Jennifer Tilly

Jennifer Tilly (born Jennifer Ellen Chan; September 16, 1958) is an American actress and professional poker player. Known for her distinctive breathy voice and comedic timing, she began her career with small parts in film and television throughout the mid-late 1980s. Tilly achieved a career breakthrough with her portrayal of Olive Neal in Bullets Over Broadway, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She subsequently earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of Violet, a lesbian femme fatale, in Bound (1996). Tilly rose to widespread recognition when she played Tiffany Valentine in Bride of Chucky (1998), reprising the character in several more installments of the Child's Play film series, as well as the Syfy/USA show Chucky (2021–2024). Her association with the franchise has established her as a pop culture icon and scream queen. Since 1999, Tilly has voiced Bonnie Swanson on the Fox animated sitcom Family Guy.

Her other film credits include The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), Made in America (1993), Liar Liar (1997), Music from Another Room (1998), Stuart Little (1999), The Cat's Meow (2001), Monsters, Inc. (2001), The Haunted Mansion (2003), Home on the Range (2004), and Tideland (2005). On stage, she appeared in the Broadway revivals of The Women (2001) and Don't Dress for Dinner (2012), and was the recipient of a Theatre World Award in 1993 for her performance in the off-Broadway play One Shoe Off.

Tilly is a World Series of Poker bracelet champion, becoming the first-ever celebrity to win such a tournament in 2005. As of 2019, her live tournament winnings exceeded $1 million. Tilly's father was Chinese American, She has an older brother, Steve, and two younger sisters: actress and writer Meg, and Rebecca, an artist. Her mother divorced again when Tilly was 16. The family then moved to Langford (a suburb of Victoria), where Tilly attended Belmont Secondary School and graduated from Esquimalt High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in theater from Stephens College in Missouri.

Acting career

In 1983, Tilly had small roles and had a recurring guest role on Hill Street Blues as Gina Srignoli, a mobster's widow who becomes romantically involved with detective Henry Goldblume. She played Frasier Crane's seductive-but-ditzy date Candi Pearson on an episode of the fourth season of Cheers and appeared as a similar character on the eleventh season of Frasier.

She appeared as Garry's girlfriend on It's Garry Shandling's Show, which was broadcast on Showtime. She was also cast as a high-end prostitute on the short-lived comedy Key West, alongside Fisher Stevens. In 1989, she had a prominent role in the comedy Let It Ride, starring Richard Dreyfuss. Tilly's breakthrough film role was as a waitress in The Fabulous Baker Boys, a role that was written specially for her by Steve Kloves. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Olive Neal, a hopelessly bad actress in Woody Allen's 1994 comedy Bullets Over Broadway but she lost to her co-star Dianne Wiest. In 1994, she also had a small role in The Getaway with Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger.

Tilly starred in Bound (1996), directed by the Wachowskis, which portrays a lesbian relationship her character has with alluring ex-con Corky, played by Gina Gershon. She played Samantha Cole in the Jim Carrey comedy Liar Liar (1997). In Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000), she played a stripper and part-time dominatrix. She portrayed gossip columnist Louella Parsons in the Peter Bogdanovich historical drama The Cat's Meow (2001).

She gained additional popularity around that time for her portrayal of serial killer Tiffany Valentine in several of the Child's Play horror movie series. The character was first introduced in the fourth installment of the franchise, Bride of Chucky (1998), and subsequently appeared in Seed of Chucky (2004), Curse of Chucky (2013), Cult of Chucky (2017), and the television series Chucky (2021-2024). In Seed of Chucky and the second season of Chucky, she plays a dual role, providing the voice for Tiffany and also playing an exaggerated version of herself. The performance earned her nominations for the Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress and the MTV Movie Award for Best Scared-As-Shit Performance. She reprises the role in every subsequent appearance.

In 2001, she starred as Crystal Allen in the Broadway revival of The Women. In 2002 she played Fanny Minafer in the made-for-TV remake of Orson Welles' The Magnificent Ambersons.

