Denise Dillon (born May 18, 1951) is an American actress and comedian best known for starring as Toby Pedalbee on the HBO comedy Dream On from 1990 to 1996. Dillon was first known for her stage work and was nominated for a Tony Award on Broadway. Other television credits include spending one season as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1981 and co-starring on the Fox sitcom Women in Prison.[2] She subsequently continued to act in theater and both teaches and performs improv comedy.
Dillon has performed on the Broadway stage, appearing as Agnes in the 1974 revival of Gypsy starring Angela Lansbury;[4] in the 1975 revival of Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth; in the 1980 stage version of Harold and Maude;[5] and as Mickey in the 1983 Gershwin musical My One and Only, starring Tommy Tune and Twiggy, for which she received a nomination for a Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Musical.[6] She later appeared as a replacement cast member in the 2003 Broadway play Enchanted April.[7]
Dillon auditioned for the premiere season of the late night variety television program Saturday Night Live in 1975, and though she was passed over by producer Lorne Michaels, she performed her "Talent Night at the Convent" act during the show's third episode, broadcast October 25, 1975.[8] When she auditioned to be a cast member for the show's sixth season in 1980, Dillon beat out Mercedes Ruehl for the final female cast member slot.[1]
Recurring SNL characters
Debbie, Valley Girl Vickie's (Gail Matthius) best friend
Mary Louise, a mentally disturbed child who scares people with her hand puppet, Sam the Snake
Nadine, the neurotic frequent customer at Roweena's (Gail Matthius) Cut 'n Curl
Pinky Waxman, Leo Waxman's (Gilbert Gottfried) wife and co-host on "What's It All About?"
Dillon appeared as Toby Pedalbee, the Brian Benben's abusive yet loyal assistant, on the HBO cable sitcom Dream On, starting in 1990.[10]
She was the voice of Meadow Morn in the 1983 animated TV special The Magic of Herself the Elf. Other television roles include an episode of Night Court entitled "Educating Rhonda" (Dillon). She played Judy on the TV series comedy Dr. Science (1987).[11] In 1994 she portrayed Roseanne Barr in the made-for-TV film Roseanne: An Unauthorized Biography.[12]
In 2002 Dillon did voice work in the animated film Ice Age.[11]
In regional theatre, Dillon appeared in the new musical Triumph of Love at Center Stage, Baltimore, Maryland, in December 1996, as one of a "comic trio of clowns".[13] She appeared in the Tennessee Williams plays 8 by Tenn at the Hartford Stage in 2003.[14] Dillon starred as Beatrice in the world premiere of Tom Dudzick's Don't Talk to the Actors at Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo, New York in September 2007.[15] In October - November 2010 she appeared in a new musical in "development", Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach at Goodspeed Musicals in Chester, Connecticut.[16] In January 2012 she stars as Berthe in Boeing-Boeing at Hartford Stage.[17]
Dillon has headed the "Improv Nation", based in the Hudson Valley (New York), since 2006.[18] She is an Artist in-Residence at SUNY Ulster where she teaches improvisation and is on the faculty of Primary Stages.[19]
Personal life
In an August 2020 interview with Vulture, Dillon said she was gay and had married Barbara Smiley a year and a half prior. They live in New York's Hudson Valley. Although she was out to most of her colleagues during her time on Saturday Night Live, she was uncertain if producer Jean Doumanian or NBC executive Dick Ebersol were aware, saying, "It was a different time."[1]
References
^ abcHoglund, Andy (August 12, 2020). "Interview: Denny Dillon Reflects on Saturday Night Live's Infamous 6th Season". Vulture. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
^ Gus Wezerek (2019-12-14). "The 'S.N.L.' Stars Who Lasted, and the Ones Who Flamed Out". The New York Times. from the original on 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2019-12-16. Some of the names here will be familiar only to die-hard fans; others, like Murphy, defined what was funny for generations of viewers.
