Joely Fisher

Joely Fisher ( ; born October 29, 1967) is an American actress and singer, the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Connie Stevens, and half-sister of actress Carrie Fisher. Her breakthrough came in 1994, starring as Paige Clark in the ABC sitcom Ellen, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film at the 55th Golden Globe Awards. Fisher later starred in the 1999 comedy film Inspector Gadget and had leading roles in the Lifetime comedy-drama Wild Card (2003–2005), and Fox sitcom 'Til Death (2006–2010).

The national members of the trade union SAG-AFTRA elected Fisher as secretary-treasurer on September 2, 2021.

Early life Joely Fisher was born on October 29, 1967, in Burbank, California, one of two children born to Edwin "Eddie" Fisher and Connie Stevens (née Concetta Ingolia), both entertainers. Fisher has a younger sister, Tricia Leigh Fisher. Her parents divorced in 1969, after which she and Tricia were raised by Stevens.

Fisher was named Miss Golden Globe at the 49th Golden Globe Awards in 1992.

Career Her first film role was Averil in the comedy Pretty Smart (1987), which starred her sister, Tricia. Fisher then played Kris Stone on the CBS Schoolbreak Special drama "Dedicated to the One I Love" (1991) opposite Danielle Ferland. Next came the feature I'll Do Anything (1994) starring Nick Nolte, which helped her career as bigger roles followed. She also had a variety of guest roles on series such as Growing Pains, Blossom, Caroline in the City, The Golden Palace, The Outer Limits, Grace Under Fire and Coach.

In 1994, Fisher was cast as Paige Clark on the sitcom Ellen, first appearing in the second season. She played the role for four seasons until the series ended in 1998. That same year, she earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film at the 55th Golden Globe Awards. She followed Ellen with the role of Dr. Brenda Bradford in the film Inspector Gadget (1999).

Fisher's Broadway debut was as a replacement for the role of Betty Rizzo in the revival of Grease (1994). She was also a replacement for the role of Sally Bowles in the revival of Cabaret (1998). Her vocal range is alto.

Fisher's career in music not only landed her on Broadway but she was featured in albums. Her most noted album was Tradition: a Family at Christmas which she, her sister Tricia and their mother Connie Stevens sang various Christmas carols. She sang her own solo on "Grown Up Christmas List". Her vocals are also heard singing "One for My Baby" in Harold Arlen's album STAGE.

From 2003 until 2005, Fisher starred in the Lifetime network's drama series Wild Card as insurance investigator Zoe Busiek. After that, she had a recurring role as Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman)'s boss Nina Fletcher on Desperate Housewives. From 2006 until 2010, Fisher starred opposite actor Brad Garrett as Joy Stark in the Fox TV sitcom 'Til Death.

In 2021, Fisher starred as Irene Cody in the Lifetime film Girl in the Basement which was inspired by the Fritzl case.

Fisher serves on the advisory board of Voters of Tomorrow, an advocacy organization that promotes political engagement among Generation Z.

Personal life Fisher married cinematographer Christopher Duddy in 1996. They have three daughters, two who were born in 2001 and 2006, and a third who was adopted in September 2008. She is also stepmother to Duddy's two sons, Cameron Duddy, who is the bass guitarist for the country music band Midland, (b. 1986) and Collin (b. 1988).

In late 2008, she became an artist ambassador for Save the Children. She traveled to Xai-Xai, Mozambique, to visit with children that are part of the child sponsorship programs.

Filmography

Film Year Film Role Notes 1987 Pretty Smart Averil 1994 I'll Do Anything Cathy Breslow (Female D Person) The Mask Maggie Mixed Nuts Susan 1997 Family Plan Lauren Osborne 1999 Inspector Gadget Dr. Brenda Bradford/Robo-Brenda 2000 Nostradamus Lucy Hudson 2005 Slingshot Emma 2007 Cougar Club Lulu Murdering Mama's Boy Claire Short 2009 You Kimberly 2014 Happy Anniversary Honey Jill Short 2016 Search Engines Judy The Disappointments Room Dr. Asher 2017 The Tribes of Palos Verdes Janet 2018 By the Rivers of Babylon Judith 2019 Fall Girls Simone Wellington 2020 Looking for Mr. Wonderful Barbara 2021 The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu Charlotte Kelly 2024 Reagan/Quigley '85 Joan Quigley Short 2025 SwipedSima

