Lesley Ann Warren | |
|---|---|
 Warren in 2009 | |
| Born | (1946-08-16)August 16, 1946 (age 79) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | Lesley Warren |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1963–present |
| Spouses | |
| Partner(s) | Jeffrey Hornaday (1977–1985) |
| Children | 1 |
Lesley Ann Warren (born August 16, 1946) is an American actress and singer.
She made her Broadway debut in110 in the Shade in 1963. In 1965 she received wide recognition for playing the title role in the television musical production ofCinderella. She then had starring roles in the Disney musical filmsThe Happiest Millionaire (1967) andThe One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968).
In the 1970s, Warren worked mostly on television, receiving aGolden Globe nomination for playing Dana Lambert in the CBS drama seriesMission: Impossible (1970–71). In 1978, she won aGolden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for theNBC miniseriesHarold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue. In 1983, Warren was nominated for anAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Norma Cassidy inVictor/Victoria. She received two additional Golden Globe nominations for performances inSongwriter (1984) andFamily of Spies (1990).
Her other film appearances includeRace for the Yankee Zephyr (1981),A Night in Heaven (1983),Choose Me (1984),Clue (1985),Burglar (1987),Cop (1988),Life Stinks (1991),Pure Country (1992),Color of Night (1994),The Limey (1999), andSecretary (2002).
Warren was born on August 16, 1946, in Manhattan, the daughter of real estate agent William C. Warren (born Woronoff), and the former Carol Margot Dorothea Verblow, a nightclub singer who migrated to the US fromEastbourne, England.[1][2][3] She has a younger brother, Richard Lewis Warren.[4] Her family is Jewish, with roots inRussia on both sides.[5]
She attended theProfessional Children's School at the age of six andThe High School of Music & Art at the age of 13.[5]
Warren began training as a ballet dancer at the age of 6, entering theSchool of American Ballet in 1961. The following year she made a tape of herself singing the Queen of the Night aria fromThe Magic Flute (the first and only time she sang opera).[citation needed] She entered theActors Studio at the age of 17 — reputedly the youngest applicant ever to be accepted. Her Broadway debut came in 1963 in the musical110 in the Shade. She won theTheatre World Award for her performance in the 1965 flop musicalDrat! The Cat![6]
Warren achieved her first major television success in the title role ofRodgers and Hammerstein'sCinderella in 1965.[3] Her television appearances through the decade includedDr. Kildare,Gunsmoke,The Mod Squad,Love, American Style, andThe Carol Burnett Show.
Her film debut in the 1967 musical comedyThe Happiest Millionaire was the last movieWalt Disney produced before his death. Warren would again share the screen withJohn Davidson the following year in the musical filmThe One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band. She placed No. 15 on theLaurel Awards list for Female New Face in 1968.[citation needed]
Notable in television roles throughout the 1970s, Warren was leading ladyDana Lambert during the 1970–71 season of the CBS action dramaMission: Impossible. Her performance earned aGolden Globe nomination forBest Supporting Actress.[7] Additional TV movies and miniseries of this time includeThe Daughters of Joshua Cabe (1972) andThe Letters (1973).
Warren appeared in two feature films during the decade,Pickup on 101 (1972) andHarry and Walter Go to New York (1976). In between films, she returned to the stage to portrayScarlett O'Hara in the 1973 Los Angeles production of the musicalScarlett, though poor reviews prevented the intended Broadway run.[8]
Warren played a fatefully and fatally gullible psychiatric patient oppositePeter Falk andGeorge Hamilton in the 1975Columbo episode "A Deadly State of Mind". Warren also playedLois Lane in the 1975 TV specialIt's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman, adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name. (Warren would screen test for the role of Lois Lane in the 1978Superman film, ultimately cast withMargot Kidder.)
Other television credits includeThe Legend of Valentino (1975),Betrayal (1978), andPearl (1978). She received critical acclaim, as well as theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 1978, for theNBC miniseriesHarold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue.[9] Warren delved into the antics ofThe Muppet Show as the guest star of athird season episode in 1979.
