Kristen Johnston
Kristen Angela Johnston (born September 20, 1967)[2] is an American actress. Best known for her work on television sitcoms, she twice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Sally Solomon in 3rd Rock from the Sun. She starred as divorce attorney Holly Franklin on The Exes, and as recovering addict Tammy Diffendorf on Mom. She has also appeared in such films as Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000), Ice Age (2002), Music and Lyrics (2007), and Bride Wars (2009).
Kristen Johnston | |
|---|---|
Johnston at the SAMHSA Special Recognition Award Ceremony in 2014 | |
| Born | Kristen Angela Johnston September 20, 1967 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | New York University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] |
Education
Johnston earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drama at New York University.[3]
Career
Johnston made her professional stage debut with New York's Atlantic Theater Company, founded by playwright David Mamet, where she appeared in many productions including As You Like It and Stage Door. She performed with the Naked Angels Theater Company in The Stand-In and Hot Keys, and with New York Stage and Film in Kim's Sister with David Strathairn and Jane Adams. For her performance in The Lights at Lincoln Center Theater, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Best Supporting Actress.[4]
A Carsey-Werner casting agent who saw her in The Lights recommended her for the role of Sally Solomon on the TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun.[5] After numerous auditions in 1996, she won the part[5] and starred on the show from 1996 to 2001, winning two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.[6]
She made her feature film debut in The Debt, winner of Best Short at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. In 1995, she played Kate in the film Backfire! She played Esmeralda, a sea hag in Thrill Ride, a family friendly film released in 2016. Her other television credits include guest-starring roles on Chicago Hope, Hearts Afire, and The 5 Mrs. Buchanans. She narrated Microscopic Milton on the Disney Channel. Her significant roles in commercially successful movies include Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me in 1999, Ice Age, and Music and Lyrics in 2007. In 1998, she was a spokesmodel for the Clairol company.
Johnston appeared in the sixth and final season of Sex and the City. In the "Splat!" episode, her character, Lexi Featherston, an aging party girl, accidentally falls out of a window and dies (after saying, "I'm so bored I could die"), prompting Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) to reexamine her life. In 2005, Johnston was featured in six episodes of NBC's ER. She was cast as Patsy in a proposed American remake of the British TV series Absolutely Fabulous, but it was never picked up by a network. She had a recurring role in the 2009 season of Ugly Betty, and had a single-episode appearance as a dominatrix in the second season opener of Bored to Death.[7][8]
She starred in the TV Land sitcom The Exes, which ran for four seasons from November 30, 2011 to September 16, 2015. In 2018, she began a recurring role on the CBS sitcom Mom, and was upgraded to series regular for season 7 (2019–2020).[9]
Personal life
Her father was former Wisconsin Republican state senator Rod Johnston.[10]
In her autobiography, Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster (2012), Johnston discusses an addiction to alcohol and pills that began when she was in high school. She wrote that at the height of her addiction, she drank on average two bottles of wine per evening, and that she had been sober for five years. Through her charity SLAM, NYC (Sobriety, Learning and Motivation), she mentors high school girls from New York City with addiction and self-esteem issues[11] and has campaigned for the city to build a recovery high school.[12]
Johnston said she was diagnosed in November 2013 with lupus myelitis, which caused her to miss filming some episodes of her series The Exes. A character played by Leah Remini was introduced in season 3 to cover her absence.[13][14]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Orkly Kid | Unknown | Short film |
| 1992 | Amazonia | Unknown | Short film |
| 1993 | The Debt | Alice Kosnick | Short film |
| 1995 | Backfire! | Kate | |
| 1999 | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | Ivana Humpalot | |
| 2000 | The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas | Wilma Slaghoople | |
| 2002 | Ice Age | Sylvia (voice) | Deleted scene |
| 2002 | Austin Powers in Goldmember | Dancer | Uncredited |
| 2005 | Strangers with Candy | Coach Divers | |
| 2007 | Music and Lyrics | Rhonda | |
| 2009 | Bride Wars | Deb | |
| 2009 | Finding Bliss | Irene Fox | |
| 2011 | Life Happens | Francesca | |
| 2012 | Vamps | Mrs. Van Helsing | |
| 2012 | Bad Parents | Tracy | |
| 2014 | Lovesick | Katherine | |
| 2016 | Thrill Ride | Esmeralda | |
| 2018 | Swiped | Professor Barnes | |
| 2018 | For the Love of George | Psychic Sara | |
| 2018 | Hurricane Bianca 2: From Russia with Hate | Roksana | |
| 2019 | The Wedding Year | Barbara | |
| 2020 | Small Town Wisconsin | Alicia |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Chicago Hope | Dr. Wendy Smythe | Episode: "Genevieve and Fat Boy" |
| 1994 | The 5 Mrs. Buchanans | Zena | Episode: "Bad News Bert: There's Peanuts in the Peanut Butter" |
| 1995 | Hearts Afire | Margot | Episode: "John and Georgie's Not-So-Excellent Adventure" |
| 1996 | London Suite | Grace Chapman | Television film |
| 1996–2001 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Sally Solomon | 139 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1997, 1999) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1998) Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or TV Film (1997) Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (1997) Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (1997—1999) |