Television Year TV show Role Notes 1989 Starting from Scratch Sylvia Episode: "Kate Leaves Home" Something Is Out There Leanne Healy Episode: "The Keeper" 1990 Growing Pains Sally Garner Guest cast (season 1-2) 1991 Blossom Bambi Episode: "Tough Love" CBS Schoolbreak Special Kris Stone Episode: "Dedicated to the One I Love" 1993 Paula Webb Episode: "Runaways" 1994 ABC Weekend Specials Princess Pamina (voice) Episode: "The Magic Flute" The Companion Stacy TV movie 1994–98 Ellen Paige Clark Main cast (season 2-5) 1996 The Dana Carvey Show Paige Clark Episode: "The Mountain Dew Dana Carvey Show" Caroline in the City Jill Episode: "Caroline and the Ex-Wife" Amy Episode: "Out of Body" 1996–98 Superman: The Animated Series Lana Lang (voice) Guest cast (season 1-3) 1997 Seduction in a Small Town Sandy Barlow TV movie Coach Paige Clark Episode: "Viva Las Ratings" Grace Under Fire Paige Clark Episode: "Vegas" Paige Clark Episode: "Drew Gets Married" Jitters Rita Domino TV movie 1998 Perfect Prey Elizabeth Crane TV movie Thirst Susan Miller TV movie Genesis Awards Herself/Host Television special 1999 Love, American Style Jeannie Segment: "Love and The Heimlich Maneuver" Coming Unglued Laura Hartwood TV movie Kidnapped in Paradise Beth Emerson TV movie 2000 Mad TV Herself Episode #6.6 Grosse Pointe Hope Lustig Recurring cast Normal, Ohio Pamela Theresa Gamble-Miller Main cast 2001 Danny Molly Main cast 2002 Hollywood Squares Herself/Panelist Episode: "May 1, 2002" Intimate Portrait Herself Episode: "Joely Fisher" 2002–03 Baby Bob Lizzy Collins Spencer Main cast 2003–05 Wild Card Zoe Busiek Main cast 2004 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Segment: "Ellen DeGeneres" 2005 Desperate Housewives Nina Fletcher Recurring cast (season 2) 2006 Jeopardy! Herself Episode: "2006 Celebrity Jeopardy! Game 8." 2006–10 'Til Death Joy Stark Main cast 2007 The Bronx Bunny Show Herself Episode #1.9 2008 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Segment: "Mariska Hargitay" 2009 Hollywood Lives Herself Recurring guest 2011 Celebrity Close Calls Herself Episode: "Peter Fonda/Joely Fisher/Annie Potts" Wizards of Waverly Place Meg Robinson Episode: "Alex the Puppetmaster" 2012 RuPaul's Drag U Herself/Guest Professor Episode: "Time to Grow Up" The Haunting of... Herself Episode: "Connie Stevens" Cupid, Inc. Eve Lovett TV movie 2014 Fatal Acquittal Cassidy Miller TV movie 2014–15 Celebrity Name Game Herself/Celebrity Player Recurring guest 2014–16 Last Man Standing Wendi Guest (season 3), recurring cast (season 4-5) 2016 Hollywood Game Night Herself/Celebrity Player Episode: "It's My Jane in the Box" Celebrity Family Feud Herself Episode #3.4 Scorpion Lorraine Episode: "The Fast and the Nerdiest" Modern Family Maggie Braithwaite Episode: "The Alliance" 2017 Battle of the Network Stars Herself/Contestant Episode: "ABC Stars vs. Variety" 2018 The '80s Greatest Herself Recurring guest The '90s Greatest Herself Recurring guest Station 19 Denise Episode: "No Recovery" 2019 9-1-1 Cynn Episode: "Triggers" 2019–20 The Very Very Best of the 70s Herself Recurring cast (season 1), guest (season 2) 2021 Girl in the Basement Irene Cody TV movie 2022 The Very Very Best of the 80s Herself Episode: "Action Movie Stars" How I Met Your Father Sue Episode: "Jay Street" 2023 Dark Side of Comedy Herself Episode: "Ellen DeGeneres" Fantasy Island Joy Summers Episode: "The Urn" 2024 S.W.A.T. Caroline Wolf Episode: "Allegiance"

+Theater Year Production Role Notes 1994 Grease Betty Rizzo 1998 Cabaret Sally Bowles

Discography 1993: Tradition: A Family at Christmas; she sang 3 songs with her mother Connie Stevens and sister Tricia Leigh Fisher. She has 1 solo: "Grown Up Christmas List" 1995: S.T.A.G.E. Music of Harold Arlen, "One for My Baby" 1998: Lerner, Lowe, Lane and Friends, "Come Back to Me" 2000: Adler, Brock, and Coleman, "Welcome to Holiday Inn"