^Krawitz, Susan. . New York House Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
^"'Gypsy', 1974 Broadway Revival". SondheimGuide.com, accessed January 6, 2012
^Gray, Tim (October 11, 1994). "Roseanne: An Unauthorized Biography". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
^Rousuck, J. Wynn. "'Love' changes a few things Theater: Strategic tweaking of music and set adds to the promise of 'Triumph of Love' at Center Stage" 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. The Baltimore Sun. December 19, 1996
^Hernandez, Ernio. "Williams Portrait 8 by Tenn Starts Hartford Stage's 40th Season, Oct. 2-Nov. 2" Archived 2013-01-31 at archive.today. Playbill, October 2, 2003
^Jones, Kenneth. "Kline, Dillon, Stadlen Star in New Showbiz Comedy, 'Don't Talk to the Actors'" 2010-09-21 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill, September 11, 2007
^Jones, Kenneth. "Justin Lawrence Hall, Denny Dillon, Ruth Gottschall, Jim Stanek Will Bite Into Giant Peach Musical in CT" 2010-12-02 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill, September 28, 2010
^Hetrick, Adam. "Tony Nominee Denny Dillon Set for 'Boeing-Boeing' at Hartford Stage" 2012-01-02 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill, November 30, 2011
^"Denny Dillon and the Improv Nation to Appear at Shadowland Theatre" 2011-11-15 at the Wayback Machine. thecatskillchronicle.com (Ellenville, New York), April 14, 2011
^"Meet Our Faculty. Denny Dillon", PrimaryStages.org, accessed January 6, 2012
denny, dillon, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november, 20. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Denny Dillon news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Denise Dillon born May 18 1951 is an American actress and comedian best known for starring as Toby Pedalbee on the HBO comedy Dream On from 1990 to 1996 Dillon was first known for her stage work and was nominated for a Tony Award on Broadway Other television credits include spending one season as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1981 and co starring on the Fox sitcom Women in Prison 2 She subsequently continued to act in theater and both teaches and performs improv comedy Denny DillonBornDenise Dillon 1951 05 18 May 18 1951 age 71 Cleveland Ohio U S Occupation s Comedian actressYears active1973 presentSpouseBarbara Smiley 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Early work 2 2 Saturday Night Live 2 3 Other work 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditDillon was born in Cleveland Ohio She has lived in New York City and Los Angeles before moving to Ulster County New York 3 Career EditEarly work Edit Dillon has performed on the Broadway stage appearing as Agnes in the 1974 revival of Gypsy starring Angela Lansbury 4 in the 1975 revival of Thornton Wilder s The Skin of Our Teeth in the 1980 stage version of Harold and Maude 5 and as Mickey in the 1983 Gershwin musical My One and Only starring Tommy Tune and Twiggy for which she received a nomination for a Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Musical 6 She later appeared as a replacement cast member in the 2003 Broadway play Enchanted April 7 Dillon made her big screen debut in Saturday Night Fever playing Doreen who asks John Travolta s character Tony if she can wipe his forehead citation needed Saturday Night Live Edit Dillon auditioned for the premiere season of the late night variety television program Saturday Night Live in 1975 and though she was passed over by producer Lorne Michaels she performed her Talent Night at the Convent act during the show s third episode broadcast October 25 1975 8 When she auditioned to be a cast member for the show s sixth season in 1980 Dillon beat out Mercedes Ruehl for the final female cast member slot 1 Recurring SNL charactersDebbie Valley Girl Vickie s Gail Matthius best friend Mary Louise a mentally disturbed child who scares people with her hand puppet Sam the Snake Nadine the neurotic frequent customer at Roweena s Gail Matthius Cut n Curl Pinky Waxman Leo Waxman s Gilbert Gottfried wife and co host on What s It All About Celebrity Impressions on SNLAmy Carter Betsy Maxwell Jean Harris Yoko Ono 9 Other work Edit Dillon appeared as Toby Pedalbee the Brian Benben s abusive yet loyal assistant on the HBO cable sitcom Dream On starting in 1990 10 She was the