Holland Virginia Taylor (born January 14, 1943) is an American actress known for her film, television and theatre work. Her television roles include Ruth Dunbar in Bosom Buddies, senator's wife Margaret Powers on Norman Lear's The Powers That Be, Judge Roberta Kittleson in The Practice and Evelyn Harper in Two and a Half Men.
Early life
Taylor was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1943, the daughter of Virginia, a painter, and C. Tracy Taylor, an
attorney. She is the youngest of three girls in the family and her sisters are Patricia and Pamela. Taylor attended high school at
Westtown School, a
Quaker boarding school in West Chester, Pennsylvania, then majored in
drama at
Bennington College in 1964, before moving to
New York City to become an actress.
Career
Taylor's long career began in the theater. Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s she appeared in numerous
Broadway and
off-Broadway productions, including starring roles in
Simon Gray's
Butley and
A. R. Gurney's
The Cocktail Hour; for the latter she was nominated for a
Drama Desk award. Taylor also has the dubious distinction of having starred in Broadway's most infamous flop,
Moose Murders, where she filled in, with less than a week's rehearsal, for veteran character actress
Eve Arden who had jumped from the sinking ship.
In 1983 Taylor had one of her greatest theatrical moments in Breakfast with Les and Bess, which prompted legendary New York magazine theater critic John Simon to sing, "...Miss Taylor is one of the few utterly graceful, attractive, elegant and technically accomplished actresses in our theater...seeing her may turn you, like me, into a Taylor freak..."
Concentrating on theater, television took a backseat but she did take on the role of Denise Cavanaugh on the long running soap opera, The Edge of Night who was so evil, she killed herself just to frame her husband. Then encouraged by her acting coach, the legendary Stella Adler, Taylor took a role that would make her well known: Tom Hanks' sexy, demanding boss in the 1980s sitcom Bosom Buddies.
The actress' rising fame, built slowly over many years, led her to roles that made her a well known name in the industry. She proved herself to be equally adept both at comedy and at drama. From 1992 to 1993 she starred in Norman Lear's The Powers That Be with John Forsythe and David Hyde Pierce; and from 1995 to 1998 on The Naked Truth. But it was the recurring role of rapacious Judge Roberta Kittleson on The Practice from 1998 to 2003, that brought her long-overdue fame and for which she won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress. In her Emmy speech, she brought the house down when she lifted the Emmy over her head and said, "Overnight!" Taylor thanked David E. Kelley, The Practice's producer/writer and creator, for "giving me a chariot to ride up here on: A woman who puts a flag on the moon for women over 40—who can think, who can work, who are successes, who can cook, and who can COOK!"
Taylor was also nominated for an Emmy for her recurring role on AMC's "The Lot," and has been nominated four times since 2003, for best supporting actress for her role on the TV series Two and a Half Men, playing Evelyn Harper, the snobbish, overbearing mother of Charlie Sheen. Taylor's television movie and series guest roles have been extensive and include appearances on ER, Veronica's Closet, and recurring roles on Ally McBeal; Monk and as billionaire Peggy Peabody on The L Word.
Taylor's movie roles have included Reese Witherspoon's tough Harvard law professor in the 2001 comedy Legally Blonde; Tina Fey's mother in Baby Mama; The Truman Show; Happy Accidents; Next Stop Wonderland; George of the Jungle; The Wedding Date; How to Make an American Quilt; Romancing the Stone; and D.E.B.S..
Prudence, the castle's majordomo and love interest of the Grand Duke, in Disney's Cinderella II and is her only animated role.
Taylor's first love remains the theater and she has spent the last two years researching, writing and producing a one-woman play about the late Texas Governor Ann Richards.
Charitable work
Taylor has been a long-time, major supporter of
Aid For AIDS in Los Angeles, serving on their Honorary Board and as an ongoing participant in their largest annual fundraiser,
Best In Drag Show, among other fundraising efforts.