In 1981, Warren returned to the big screen starring alongsideKen Wahl,George Peppard, andDonald Pleasence inRace for the Yankee Zephyr, a New Zealandsuspense-action-thriller film directed byDavid Hemmings. The following year, she played ditzygun moll Norma Cassidy inBlake Edwards' musical comedyVictor/Victoria for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe andAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress.[3] She went to star in the 1983 romantic dramaA Night in Heaven withChristopher Atkins; critics widely panned the film.[10] Warren received another Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for starring oppositeWillie Nelson andKris Kristofferson in the 1984 musical comedy filmSongwriter.[9] That same year, she had a leading role in the love triangle dramaChoose Me withKeith Carradine andGenevieve Bujold.[11] She turned down a chance to audition for theKathleen Turner role inRomancing the Stone.[12] In 1985, she starred as one of the prime murder suspects, Miss Scarlet, in the comedy film version of the popular board gameClue.[13]
Warren played supporting roles in a number of movies, includingBurglar (1987) withWhoopi Goldberg,Cop (1988) withJames Woods,Worth Winning (1989) withMark Harmon,Life Stinks (1991) withMel Brooks andPure Country (1992) withGeorge Strait. InColor of Night (1994) Warren played anymphomaniac; the film was poorly received, and she was nominated for aGolden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress. However, it was successful on the home video market. On television, she went to star inBeulah Land (1980),Portrait of a Showgirl (1982),Evergreen (1985) andBaja Oklahoma (1988). She receivedPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie andGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film nominations forFamily of Spies in 1990.[9] Warren also played Princess Jeanetta in the 1987Faerie Tale Theatre episode "The Dancing Princesses", an adaptation of the fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". In 1986, Warren was prominently featured inBob Seger's popular music video for his hit song "American Storm". In 1989, she appeared in theAerosmith video "Janie's Got a Gun", wherein she played Janie's mother. She was also featured in a video for theEagles' "Life in the Fast Lane". In 1995, she co-starred oppositeBen Kingsley in the television filmJoseph. In 1997, Warren returned to Broadway, starring inDream, a musical revue featuring the lyrics ofJohnny Mercer. She had a major role inSteven Soderbergh'sThe Limey (1999), starringTerence Stamp.
In the 2000s, Warren appeared in a number of independent films, most notably the 2002 comedy-dramaSecretary, playing the mother of the title character.
She had recurring roles on the NBC sitcomWill & Grace from 2001 to 2006 asWill Truman's father's mistress and in 2005 in the ABC comedy-dramaDesperate Housewives asSusan Mayer's mother.[3] Other television credits includedTouched by an Angel,The Practice,Crossing Jordan andLess than Perfect. From 2008 to 2012, Warren played the role of Jinx Shannon, the lead character's alcoholic mother in theUSA Network drama seriesIn Plain Sight. While working on that show, Warren was offeredMary Steenburgen's role inStep Brothers (2008) but had to turn it down because of scheduling conflicts.
Warren appeared in the filmsPeep World (2010),Jobs (2013),I Am Michael (2015) and3 Days with Dad (2019). In 2013, she reunited withClue castmatesChristopher Lloyd andMartin Mull when they guest-starred in an episode ofPsych, and again with Martin Mull in 2015 guest-starring onCommunity. In 2016, she had a recurring role in the Starz comedyBlunt Talk and in 2018 appeared in the Netflix superhero seriesDaredevil as Esther Falb.[14] In 2019, she co-starred in the short-lived Lifetime comedy-drama seriesAmerican Princess,[15] and appeared oppositeSarah Drew in the Lifetime Christmas movieTwinkle All the Way.[16]
In 2021, Warren guest-starred in an episode of the legal seriesAll Rise onCBS. In 2022, she appeared as a regular cast member of the crime dramedy streaming seriesPanhandle, and had a featured role in the independent filmIt Snows All the Time.
