Jane Kaczmarek

Early life

Kaczmarek was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Evelyn (née Gregorska), a teacher, and Edward Kaczmarek, a US Department of Defense worker. Of Polish descent, she grew up in Greendale, a village outside Milwaukee, where she was raised a Roman Catholic. Kaczmarek is a graduate of Greendale High School.

Career

Kaczmarek appeared in St. Elsewhere, and sitcoms Frasier and Cybill. She was also a regular on the first eight episodes of the Showtime run of The Paper Chase, as Connie Lehman.

In 1999, Kaczmarek was cast to play Lois in the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, which premiered on January 9, 2000. TV Guide dubbed her role in the series as a "true breakout; a female Homer Simpson", and critics hailed her for her comic talents. Later, Kaczmarek would credit the show for bringing out her comedic side, saying, "[Before Malcolm] I couldn't even get auditions for comedies. I played very unfunny people."

In September 2008, she appeared on stage in The House of Blue Leaves at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

In 2011, it was confirmed that Kaczmarek would make a vocal appearance as Red Jessica in the television series Jake and the Never Land Pirates during its second season early 2012.

Kaczmarek was the narrator in the 2011 Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and PBS production of Wisconsin's Nazi Resistance: The Mildred Fish-Harnack Story, a documentary about the life of fellow Milwaukee native Mildred Fish-Harnack who, in 1943, was the only American woman to ever be personally sentenced to death by order of Adolf Hitler for her role in the German Nazi Resistance Movement.

In November 2012, she made a guest appearance on ABC's The Middle as Frankie Heck's (Patricia Heaton) dental teacher. In 2013, Kaczmarek guest starred on NBC's long-running legal drama, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as Suffolk County D.A. Pamela "Pam" James.

Kaczmarek and former Malcolm in the Middle co-star Bryan Cranston reprised their roles as Lois and Hal respectively in an "alternate ending" featurette on the Breaking Bad DVD/Blu-ray box set that was released on November 26, 2013. In it, Hal wakes up from the nightmare that was the plot of Breaking Bad, in a nod to the final scene from Newhart.

Personal life

Kaczmarek married fellow Wisconsin native and actor Bradley Whitford on August 15, 1992. They resided in Pasadena, California with their three children. Inspired by their own frequent red carpet appearances, in 2002 the couple founded the charity "Clothes off our Back", which auctioned outfits and accessories worn by celebrities at award ceremonies. They were sometimes referred to as a celebrity "power couple".

Kaczmarek underwent a hip replacement in April 2004, due to chronic arthritis. She used an X-ray of her new hip for her Emmy campaign the following summer, advertising herself as "the only Emmy nominee with an artificial hip (except for Anthony LaPaglia)".

In June 2009, the couple filed for divorce after almost 17 years of marriage. The divorce was finalized in October 2010 and they sold their 1924 villa in San Marino, California.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. Mike Rose, cleveland com. (December 21, 2023). "Famous birthdays list for December 21, 2023 includes celebrities Ray Romano, Kiefer Sutherland".
2. (May 1, 2019). "The Handy Wisconsin Answer Book". Visible Ink Press.
3. Gilpatrick, Kristin. (September 25, 2002). "Famous Wisconsin Film Stars". Badger Books Inc..
4. Roberts, Robin. (July 13, 2003). "'Malcolm's' new fifth dimension". [[Record-Journal]].
5. Borun, Thaddeus. (1946). "We, the Milwaukee Poles: The History of Milwaukeeans of Polish Descent and a Record of Their Contributions to the Greatness of Milwaukee". Nowiny Publishing Company.
6. (May 29, 2003). "Gregorski, Frances J.". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
7. (June 12, 2020). "Food Friday: Polish Foods With Actress Jane Kaczmarek And Actress Beata Pozniak".
8. "Jane Kaczmarek Biography". A&E Television Networks.
9. (December 23, 2008). "Jane Kaczmarek cherishes local parks : The Bay View Compass".
10. (May 4, 2023). "Jane Kaczmarek reminisces on growing up in Milwaukee, ahead of performance with Theatre Gigante".
11. "Yahoo".
12. "Malcolm in the Middle".
13. link. (November 7, 2012 on TV.com)
14. Haithman, Diane. (September 12, 2008). "Jane Kaczmarek has the support she needs".
15. Schneider, Michael. (July 22, 2011). "Exclusive: Sharon Osbourne Gets Animated for Next TV Gig". [[TV Guide]].
16. Lead entry in the credits following the June 12, 2023, re-broadcast of the documentary)
17. Stanhope, Kate. (November 19, 2012). "Law & Order: SVU Exclusive: Malcolm in the Middle Mom to Battle DA Barba". TV Guide.
18. Teti, John. (November 17, 2013). "A ''Breaking Bad'' alternate ending is a ''Malcolm In The Middle'' dream sequence". [[The A.V. Club]].
19. Graham, Emily. "School Family - Jane Kaczmarek on Being a Real-Life Mom".
20. Steinhauer, Jennifer. (November 12, 2007). "Why Movie Stars Offer the Clothes Off Their Backs". The New York Times.
21. "Here's what the cast of ''Friends'' is up to this week".
22. "[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/kaczmarek%20has%20hip%20replacement%20surgery Malcolm in the Middle – Kaczmarek Has Hip Replacement Surgery]". ''contactmusic.com'', June 24, 2004.
23. "[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/kaczmarek%20explains%20hip%20emmy%20ad Jane Kaczmarek – Kaczmarek Explains Hip Emmy Ad]." ''contactmusic.com'', August 29, 2004.
24. (June 19, 2009). "Bradley Whitford and Jane Kaczmarek File for Divorce". People.
25. "Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford to Divorce - MORE Magazine".
26. Lee, Luaine. (October 4, 2010). "After an unexpected divorce, Jane Kaczmarek is starting over again".
27. (May 20, 2010). "Jane Kaczmarek: "Flexibility" Is The Key To Co-Parenting {{!}} Celebrity Baby Scoop".
28. (October 22, 2010). "Whitford and Kaczmarek -- Divvying Up the Goodies". [[TMZ]].
29. (June 24, 2009). "Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford to Divorce - MORE Magazine".
30. Beale, Lauren. (August 17, 2010). "Jane Kaczmarek, Bradley Whitford sell San Marino villa". [[Los Angeles Times]].
31. (November 13, 2012). "Center Theatre Group Tops 2012 Ovation Awards.".