lily Parrish 2 episodes
2008 Boston Legal Sunny Fields Episode: "Indecent Proposals"
2008 Lipstick Jungle Maureen Episode: "Chapter Fifteen: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Prada"
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Hilary Regnier Episode: "Smut"
2009 Samantha Who? Amy Episode: "The Sister"
2009–16 Royal Pains Ms. Newberg 14 episodes
2010 Ugly Betty Frances Episode: "The Passion of the Betty"
2011 Retired at 35 Susan 4 episodes
2012–14 Sullivan & Son Carol Walsh 33 episodes
2013 American Horror Story: Coven Anna-Lee Leighton 2 episodes
2015 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Helene Episode "Kimmy's in a Love Triangle!"
2015-2018 Madam Secretary First Lady Lydia Dalton 4 episodes
2016 Crisis in Six Scenes Eve Episode: "Episode 6"
2016 Search Party Mariel 2 episodes
2018 Pose Bobbi Episode: "Giving and Receiving"
2018–2019 Steven Universe White Diamond Voice, 3 episodes
2018–2019 Blue Bloods Lena Janko 3 episodes
2019–2024 Bob Hearts Abishola Dorothy "Dottie" Wheeler Main role
2020 Steven Universe Future White Diamond Voice, 2 episodes
2021 The Kominsky Method Estelle 2 episodes, Season 3
2024 Accused Debra season 2 episode 5 "Margot's Story"

Theatre

Year Title Role(s) Venue Ref.
1975–76 Angel Street Nancy (Replacement) Lyceum Theatre [33]
1978–79 On the 20th Century Agnes (Understudy) St. James Theatre
1979–80 Oklahoma! Ado Annie Palace Theatre
National Tour
1980-81 Camelot Guenevere National Tour
New York State Theatre
1985 Harrigan 'N Hart Greta Granville Longacre Theatre
1993 Paper Moon Trixie Delight Paper Mill Playhouse [34]
1994 Allegro Emily New York City Center [35]
1994 Lady in the Dark Liza Elliott New York City Center [36]
1996 Getting Away with Murder Dossie Lustig Broadhurst Theatre [33]
1999 Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 performer New York City Center [37]
1999 Mame Mame Dennis Paper Mill Playhouse [38]
2000 Current Events Diana Manhattan Theatre Club [39]
2000 Gore Vidal's The Best Man Mabel Cantwell Virginia Theatre [33]
2000 A Connecticut Yankee Morgan LeFay New York City Center [40]
2001–02 42nd Street Dorothy Brock Ford Center for the Performing Arts [33]
2002–03 Dinner at Eight Millicent Jordan Vivian Beaumont Theatre
2003 Talking Heads Irene Ruddock (in A Lady of Letters) Minetta Lane Theatre [41]
2005 Steel Magnolias M'Lynn Lyceum Theatre [33]
2006–07 Grey Gardens Edith Bouvier Beale/Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale Playwrights Horizons
Walter Kerr Theatre		 [42]
2008 Applause Margo Channing New York City Center [43]
2009 Blithe Spirit Elvira Shubert Theatre [33]
2014 Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Masha Mark Taper Forum [44]
2015 Ever After Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent Paper Mill Playhouse [45]
2016 War Paint Elizabeth Arden Goodman Theatre [46]
2017 Nederlander Theatre [33]