Warren married producerJon Peters in 1967 and divorced him in 1975 after a two-year separation.[4][17] They have one son, Christopher Peters.[18][19] From 1977 to 1985, she lived with choreographerJeffrey Hornaday.[4][20] She also briefly dated producerRobert Evans, saxophonistDavid Sanborn, singersBobby Darin andPaul Stanley, and actorsScott Baio,Robert Blake,Val Kilmer, andJohn Strasberg.[21][22] Since 2000, Warren has been married to ad executive Ron Taft, whom she met at a hair salon[21] in 1991.[23]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | The Happiest Millionaire | Cordy | |
| 1968 | The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band | Alice Bower | Laurel Award for Female New Face (15th place) |
| 1972 | Pickup on 101 | Nicky | |
| 1976 | Harry and Walter Go to New York | Gloria Fontaine | |
| 1981 | Treasure of the Yankee Zephyr | Sally Gibson | |
| 1982 | Victor/Victoria | Norma Cassidy | Nominated —Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated —Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated —New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1983 | A Night in Heaven | Faye Hanlon | |
| 1984 | Choose Me | Eve | |
| Songwriter | Gilda | Nominated —Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | |
| 1985 | Clue | Miss Scarlet | |
| 1987 | Burglar | Dr. Cynthia Sheldrake | |
| 1988 | Cop | Kathleen McCarthy | |
| 1989 | Worth Winning | Eleanor Larimore | |
| 1991 | Life Stinks | Molly | |
| 1992 | Pure Country | Lula Rogers | |
| 1994 | Color of Night | Sondra Dorio | Nominated —Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress |
| 1995 | Bird of Prey | Carla Carr | |
| 1996 | Natural Enemy | Sandy | |
| 1997 | Going All the Way | Nina Casselman | |
| 1998 | Love Kills | Evelyn Heiss | |
| All of It | Glenda Holbeck | ||
| Richie Rich's Christmas Wish | Regina Rich | ||
| 1999 | The Limey | Elaine | |
| Twin Falls Idaho | Francine | ||
| Teaching Mrs. Tingle | Mrs. Faye Watson | Uncredited | |
| 2000 | Ropewalk | Charlie's mom | |
| Trixie | Dawn Sloane | ||
| 2001 | Delivering Milo | Anna | |
| The Quickie | Anna | ||
| Losing Grace | Mary Reed | ||
| Wolf Girl | Dr. Klein | ||
| 2002 | Secretary | Joan Holloway | |
| 2004 | My Tiny Universe | Vee | |
| 2005 | Constellation | Nancy Boxer | |
| When Do We Eat? | Peggy Stuckman | ||
| Deepwater | Pam | ||
| The Shore | Mrs. Becky Harris | ||
| 2006 | Miracle Dogs Too | Nurse Bleaker | |
| 10th & Wolf | Tina | ||
| 2010 | Stiffs | Joy Tramontana | |
| A Little Help | Joan Dunning | ||
| Peep World | Marilyn Meyerwitz | ||
| 2013 | Jobs | Clara Jobs | |
| 2015 | I Am Michael | Susan | |
| The Sphere and the Labyrinth | Wendy | ||
| 2016 | Between Us | Elsa | |
| 2017 | Ray Meets Helen | Executive producer | |
| 2018 | American Pets | Judy | |
| 2019 | 3 Days with Dad | Dawn | |
| 2020 | Echo Boomers | Author | |
| 2022 | It Snows All the Time | Anne | |
| 2025 | Love, Danielle | Candie | |
| TBA | Home Delivery | Linda Templeton | |
| TBA | The Bay House | Joan Brooks |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Cinderella | Cinderella | TV film |
| For the People | Terry | "Dangerous to the Public Peace and Safety" | |
| 1966 | Dr. Kildare | Bonda Jo Weaver | Guest role (4 episodes) |
| Gunsmoke | Betsy Payson | "Harvest" | |
| Run for Your Life | Julie Foster | "The Last Safari" | |
| 1967 | The Carol Burnett Show | Herself | "The Lost Episodes" |
| 1969 | The Mod Squad | Virginia 'Ginny' Wells | "A Run for the Money" |
| Seven in Darkness | Deborah Cabot | ABC Movie of the Week | |
| Love, American Style | Tippi | "Love and the Divorce Sale" | |
| 1970–71 | Mission: Impossible | Dana Lambert | Main role (season 5) Nominated —Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1971 | Love Hate Love | Sheila Blunden | ABC Movie of the Week |
| Cat Ballou | Cat Ballou | TV film | |
| 1972 | Assignment: Munich | Cathy Lange | TV film |
| The Daughters of Joshua Cabe | Mae | ABC Movie of the Week | |
| 1973 | Dr. Simon Locke | Laura March | "Requiem for a Canary" |
| Night Gallery | Hyacinth | "Death on a Barge" | |
| The Letters | Laura Reynolds | TV film | |
| Saga of Sonora | Emmy Lou | TV film | |
| 1975 | It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman | Lois Lane | TV film |
| Columbo | Nadia Donner | "A Deadly State of Mind" | |
| S.W.A.T. | Linda | "Deadly Tide: Parts 1 & 2" | |
| Doctors' Hospital | Sybil Payson | "Sleepless and Pale Eyelids" | |
| Harry O | Gail Stephens | "APB Harry Orwell" | |
| The Legend of Valentino | Laura Lorraine | TV film | |
| 1976 | Snip | Beverly | Unsold TV series |
| Jigsaw John | Claudine | "Too Much, Too Soon" | |
| 1977 | 79 Park Avenue | Marja Fludjicki / Marianne | TV miniseries Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama |
| 1978 | Betrayal | Julie Roy | TV film |
