Tilly, Jennifer

T.M.C.E.
(Talent Management Company)
7985 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite 550
West Hollywood, CA 90046
USA

Date of Birth
16 September 1958, Harbor City, California, USA

Birth Name
Jennifer E Chan

Nickname
The Unabombshell

Height
5' 6½" (1.69 m)




Biography

An actress who always attracts audiences' attention, Jennifer Tilly is by turns funny, sexy, compassionate, compelling and often all at once.

Her breakthrough movie role tapped into all of those qualities failing singer Blanche "Monica" Moran in Steve Kloves' The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) opposite brothers Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges. A few years later, Jennifer earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of the aspiring but hopelessly untalented actress Olive Neal in Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway (1994). She has become well-known to filmgoers for both major studio and independent films. In Tom Shadyac's blockbuster Liar Liar (1997) she kept pace with Jim Carrey. Her steamy performance opposite Gina Gershon helped make Lana Wachowski's and Andy Wachowski's Bound (1996) a breakout indie success at the Sundance Film Festival and then in theatrical release. It also expanded Jennifer's already significant gay and lesbian following.

She successfully cultivated another fan base with the revitalization of the "Child's Play" horror comedy franchise. For Ronny Yu's Bride of Chucky (1998), the filmmakers turned to Jennifer to create the character who would spark the series in a new direction. She met the challenge and established a new horror icon in Tiffany. This Halloween, in Rogue Pictures' all-new Seed of Chucky (2004), written and directed by series creator Don Mancini, Jennifer again takes the popular series to the next level; she stars as Tiffany and as herself, the deadly doll's favorite actress, who soon becomes an unwitting hostess in more ways than one.

Jennifer's pitch-perfect voiceover work as Tiffany is not the only instance of her being able to incarnate a character from the vocal chords out. Families know her distinctive cadences from the recent Disney hits Home on the Range (2004) (in which Jennifer voiced a new-age bovine), directed by Will Finn and John Sanford; The Haunted Mansion (2003) (in which Jennifer acted from the neck up only), directed by Rob Minkoff; and the Pixar blockbuster Monsters, Inc. (2001) (voicing Mike's love interest Celia), directed by Pete Docter, David Silverman and Lee Unkrich.

She began her acting career as a teenager, putting herself through the theater program at Stephens College in Missouri by winning writing competitions. She then headed to Los Angeles. While she continued to act on the stage (earning a Dramalogue Award for her performance in "Vanities"), movies and television immediately came calling for the actress with the unique voice and visage.

Over the years Jennifer has made memorable appearances on some of television's best series, including "Hill Street Blues" (1981) (in a recurring dramatic role), "Cheers" (1982), "Moonlighting" (1985), "It's Garry Shandling's Show." (1986) and "Frasier" (1993). In addition, she has been a favored guest on a number of talk shows, from "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962) to "The Arsenio Hall Show" (1989) to (currently) "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992). Those interview segments have encouraged viewers to expect the unexpected from her interplay with the host and the studio audience.

Her many films over a two-decade span include Neil Jordan's High Spirits (1988), Oliver Stone's The Doors (1991), Richard Benjamin's Made in America (1993), Roger Donaldson's The Getaway (1993), Joe Pytka's Let It Ride (1989), P.J. Castellaneta's Relax... It's Just Sex (1998), Michael Radford's Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000), Peter Bogdanovich's The Cat's Meow (2001) (in which she played Louella Parsons).

Jennifer has also continued to act on the stage. She won a Theater World Award for her performance in off-Broadway's "One Shoe Off" and starred on Broadway in the 2001 revival of "The Women" (which was later taped for, and broadcast on, PBS).

Spouse
Sam Simon     (1984 - 1991) (divorced)

Trade Mark

Her voice

Trivia

Went to high school at Belmont High School, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Sister of actress Meg Tilly. She also has an older brother, Steve Tilly and a younger sister named Rebecca Tilly.

Attended Stephens College, in Columbia, Missouri (majored in drama)

Has one cat, Corky.

She has won a Theater World Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her work in Tina Howe's play "One Shoe Off" at The Joseph Papp Theater. She also received a Dramalogue Award for her work in the play "Vanities". She won a Gemini Award for Best Actress for her role in Showtime's made-for-TV film Heads (1994) (TV) and a nomination for a Cable ACE Award for her work on "It's Garry Shandling's Show." (1986).

