Krakowski was born and raised in Parsippany, New Jersey,[4] the daughter of Ed Krajkowski, a chemical engineer, and Barbara (née Benoit), a college theater instructor and producing artistic director for the Women's Theater Company.[5][6][7] She has an older brother.[8] Krakowski's father's family is Polish,[9] and while she speaks very little Polish, her father and grandparents are fluent.[10]
Krakowski at the 2007 Red Dress Collection for The Heart Truth
Following a 1981 television commercial for the video game Solar Fox, Krakowski's first major role and feature film debut came at the age of 14, when she played Cousin Vicki Johnson in the 1983 road comedy National Lampoon's Vacation. Krakowski was originally cast in the 1983 horror filmSleepaway Camp, but dropped out just before filming began because she felt her character's death scene with a curling iron was too violent. In 1984, she began appearing as Theresa Rebecca "T.R." Kendall in the NBC soap opera Search for Tomorrow, part of the NBC Daytime programming block; she continued the role until the show ended in 1986 and was nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards in 1986 and 1987.[citation needed] She also appeared in several episodes of the soap opera Another World in 1989.
At age 18, Krakowski originated the role of Dinah the Dining Car in the 1987 Broadway production of Starlight Express. She appeared in the 1989 Broadway musicalGrand Hotel as the typist and would-be film star Flaemmchen, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award.[14] Her solo number, "I Want to Go to Hollywood," is included on the original cast recording. In 1995, she played the ditzy flight attendant April in the Roundabout Theater Company's revival of Company, followed by a starring role alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in the 1996 Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress.
From 1997 to 2002, Krakowski played office assistant Elaine Vassal in the Fox comedy-drama series Ally McBeal; she received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1999.[15] She also appeared in the music video for The Chicks's song "Goodbye Earl" in 2000,[16] and a recurring role on the drama series Everwood in 2003.
At the 2000 American Comedy Awards, Krakowski won rave reviews when she performed a sexually charged musical tribute and love letter to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. The following year, Krakowski appeared on the album Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays, singing the song "Santa Baby". She also collaborated with Jim Brickman on the song "You" for Brickman's 2002 album Love Songs & Lullabies;[15] the song became a hit on adult contemporary radio stations. Brickman and Krakowski later recorded a Christmas-themed alternate version of the song.
Krakowski signing autographs after a performance of Guys and Dolls
From 2006 to 2013, Krakowski played the role of Jenna Maroney, a clueless and narcissistic actress, on the Tina Fey-created NBC comedy series 30 Rock. She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013.[22][23] Following 30 Rock's conclusion, Krakowski joined the cast of Fey's follow-up series, the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, in the role of the condescending socialite Jacqueline White. Schmidt ran from 2015-2019 and gave Krakowski her fifth Primetime Emmy Award nomination.[24]
Since 2021, Krakowski has hosted a Fox reboot of the 1950s gameshowName That Tune, with former American Idol judge Randy Jackson as bandleader.[27][28] Krakowski has said, "One of the reasons I wanted to do Name That Tune was to perform again in front of a live audience."[29][30]
Personal life
Krakowski became engaged to Robert Godley in 2009. They have a son,[31] born in April 2011.[32] The couple separated in 2013.[33]
In January 2021, the Daily Mail alleged that Krakowski had a nine-month relationship with Mike Lindell, the inventor of My Pillow, between late 2019 and the summer of 2020. Both Krakowski and Lindell denied the allegation, and Lindell sued the Daily Mail for libel.[34][35][36][37][38] The case was dismissed on the grounds that a "reasonable person" would not view anything in the Daily Mail article as defamatory.[39]
In November 2021, Krakowski contracted a breakthrough case of COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw from NBC's Annie Live! where she was to play Lily St. Regis.[40]
Filmography
Film performances
Television performances
Music video performances
Stage performances
Discography
Krakowski released her debut solo album on July 15, 2010. It is an album of cover versions called Laziest Gal in Town. It released on DRG Records.[48]
Selected recordings include:
1992: Grand Hotel, Studio Cast Recording (mostly original Broadway cast)
1995: Company, Broadway revival cast recording
1997: Once Upon a Mattress, Broadway revival cast recording
2004: A Christmas Carol, television cast recording
2010: The Laziest Gal in Town, solo album
2016: She Loves Me, Broadway revival cast recording
Awards and nominations
Film and television
Theater
References
^Filichia, Peter (October 17, 2008). "Jane Krakowski to appear at theater fund-raiser". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
^"Famous birthdays for Oct. 11: Jane Krakowski, Cardi B". United Press International. October 11, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2020. Actor Jane Krakowski in 1968 (age 50)
^2006 Laurence Olivier Award Winners Announced Theater Mania, February 26, 2006
^Roncace, Kelly (July 13, 2016). "The most famous person from each of N.J.'s 21 counties". NJ.com. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
^ a bNash, Margo (March 19, 2006). "Jersey Footlights". The New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
^ a bTyrrel, Rebecca (September 5, 2005). "The secretary's star turn". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved November 9, 2008.[dead link]
^Cała rodzina po stronie mojego ojca jest polska ("All my family from my father's side is Polish") (Polish) January 5, 2006, Mojawyspa
^Jane Krakowski: Z Krakowa do "Ally McBeal" Polish(...) mój tata rozmawiał po polsku. Moi dziadkowie rozmawiali na co dzień po angielsku, ale kłócili się tylko po polsku, żebyśmy ich nie zrozumieli! ("(...) my dad spoke Polish, and my grandparents spoke English at home, but they argued only in Polish, because they didn't want to be understood by us.") January 5, 2006, Mojayspa
^Filichia, Peter. "Leave It to Jane Jane Krakowski claims that, when she was a child, some people thought she looked like a boy!", TheaterMania, March 9, 2006. Accessed January 4, 2021. "She never did a show at Parsippany High School in New Jersey 'because I was working professionally on [the soap opera] Search for Tomorrow,' says the blonde honeybunch."
