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Kristen Johnston

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Kristen Johnston
Johnston in Cannes, 2011
Born
Kristen Angela Johnston

(1967-09-20) September 20, 1967 (age 57)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
EducationNew York University
OccupationActress
Years active1985–present
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]

Kristen Angela Johnston (born September 20, 1967)[2] is an American actress. Best known for her work on television sitcoms, she twice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Sally Solomon in 3rd Rock from the Sun. She starred as divorce attorney Holly Franklin on The Exes, and as recovering addict Tammy Diffendorf on Mom. She has also appeared in the films Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000), Music and Lyrics (2007), and Bride Wars (2009).

Her memoir Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster (2012) was a New York Times best-seller.[3] Through her nonprofit organization SLAM, she works as an advocate for sober high schools.[4]

Early life

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Kristen Angela Johnston was born on September 20, 1967. Johnston is the daughter of former Wisconsin Republican state senator Rod Johnston. She is of English and German descent.[5] She grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1985.[6][7] Johnston earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drama at New York University.[8]

Career

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Johnston made her professional stage debut with New York's Atlantic Theater Company, founded by playwright David Mamet, where she appeared in many productions including As You Like It and Stage Door. She performed with the Naked Angels Theater Company in The Stand-In and Hot Keys, and with New York Stage and Film in Kim's Sister with David Strathairn and Jane Adams. For her performance in The Lights at Lincoln Center Theater, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Best Supporting Actress.[9]

A Carsey-Werner casting agent who saw her in The Lights recommended her for the role of Sally Solomon on the TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun.[10] After numerous auditions in 1996, she won the part[10] and starred on the show from 1996 to 2001, winning two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.[11]

Johnston in 2008.

She made her feature film debut in The Debt, winner of Best Short at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. In 1995, she played Kate in the film Backfire! She played Esmeralda, a sea hag in Thrill Ride, a family friendly film released in 2016. Her other television credits include guest-starring roles on Chicago Hope, Hearts Afire, and The 5 Mrs. Buchanans. She narrated Microscopic Milton on the Disney Channel. Her significant roles in commercially successful movies include Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me in 1999, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas in 2000, Music and Lyrics in 2007, and Bride Wars in 2009. In 1998, she was a spokesmodel for the Clairol company.

Johnston appeared in the sixth and final season of HBO's comedy drama series Sex and the City.[12] In the "Splat!" episode, her character, Lexi Featherston, an aging party girl, accidentally falls out of a window and dies (after saying, "I'm so bored I could die"), prompting Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) to reexamine her life. In 2005, Johnston was featured in six episodes of NBC's ER. In 2009, she was cast as Patsy in a proposed American remake of the British TV series Absolutely Fabulous. A pilot was filmed but it wasn't picked up to series.[13][14] She had a recurring role in the 2009 season of Ugly Betty, and had a single-episode appearance as a dominatrix in the second season opener of Bored to Death.[15][16]

She starred in the TV Land sitcom The Exes, which ran for four seasons from November 30, 2011 to September 16, 2015. She played divorce attorney Holly Franklin, whose former clients and friends live across the hall in an apartment she owns.[17] Her memoir, titled Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster was published on March 12, 2012 by Gallery Books.[18] The book became a New York Times best-seller.[3]

SAMHSA Special Recognition Award winner Johnston poses for a photo during the 2014 Voice Awards held on August 13 at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA.

In 2018, she began a recurring role as Tammy Diffendorf on the CBS sitcom Mom, and was upgraded to series regular for the show's seventh and eighth seasons (2019–2020).[19] Her character Tammy is Bonnie's (portrayed by Allison Janney) foster sister and Tammy joins the group's AA meetings upon being released from prison in season 6.[20] In an interview with The New York Post, Johnston described Tammy by saying: "She’s probably the dumbest smart person you’ll ever meet. She’s so many things at once. She’s a criminal, but she’s also innocent. She’s clumsy but also very sophisticated. She has no editing button and just says whatever she feels — and it’s usually the wrong thing."[21]

In May 2024, Variety announced that Johnston was cast in Netflix's upcoming comedy series alongside Leanne Morgan.[22] The series was created by Morgan, Susan McMartin and Chuck Lorre.[22] Johnston is set to play Carol, who is twice divorced and is loyal to her sister, Leanne.[22][23]

Public image

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She appeared on the cover of January 1998 issue of Milwaukee Magazine. She topped the magazine's list of "The Most Intriguing Milwaukeeans".[24] Johnston has also appeared on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide.[25] In 1998, she appeared in a television commercial for Clairol hair care products and voiced a commercial for Starbucks.[26]

Philanthropy and advocacy

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Through her nonprofit organization SLAM (Sobriety, Learning and Motivation), she mentors high school girls from New York City with addiction and self-esteem issues[27] and has campaigned for the city to build a recovery high school.[28][4]

Personal life

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She dated actor Ryan Reynolds in 1999 and the two attended the film premiere of The Green Mile together.[29]