| 1997 | Microscopic Milton | Narrator | Television film |
| 2004 | Sex and the City | Lexi Featherston | Episode: "Splat!" |
| 2004 | ER | Head Nurse Eve Peyton | 6 episodes |
| 2007 | Kim Possible | Warmonga | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Francie | Episode: "Too Close for Christine" |
| 2009–2010 | Ugly Betty | Helen | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Bored to Death | Mistress Florence | Episode: "Escape from the Dungeon!" |
| 2011–2015 | The Exes | Holly Franklin | 64 episodes |
| 2013 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Kirstie | Waitress Maddie | Episode: "Maddie vs. Maddie" |
| 2014 | Modern Family | Brenda | Episode: "Strangers in the Night" |
| 2015 | Getting On | Marla Pounder | Episode: "Please Partake of a Memorial Orange" |
| 2017 | Daytime Divas | Anna Crouse | 6 episodes |
| 2018–21 | Mom | Tammy Diffendorf | 57 episodes Guest (season 5); Recurring (season 6); Main (seasons 7–8) |
| 2019 | Amphibia | Braddock (voice) | Episode: "Prison Break"; replaced by April Winchell afterwards |
| 2022 | Our Flag Means Death | The Widow Evelyn Higgins | 2 Episodes |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Lights | Rose | Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play |
| 1997 | Baby Anger | Mary Kay Paterson[15] | |
| 1998 | The Skin of Our Teeth | Sabina[16] | |
| 2001 | The Smell of the Kill | Nicky[17] | |
| 2001–2002 | The Women | Sylvia | |
| 2002 | Twelfth Night | Maria[18] | |
| 2004 | Aunt Dan and Lemon | Aunt Dan | |
| 2004 | The Baltimore Waltz | Anna | |
| 2004 | Much Ado About Nothing | Beatrice | |
| 2004 | The Skin of Our Teeth | Sabina | |
| 2007 | Scarcity | Martha | |
| 2006–2007 | Love Song | Joan [19] | |
| 2007–2009 | So Help Me God | Lily Darnley | Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play (2007, 2010) |
| 2008 | The Understudy | Theresea Rebeck |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | The Lights | Nominated | [20] |
| 1996 | Golden Globe Award | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Nominated | [21] |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated | [22] | ||
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||||
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Won | [23] | |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | [24] | ||
| 1998 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | [23] | |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | [25] | ||
| 1999 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Won | [23] | |
| 2010 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Play | So Help Me God! | Nominated | [26] |
Autobiography
- 2012: Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster, Gallery Books, ISBN 978-1451635065
References
- ^ Triggs, Charlotte (January 19, 2009). . People. Vol. 71. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
- ^ "Kristen Johnston: Biography". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
- ^ "Kristen Johnston Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^ "The 39th Annual Drama Desk Awards presented by The Drama Desk at the Criterion Center Stage Right, Jun 05, 1994 – 1994 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Play". ibdb.com. The Broadway League. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ a b "Kristen Johnston". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
- ^ "Kristen Johnston – Television Academy – Awards & Nominations". emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ "'Ugly Betty' scoop: Kristen Johnston in, Paula Abdul out!". ew.com (Entertainment Weekly). Meredith Corporation. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ "Bored to Death S2 Ep 1: Escape From the Dungeon!". hbo.com. Home Box Office, Inc. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ Gelman, Vlada (July 18, 2019). "'Mom': Kristen Johnston Promoted to Series Regular for Season 7". TVLine.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ Aikin, Jefferson J.; Fehring, Thomas H. (2017). Historic Whitefish Bay: A Celebration of Architecture and Character. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781467137591.
- ^ Collins, Clark (March 10, 2012). "Kristen Johnston talks about her drug addiction, her life-threatening illness, her recovery, and her new memoir, 'Guts'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ^ Johnston, Kristen (July 19, 2013). "Turning Addiction Into a Sideshow". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
- ^ Johnston, Kristen (December 17, 2013). "[Untitled]". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- ^ Blumm, K. C. (December 18, 2013). "Kristen Johnston Diagnosed with Lupus Myelitis". People. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- ^ "Kristen Johnston Takes a Baby Break from 3rd Rock". Playbill. 1997-06-09. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ Isherwood, Charles (1998-06-29). "The Skin of Our Teeth". Variety. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ Taylor, Markland (2001-08-03). "The Smell of the Kill". Variety. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ "Kristen Johnston Joins Stiles in Central Park Twelfth Night". Playbill. 2002-04-26. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ "Molly Regan Steps in for Ailing Kristen Johnston in London Love Song". broadway.com.
- ^ "Kristen Johnston Awards". IBDB. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "Kristen Johnston". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "The 3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ a b c "Kristen Johnston". Television Academy. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "The 4th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "The 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "Kristen Johnston Awards". IBDB. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
External links
- Kristen Johnston at the Internet Broadway Database
- Kristen Johnston at IMDb
- Kristen Johnston Downstage Center interview American Theatre Wing, October 2007