She is a semi-regular cast member on Family Guy, voicing the Griffin family's neighbor, Bonnie Swanson. She has also done voice-over work for the films Monsters, Inc., Stuart Little and Home on the Range, as well as the children's series Hey Arnold! In Disney's The Haunted Mansion, she portrays Madame Leota (a head in a crystal ball). She has been active in the theatre, winning a Theater World Award for her performance in the off-Broadway play One Shoe Off.

She had a starring role on the sitcom Out of Practice, which starred Henry Winkler and Stockard Channing. The series was cancelled in May 2006. About this time, Tilly started dividing her time between her film career and professional poker. By the end of 2008, she returned to her film and television career. In 2009, Tilly made her Chinese film debut in the Christina Yao film Empire of Silver playing Mrs. Landdeck.

In 2012, she returned to Broadway in Don't Dress for Dinner, garnering an Audience Choice Award nomination for her portrayal of mistress Suzanne. In 2013, she starred in the Wallace Shawn/Andre Gregory collaboration Grasses of a Thousand Colors which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 2009 and then moved to the Joseph Papp Theater in 2013. She regularly appeared in the comedy revue Celebrity Autobiography.

In 2024, it was announced that Tilly would be appearing on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, as a friend of the housewives, for the fourteenth season.

Poker career Tilly's father was a gambler and a poker player, and gave her the video game World Series of Poker. She was subsequently taught the real game by her boyfriend when she moved to Hollywood.

On June 27, 2005, Tilly won a World Series of Poker bracelet (and $158,625) in the Ladies' No-Limit Texas hold 'em event, beating 600 other players. She followed up this accomplishment on September 1, 2005, by winning the third World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament held at the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, a suburb of Los Angeles. Tilly has appeared in the GSN Poker Royale series. Tilly played in the Celebrity Poker Showdown which aired June 14, 2006, on Bravo. She came in third place after being beaten by Bravo's online poker champion Ida Siconolfi. She also participated in the Poker After Dark show.

When playing poker on television, Tilly often wears low-cut tops with push-up bras that expose considerable cleavage in order to "look cute", but noted that "if people are really playing poker, they don't care. Nothing looks better to them than a pair of aces. They're not looking at your pair. They're looking at their pair." Tilly appears in the Activision’s World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions 2007 Edition video game, along with her boyfriend Phil Laak.

In a television interview in 2005, Tilly stated that at that point in her career she was more interested in pursuing poker than acting. By December 2008, Tilly announced her retirement from poker as a career. In her monthly column in Bluff Magazine, she said: "I love poker but greatness in poker is an elusive dream. There are too many variants. Trying to find validation in poker is like trying to find a virgin in a whorehouse. I'm not giving up poker entirely – gambling is an addiction after all. I'm just going to treat it more like a hobby and less like a career."

In January 2010, she resumed her poker career. She was nominated for PokerListings' Spirit of Poker Living Legend Award in 2014, and , her live tournament winnings exceeded $1 million.

