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Joely Fisher

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Joely Fisher
Fisher in May 2014
Born (1967-10-29) October 29, 1967 (age 57)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Alma materEmerson College
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
  • songwriter
  • producer
Years active1985–present
Spouse
Christopher Duddy
​
(m. 1996)​
Children3
Parent(s)Eddie Fisher
Connie Stevens
Relatives

Joely Fisher (/ˈdʒoʊli/ JOH-lee;[1] born October 29, 1967[2]) is an American actress and singer, the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Connie Stevens, and half-sister of actress Carrie Fisher. Her breakthrough came in 1994, starring as Paige Clark in the ABC sitcom Ellen, for which she received a Golden Globe Award nomination. Fisher later starred in the 1999 comedy film Inspector Gadget and had leading roles in the Lifetime comedy-drama Wild Card (2003–2005), and Fox sitcom 'Til Death (2006–2010).

The national members of the trade union SAG-AFTRA elected Fisher as secretary-treasurer on September 2, 2021.[3][4]

Early life

[edit]

Fisher was born on October 29, 1967, in Burbank, California, one of two children born to Edwin "Eddie" Fisher and Connie Stevens (née Concetta Ingolia), both entertainers.[2] Her father was Jewish, whose parents immigrated to the United States from the Russian Empire, whereas her mother was Catholic and of Ashkenazi Jewish, Irish, and Italian descent.[5][6][7] Fisher has a younger sister, Tricia Leigh Fisher. Her parents divorced in 1969, after which she and Tricia were raised by Stevens.[2] Her father married a total of five times, with Stevens as his third wife. Joely and Tricia Fisher had two older half-siblings, Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher, from her father's first marriage, with Debbie Reynolds.

Joely Fisher and her sister toured the world with Stevens, attending different schools and learning from tutors. Fisher graduated from Beverly Hills High School, then attended Emerson College in Boston, as well as the University of Paris for one semester.[2] In the summer of 1987, Fisher attended an acting retreat conducted in Italy by coach Sandra Seacat.[8]

Fisher was named Miss Golden Globe at the 1992 Golden Globe Awards.[9]

Career

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Her first film role was Averil in the comedy Pretty Smart (1987), which starred her sister, Tricia. Joely then played Kris in TV's Schoolbreak Special drama Dedicated to the One I Love (1991) opposite Danielle Ferland. Next came the feature I'll Do Anything (1994) starring Nick Nolte, which helped her career as bigger roles followed. She also had a variety of guest roles on series such as Growing Pains, Blossom, Caroline in the City, The Golden Palace, The Outer Limits, Grace Under Fire and Coach.

Fisher in November 2007

In 1994, she was cast as Paige Clark on the sitcom Ellen, first appearing in the second season. She played the role for four seasons until the series ended in 1998. That same year, she earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.[10] She followed Ellen with the role of Dr. Brenda Bradford in the film Inspector Gadget (1999).

Fisher's Broadway debut was as a replacement in the revival of Grease (1994). She was also a replacement in the revival of Cabaret (1998). Her vocal range is alto.

Fisher's career in music not only landed her on Broadway but she was featured in albums. Her most noted album was Tradition: a Family at Christmas which she, her mother Connie Stevens all sang various Christmas carols. She sang her own solo "Grown Up Christmas List". Her vocals are also heard singing "One For My Baby" in Harold Arlen's album STAGE.

From 2003 until 2005, Fisher starred in the Lifetime network's drama series Wild Card as insurance investigator Zoe Busiek. After that, she had a recurring role as Lynette's boss Nina on Desperate Housewives. From 2006 until 2010, Fisher starred opposite actor Brad Garrett as Joy Stark in the Fox TV sitcom 'Til Death.