Avid lover of fashion and has 400 pairs of shoes.

Lenny von Dohlen, who co-starred with Jennifer in Bird of Prey (1995) and her sister Meg Tilly in Leaving Normal (1992), said, "They have a fountain of emotion that keeps coming, even after someone yells cut, but the fountain comes from different bodies of water," he adds. "Meg is an ocean, Jennifer is a rushing river."

In high school, everyone called Jennifer, Meg, and their younger sister Becky the Three Musketeers.

She ranked #23 in Celebrity Sleuth 25 Sexiest Women of 1995

Measurements: 36C-24-34 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

She has played a hot, ditzy, sexy love interest for Kelsey Grammer's Frasier Crane character when he was trying to get over other women on "Cheers" (1982) and again on "Frasier" (1993) (though she was not playing the same character).

Is 1/2 Caucasian and 1/2 Chinese

In 2005, won the Ladies-Only No Limit Texas Hold 'Em event at the World Series of Poker, becoming the first celebrity to win an open (as opposed to celebrity-only) WSOP tournament and earn a World Series bracelet. She beat out exactly 600 other women to take the championship.

Initially involved in Los Angeles Equity waiver theater, she was a one-time member for several years with Lonny Chapman's Group Repertory Theatre.

Followed up her World Series of Poker win with a victory in the "World Poker Tour" (2003) Ladies Night, to be broadcast during the fourth season of WPT.

Her real-life boyfriend is professional poker player Phil Laak (aka "The Unabomber"). They met at a charitable invitational poker tournament.

Formerly engaged to actor Lou Diamond Phillips.

Personal Quotes

Everyone said that if you want to be a real actor, go to New York. If you want to sell out, go to LA. And I thought - I want to sell out!

A way you can get really good abs in film is you get your makeup artist to paint shadows--faux washboard. But if you see me in a movie and I have great abs, it means I have a great body double.

Spending time with Jim on a stage is an incredibly weird experience! I found myself unable to act seriously! Hard to shoot with the master of comedy!

I still haven't made a film that defines who I am.

"If I was like some of the characters I played, I'd probably be dead by now".

I was the most popular person in my family. I was like a celebrity. All my sisters would fight over who got to sleep with me. I was always thinking up all the games, telling all the stories, and had the best clothes. I was the entertainment. We didn't have television and we didn't have movies, and I was always the boss. I'd write these plays and I'd make everybody be in them. Once, I had this idea that we'd put all the beds on top of one another so there would be only one bed, but it would be a really big, tall bed. Then we'd take turns sleeping on that bed while everybody else slept on the floor. Like, for a month. Everyone thought that was a great idea. I don't know why. I guess because we grew up way, way out in the country and we never had any neighbors.

On her curves and her frequent cleavage baring characters; "People are always accusing me of having implants."

[On Seed of Chucky (2004)] "It's really gruesome, but it's a heartwarming story."

About Madonna: "We went to a club once. The doorman opened the rope for me but closed it on Madonna - he didn't recognize her. She wouldn't have gotten in, but I put in a good word for her." (In Style magazine, Sept/2006)

Everyone had a nickname. Mine couldn't be Jennifer "the boob" Tilly! (On her new poker career while on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno".)

That Hollywood thing, where everybody hugs and kisses everybody else - I always stiffen. It's an assumed familiarity. It's phony.

I have to tell you, I'm not like Demi Moore, where the tears trickle prettily down my cheeks. My whole face screws up and it's like, 'Oh please, get a room.' [on why she never chooses roles that involve crying]

(1996) Meg and I didn't have any connections in Hollywood. I think it's amazing that two girls who grew up really poor in rural Canada came to Hollywood and have successful careers and get nominated for Oscars out of nowhere-out of an idea I had. The thing is, we're tremendously aggressive; we say, "This is what I want, why can't that be me?" I just knew I had to be an actress. I had some vision-this was when I was seven or eight-of myself at 40, a housewife with curlers in her hair, watching TV and crying because I had never followed my dream of being an actress. I always remember having that vision.

