Patricia Castle Richardson(born February 23, 1951)[1]is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Jill Taylor on theABCsitcomHome Improvement,for which she was nominated four times for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series[2]and twice for theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical.[3]She also received anIndependent Spirit Awardnomination for her performance inUlee's Gold(1997).
Patricia Richardson | |
|---|---|
 Richardson after the 1994 Emmy Awards | |
| Born | Patricia Castle Richardson February 23, 1951 Bethesda, Maryland,U.S. |
| Education | Southern Methodist University(BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Known for | Jill Taylor inHome Improvement |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Early life and education
editRichardson attended multiple schools includingHolton-Arms SchoolandHockaday School.[4][5]She is a 1972 graduate ofSouthern Methodist University,[6]where she was friends with classmatesBeth HenleyandStephen Tobolowsky,who was slated to be a cast member ofHome Improvement,but had other contractual commitments when the series began filming. Tobolowsky initially suggested to producers ofHome Improvementthat Richardson be considered for the role of Jill Taylor afterFrances Fisherwas deemed too serious for the role.
Career
editRichardson began as theunderstudyfor the role of Gypsy Rose Lee inAngela Lansbury's Broadway production ofGypsy: A Musical Fablein 1974, also playing several small chorus parts.[6]In the next ten years she worked in regional theater, commercials, and other Broadway and Off- Broadway plays. She had roles in programs such asThe Equalizer,Spencer For Hire,andKate & Allie.She appeared in one episode ofThe Cosby Showin the third season with her real-life husband, playing a woman giving birth to her ninth child. Richardson also appeared in the filmsChristmas EvilandC.H.U.D..In 1989, she appeared in one episode ofQuantum Leapas a radio station owner.
In 1983, she left New York for LA briefly to do a sitcom centered onKatey Sagal's twin sisters,LizandJean Sagal,calledDouble Trouble,forNorman Lear.When asked to go back and do a second season after her contract had expired, she passed in order to stay in New York and continue performing in Beth Henley'sThe Miss Firecracker Contestoff-Broadway. A few years later Allan Burns, who co-createdThe Mary Tyler Moore Show,brought her back to Los Angeles to star in two sitcoms he produced:Eisenhower and LutzandFM.Both shows ran for 13 episodes.
In 1991, three months after giving birth to twins, Richardson became a last-minute replacement for Frances Fisher in what would be her breakout role as Jill Taylor on the ABC sitcomHome Improvement.Richardson received fourEmmynominations, and twoGolden Globenominations in this role.[6]While working onHome Improvement,she hosted the Emmys withEllen DeGeneres,starred in the miniseriesUndue Influencewith Brian Dennehy,Sophie and the MoonhangeronLifetimewithLynn Whitfield,and earned anIndependent Spiritnomination in 1997 for her first major theatrical film role inUlee's Gold.
In 2002, Richardson replacedJanine Turnerin the Lifetime medical drama seriesStrong Medicine,as a new character, Dr. Andy Campbell.[7]She was nominated for two Prism Awards for her work inStrong Medicine.After three seasons on that show, she was cast in a recurring role as Sheila Brooks, campaign manager for Republican presidential candidateArnold Vinick(Alan Alda) in the final two seasons of NBC political dramaThe West Wing.
Richardson appeared in the first season ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit.In 2008, she was the executive producer of the video documentaryLong Story Short,which tells the story of Larry and Trudie Long, a popularAsian Americannightclubact of the '40s and '50s, told through the eyes of their daughter and her friend, actressJodi Long.In 2010, she appeared in an NBC made-for-TV film,The Jensen Project,and in 2011, she appeared in the Lifetime television filmBringing Ashley Home,also starringA.J. CookandJennifer Morrison.In 2012, she starred in thecoming-of-age filmBeautiful Waveand in the following year appeared in theHallmark ChannelTV filmSmart Cookies.Since then, Richardson has filmed several small independent films and two more movies for theHallmarkchannel,Friend RequestandSnow Bride.[8]
On the twelfth episode of the fourth season ofLast Man Standingtitled "Helen Potts", Richardson guest-starred as the titular character and reunited with her formerHome Improvementco-star,Tim Allen.At the end of the episode, it was revealed that one of her sons' name is Randy, who was portrayed by her otherHome Improvementco-star;Jonathan Taylor Thomas.She returned as Helen Potts in the next season.
In 2015, she ran for the position of national president of theSAG-AFTRA,after she had served on the board for one term. She lost the election narrowly to incumbent PresidentKen Howard.She was re-elected to the National and Local Los Angeles Boards of SAG-AFTRA.
