Jane Curtin was born on September 6, 1947, in Wellesley, Massachusetts. While attending university, she decided that comedy was her true love and dropped out in 1968. She traveled with the comedy troupe, The Proposition for four years, and worked with Fred Grandy to write and star in the play Pretzels, before landing her first major role in 1975.
On SNL, Curtin often played serious and reasonable parts, which served as a sharp contrast to those played by some of her zanier fellow cast members. At the time, the show’s lineup included Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Garrett Morris, many of whom went on to highly successful careers in big screen comedies. Curtin also anchored the famous Weekend Update segment on the show, a post which would later be taken over by Brad Hall, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon, Norm MacDonald, Colin Quinn, Tina Fey, and Jimmy Fallon, and Amy Poehler. It is the longest running segment on the show, and has also remained one of the most popular.
Unlike many of her fellow co-stars who ventured into the world of film after their departure from SNL, Curtin continued to work on the small screen. In 1984, the first episode of Kate & Allie hit the airwaves. Playing two divorced mothers living together, Curtin and Susan Saint James quickly won over audiences. The series lasted for five years, with Curtin taking home two Emmys for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.
Curtin’s other major television success was her role as Dr. Mary Albright on 3rd Rock From the Sun. Co-starring John Lithgow, Kristen Johnston, French Stewart, and Joseph Gordon Levitt, the series followed a family of aliens experiencing life on earth. Curtin was the love interest of Dick Solomon (John Lithgow), the leader of the expedition. This series also lasted five years, ending in 2001. Curtin also co-starred with Fred Savage in the short-lived series Crumbs.
Her movie appearances include a starring role in Coneheads, which also included Dan Aykroyd, Phil Hartman, Jason Alexander, Sinbad, and Chris Farley; Geraldine’s Fortune, with Mary Walsh; and The Shaggy Dog, with Tim Allen, Kristin Davis, Danny Glover, and Robert Downey Jr.
Curtin has been married to Patrick Lynch since 1975. They met at a hockey game and have been inseparable ever since. Curtin is a mother to her daughter and only child, Tess.
YUDDY