(1996) The first time I met Quentin Tarantino was so funny. He said, 'Jennifer, there's something I've always wanted to ask you.' and I'm thinking, 'Which of my distinguished movies is he going to ask about'. He goes, 'Moving Violations! How did you do that scene in the anti-gravity chamber?' I thought he was making fun of me, but then I realized he was serious. My friend who was with me said, 'How come I've never heard you mention Moving Violations?' So I brushed it off and said, 'Well, it was like my first movie.' Quentin went, 'No, no, no, the first movie you ever did was No Small Affair, with Jon Cryer and Demi Moore.' And I'm thinking, 'If you weren't Quentin Tarantino, I'd think you were a stalker.'



Bound (Unrated)
HighRoller Magazine (Dec 2005/Jan 2006) (Jennifer Tilly -It's Her World Now)
JENNIFER TILLY 11X14 COLOR PHOTO
American Strays
Hide and Seek
Relax It's Just Sex
Made in Romania
JENNIFER TILLY 11X14 COLOR PHOTO
Man With a Gun
Jennifer Tilly Lollipop Signed Photo
Sexy Halloween Costumes World Poker Tour Casino Gambler Girl Jennifer Tilly Lady Luck Costume Leg Avenue By Fenvy Small, Black/Red
Jericho Mansions
World Poker Tour Winners: Dave Ulliott, Joe Hachem, Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Jennifer Tilly, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Gordon, Scotty Nguyen
Signed Laak, Phil / Tilly Jennifer 8x10

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Winfrey, Oprah

Harpo Studios, Inc.
(Oprah's Production Company)
1058 West Washington Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60607
USA
Phone: (312) 633-1000

Born: Oprah Gail Winfrey
January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA 

Oprah’s life until she was 6 years old, was spent on a farm in Kosciusko, where she lived with her grandmother. Oprah says that her grandmother significantly contributed to her having a successful by teaching her to read and write. Her grandmother taught her a love of reading and books, which may have contributed to her founding Oprah's book club. Oprah’s grandmother told her time after time that she was “gifted" reinforcing her confidence at a young age that she was special. These are probably the things that gave her the courage to face the life of obstacles that was her future.

At age six, Oprah was sent to live with her mother in Milwaukee, where she suffered sexual abuse. When she was 9, she was raped by a cousin, sexually abused by a male friend of her mom's, and Oprah’s uncle molested her. She kept the abuse, anger, and pain to herself. By age 13, she started to become rebellious, and had run away and got into trouble. Her mother sent her to a juvenile detention facility, but there were no available beds. She was then shipped off to Nashville to live with her father. “As strict as he was,” Oprah says, “he had some concerns about me making the best of my life, and would not accept anything less than what he thought was my best.”

Her father lay down the rules, enforcing a curfew and demanding she achieve good grades while encouraging her to be the best that she could be. Through his positive encouragement, she was able to turn her life around. Oprah enrolled and was accepted to Tennessee State University where studied performing arts and speech. At 17 years old, she was hired for her first job at WVOL radio in Nashville. About two years later, she left that job for a position as a news anchor with WTVF-TV, also in Nashville. Oprah relocated to Baltimore in 1976, joining WJZ-TV as a news anchor and within two years, she was hosting “People Are Talking,” while continuing as a news reporter and anchor woman, where she remained for eight years.

 

Oprah's House

(Click to Enlarge)

In 1984, Oprah got a job with WLS-TV to host, “AM Chicago.” Its prime competition was Phil Donahue and its ratings were very low. Within one month of Oprah hosting the show its ratings had far exceeded those of Donahue’s. Oprah’s show had become one of the most popular in Chicago. By September 1985, the show’s name had been changed to “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” In less than a year, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” had expanded to an hour. By 1986, it was the number one talk show in the nation. In 1987, Oprah’s talk show had received two “Daytime Emmy Awards,” for “Outstanding Host,” “Outstanding Direction,” and “Outstanding Talk/Service Program.” In 1988, Oprah won a second Emmy for “Outstanding Talk/Service Program.” The same year Oprah received the International Radio and Television Society’s “Broadcaster of the Year Award.” Oprah was only the fifth woman and also the youngest person ever to win the award.

