Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Jane Kaczmarek Biography

Birth Name:Jane Frances Kaczmarek

Birth Place:Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Founded "Clothes Off Our Back," an organization that auctions celebrities' clothing and donates the proceeds to children's charities
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she studied at the Yale School Drama and participated in the theater company there
Did student teaching for a time and claimed it is the hardest job there is
Her career turned around and picked up when she was cast as Lois Wilkerson on the comedy "Malcolm in the Middle," her first comic role
Played over 40 television roles in her early career, most of them straight dramatic roles
She and on-screen "Malcolm in the Middle" son Erik Per Sullivan contributed the afterword for a children's book that shows how important domestic animals are to impoverished people
Used an X-ray of her hip after her 2004 hip replacement surgery as an advertising gimmick in her Emmy campaign the following summer, billing herself as "the only Emmy nominee with an artificial hip (except for Anthony LaPaglia․)"

Awards

1983ACE-Actress in a Dramatic Presentation: nominated
2000OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a New Comedy Series: winner
2000OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2000TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: winner
2000Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series: nominated
2001Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2001American Comedy Award-Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication: winner
2001Family Television Award-Actress: winner
2001Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2001OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2001TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: winner
2002AFI Award-Actor of the Year - Female - TV Series: nominated
2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2002OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2002Teen Choice Award-TV - Choice Actress, Comedy: nominated
2003Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2003OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2004OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical: winner
2004Young Artist Award-Most Popular Mom & Pop in a Television Series: nominated
2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2006OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2010Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Lead Actress of the Decade: nominated
2014BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Children's/Educational: nominated