Denny Dillon (born May 18, 1951)[ She subsequently continued to act in theater and both teaches and performs improv comedy.
]
Early life
Dillon was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
Career
Early work
Dillon has performed on the Broadway theatre stage, appearing as Agnes in the 1974 revival of Gypsy starring Angela Lansbury;[ "'Gypsy', 1974 Broadway Revival". SondheimGuide.com, accessed January 6, 2012] in the 1975 revival of Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth; in the 1980 stage version of Harold and Maude;[Simon, John. "Review. 'Harold and Maude'". New York Magazine. February 18, 1980] and as Mickey in the 1983 Gershwin musical My One and Only, starring Tommy Tune and Twiggy, for which she received a nomination for a Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Musical.[ "1983 Tony Awards" . BroadwayWorld.com, accessed January 6, 2012] She later appeared as a replacement cast member in the 2003 Broadway play Enchanted April.[Gans, Andrew. Enchanted April to Close on Broadway Aug. 31" . Playbill, July 28, 2003.]
Dillon made her big screen debut in Saturday Night Fever, playing Doreen, who asks John Travolta's character, Tony, if she can wipe his forehead.
Saturday Night Live
Dillon auditioned for the premiere season of the late night variety television program Saturday Night Live in 1975, and though she was passed over by producer Lorne Michaels, she performed her "Talent Night at the Convent" act during the show's third episode, broadcast October 25, 1975.[ "Saturday Night's Children: Denny Dillon (1980-1981)" , Splitsider.com, accessed April 6, 2015] When she auditioned to be a cast member for the show's sixth season in 1980, Dillon beat out Mercedes Ruehl for the final female cast member slot.
- Recurring SNL characters
-
Debbie, Valley Girl Vickie's (Gail Matthius) best friend
-
Mary Louise, a mentally disturbed child who scares people with her hand puppet, Sam the Snake
-
Nadine, the neurotic frequent customer at Roweena's (Gail Matthius) Cut 'n Curl
-
Pinky Waxman, Leo Waxman's (Gilbert Gottfried) wife and co-host on "What's It All About?"
- Celebrity Impressions on SNL
Later work
Dillon provided the voice of Meadow Morn in the 1983 animated TV special The Magic of Herself the Elf. Other television roles include the role of Judy on the 1987 TV comedy series Dr. Science and a 1988 appearance on the Night Court episode "Educating Rhonda".[ "Denny Dillon Filmography". The New York Times, accessed January 6, 2012]
Dillon began her role as Toby Pedalbee, loyal assistant to Martin Tupper (Brian Benben), in the series Dream On in 1990.[Kogan, Rick. "Hbo Gets Original With Witty`dream". Chicago Tribune. July 6, 1990]
She portrayed Roseanne Barr in the 1994 made-for-TV movie Roseanne: An Unauthorized Biography.[
]
In regional theatre, Dillon appeared in the new musical Triumph of Love at Center Stage, Baltimore, Maryland, in December 1996, as one of a "comic trio of clowns".[Rousuck, J. Wynn. "'Love' changes a few things Theater: Strategic tweaking of music and set adds to the promise of 'Triumph of Love' at Center Stage" . The Baltimore Sun. December 19, 1996] She appeared in the Tennessee Williams plays 8 by Tenn at the Hartford Stage in 2003.[Hernandez, Ernio. "Williams Portrait 8 by Tenn Starts Hartford Stage's 40th Season, Oct. 2-Nov. 2" . Playbill, October 2, 2003] Dillon starred as Beatrice in the world premiere of Tom Dudzick's Don't Talk to the Actors at Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo, New York in September 2007.[Jones, Kenneth. "Kline, Dillon, Stadlen Star in New Showbiz Comedy, 'Don't Talk to the Actors'" . Playbill, September 11, 2007] In October - November 2010 she appeared in a new musical in "development", Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach at Goodspeed Musicals in Chester, Connecticut.[Jones, Kenneth. "Justin Lawrence Hall, Denny Dillon, Ruth Gottschall, Jim Stanek Will Bite Into Giant Peach Musical in CT" . Playbill, September 28, 2010] In January 2012 she stars as Berthe in Boeing-Boeing at Hartford Stage.[Hetrick, Adam. "Tony Nominee Denny Dillon Set for 'Boeing-Boeing' at Hartford Stage" . Playbill, November 30, 2011]
Dillon has headed the "Improv Nation", based in the Hudson Valley (New York), since 2006.[ "Denny Dillon and the Improv Nation to Appear at Shadowland Theatre" . thecatskillchronicle.com (Ellenville, New York), April 14, 2011] She is an Artist in-Residence at SUNY Ulster where she teaches improvisation and is on the faculty of Primary Stages.[ "Meet Our Faculty. Denny Dillon", PrimaryStages.org, accessed January 6, 2012]
Personal life
In an August 2020 interview with Vulture, Dillon said she was gay and had married Barbara Smiley a year and a half prior. They live in New York's Hudson Valley. Although she was out to most of her colleagues during her time on Saturday Night Live, she was uncertain if producer Jean Doumanian or NBC executive Dick Ebersol were aware, saying, "It was a different time."[
]
External links