Oprah was a great fan of Alice Walker’s, “The Color Purple.” In a recent TV interview, Oprah said that she walked to work with a backpack filled with copies of the book. She would stop people along the way and give them copies. She felt everyone should read “The Color Purple.” In 1985, Oprah auditioned and was chosen, to play Sophie in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “The Color Purple.” Her performance in The Color Purple was an instant hit. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for “Best Supporting Actress.” She was also nominated for an Oscar for her performance. Oprah loved acting. She was accepted for a part in “Native Son,” an adaptation of the 1940 classic by Richard Wright. The critics lauded her performance. Oprah had a desire to produce quality entertainment. This prompted her to form her own production company, HARPO Productions Inc. (Oprah spelled backwards.) The company was based in Chicago. In October 1988, HARPO Productions acquired all rights for the “Oprah Winfrey Show.” Oprah now controlled her own destiny. She was the first woman in history to own and produce her own talk show.

In 1989, HARPO Productions produced, “The Women of Brewster Place.” Oprah starred in the mini-series, as well as being the Executive Producer. In 1993, “There Are No Children Here,” and “Before Women Had Wings,” were produced by HARPO. Oprah starred in and produced both of these shows. For ten years Oprah had been working on what she referred to as her “baby.” In 1998, the film, “Beloved,” was released at the box office. It was a complete failure and Oprah’s first. She was devastated.

Oprah’s memories of a childhood scarred by sexual abuse motivated her to initiate a campaign to establish a national database for convicted child abusers in 1991. She testified before a US Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of a National Child Protection Act. President Clinton passed the “Oprah Bill,” in 1993. This database is now available to all law enforcement agencies. Time Magazine voted Oprah one of the “100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century.” In 1998, the National Academy of Television Arts and Science presented her with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Oprah’s Book Club selections became instant bestsellers. For her service to books and authors, she was presented with the National Book Foundation’s 50th Anniversary gold medal in 1999. In 2000, Oprah’s “Angel Network,” began presenting a “Use Your Life Award,” of $100,000. To people who are “using their life to improve the life of others.” In 2003, Forbes Magazine listed Oprah as the first African-American woman to become a billionaire. Oprah Winfrey was born facing almost insurmountable obstacles. She has overcome them all to give America a lasting legacy, including Oprah magazine. Oprah has walked through the fire. Instead of letting this fire overtake her life, she has become a woman forged in fire.

Up Close: Oprah Winfrey
The Oprah Winfrey Show: 20th Anniversary Collection
Life
Oprah Winfrey: "I Don't Believe In Failure" (African-American Biography Library)
The World According to Oprah: An Unauthorized Portrait in Her Own Words
Beloved
Oprah: A Biography
O's Big Book of Happiness: The Best of O, The Oprah Magazine: Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews, and Inspiration
The Oprah Phenomenon
O's Guide to Life: The Best of O, The Oprah Magazine (Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews and Inspiration)
Oprah Winfrey Speaks: Insights from the World's Most Influential Voice
Finding Oprah's Roots - Finding Your Own

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Abdul, Paula

Fan Mail Address:

Paula Abdul
c/o Jeff Ballard Public Relations
4814 North Lemona Avenue
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
USA

Paula Abdul, Inc.
Rosner & Ullman
(Company)
9200 W. Sunset Blvd.
Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90069
USA
Phone: (310) 470-4500


Date of Birth
19 June 1962, San Fernando, California, USA

Birth Name
Paula Julie Abdul

Height
5' 2" (1.57 m)

Mini Biography

Paula Abdul grew up in the San Fernando Valley, California. She began taking dance lessons when she was eight. She attended Van Nuys High School, where she was senior class president and head cheerleader. After graduating in 1980, she started college at Cal State-Northridge, majoring in TV and radio. After joining the L.A. Lakers cheerleaders, she became head cheerleader/choreographer after only a few months, eventually dropping out of college to dance and choreograph full-time. She was recruited by The Jacksons to choreograph their 1984 "Torture" video, the first in a long list of videos and movies she would choreograph. She branched out into singing with her first CD, "Forever Your Girl", which had lackluster sales until the single "Straight Up" exploded onto the charts in December 1988 and she has been a popular singer/dancer ever since, enhanced by her stint as a judge on the hit series "American Idol" (2002).