References

  1. ^ Zwecker, Bill (February 16, 1997). "Good 'Ink'". Chicago Sun-Times.
  2. ^ Penn State Alumni Directory. Penn State Alumni Association. 1998. p. 291 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Witchel, Alex (June 3, 2007). "Between a Mother and a Daughter". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Ebersole Hoping A Bit O'luck Falls On 'Cavanaughs'". Chicago Tribune. August 21, 1988.
  5. ^ LeVasseur, Andrea. "Christine Ebersole biography". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  6. ^ Timberg, Scott (October 26, 2011). "Influences: Actress and singer Christine Ebersole" (blog). Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ a b c Cerasaro, Pat (October 22, 2010). "InDepth InterView: Christine Ebersole". broadwayworld.com (Interview).
  8. ^ Hamlin, Jesse."Christine Ebersole wraps up S.F. cabaret" San Francisco Chronicle, April 22, 2010
  9. ^ Gus Wezerek (December 14, 2019). "The 'S.N.L.' Stars Who Lasted, and the Ones Who Flamed Out". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019. Some of the names here will be familiar only to die-hard fans; others, like Murphy, defined what was funny for generations of viewers.
  10. ^ Prouty, Howard H. (1994). "'Miss Jones' (Fri. (12), 9:30-10 p.m., ABC-TV)". Variety TV Reviews 1991-92. Vol. 17. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0824037963. It would be difficult to cram any more stereotypes into the premise of this ... Christine Ebersole is engagingly daffy, but strong-willed as Jones, turning in a far more successful performance acting than she does belting out the blah theme song
  11. ^ Gans, Andrew (January 19, 2011). "New Comedy 'Retired at 35', With Christine Ebersole, George Segal, Jessica Walter, Debuts Jan. 19". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 22, 2011.
  12. ^ Gans, Andrew. "'Royal Pains' TV Series, with Tony Winner Ebersole, Debuts June 4" Playbill, June 4, 2009
  13. ^ Abrams, Natalie. "First Look: NBA star Muggsy Bogues cameos on 'Royal Pains'" Entertainment Weekly, May 28, 2015
  14. ^ Klein, Alvin (September 26, 1993). "THEATER; 'Paper Moon' Changes Its Outlook as a Musical". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Jones, Kenneth and Simonson, Robert. "Tony-Winner Ebersole Returns to '42nd Street' March 12" Playbill, March 12, 2002
  16. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 17, 2003). "Christine Ebersole Surprised By 2003 Tony Nomination". playbill.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020.
  17. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Still Teasing: 'Steel Magnolias' Plays Its 100th Performance June 30" Archived 2010-05-23 at the Wayback Machine Playbill, June 30, 2005
  18. ^ Gans, Andrew, and Jones, Kenneth."'Grey Gardens 'Will Close on Broadway July 29" Archived 2011-11-03 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, July 2, 2007
  19. ^ Gans, Andrew."'Blithe Spirit' Revival, with Lansbury, Ebersole and Everett, Opens on Broadway March 15" Archived 2013-12-11 at the Wayback Machine Playbill, March 15, 2009
  20. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole Apply 'War Paint', Starting Tonight" Playbill, June 28, 2016
  21. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole Apply 'War Paint' on Broadway, Starting March 7" Playbill, March 7, 2017
  22. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Tony Winner Christine Ebersole Begins Carlyle Engagement Jan. 11" Archived 2011-01-12 at the Wayback Machine Playbill, January 11, 2011
  23. ^ Holden, Stephen. "Channeling a Chummier Time, in Tandem" The New York Times, September 11, 2009
  24. ^ Rudetsky, Seth. "Onstage & Backstage: A Playbill Cruise With Christine Ebersole, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Andrea Martin and Debra Monk" Archived 2011-11-30 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, Sep 26, 2011
  25. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Christine Ebersole Will Offer Strings Attached Concerts at Birdland" Playbill, November 22, 2011
  26. ^ DeVore, Sheryl (October 20, 2015). "Christine Ebersole returns to roots with 'Big Noise from Winnetka'". Chicago Tribune.
  27. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Someday I'll Find You": Ebersole Will Record Blithe Spirit Interlude Songs for CD" Playbill, March 31, 2009
  28. ^ Drexel, Paul. "Night and Day" New Jersey Monthly, December 19, 2007
  29. ^ La Gorce, Tammy (October 14, 2007). "For Future Teachers, a New Look on the Runway". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2008.
  30. ^ a b Witchel, Alex (June 3, 2007). "Between a Mother and a Daughter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  31. ^ Ebersole, Christine (April 7, 2012). "The Alex Jones Show_Actress Singer Christine Ebersole pt1" (Interview). Interviewed by Alex Jones. InfoWarsReserve. Retrieved May 5, 2024 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ "Actress Singer Christine Ebersole Pt2". The Alex Jones Show. April 8, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2023. What I said to him was, 'All of my politics are shaped by 9/11.That's how my politics are shaped.' He said, 'Well, what do you mean, you think it's some kind of like vast Muslim conspiracy?' I said, 'No, no, darling. The terrorists are homegrown. They're right here, at the highest levels of government.' … [When] they tell you that two buildings, 210-story steel buildings, fell in ten seconds on their own footprint after burning for 45 minutes because of jet fuel—no. I don't think that's the truth.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g "Christine Ebersole – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB".
  34. ^ Daniels, Robert L. (September 27, 1993). "Paper Moon". Variety. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  35. ^ Holden, Stephen (March 5, 1994). "Review/Theater: Allegro; Revival of a Famous Pair's First Flop". New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  36. ^ Holden, Stephen (May 6, 1994). "Review/Theater; Fashion, Freud And Frigidity, With 40's Fizz". New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  37. ^ Marks, Peter (March 27, 1999). "THEATER REVIEW; No-Frills 'Follies' Still Has Songs and Legs". New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  38. ^ Lyons, Donald (September 15, 1999). "THIS 'MAME' IS LAME". New York Post. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  39. ^ Isherwood, Charles (June 14, 2000). "Current Events". Variety. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  40. ^ Isherwood, Charles (February 11, 2001). "A Connecticut Yankee". Variety. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  41. ^ Brantley, Ben (April 7, 2003). "THEATER REVIEW; Life a Bit of a Mess? Just Carry On, Dear". New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  42. ^ McCarter, Jeremy (November 2, 2006). "The East Hampton Star". New York Magazine. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  43. ^ Brantley, Ben (February 9, 2008). "An Indomitable Diva Played by, Well, an ..." New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  44. ^ Meisel, Myron. "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike: Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. No. 13 February 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  45. ^ Isherwood, Charles (June 1, 2015). "Review: 'Ever After,' a Slipperless Cinderella Tale, at the Paper Mill Playhouse". New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  46. ^ Oxman, Steven (July 19, 2016). "Chicago Theater Review: 'War Paint' Starring Patti LuPone, Christine Ebersole". Variety. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
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