Origins & Early Life

Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (born September 1, 1939) is an American actress, comedian, writer, singer, and producer. Tomlin started her career in stand-up comedy and sketch comedy before transitioning her career to acting across stage and screen. In a career spanning more than fifty years, Tomlin has received numerous accolades, including seven Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, two Tony Awards, and a nomination for an Academy Award. She was also awarded the Kennedy Center Honor in 2014 and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2017.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Tomlin started her career as a stand-up comedian as well as performing off-Broadway during the 1960s. Her breakout role was on the variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1969 until 1973. Her signature role, which was written by her then-partner (now wife) Jane Wagner, was in the show The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, which opened on Broadway in 1985 and earned Tomlin the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She won Emmy Awards for the special Lily (1973) and received a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for This Is a Recording (1972), the very first solo female to do so. In 1975, Tomlin made her film debut with Robert Altman...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Amelia Earhart — Contemporary (Died in 1939) (1939): Iconic American aviator whose pioneering flights shaped early 20th-century aviation.
• Barry Mann — Contemporary (Born in 1939) (1939): American songwriter and musician known for successful collaborations, especially with Cynthia Weil.
• Bobby Jones (singer) — Contemporary (Born in 1939) (1939): Pioneering gospel singer and television host from Nashville, Tennessee.
• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada — Shared historical date (09-01 · Born) (1896): Pioneering global spread of Krishna consciousness teachings and the Hare Krishna mantra.
• Abraham Isaac Kook — Shared historical date (09-01 · Died) (1935): Pioneering Orthodox Rabbi and Father of Religious Zionism.
• Daniel C. Tsui — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Pioneering Chinese-American physicist known for quantum fluid research and Nobel laureate.
• Douglas Fairbanks — Historical peer (Died in 1939) (1939): Iconic silent film star, known for swashbuckling roles and founding United Artists.
• 2014 League of Legends World Championship — Historical peer (Born in 2014) (2014): The 4th League of Legends World Championship, held in Asia in 2014.
• Alain Resnais — Historical peer (Died in 2014) (2014): Pioneering French filmmaker exploring memory, consciousness, and narrative structure.
• Alexei Abrikosov (physicist) — Historical peer (Died in 2017) (2017): Pioneering theoretical physicist known for low-temperature condensed matter physics.
• 1939 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1939
• September 1 (09-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 1