In 2021, Fisher starred as Irene Cody in the Lifetime film Girl in the Basement which was inspired by the Fritzl case.[11]

Fisher serves on the advisory board of Voters of Tomorrow, an advocacy organization that promotes political engagement among Generation Z.[12]

Personal life

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Fisher married cinematographer Christopher Duddy in 1996. They have three daughters, two who were born in 2001 and 2006,[13] and a third who was adopted in September 2008.[14] She is also stepmother to Duddy's two sons, Cameron, who is the bass guitarist for the country music band Midland, (b. 1986) and Collin (b. 1988).[14] As of at least 2004, the family lives in Los Angeles next to Fisher's sister Tricia, with whom she is close.[15]

In late 2008, she became an artist ambassador for Save the Children. She traveled to Xai-Xai, Mozambique, to visit with children that are part of the child sponsorship programs.[16]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1987 Pretty Smart Averil
1994 I'll Do Anything Female D Person
The Mask Maggie
The Companion Stacy TV movie
Mixed Nuts Susan
1997 Seduction in a Small Town Sandy Barlow TV movie
Jitters Rita Domino TV movie
Family Plan Lauren Osborne
1998 Perfect Prey Elizabeth Crane TV movie
Thirst Susan Miller TV movie
1999 Coming Unglued Laura Hartwood TV movie
Kidnapped in Paradise Beth Emerson TV movie
Inspector Gadget Dr. Brenda Bradford/Robo-Brenda
2000 Nostradamus Lucy Hudson
2005 Slingshot Emma
2007 Cougar Club Lulu
Murdering Mama's Boy Claire Short
2009 You Kimberly
2012 Cupid, Inc. Eve Lovett TV movie
2014 Fatal Acquittal Cassidy Miller TV movie
Happy Anniversary Honey Jill Short
2016 Search Engines Judy
The Disappointments Room Psychiatrist
2017 The Tribes of Palos Verdes Janet
2018 By the Rivers of Babylon Judith
2019 Fall Girls Simone Wellington
2020 Looking for Mr. Wonderful Barbara
2021 Girl in the Basement Irene Cody
The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu Charlotte Kelly
2024 Reagan/Quigley '85 Joan Quigley Short

Television

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Year TV show Role Notes
1989 Starting from Scratch Sylvia Episode: "Kate Leaves Home"
Something Is Out There Leanne Healy Episode: "The Keeper"
1990 Growing Pains Sally Garner Guest Cast: Season 1-2
1991 Blossom Bambi Episode: "Tough Love"
CBS Schoolbreak Special Kris Stone Episode: "Dedicated to the One I Love"
1993 The Golden Palace Paula Webb Episode: "Runaways"
1994 ABC Weekend Specials Princess Pamina (voice) Episode: "The Magic Flute"
1994–98 Ellen Paige Clark Main Cast: Season 2-5
1996 The Dana Carvey Show Paige Clark Episode: "The Mountain Dew Dana Carvey Show"
Caroline in the City Jill Episode: "Caroline and the Ex-Wife"
The Outer Limits Amy Episode: "Out of Body"
1996–98 Superman: The Animated Series Lana Lang (voice) Guest Cast: Season 1-3
1997 Coach Paige Clark Episode: "Viva Las Ratings"
Grace Under Fire Paige Clark Episode: "Vegas"
The Drew Carey Show Paige Clark Episode: "Drew Gets Married"
1998 Genesis Awards Herself/Host Main Host
1999 Love, American Style Jeannie Segment: "Love and The Heimlich Maneuver"
2000 Mad TV Herself Episode: "Episode #6.6"
Grosse Pointe Hope Lustig Recurring Cast
Normal, Ohio Pamela Theresa Gamble-Miller Main Cast
2001 Danny Molly Main Cast
2002 Hollywood Squares Herself/Panelist Episode: "Episode May 1, 2002"
Intimate Portrait Herself Episode: "Joely Fisher"
2002–03 Baby Bob Lizzy Collins Spencer Main Cast
2003–05 Wild Card Zoe Busiek Main Cast
2004 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Segment: "Ellen DeGeneres"
2005 Desperate Housewives Nina Fletcher Recurring Cast: Season 2
2006 Jeopardy! Herself Episode: "2006 Celebrity Jeopardy! Game 8."
2006–10 'Til Death Joy Stark Main Cast
2007 The Bronx Bunny Show Herself Episode: "Episode #1.9"
2008 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Segment: "Mariska Hargitay"
2009 Hollywood Lives Herself Recurring Guest
2011 Celebrity Close Calls Herself Episode: "Peter Fonda/Joely Fisher/Annie Potts"
Wizards of Waverly Place Meg Robinson Episode: "Alex the Puppetmaster"
2012 RuPaul's Drag U Herself/Guest Professor Episode: "Time to Grow Up"
The Haunting of... Herself Episode: "Connie Stevens"
2014–15 Celebrity Name Game Herself/Celebrity Player Recurring Guest
2014–16 Last Man Standing Wendi Guest: Season 3, Recurring Cast: Season 4-5
2016 Hollywood Game Night Herself/Celebrity Player Episode: "It's My Jane in the Box"
Celebrity Family Feud Herself Episode: "Episode #3.4"
Scorpion Lorraine Episode: "The Fast and the Nerdiest"
Modern Family Maggie Braithwaite Episode: "The Alliance"
2017 Battle of the Network Stars Herself/Contestant Episode: "ABC Stars vs. Variety"
2018 The '80s Greatest Herself Recurring Guest
The '90s Greatest Herself Recurring Guest
Station 19 Denise Episode: "No Recovery"
2019 9-1-1 Moira's Sister Episode: "Triggers"
2019–20 The Very Very Best of the 70s Herself Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2
2022 The Very Very Best of the 80s Herself Episode: "Action Movie Stars"
How I Met Your Father Sue Episode: "Jay Street"
2023 Dark Side of Comedy Herself Episode: "Ellen DeGeneres"
Fantasy Island Joy Summers Episode: "The Urn"
2024 S.W.A.T. Caroline Wolf Episode: "Allegiance"
Theater
Year Production Role Notes
1994 Grease Betty Rizzo
1998 Cabaret Sally Bowles