^Lipton, Michael A. (July 20, 1998). "Taking a Bough". People. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
^"Ask a Star: Jane Krakowski". Broadway.com. September 15, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
^"The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
^ a b c d"30 Rock Cast Biographies: Jane Krakowski". NBC. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
^"Dixie Chicks - Goodbye Earl". YouTube. October 2, 2009. Archived from the original on October 31, 2021.
^Hernandez, Ernio (May 20, 2003). "Nine Nominee Jane Krakowski "Calls" in a Showstopping Performance". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
^Portantiere, Michael (June 24, 2003). "Jane Krakowski Takes Manhattan". Theater Mania. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
^Holden, Stephen (February 5, 2005). "Sorry, Santa, but Naughty Is More Fun Than Nice". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
^"Krakowski takes off skates". Variety. February 2, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
^Gans, Andrew (July 27, 2008). "Diva Talk: Chatting with Damn Yankees' Jane Krakowski". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
^Hibberd, James (July 16, 2009). "Emmy nominee reactions rundown". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
^Hibberd, James (July 8, 2010). "'Glee,' 'The Pacific' top Emmy noms". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
^Jung, E. Alex (July 16, 2015). "Jane Krakowski on Emmy Nomination No. 5 -- Vulture". Vulture.com. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
^Lloyd Webber, Imogen (September 1, 2015). "Zachary Levi Will Replace Josh Radnor in She Loves Me, Starring Laura Benanti, on Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
^"She Loves Me Broadway @ Studio 54". Playbill. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
^Peter White (November 18, 2020). "Fox Brings Back Name That Tune With Jane Krakowski Hosting & Randy Jackson As Band Leader". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
^"Fox Revives 'Name That Tune' With Jane Krakowski, Randy Jackson". The Hollywood Reporter. November 18, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
^"Not My Job: We Quiz 'Name That Tune' Host Jane Krakowski On Tunas". NPR.org. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
^Gordon, David (January 19, 2021). "Interview: Jane Krakowski on Hosting Name That Tune and Singing and Dancing in Schmigadoon!". Theater Mania. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
^"Jane Krakowski Interviewed About TV/Website Interactive Show". ContactMusic.com. May 22, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
^Derschowitz, Jessica (April 22, 2011). "Jane Krakowski and Robert Godley welcome a son". CBS News. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
^"50 facts you didn't know about Jane Krakowski". Booms Beat. August 4, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
^"MyPillow's Mike Lindell Sues Over Story of Jane Krakowski Romance". The Hollywood Reporter. January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
^Cartwright, Lachlan; Tani, Maxwell; Suebsaeng, Asawin (January 25, 2021). "MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Sues the Daily Mail Over Jane Krakowski Affair Story". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
^"Jane Krakowski Denies MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Romance, Jokes She's Actually Dating Brad Pitt". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
^Kirkpatrick, Emily (January 22, 2021). "Jane Krakowski Insists She's Not Dating the MyPillow CEO Because She's Never Met Him". Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
^Lindell's libel suit against Daily Mail Retrieved February 13, 2021
^"A federal judge threw out Mike Lindell's defamation lawsuit against the Daily Mail for a story alleging he had a secret affair with actress Jane Krakowski". Business Insider. December 10, 2021.
^Evans, Greg (November 12, 2021). "Megan Hilty Steps In As Replacement For Covid-Struck Jane Krakowski In 'Annie Live!'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
^ a b c d e f g h"Jane Krakowski (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 4, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
^"Video: TV Land Releases New Behind-the-Scenes Featurette from Upcoming Darren Star Series "Younger"". The Futon Critic. March 17, 2015.
^Bentley, Jean (March 17, 2015). "TV Land's Younger Adds TV Favorites Jane Krakowski, Ana Gasteyer, and More — Plus, Watch a New Scene!". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
^Russell, John (July 26, 2018). "'Match Game' Guest Jane Krakowski Reveals What the Show Is Really Like". TV Insider. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
^White, Peter (November 18, 2020). "Fox Brings Back 'Name That Tune' With Jane Krakowski Hosting & Randy Jackson As Band Leader". Deadline. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
^Petski, Denise (October 1, 2020). "Keegan-Michael Key, Alan Cumming, Fred Armisen, Kristin Chenoweth Among 10 Cast For Apple Musical Comedy Project Starring Cecily Strong". Deadline. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
^Hutchins, Michael H. "Sondheim Guide / A Little Night Music". SondheimGuide.com.
^"Jane Krakowski Releases 'The Laziest Gal in Town' Solo Album 7/15; Cover Art Revealed". BroadwayWorld.com. June 10, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
^ a b c d e"Jane Krakowski". Television Academy. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jane Krakowski.