New York City native Julia Elizabeth Scarlett Louis Dreyfus was born January 13, 1961. Her family history is quite rich and varied; her father Gérard Louis Dreyfus is a French billionaire, and her cousin Robert Louis Dreyfus owned the sports company Adidas from 1993 to 2001.
Raised in Bethesda, Maryland, Louis Dreyfus finished her initial schooling at Holton-Arms School. For her secondary education she attended Northwestern University and it was here she met future husband Brad Hall.
Graduating in 1982, Louis Dreyfus went directly to popular late night sketch show Saturday Night Live. Some of her recurring roles included the female televangelist April May June, Consuela, and Patti Lynn Hunnsucker. She remained there from 1982 until 1985. Fellow cast members at this time included Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Martin Short.
During her time on Saturday Night Live, Louis Dreyfus made several crucial contacts, including Larry David. David would later become a co-writer for the wildly successful sitcom Seinfeld that would make Louis Dreyfus a star.
In 1989, Seinfeld began its first season. Beside Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards, Louis Dreyfus began carving out her character. But reception of the show was somewhat slow at first. All the cast members were still trying to gain their bearings and determine exactly what they wanted their characters to be. Many credit Alexander with keeping the show afloat in this first unsure season.
But ratings steadily grew, characters solidified, and eight more seasons followed. When all was said and done, Louis Dreyfus and cast could claim a type of success and fame very few other actors ever reach. After the nine years, she had earned two Golden Globe nominations (one win), five Screen Actors Guild Award nominations (two wins), and seven Emmy nominations (one win) for the role of Elaine Benes.
Many fans doubted whether any of the Seinfeld gang could rebound and reclaim their former level of success. And it has been a struggle. Louis Dreyfus’ first sitcom, Watching Ellie, was quickly cancelled. She did, however, secure a recurring role on the television series Arrested Development, with Justin Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Jeffrey Tambor, and David Cross.
But in 2005, if any curse existed, it was officially broken. Louis Dreyfus began a new television series entitled The New Adventures of Old Christine. For her role, she walked away with the 2006 Emmy for Lead Actress.
On May 13, 2006, she also achieved another notable milestone. She hosted Saturday Night Live, becoming the only female cast member to return as host.
Louis Dreyfus was married to Brad Hall in 1987. The couple has two sons, having to hide both pregnancies during the filming of Seinfeld. Louis Dreyfus and Hall are still together.
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