Jean louisa kelly now

American actress and singer (born )

"Jean Kelly" redirects here. For other uses, see Jean Kelly (disambiguation).

Jean Louisa Kelly (born March 9, ) is an American actress and singer. After making her film debut as Tia Russell in Uncle Buck () alongside John Candy, she appeared in a wide range of other films including The Fantasticks () and Mr.

Holland's Opus (). From to , she portrayed Kim Warner on the CBS sitcom Yes, Dear.^[3]

Career

Her first professional paying job was as a kid, starring in "Annie" at the Theater by the Sea in Mantunuck, Rhode Island.

She reprised her "Annie" role the following summer at the Candlewood Playhouse in Fairfield, Connecticut.^[4] Before attending college, she already had roles in the original Broadway cast of Sondheim'sInto the Woods (as Snow White) at the age of 15^[4] and understudy to Rapunzel and Little Red Ridinghood, and as Tia Russell in the film Uncle Buck with John Candy.

She also took roles in college productions, including with the Barnard CollegeGilbert and Sullivan Society.^[5]

In the mids, after graduating from Columbia University, Kelly became well known for a series of television commercials she did for MCI long distance,^[6] in which she played a telephone operator who challenged AT&T.

In , she starred as Luisa in the musical film The Fantasticks with Joey McIntyre and Joel Grey, although the film was shelved until The same year, she appeared as Rowena Morgan, the muse for the title character of Mr. Holland's Opus; she was cast while the movie was already in production, replacing another actress.^[7]

In the s, other films followed, including "Origin of the Species," "The Day Lincoln was Shot" and Landfall ().

Kelly appeared Off Broadway at the York Theatre in the title role in Paul McKibbins and B.T. McNicholl's The It Girl, based on the movie It. She also appeared in the York's "Musicals in Mufti" series as Lois Lane in It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman.

In , Kelly voiced the title role in the second season of the animated series Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders.

After several made-for-TV movies, Kelly's broadest exposure came from her roles in situation comedies, first guest starring in such shows as Mad About You, and then as a cast member of the short-lived NBCversion of Cold Feet. From to , she starred as Kim Warner on the long-running sitcom Yes, Dear. In she guest starred in the ABC drama Grey's Anatomy.

After her series ended, she guest starred on numerous television shows and starred in movies of the week.

She recurred as Bernice Pope in the Yahoo production of Sin City Saints.

She played opposite William Fichtner in the movie "The Neighbor" and opposite John Diehl in "Out of the Wild" in In she played opposite Bradley Whitford in "Call of the Wild," and played Jane Doe/Serena May in the James Wan movie "Malignant."^[8]

She released an album of children's music called Color of Your Heart in ^[9][10] In , she released a five-song EP called Willing,^[11] and in she released an album titled "For My Folks", which features a collection of standards.^[12]

Kelly appears as Sarah Kazansky - wife of Val Kilmer's character Tom "Iceman" Kazansky - in the action drama movie Top Gun: Maverick.^[13]

Personal life

Kelly was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter of J.

Joseph Kelly III and Wendy Kelly.^[5][14] Her father was a high school English teacher, and her mother taught piano. She grew up on Linden Street, off Central Street, in Boylston, MA,^[4] eventually moving to Maryland when she was a junior in high school,^[15] and attended Easton High School in Easton, Maryland.^[6] In , Kelly graduated from Columbia University's Columbia College with a Bachelor of Arts in English.^[5]

In , she married attorney James Pitaro.^[14] They have two children.

She is close friends with Jennifer Garner,^[16] having hosted the baby shower for Garner's daughter and interviewed Garner for Self magazine in ^[17][18]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links