In 2016, Richardson returned to the stage inSteel Magnoliasat theBucks County PlayhouseinNew Hope, Pennsylvania.This production was directed by four time Oscar nomineeMarsha Mason,and also starredElaine Hendrix,Lucy DeVito,Jessica WalterandSusan Sullivan.[9][10] On June 9, 2016, this production became the highest-grossing show in the history of the Bucks County Playhouse.[11]
Personal life
editRichardson married fellow actorRay Bakerin 1982. They had three children together: Henry Richardson Baker, twins Roxanne Elizabeth Baker and Joseph Castle Baker, before they divorced in August 1995. Richardson is the godmother of actressBetty Gilpin,the daughter of actorJack Gilpin.[citation needed]
Richardson had a long-term relationship with retiredpsychologistMark Cline, whom she had met when they were both students atSouthern Methodist University.[7]
Richardson served many years on the Board of Directors and is the National Spokesperson for "Cure PSP", a patient advocacy and research organization forprogressive supranuclear palsy,corticobasal degeneration,multiple system atrophyand related "Prime Of Life" diseases. Her father died of PSP in 2005.[12][13]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | You Better Watch Out | Mrs. Garcia | |
| 1984 | C.H.U.D. | Ad Woman | |
| 1986 | Yuri Nosenko, KGB | Joan Black | TV movie |
| 1987 | Hands of a Stranger | Helen | |
| 1989 | Parent Trap III | Cassie McGuire | |
| Lost Angels | Mrs. Anderson | ||
| In Country | Cindy | ||
| 1996 | Sophie & the Moonhanger | Bonnie Edgerton | Voice role; TV movie |
| Undue Influence | Laurel Vega | TV movie | |
| 1997 | Ulee's Gold | Connie Hope | Nominated:Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female |
| 2001 | Blonde | Gladys Pearl Baker | |
| Viva Las Nowhere | Helen/Wanda | ||
| 2005 | Candy Paint | Linda Miller | Short film |
| 2007 | California Dreaming | Aunt Bonnie | |
| 2009 | Lost Dream | Patricia | |
| 2010 | The Jensen Project | Ingrid Jensen | TV movie |
| 2011 | Bringing Ashley Home | Michelle McGee | |
| 2012 | Beautiful Wave | Sue Davenport | Direct-to-video |
| Smart Cookies | Lola | Hallmarkmovie | |
| 2012 | Avarice | Claire | |
| 2013 | Snow Bride | Maggie Tannenhill | Hallmark movie |
| Chance at Romance | May | ||
| 2017 | County Line | Maddie Hall | |
| 2018 | A Christmas in Tennessee | Martha | Hallmark movie |
| 2019 | Cubby | Peggy Nabel | |
| A Very Vintage Christmas | Margaret | ||
| 2023 | County Line: No Fear | Maddie |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Doctors | Nurse Marion | |
| 1981 | Love, Sidney | — | Episode: "A Piece of the Rock" |
| 1984 | Double Trouble | Beth McConnell | 8 episodes |
| 1985 | ABC Weekend Special | Pamela Sawyer | Episode: "The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn" |
| Kate & Allie | Pamela | Episode: "The Reunion" | |
| 1986 | Spenser: For Hire | Sarah Cabot | Episode: "Shadowsight" |
| 1987 | The Cosby Show | Mrs. Schrader | Episode: "Calling Doctor Huxtable" |
| The Equalizer | Sandy | Episode: "In the Money" | |
| 1988 | Eisenhower and Lutz | Kay 'K.K.' Dunne | 13 episodes |
| 1989 | Quantum Leap | Rachel Porter | Episode: "Good Morning, Peoria – September 9, 1959" |
| 1989–1990 | FM | Lee-Ann Plunkett | 13 episodes |
| 1991–1999 | Home Improvement | Jill Taylor | 202 episodes; Nominated: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy(1994–95) Nominated: People's Choice Award for Favorite Female TV Performer Nominated:Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series(1994, 1996–98) Nominated: Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series Nominated: Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Comedy Series |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Annabel Hayes | Episode: "Wanderlust" |
| 2002–2005 | Strong Medicine | Dr. Andy Campbell | 59 Episodes Nominated: Prism Award for Best Performance in a Drama Series |
| 2005–2006 | The West Wing | Sheila Brooks | 9 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Last Man Standing | Helen Potts | 2 episodes "Helen Potts", "Tanks For The Memories" |
| 2019 | Blindspot | Dr. Nora Lee Roga | Episode: "The Big Reveal" |
| 2021 | NCIS | Judy Price Fielding | Episode: "Docked" |
| 2022 | The Blacklist | Matilda | Episode: "Genuine Models Inc." |
| 2022-2023 | Grey's Anatomy | Tessa Hobbes | "Thunderstruck" & "I'll Follow the Sun" |
References
edit- ^"Famous birthdays for Feb. 23: Samara Weaving, Patricia Richardson".United Press International.February 23, 2022.RetrievedOctober 13,2022.
- ^"Patricia Richardson".Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.RetrievedDecember 31,2013.
- ^"Patricia Richardson".Golden Globes.RetrievedJanuary 17,2016.
- ^Sweany, Brian D. (November 1997)."Patricia Richardson".Texas Monthly.RetrievedOctober 21,2020.
- ^Moore, Scott."She's Mom At Home And On The Set".The Washington Post.RetrievedOctober 21,2020.
- ^abc"Patricia Richardson Biography".TV Guide.RetrievedDecember 31,2013.
- ^abKelleher, Terry (September 23, 2002)."Picks and Pans Review: Talking With...Patricia Richardson".People.RetrievedOctober 2,2019.
- ^Valby, Karen (October 23, 2013)."Hallmark Channel Christmas movies: The five you'll be watching".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedOctober 3,2019.
- ^Simoes, Monica (May 18, 2016)."Meet the Cast of Bucks County Playhouse's Steel Magnolias".Playbill.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
- ^Otten, Ted (June 1, 2016)."Theater: 'Steel Magnolias' at Bucks County Playhouse".The Times of Trenton.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
- ^Gordon, Jessica Fallon (June 10, 2016)."STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Bucks County Playhouse Breaks Box Office Records!".Broadway World.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
- ^"Patricia Richardson".Cure PSP.Archived fromthe originalon November 23, 2010.
- ^Elavsky, Cindy (March 9, 2014)."Celebrity Extra".Dearborn Times-Herald.RetrievedMay 28,2014.
External links
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