Her father (Harry Abdul) is of Sephardic Jewish background from Syria. Her mother is also Jewish and was born in Canada. Her parents have lived in Syria, Brazil, and Canada - and this varied background has contributed to incredibly different stories in the press about her nationality and/or religion. Daughter of Harry Abdul (once a livestock trader in Brazil) and Lorainne Abdul (former assistant to film director Billy Wilder, grew up in Hollywood, California. Since the age of seven, she sung and danced in community musical theatre groups while traveling around America. She took tap dance lessons as well, in which she was awarded a scholarship to tap dancing school. Later on in life, she attended Cal State-Northridge College in which she majored in Broadcast radio. During that time, she auditioned for the Los Angeles Lakers NBA Cheerleading team, and that led her to a spot as a cheerleader on the squad earning some $50 a game during her freshman year.

Later on she decided to take up choreography, working with artists such as the Jacksons and the Rolling Stones. Nowadays, she organises dance camps for young children to come to and have fun during the summer. Paula has won many musical awards, such as a Grammy, 7 MTV video awards, 2 Emmy awards, and 2 People's Choice Awards. On top of all that she's had two #1 hit albums and seven #1 hit singles. To add to that she has a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. She has done well for herself, and plans to write/sing/choreograph for as long as she can.
IMDb Mini Biography By: dviper98

Spouse
Brad Beckerman     (24 October 1996 - 1997) (divorced)
Emilio Estevez     (29 April 1992 - 10 May 1994) (divorced)

Trivia

Choreographed videos for several artists such as George Michael, Deborah Gibson, Dolly Parton, Janet Jackson, and ZZ Top.

Former L.A. Lakers cheerleader.

Grammy award winning singer.

Dancer, Choreographer.

She appeared in and choreographed Janet Jackson's "Nasty" and "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" music videos.

She said a few lines on Chunky A's (Arsenio Hall) song "Dope, The Big Lie." The song appears on the Chunky A album "Large And In Charge.".

Paula spent her honeymoon with ex-husband Emilio Estevez in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Her first album, "Forever Your Girl", took over 2 years to reach the top of Billboard's album charts in 1990 and spawned four #1 singles.

Her father is of Syrian Jewish descent and her mother is a Canadian Jew. Her parents divorced when she was a child.

Had 6 #1 hits from 1989-1991. They include "Straight Up", "Forever Your Girl", "Cold Hearted", "Opposites Attract", "Rush Rush", and her last #1 on September 1991 "The Promise Of A New Day".

Measurements: 34B-23-36 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Her 1989 #1 hit "Straight Up" was ranked #81 on VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs.

In a guest appearance on "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" (1999) on 18 May 2004, she remarked that she is no longer a vegetarian.

When she was growing up, Michael Bolton was her babysitter.

Has a star on Hollywood Boulevard.

3/24/05: A Los Angeles court sentenced her to two years probation and ordered her to pay $1100 after she pleaded no contest to an involvement in a hit-and-run incident in December of 2004.

Has an older sister named Wendy

Her favorite love song is "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack.

Former daughter-in-law of Martin Sheen and Janet Sheen

Former sister-in-law of Ramon Estevez, Renée Estevez and Charlie Sheen.

Big fan of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.

Ranked #85 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.

She has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Co-wrote, with Kara DioGuardi, Kylie Minogue's UK #1 hit "Spinning Around".

Her idol is Gene Kelly. She used to wish that he was her father.

Personal Quotes

[on her style of choreography] When people expect me to go right, I'll go left. I'm unpredictable.

When you wish upon a star, you just might become one.

Where Are They Now

(February 2003) Working on a new album

(May 2005) She is a judge on Fox Television's reality show, "American Idol" (2002).

(May 2005) Is one of three judges on the wildly successful hit show "American Idol" (2002).


Straight Up
Greatest Hits: Straight Up!
Forever Your Girl
Rush, Rush
Straight Up (Single Version)
Video Hits (Paula Abdul)
Cold Hearted
Paula Abdul - Greatest Hits
Dance Like There's No Tomorrow
Opposites Attract
Paula Abdul's Get Up and Dance!

Paula Abdul: A Real-Life Reader Biography
Spellbound
I'm Just Here For The Music
Vibeology
Blowing Kisses In The Wind
Paula Abdul: Under my Spell Live [VHS]

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