Personal life Tilly was married to Sam Simon, developer and producer of The Simpsons, from 1984 until 1991. As of 2018, Tilly receives 30 percent of net proceeds that Simon's estate receives from the show, an arrangement she credits with allowing her to be choosier about her roles. She has been in a relationship with professional poker player Phil Laak since 2004.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1984 No Small Affair Mona 1985 Moving Violations Amy Hopkins 1986 Inside Out Amy 1987 He's My Girl Lisa 1988Remote Control Allegra James Johnny Be Good Connie Hisler Rented Lips Mona Lisa High Spirits Miranda 1989 Far from Home Amy Let It Ride Vicki The Fabulous Baker Boys Blanche "Monica" Moran 1991 The Doors Okie Girl Uncredited. Deleted Scenes. Scorchers Talbot 1992 Shadow of the Wolf Igiyook 1993 Made in America Stacy 1994 The Getaway Fran Carvey Double Cross Melissa Bullets Over Broadway Olive Neal 1995 Embrace of the Vampire Marika Bird of Prey Kily Griffith Man with a Gun Rena Rushton / Kathy Payne 1996Edie & Pen Edie Piper The Pompatus of Love TarzaanBound VioletAmerican Strays Patty Mae House Arrest Cindy Figler 1997 Liar Liar Samantha Cole The Wrong Guy Lynn Holden 1998Music from Another Room Nina Relax...It's Just Sex Tara Ricotto Hoods Mary Crippa Bride of Chucky Tiffany Valentine 1999 The Muse HerselfBartok the Magnificent Piloff (voice) Direct-to-video Goosed Charlene Do Not Disturb Cathryn Stuart Little Mrs. Camille Stout (voice) Play It to the Bone Ringside Fan 2000 Cord (also released as Hide and Seek) Helen Bruno Dolores The Crew Ferris "Maureen" Lowenstein Dancing at the Blue Iguana Jo 2001 Dirt Hooker Fast Sofa Ginger Quail The Cat's Meow Louella ParsonsBall in the House Dot Monsters, Inc. Celia Mae (voice) 2003 Hollywood North Gillian StevensJericho Mansions Donna Cherry The Haunted Mansion Madame Leota Happy End Edna 2004 Second Best Carole Perfect Opposites Elyse Steinberg Home on the Range Grace (voice) El Padrino Sebeva Saint Ralph Nurse Alice Love on the Side Alma Kerns Seed of Chucky Tiffany Valentine (voice) / Herself 2005Lil' Pimp Miss De La Croix (voice) Direct-to-video The Civilization of Maxwell Bright Dr. O'Shannon Bailey's Billion$ Dolores Pennington Tideland Queen Gunhilda 2006 The Poker Movie Herself 2007 Intervention Jane 2008 Deal Karen "Razor" Jones The Caretaker Miss Perry Bart Got a Room Melinda Inconceivable Salome "Sally" Marsh 2009 An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong Mrs. RundellEmpire of Silver Mrs. Landdeck Made in Romania Herself 2010 The Making of Plus One Amber 2012 30 Beats Erika 2013 Amelia's 25th Miss Celie Curse of Chucky Tiffany Valentine Cameo, direct-to-video Return to Babylon Clara Bow The Secret Lives of Dorks Ms. Stewart 2015 Unity Herself Documentary Rebel With a Cause, the Sam Simon Story 2016 A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits Divine Direct-to-video 2017 Cult of Chucky Tiffany Valentine Ray Meets Helen Ginger 2019 7 Days to Vegas Jennifer 2020 Poker Queens Herself Documentary 2021 High Holiday Stephanie Cooksey 2022 Living With Chucky Herself Documentary 2024 Sallywood Joann