In her memoir, Johnston discusses an addiction to alcohol and pills that began when she was in high school. She wrote that at the height of her addiction, she drank on average two bottles of wine per evening.[30] In 2021, Johnston said she has been sober for 14 years.[31]

Johnston said she was diagnosed in November 2013 with lupus, which caused her to miss filming some episodes of her series The Exes. A character played by Leah Remini was introduced in season 3 to cover her absence.[32][33]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Orkly Kid Unknown Short film
1992 Amazonia Unknown
1993 The Debt Alice Kosnick
1995 Backfire! Kate
1999 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Ivana Humpalot
2000 The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas Wilma Slaghoople
2002 Austin Powers in Goldmember Dancer Uncredited
2005 Strangers with Candy Coach Divers
2007 Music and Lyrics Rhonda
2009 Bride Wars Deb
Finding Bliss Irene Fox
2011 Life Happens Francesca
2012 Vamps Mrs. Van Helsing
Bad Parents Tracy
2013 The Anonymous People Herself Documentary film
2014 Lovesick Katherine
2016 Thrill Ride Esmeralda Nominated–North Hollywood Cinefest's Festival Award for Best Actress in a Feature Film
2018 Swiped Professor Barnes
For the Love of George Psychic Sara Nominated–Orlando Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Performance
Hurricane Bianca 2: From Russia with Hate Roksana
2019 The Wedding Year Barbara
2020 Small Town Wisconsin Alicia
2023 Loganberry Lane Other Susan Short film

Indie Short Fest's December Award for Best Ensemble Cast (shared with cast)

Nominated–Indie Short Fest's Indie Short Fest Award for Best Ensemble Cast (shared with cast)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 Chicago Hope Dr. Wendy Smythe Episode: "Genevieve and Fat Boy"
1994 The 5 Mrs. Buchanans Zena Episode: "Bad News Bert: There's Peanuts in the Peanut Butter"
1995 Hearts Afire Margot Episode: "John and Georgie's Not-So-Excellent Adventure"
1996 London Suite Grace Chapman Television film
1996–2001 3rd Rock from the Sun Sally Solomon 139 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1997, 1999)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1998)
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or TV Film (1997)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (1997)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (1997—1999)
1997 Microscopic Milton Narrator Television film
1998–2000 Hollywood Squares Herself Panelist; 10 episodes
2004 Sex and the City Lexi Featherston Episode: "Splat!"
2005 ER Head Nurse Eve Peyton 6 episodes
2007 Kim Possible Warmonga 3 episodes
2009 The New Adventures of Old Christine Francie Episode: "Too Close for Christine"
Ab Fab Patsy US remake of Absolutely Fabulous. Pilot episode only. Series not picked up.[13][14]
2009–2010 Ugly Betty Helen 3 episodes
2010 Bored to Death Mistress Florence Episode: "Escape from the Dungeon!"
2011–2015 The Exes Holly Franklin Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy or Musical

Main role; 64 episodes

2013 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself 2 episodes
2014 Kirstie Waitress Maddie Episode: "Maddie vs. Maddie"
Modern Family Brenda Episode: "Strangers in the Night"
2015 Getting On Marla Pounder Episode: "Please Partake of a Memorial Orange"
2017 Daytime Divas Anna Crouse 6 episodes
2018–2021 Mom Tammy Diffendorf 57 episodes
Guest: Season 5; Recurring: Season 6; Main: Seasons 7–8
2019 Amphibia Braddock (voice) Episode: "Prison Break"; replaced by April Winchell afterwards
2022 Our Flag Means Death The Widow Evelyn Higgins 2 episodes
2023 The Righteous Gemstones May–May Montgomery 9 episodes[34]
TBA TBA Carol Upcoming Netflix series (an untitled Leanne Morgan project from Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television[35])

Podcasts

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 The Pack Project Veronica Voice; Episode: "Elevator Bride"
2022 Marvel's Wastelanders: Doom She-Hulk 10 episodes
2022 Naughty Pam 5 episodes

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Lights Rose Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
1997 Baby Anger Mary Kay Paterson[36]
1998 The Skin of Our Teeth Sabina[37]
2001 The Smell of the Kill Nicky[38]
2001–2002 The Women Sylvia
2002 Twelfth Night Maria[39]
2004 Aunt Dan and Lemon Aunt Dan
The Baltimore Waltz Anna
Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice
The Skin of Our Teeth Sabina
2007 Scarcity Martha
2006–2007 Love Song Joan [40]
2007–2009 So Help Me God Lily Darnley Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play (2007, 2010)
2008 The Understudy Theresea Rebeck

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1994 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play The Lights Nominated [41]
1996 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film 3rd Rock from the Sun Nominated [42]
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated [43]
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated
1997 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Won [44]
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated [45]
1998 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [44]
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated [46]
1999 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Won [44]
2010 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play So Help Me God! Nominated [41]

Autobiography

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  • 2012: Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster, Gallery Books, ISBN 978-1451635065

