Jane Kaczmarek

Jane Frances Kaczmarek (; born December 21, 1955) is an American actress. Her role as Lois on the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006) earned her three Golden Globe nominations and seven Primetime Emmy nominations. She also appeared as Linda Bauer in Equal Justice (1990–1991), Judge Trudy Kessler in Raising the Bar (2008–2009), Ann in Falling in Love, Emily in The Heavenly Kid (1985), and Gayle in 6 Balloons (2018). She had recurring roles as Holly in Cybill and as Maureen Cutler in Frasier. Kaczmarek was a replacement for the character of Bella in the Broadway production of Neil Simon's Lost In Yonkers.

Early life and education 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. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1979 and Yale School of Drama in 1982. 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. She also played a major role in the 1994 television film Without Warning as Dr. Caroline Jaffe.

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.

In March 2026, Kaczmarek told People magazine that she had married her high school sweetheart, Rusty Long, in July 2025. The two had dated as teenagers in the early 1970s but their relationship ended after graduation. They reconnected after seeing each other again at their high school class reunion in 2024.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role 1983 Uncommon Valor Mrs. Wilkes 1984 Falling in Love Ann Raftis 1985 The Heavenly Kid Emily Barnes Door to Door Katherine Holloway 1988 D.O.A. Gail Cornell Vice Versa Robyn Seymour 1989 All's Fair Linda 1996 The Chamber Dr. Anne Biddows Wildly Available Rita Goodman 1998 Pleasantville David and Jennifer's mom 2015 The Boat Builder Katherine 2016 Wolves at the Door Mary 2017 CHiPs Jane Lindel 2018 6 Balloons Gayle

Television Year Title Role Notes 1983 St. Elsewhere Sandy Burns 3 episodes Remington Steele Barbara Troy Dannon Episode: "Altared Steele" Scarecrow and Mrs. King Penny Episode: "Always Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth" 1983–84 The Paper Chase Connie Lehman 8 episodes 1984 Hill Street Blues Officer Clara Pilksy 6 episodes Something About Amelia Mrs. Hall Television movie Crazy Like a Fox Julie Floyd Pilot episode 1985 Hometown Mary Newell Abbott 10 episodes 1986 The Right of the People Alicia Television movie The Christmas Gift Susan 1987 I'll Take Manhattan Nina Stern The Three Kings Dr. Paula Bolet 1988 American Playhouse Susan Glaspell Episode: "Journey Into Genius" 1989 Spooner Gail Archer Television movie 1990–91 Equal Justice Linda Bauer 22 episodes 1993 Big Wave Dave's Karen Fisher 6 episodes 1994 Monty Nickerson Episode: "Wild, Wild Willy and His O.K. Corral" Law & Order Janet Rudman Episode: "Censure" ABC Afterschool Specials Mary Reed Episode: "Boys Will Be Boys" L.A. Law Karen Gershon-woo Episode: "Whose San Andreas Fault Is It, Anyways?" Without Warning Dr. Caroline Jaffe Television movie 1995 Picket Fences Janice Neiman Episode: "Heroes and Villains" 1995–99 Party of Five Helene Thompson 3 episodes 1996 Touched by an Angel Bonnie Bell Episode: "Out of the Darkness" ABC Afterschool Specials Nancy Gallagher Episode: "Educating Mom" Apollo 11 Jan Armstrong Television movie 1996–97 Cybill Holly 5 episodes Frasier Maureen Cutler 2 episodes 1997 The Practice Pamela Boyd 1999 Felicity Carol Anderson 5 episodes 2000–06 Malcolm in the Middle Lois 151 episodesAmerican Comedy Award for Funniest Female Performer in a Television SeriesSatellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyTelevision Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy (2000–01)Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2001–03)Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (2000–06)Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or ComedyNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (2001, 2003)Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress – ComedyNominated—Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series 2001–present The Simpsons Judge Constance Harm (voice) 10 episodes 2001 The Wheels on the Bus Narrator US dub 2006–07 Help Me Help You Anne Hoffman 6 episodes 2008–09 Raising the Bar Judge Trudy Kessler 23 episodes 2010 Reviving Ophelia Marie Jones Television movie 2011 Wilfred Beth Episode: "Pride" 2011–12 Whitney Candi 3 episodes 2012–13 The Middle Sandy Armwood 2 episodes 2012–15 Jake and the Never Land Pirates Red Jessica (voice) 12 episodes 2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit D.A. Pam James Episode: "Beautiful Frame" 2014 Phineas and Ferb Denise (voice) Episode: "Lost in Danville/The Inator Method" Us & Them Pam 7 episodes 2014–17 Playing House Gwen Crawford 7 episodes 2015 The McCarthys Eileen Episode: "Sister Act" Big Time in Hollywood, FL Dr. Moore 2 episodes Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero Coach Jackie (voice) Episode: "Ultrahyperball" 2016 The Big Bang Theory Dr. Gallo Episode: "The Sales Call Sublimation" Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life Cindy Barrett Episode: "How to Survive Your Parents' Visit" 2018 Animals. Judge (voice) Episode: "The Trial" This Is Us Mrs. Philips Episode: "Katie Girls" 2019 Trolls: The Beat Goes On! Mom Cloud (voice) Episode: "Don't Worry Be Peppy/Two's a Cloud" Carol's Second Act Phyllis Episode: "Sick and Retired" Mixed-ish Eleanor Episode: "True Colors" 2023 The Changeling Callisto "Cal" Episode: "The Wise Ones" 2026 Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair Lois 4 episodes 2026 The Boroughs Lilly Cooper 4 episodes

Stage Year Title Role Notes 1988 The Legend of Oedipus Antigone Williamstown Theater Festival 1991 Lost in Yonkers Bella (Replacement) Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway 1994 Kindertransport Helga Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway 1995 Raised in Captivity Hillary MacMahon/Miranda Bliss South Coast Repertory Theatre 1998 Loose Ends Susan McGinn-Cazale Theater, Off-Broadway 2008 The House of Blue Leaves Bunny Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles 2010 The Autumn Garden Nina Denery Antaeus Theatre Company 2011 Death of a Salesman Linda Loman LA Theatre Works 2012 Good People Margie Walsh Geffen Playhouse 2013 Kindertransport Helga LA Theatre Works 2016 And No More Shall We Part Pam Williamstown Theater Festival 2017 Long Day's Journey Into Night Mary Tyrone Geffen Playhouse 2017 The Roommate Robyn Williamstown Theater Festival 2017 Our Town Stage Manager Pasadena Playhouse 2018 The Year is Yet to Come Estelle La Jolla Playhouse 2019 Tell Me I'm Not Crazy Diana Williamstown Theater Festival 2022 The Folks at Home Maureen Littlefield Baltimore Center Stage

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result 2000 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Malcolm in the Middle TCA Awards Individual Achievement in Comedy 2001 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series TCA Awards Individual Achievement in Comedy 2002 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy Satellite Awards 2003 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series 2004 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series 2006 2012 Ovation Awards Lead Actress in a Play Good People