Television Year Title Role Notes 1983 Oh Madeline Laurie Episode: "Madeline Acts Forward at the Retreat" 1983 Boone Sonia Episode: "Words and Music" 1984 Shaping Up Shannon Winters 4 episodes 1984–1985 Hill Street Blues Gina Srignoli 6 episodes 1985 Remington Steele Eva Wilson / Blitzen Episode: "Dancer, Prancer, Donner and Steele" 1986 Stir Crazy Karen Episode: "Basic Straining" Cheers Candi Pearson Episode: "Second Time Around" 1987 It's Garry Shandling's Show Angelica Episodes: "It's Garry and Angelica's Show: Part 1 & 2" 1989 Moonlighting Nurse Saundra Episode: "Plastic Fantastic Lovers" 1992 Dream On Ryan Episode: "What Women Want" 1993 At Home with the Webbers Miranda Webber Television film Key West Savannah Sumner 13 episodes 1994 Heads Tina Abbot Television film 1997 Gun Phyllis Episode: "All the President's Women" Bella Mafia Moyra Luciano Television film 1999–present Family Guy Bonnie Swanson (voice) Recurring role 2000 Hey Arnold! Lola (voice) Episode: "Suspended/Ernie in Love" 2000–2003 Scruff Tricks (voice) Main role 2001 Sister Mary Explains It All Philomena Rostovich Television film The Kid Waitress (voice) 2002 The Magnificent Ambersons Fanny Minafer Stage on Screen: The Women Crystal Allen 2004 Frasier Kim Episode: "Miss Right Now" 2005–2006 Out of Practice Crystal 14 episodes 2006 The Initiation of Sarah Dr. Eugenia Hunter Television film 2009 The Cleveland Show Bonnie Swanson (voice) Pilot episode 2010 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Terpsie Pratt Episode: "Take My Life, Please!" 2011 Drop Dead Diva Ginny Episode: "Dream Big" 2011, 2014 Modern Family Darlene 2 episodes 2012 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself – Guest Judge Episode: "Frenemies" The Simpsons Herself (voice) Episode: "Gone Abie Gone" 2013, 2014 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja Amanda Levay / The Sorceress (voice) 2 episodes 2015 Spun Out Maggie Felgate Episode: "The Secret of My Ex-Wife's Success" 2018 SuperMansion Marjorie (voice) Episode: "A Prayer for Mister T: A SuperMansion Thanksgiving Special" 2020 JJ Villard's Fairy Tales Little Red Riding Hood (voice) Episode: "Little Red Riding Hood" 2020, 2022–present The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Herself Episode: "To Live and Text in Beverly Hills", "Secrets Revealed", "The Crystal Conundrum", "The Eaglewoman Has Landed", & "Sutton-ly Suspicious"Guest: Seasons 10, 12 & 13, Recurring: Season 14– 2021 Calls Mother (voice) Episode: "The Beginning" Monsters at Work Celia Mae (voice) Main role: Season 1 only 2021–2024 Chucky Tiffany Valentine / Herself (voice) Recurring role 2022 Bee and PuppyCat: Lazy In Space Violet (voice) Guest Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror Herself Docuseries 2023 SpongeBob SquarePants Petunia (voice) Episode: "The Flower Plot" 2024 The Boulet Brothers' DragulaHerself – Guest JudgeEpisode: "Killer Dolls" 2025Denise Richards & Her Wild ThingsHerselfEpisode: "The Family that Photoshoots Together…" 2026School SpiritsDr. Deborah Hunter-PriceRecurring role

Stage + Year Title Role Notes 1993 One Shoe Off Clio The Public Theater 2001 The Women Crystal Allen Roundabout 2012 Don't Dress for Dinner Suzanne Roundabout 2013 Grasses of a Thousand Colors Robin Public Theater 2026 The Adding Machine Mrs. Zero New Group

Web Year Title Role Notes 2017 Kevin Pollak's Chat Show Herself/Guest Episode: "335"

Video games + Year Title Voice role Note 2014 Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff Bonnie Swanson 2023 Dead by Daylight The Good Gal (Tiffany Valentine) DLC

Awards and nominations Year Awards Category Nominated work Result Drama-Logue Award Best Actress Vanities One Shoe Off 1994 Awards Circuit Community Award Best Cast Ensemble Bullets Over Broadway 1995 Academy Award Best Supporting Actress American Comedy Award Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-series Heads 1999 Saturn Award Best Actress Bride of Chucky 2000 Fantafestival Best Actress 2001 DVD Exclusive Award Best Actress in a DVD Premiere Movie Ball in the House 2004 Fangoria Chainsaw Award Best Actress Seed of Chucky 2007 San Diego Film Festival Best Actress Intervention 2008 Florida Film Festival Artistic Achievement Herself 2010 TheWIFTS Foundation International Visionary Award Barbara Tipple Award for Best Actress Intervention and Inconceivable 2015 Behind the Voice Actors Award Best Female Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Guest Role – Action/Drama Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 2021 Garden State Film Festival Best Ensemble (Feature) 7 Days to Vegas 2022 Saturn Award Best Guest-Starring Performance: Network / Cable Series Chucky 2025 Project Angel Food Angel Award Herself

Poker awards World Series of Poker Bracelet: In 2005, Tilly won the $1,000 Ladies' No Limit Hold'em; the prize was $158,335. WPT Ladies Invitational Tournament, 2005 ($25,000) WPT Bellagio Cup 5K, 2010 ($124,455) Women in Poker Hall of Fame Inductee, 2022