voice of Meadow Morn in the 1983 animated TV special The Magic of Herself the Elf Other television roles include an episode of Night Court entitled Educating Rhonda Dillon She played Judy on the TV series comedy Dr Science 1987 11 In 1994 she portrayed Roseanne Barr in the made for TV film Roseanne An Unauthorized Biography 12 In 2002 Dillon did voice work in the animated film Ice Age 11 In regional theatre Dillon appeared in the new musical Triumph of Love at Center Stage Baltimore Maryland in December 1996 as one of a comic trio of clowns 13 She appeared in the Tennessee Williams plays 8 by Tenn at the Hartford Stage in 2003 14 Dillon starred as Beatrice in the world premiere of Tom Dudzick s Don t Talk to the Actors at Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo New York in September 2007 15 In October November 2010 she appeared in a new musical in development Roald Dahl s James and the Giant Peach at Goodspeed Musicals in Chester Connecticut 16 In January 2012 she stars as Berthe in Boeing Boeing at Hartford Stage 17 Dillon has headed the Improv Nation based in the Hudson Valley New York since 2006 18 She is an Artist in Residence at SUNY Ulster where she teaches improvisation and is on the faculty of Primary Stages 19 Personal life EditIn an August 2020 interview with Vulture Dillon said she was gay and had married Barbara Smiley a year and a half prior They live in New York s Hudson Valley Although she was out to most of her colleagues during her time on Saturday Night Live she was uncertain if producer Jean Doumanian or NBC executive Dick Ebersol were aware saying It was a different time 1 References Edit a b c Hoglund Andy August 12 2020 Interview Denny Dillon Reflects on Saturday Night Live s Infamous 6th Season Vulture Retrieved November 21 2021 Gus Wezerek 2019 12 14 The S N L Stars Who Lasted and the Ones Who Flamed Out The New York Times Archived from the original on 2019 12 14 Retrieved 2019 12 16 Some of the names here will be familiar only to die hard fans others like Murphy defined what was funny for generations of viewers Krawitz Susan Repurpose Reuse Restore Repurpose New York House Magazine Archived from the original on 2011 09 06 Retrieved January 6 2012 Gypsy 1974 Broadway Revival SondheimGuide com accessed January 6 2012 Simon John Review Harold and Maude New York Magazine February 18 1980 1983 Tony Awards Archived 2012 01 05 at the Wayback Machine BroadwayWorld com accessed January 6 2012 Gans Andrew Enchanted April to Close on Broadway Aug 31 Archived 2013 11 03 at the Wayback Machine Playbill July 28 2003 Saturday Night s Children Denny Dillon 1980 1981 Archived 2015 03 24 at the Wayback Machine Splitsider com accessed April 6 2015 Yoko Ono SNL Archives Retrieved 21 April 2022 Kogan Rick Hbo Gets Original With Witty dream Chicago Tribune July 6 1990 a b Denny Dillon Filmography The New York Times accessed January 6 2012 Gray Tim October 11 1994 Roseanne An Unauthorized Biography Variety Retrieved August 23 2018 Rousuck J Wynn Love changes a few things Theater Strategic tweaking of music and set adds to the promise of Triumph of Love at Center Stage Archived 2016 03 04 at the Wayback Machine The Baltimore Sun December 19 1996 Hernandez Ernio Williams Portrait 8 by Tenn Starts Hartford Stage s 40th Season Oct 2 Nov 2 Archived 2013 01 31 at archive today Playbill October 2 2003 Jones Kenneth Kline Dillon Stadlen Star in New Showbiz Comedy Don t Talk to the Actors Archived 2010 09 21 at the Wayback Machine Playbill September 11 2007 Jones Kenneth Justin Lawrence Hall Denny Dillon Ruth Gottschall Jim Stanek Will Bite Into Giant Peach Musical in CT Archived 2010 12 02 at the Wayback Machine Playbill September 28 2010 Hetrick Adam Tony Nominee Denny Dillon Set for Boeing Boeing at Hartford Stage Archived 2012 01 02 at the Wayback Machine Playbill November 30 2011 Denny Dillon and the Improv Nation to Appear at Shadowland Theatre Archived 2011 11 15 at the Wayback Machine thecatskillchronicle com Ellenville New York April 14 2011 Meet Our Faculty Denny Dillon PrimaryStages org accessed January 6 2012External links EditDenny Dillon at IMDb Denny Dillon at the Internet Broadway Database Denny Dillon at the Internet Off Broadway Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Denny Dillon amp oldid 1132276582, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