References

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  1. ^ Triggs, Charlotte (January 19, 2009). "Bride Wars' Kristen Johnston: 'I Was Way Too Thin'". People. Vol. 71. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  2. ^ "Kristen Johnston: Biography". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  3. ^ a b Johnston, Kristen (2013-01-22). Guts. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4516-3506-5.
  4. ^ a b "SLAM With Kristen Johnston". HuffPost. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  5. ^ Aikin, Jefferson J.; Fehring, Thomas H. (2017). Historic Whitefish Bay: A Celebration of Architecture and Character. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781467137591.
  6. ^ "Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster by Kristen Johnston". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  7. ^ "Kristen Johnston - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  8. ^ "Kristen Johnston Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "The 39th Annual Drama Desk Awards presented by The Drama Desk at the Criterion Center Stage Right, Jun 05, 1994 – 1994 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Play". ibdb.com. The Broadway League. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Kristen Johnston". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  11. ^ "Kristen Johnston – Television Academy – Awards & Nominations". emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Kristen Johnston on drugs, recovery, and 'Guts'". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  13. ^ a b January 31, Tanner Stransky Updated; EST, 2009 at 10:01 PM. "Kristen Johnston: The scoop on her 'Absolutely Fabulous' return to TV". EW.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b Bullard, Alexandra (January 7, 2023). "Long-lost AbFab American remake with Kathryn Hahn leaves Brits cringing". MyLondon.
  15. ^ "'Ugly Betty' scoop: Kristen Johnston in, Paula Abdul out!". ew.com (Entertainment Weekly). Meredith Corporation. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Bored to Death S2 Ep 1: Escape From the Dungeon!". hbo.com. Home Box Office, Inc. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  17. ^ "'The Exes' sends '3rd Rock' co-stars Kristen Johnston and Wayne Knight on a date". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  18. ^ Johnston, Kristen (2012-03-13). Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster. Gallery Books. ISBN 978-1-4516-3505-8.
  19. ^ Gelman, Vlada (July 18, 2019). "'Mom': Kristen Johnston Promoted to Series Regular for Season 7". TVLine.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  20. ^ "Exclusive: 'Mom' brings back Kristen Johnston as Tammy the would-be steak thief". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  21. ^ "'Mom' scene-stealer Kristen Johnston: I'm not subtle". 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  22. ^ a b c Otterson, Joe (2024-05-09). "Kristen Johnston Reunites With Chuck Lorre, Joins Leanne Morgan Netflix Comedy Series". Variety. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  23. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (2024-05-09). "Kristen Johnston to Star Opposite Leanne Morgan in Netflix Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  24. ^ "Amazon.com: Milwaukee Magazine, vol. 23, no. 1 (January 1998) (Kristen Johnston cover (Third Rock from the Sun)): People of the Year Issue; Sheepshead; Planet Brett (Favre) : Milwaukee Magazine: Home & Kitchen". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  25. ^ "Kristen Johnston magazines". FamousFix.com. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  26. ^ "Kristen Johnston - Other works". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  27. ^ Collins, Clark (March 10, 2012). "Kristen Johnston talks about her drug addiction, her life-threatening illness, her recovery, and her new memoir, 'Guts'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  28. ^ Johnston, Kristen (July 19, 2013). "Turning Addiction Into a Sideshow". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  29. ^ "Kristen Johnston Fondly Recalls Dating Ryan Reynolds in the '90s: He's a 'Lovely Person'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  30. ^ Napoli, Jessica (2021-03-10). "Kristen Johnston talks her sobriety after 'very abusive relationship' with drugs, alcohol". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  31. ^ "Kristen Johnston Says She 'Married' Drugs After 3rd Rock from the Sun Ended, Calls Addiction 'Very Abusive'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  32. ^ Johnston, Kristen (December 17, 2013). "[Untitled]". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  33. ^ Blumm, K. C. (December 18, 2013). "Kristen Johnston Diagnosed with Lupus Myelitis". People. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  34. ^ Schager, Nick (14 June 2023). "'The Righteous Gemstones' Is the Perfect Replacement for 'Succession' in Your Life". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  35. ^ Cordero, Rosy (9 May 2024). "Kristen Johnston Boards Netflix's Chuck Lorre & Leanne Morgan Comedy Series". Deadline. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  36. ^ "Kristen Johnston Takes a Baby Break from 3rd Rock". Playbill. 1997-06-09. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  37. ^ Isherwood, Charles (1998-06-29). "The Skin of Our Teeth". Variety. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  38. ^ Taylor, Markland (2001-08-03). "The Smell of the Kill". Variety. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  39. ^ "Kristen Johnston Joins Stiles in Central Park Twelfth Night". Playbill. 2002-04-26. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  40. ^ "Molly Regan Steps in for Ailing Kristen Johnston in London Love Song". broadway.com.
  41. ^ a b "Kristen Johnston Awards". IBDB. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  42. ^ "Kristen Johnston". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  43. ^ "The 3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  44. ^ a b c "Kristen Johnston". Television Academy. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  45. ^ "The 4th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  46. ^ "The 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
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