Discography

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  • 1993: Tradition: A Family at Christmas; she sang 3 songs with her mother Connie Stevens and sister Tricia Leigh Fisher. She has 1 solo: "Grown Up Christmas List"
  • 1995: S.T.A.G.E. Music of Harold Arlen, "One for my Baby"
  • 1998: Lerner, Lowe, Lane and Friends, "Come Back to Me"
  • 2000: Adler, Brock, and Coleman, "Welcome to Holiday Inn"

References

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  1. ^ Carrie Fisher's Sisters Interview on Star's Death, January 3, 2017, archived from the original on December 22, 2021, retrieved January 23, 2020
  2. ^ a b c d "Joely Fisher Biography: Television Actress (1967–)". Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks). Archived from the original on February 13, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  3. ^ Maddaus, Gene (September 2, 2021). "Fran Drescher Elected President of SAG-AFTRA, Rival Joely Fisher Wins Secretary-Treasurer". Variety. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "SAG-AFTRA Members Elect Fran Drescher President of Union and Joely Fisher as Secretary-Treasurer". www.sagaftra.org. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  5. ^ Biography, tcm.com; accessed April 3, 2017.
  6. ^ Genealogy.com – Ancestry of Carrie Fisher Archived February 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine [Dead link]
  7. ^ 'Jewish Sinatra' tells all Archived 2012-11-20 at archive.today [Dead link]
  8. ^ Fisher, Joey; Myers, Marc. "Joely Fisher on Kate Bush". The Wall Street Journal. January 23, 2018.
  9. ^ "Miss Golden Globe: Through The Years". Access Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017. Slide #11.
  10. ^ "Joely Fisher". www.goldenglobes.com.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 6, 2020). "Lifetime Greenlights 'Girl In The Basement' Movie Starring Stefanie Scott, Judd Nelson & Joely Fisher; Elisabeth Rohm Directs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "About Us". Voters of Tomorrow. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Gee, Alison (February 2, 2006). "Joely Fisher Has a Baby Girl". People. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Jordan, Julia (September 29, 2008). "'Til Death's Joely Fisher Adopts a Baby Girl". People. Retrieved September 30, 2008. ...the recent adoption of a newborn baby girl, Fisher's rep, Brit Reece, tells People exclusively. New daughter Olivia Luna Fisher-Duddy joins older brothers, Cameron, 22, Collin, 20, and sisters, Skylar, 7, and True, 2.
  15. ^ "In Step With: Joely Fisher". Parade. July 18, 2004. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013.
  16. ^ "Actress Joely Fisher Joins Save the Children to Promote Child Sponsorship Programs" (Press release). Save the Children. September 8, 2008. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
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