| Pearl | Dr. Carol Lang | TV miniseries | |
| 1979 | The Muppet Show | Herself | Episode 3.15 |
| Portrait of a Stripper | Susie Hanson | TV film | |
| 1980 | Beulah Land | Sarah Pennington | TV miniseries |
| 1982 | Portrait of a Showgirl | Jillian Brooks | TV film |
| 1985 | Evergreen | Anna Friedman | TV miniseries |
| 1986 | Apology | Lily | TV film |
| A Fight for Jenny | Kelsey Wilkes | TV film | |
| 1987 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Jeanetta | "The Dancing Princesses" |
| 1988 | Baja Oklahoma | Juanita Hutchins | TV film Nominated —CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries |
| 1990 | Family of Spies | Barbara Walker | TV miniseries Nominated —Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated —Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie |
| American Playwrights Theater: The One-Acts | Flora | "27 Wagons Full of Cotton" Nominated —CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries | |
| Lola | Lola Baltic | TV film | |
| 1991 | A Seduction in Travis County | Melanie Evans | TV film |
| 1992 | In Sickness and in Health | Anita Mattison | TV film |
| Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story | Wanda Holloway | TV film | |
| 1993 | A Mother's Revenge | Carol Sanders | TV film |
| 1995 | Murderous Intent | Gayle | TV film |
| Joseph | Potiphar's Wife | TV Miniseries | |
| 1999 | Jesse | Susan | "Momma Was a Rollin' Stone" |
| 2000 | Twice in a Lifetime | Rhonda Finkelstein / Sadie Arnstein | "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" |
| 2001–2006 | Will & Grace | Tina | Recurring role |
| 2002 | St. Sass | Slim Kaplan | TV film |
| 2002–2005 | Crossing Jordan | Arlene Lebowski | "Don't Look Back", "Locard's Exchange" |
| 2003 | Touched by an Angel | Kelly Cartwright | "As It Is in Heaven" |
| The Practice | Sylvia Bakey | "Choirboys", "Special Deliveries" | |
| Recipe for Disaster | Marie Korda | TV film | |
| 2004 | Less than Perfect | Diane Steadman | "Claude's Apartment" |
| 2005–2011 | Desperate Housewives | Sophie Bremmer | Recurring role |
| 2008–2012 | In Plain Sight | Jinx Shannon | Main role |
| 2009 | Bound by a Secret | Jane Tetley | TV film |
| 2011 | Working Class | Barbara | "Medieval Woman" |
| 2013 | Psych | Leslie | "100 Clues" |
| 2015 | Community | Deb Perry | "Lawnmower Maintenance & Postnatal Care", "Advanced Safety Features" |
| Gigi Does It | Tretchy Feinberg | "Wart-a-Colors", "Whine" | |
| 2016 | Blunt Talk | Cornelia | 3 episodes |
| 2016–17 | Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce | Dina | "No Means... No", "Let Them Eat Cupcakes" |
| 2018 | Daredevil | Esther Falb | Episode: "Reunion" |
| 2019 | The Cool Kids | Kathleen | Episode: "Charlie's Angel" |
| American Princess | Joanntha Klein | 3 Episodes | |
| Twinkle All the Way | Twinkle Harrison | Television film | |
| 2020 | Broke | Alex McBride | Episode: "Mom's Secret" |
| Blind Psychosis | Tabatha Burks | Television film | |
| 2021 | All Rise | Samara Strong | Episode: "Bette Davis Eyes" |
| Panhandle | Millicent Prescott | Main role (8 episodes) | |
| 2025 | 9-1-1 | Ann Hutchinson | Episode: "Holy Mother of God" |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Laurel Awards | Best New Female Face | N/a | Nominated | [24] |
| Photoplay Awards | Most Promising New Star - Female | N/a | Nominated | [25] | |
| 1971 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress - Television | Mission: Impossible | Nominated | [26] |
| 1978 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Television Series - Drama | Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue | Won | [27] |
| 1982 | New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Victor/Victoria | Nominated | [28] |
| 1983 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture | Nominated | [29] | |
| Academy Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated | [30] | ||
| 1985 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture | Songwriter | Nominated | [31] |
| 1989 | CableACE Awards | Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries | Baja Oklahoma | Nominated | [32] |
| 1990 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special | Family of Spies | Nominated | [33] |
| 1991 | CableACE Awards | Best Actress in a Dramatic Series | American Playwrights Theater: The One Acts ("27 Wagons Full of Cotton") | Nominated | [34] |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Family of Spies | Nominated | [35] | |
| 1995 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Supporting Actress | Color of Night | Nominated | [36] |
| 2005 | Online Film & Television Association | Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Desperate Housewives | Nominated | [37] |
| Gold Derby Awards | Comedy Guest Actress | Nominated | [38] |
