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Concetta Tomei

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Concetta Tomei
Tomei in 2013
Born (1945-12-30) December 30, 1945 (age 78)
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison (BA)
Art Institute of Chicago (BFA)
Years active1971–present

Concetta Tomei (born December 30, 1945)[1] is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Major Lila Garreau on the ABC drama series China Beach (1988–1991) and as Lynda Hansen on the NBC medical drama series Providence (1999–2002).

Early life and education

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Tomei was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She earned a degree in education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and worked four years as a teacher before deciding to pursue her love of theatre at the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University). She earned a BFA and moved to Houston, Texas, where she worked for the Alley Theatre for two years before moving to New York City. In the Milwaukee area, she studied at Sunset Playhouse with Alan Furlan.[2]

Career

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Tomei appeared in the original cast of several pioneering Off-Broadway productions, including Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine and Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart.[3] She appeared opposite Kevin Kline in the New York Shakespeare Festival's Richard III[4] (winning New York's Bayfield Shakespearean award for her performance) and starred with David Bowie in the Broadway production of The Elephant Man, continuing in the national tour.[1]

In the 1980s, she moved to California and appeared in many regional theatres, including Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum, the Oregon Contemporary Theatre, and San Francisco's ACT. She was a regular cast member in the TV-series China Beach, which ran from 1988 to 1991. She was also in the cast of the short-lived Madman of the People (1994–95).[3] She appeared in recurring roles in several TV series, including L.A. Law, Falcon Crest, Picket Fences, Max Headroom, and Judging Amy. She also appeared in the films Murder in Three Acts (1986), The Betty Ford Story (1987) and In Love and War (1987).

In 1991 and 1994, Tomei guest appeared in Season 3 Episode 10 of the TV sitcom Wings titled "The Late Mrs. Biggins,” and Season 5 Episode 21, titled “Roy Crazy”; in both episodes, she played the former wife of Roy Biggins. In 1991, she also had the role of Mrs. Crandell in the cult film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.[3] She starred in the 1992 miniseries The Burden of Proof. In 1997 she portrayed Minister Odala in Star Trek: Voyager episode Distant Origin. From 1999 to 2002, Tomei appeared in 63 episodes of the NBC television series Providence, costarring with Melina Kanakaredes and Mike Farrell. In 2005, Tomei guest appeared in an episode of The King of Queens. One year later, in 2006, she returned to Off-Broadway with an acclaimed performance in Sarah Ruhl's The Clean House. In 2007 she appeared opposite Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner in a Broadway production of the play Cyrano de Bergerac, which was also recorded and broadcast on PBS's Great Performances in 2009.

From 1997 to 2011, Tomei played guest roles on TV shows, such as 7th Heaven, Touched by an Angel, Second Time Around, The King of Queens, Weeds, Numb3rs, Kitchen Confidential, The Closer, Cold Case, Ghost Whisperer, Nip/Tuck, Rubicon, Necessary Roughness, and Star Trek: Voyager.

In 2017, she appeared in two episodes of The Mick titled "The Grandparents" & "The Matriarch" as Tippy Pemberton, the twisted, abusive grandmother of Sabrina, Chip and Ben.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role
1991 Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Mom
1993 Twenty Bucks Sam's Mother
1993 The Goodbye Bird Miss Van Borins / Doris
1997 Out to Sea Madge
1998 Deep Impact Patricia Ruiz
1999 The Muse Nurse Rennert
2002 Purpose Lily Elias
2003 View from the Top Mrs. Stewart
2007 The List Ms. Fitch
2018 Reach Doris

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 ABC Afterschool Special Mrs. Mixner Episode: "Amy & the Angel"
1985 Doubletake Hazel Carter Miniseries
1986 Dynasty Ilene Episode: "The Warning"
1986 Falcon Crest Dr. Estelle Kramer 6 episodes
1986 Murder in Three Acts Janet Crisp Television film
1986 My Sister Sam Mrs. Trager Episode: "Teacher's Pet"
1987 The Betty Ford Story Jan Television film
1987 In Love and War Doyen Salsig Television film
1987–1988 Max Headroom Blank Dominique Recurring role
1988 St. Elsewhere Elise Praeger Episode: "Final Cut"
1988–1991 China Beach Maj. Lila Garreau Main cast
1990, 1992 CBS Schoolbreak Special Elizabeth Henderson 2 episodes
1990–1993 L.A. Law Susan Hauber 5 episodes
1991, 1994 Wings Silvia 2 episodes
1992 The Burden of Proof Clara Stern 2 episodes
1992 Sisters Diana Gottfried Episode: "Crimes and Ms. Demeanors"
1992–1994 Picket Fences Ellen McGrath 4 episodes
1993 Civil Wars Helen Gould Episode: "Alien Aided Affection"
1994 Sin & Redemption Marina Preston Television film
1994 Birdland Elizabeth Episode: "Lower Than the Angels"
1994 Diagnosis: Murder Sister Regina Episode: "Sister Michael Wants You"
1994–1995 Madman of the People Delia Buckner Main cast
1995 Kirk Sabrina Episode: "Educating Kirk"
1995 The Client Honey Dupree Episode: "The Prodigal Father"
1996 Touched by an Angel Kate Carpenter Episode: "'Til We Meet Again"
1996 Ellen Professor Bass Episode: "Witness"
1996 Murder One Jeanette Rennick Episode: "Chapter Eighteen"
1997 Star Trek: Voyager Minister Odala Episode: "Distant Origin"
1997, 1998 Murphy Brown Doris Dial 2 episodes
1999–2002 Providence Lynda Hansen Main cast
2003 Judging Amy Joanne Collins 2 episodes
2004 7th Heaven Mrs. Hampton Episode: "Major League"
2005 Second Time Around Christia Episode: "The Dinner Party"
2005 Gone But Not Forgotten Rita Television film
2005 The King of Queens Joyce Episode: "Catching Hell"
2005 Weeds Celia's Mother – Pat Episode: "Higher Education"
2006 Numbers Dr. Sarah Kemple Episode: "Protest"
2006 Kitchen Confidential Grace Episode: "An Affair to Remember"
2006 The Closer Mrs. Rawley Episode: "The Other Woman"
2008 Cold Case Violet Golding Episode: "Wednesday's Women"
2008 Ghost Whisperer Margaret Episode: "Imaginary Friends and Enemies"
2008 Great Performances Roxane's Duenna Episode: "Cyrano de Bergerac"
2010 Nip/Tuck Maureen Ayers Episode: "Christian Troy II"
2010 Rubicon Georgina Brant 2 episodes
2011–2013 Necessary Roughness Angela Recurring role
2016 Veep Connie DiBenedetto Episode: "Congressional Ball"
2017 The Mick Tippy Pemberton / Evelyn 2 episodes
2019 Arrested Development Mrs. Livingston Episode: "Saving for Arraignment Day"
2019 Abby's Nemo Episode: "Rosie's Band"
2020 Space Force Rep. Pitosi 2 episodes
2022 Going Home Fay Hutton Episode #1.4

References

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  1. ^ a b "Concetta Tomei – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
  2. ^ "The Milwaukee Journal". February 20, 1980.[dead link]
  3. ^ a b c "Concetta Tomei". www.tcm.com.
  4. ^ Simon, John (July 25, 1983). "Tricky Dicky". New York.
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