Emmy Award nominations
2000 - (Won) - Outstanding Supporting Actress - Drama Series - The Practice
2000 - (Nominated) - Outstanding Guest Actress - Comedy Series - The Lot
2005 - (Nominated) - Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series - Two and a Half Men
2007 - (Nominated) - Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series - Two and a Half Men
2008 - (Nominated) - Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series - Two and a Half Men
2010 - (Nominated) - Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series - Two and a Half Men
Filmography
Film
J.T. (1969) .... Mrs. Arnold
The Next Man (1976) .... TV Interviewer
(1979) .... Beverly
Fame (1980) (uncredited) .... Claudia van Doren
The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana (1982) .... Frances Shand Kydd
I Was a Mail Order Bride (1982) .... Dottie Birmington
Reuben, Reuben (1983)
Concealed Enemies (1984) .... Mrs. Marbury
Romancing the Stone (1984) .... Gloria Hart
Key Exchange (1985) .... Mrs. Fanshaw
Perry Mason Returns (1985) .... Paula Gordon
The Jewel of the Nile (1985) .... Gloria Hart
(1987) .... Ernestine King
She's Having a Baby (1988) .... Sarah Briggs
People Like Us (1990) .... Dolly
Alice (1990) .... Helen
Big Deals (1991)
The Rape of Doctor Willis (1991) .... Dr. Greenway
Cop and ½ (1993) .... Captain Rubio
Betrayal of Trust (1994) .... Mary Shelton
(1994) .... Florence Newsom
The Counterfeit Contessa (1994) .... Wallace Everett
The Favor (1994) .... Maggie Sand
A Walton Wedding (1995) .... Aunt Flo
Awake to Danger (1995) .... Dr. Joyce Lindley
(1995) (TV)
With Hostile Intent (1995) .... Lois Baxter
To Die For (1995) .... Carol Stone
How to Make an American Quilt (1995) .... Mrs. Rubens
Last Summer in the Hamptons (1995) .... Davis
Steal Big Steal Little (1995) .... Mona Rowland-Downey
One Fine Day (1996) .... Rita
George of the Jungle (1997) ... Beatrice Stanhope
Just Write (1997) .... Emma Jeffreys
Betty (1997) .... Crystal Ball
The Unknown Cyclist (1998) (uncredited) .... Celia
The Truman Show (1998) .... Truman's Mother
Next Stop Wonderland (1998) .... Piper Castleton
My Last Love (1999) .... Marnie Morton
The Sex Monster (1999) .... Muriel
The Spiral Staircase (2000) .... Emma Warren
Happy Accidents (2000) .... Therapist, Maggie Ann "Meg" Ford
Mail to the Chief (2000) .... Katherine Horner
Keeping the Faith (2000) .... Bonnie Rose
The Deadly Look of Love (2000) .... Evelyn McGinnis
Strange Frequency (2001) .... Marge Crowley (segment "Room Service")
Town & Country (2001) .... Mistress of Ceremonies
Legally Blonde (2001) .... Professor Stromwell
The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001) .... Nancy Reagan
Fits and Starts (2002)
(2002) (V) (voice) .... Prudence
Home Room (2002) .... Dr. Hollander
(2002) .... Grandmother
(2003) .... Grandmother
Intent (2003) .... Judge Cavallo
D.E.B.S. (2004) .... Mrs. Petrie
The Wedding Date (2005) .... Bunny
(2007) (V) (voice) .... Prudence
Baby Mama (2008) .... Rose
Television
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967) .... Trish Wanamaker (1971)
Somerset (1970) .... Sgt. Ruth Winter (unknown episodes, 1973)
Beacon Hill (1975) .... Marilyn Gardiner (unknown episodes)
Kojak .... Elizabeth (1 episode, 1977)
The Edge of Night (1976) .... Denise Norwood Cavanaugh, R.N. (1977–1978, 1980)
ABC Afterschool Special .... Felicia Martin (1 episode, 1981)
Bosom Buddies .... Ruth Dunbar (21 episodes, 1980–1981)
All My Children (1970) .... Jill Ollinger (unknown episodes, 1981–1982)
The Love Boat .... Kathy Brighton (1 episode, 1983)
Kate & Allie .... Linda Cabot (1 episode, 1984)
Me and Mom (1985) .... Zena Hunnicutt (unknown episodes)
Harry (1987) .... Ina Duckett, R.N. (unknown episodes)
Perfect Strangers .... Olivia Crawford (1 episode, 1987)
CBS Summer Playhouse .... Fran Grogan / ... (2 episodes, 1987–1989)
Murder, She Wrote .... Winifred Thayer (1 episode, 1989)
Wiseguy .... Allison Royce / ... (1 episode, 1990)
Going Places .... Dawn St. Clare (3 episodes, 1990–1991)
The Powers That Be .... Margaret Powers (20 episodes, 1992–1993)
.... Dean Susan McMann (7 episodes, 1993–1994)
.... Agent Gretchen McCord (2 episodes, 1994–1995)
The Naked Truth .... Camilla Dane (2 episodes, 1995–1998)
Something So Right .... Abigail (1 episode, 1996)
Veronica's Closet .... Millicent (2 episodes, 1998)
Buddy Faro .... Olivia Vandermeer (1 episode, 1998)
ER .... Phyllis Farr (1 episode, 1999)
The Lot (1999) .... Letitia DeVine (unknown episodes)
The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1999) (TV) .... Herself
Ally McBeal .... 2nd Woman in Face Bra Infomercial / ... (2 episodes, 1999–2000)
Strong Medicine .... Lillian Pynchon (1 episode, 2000)
DAG .... Katherine Twigg (1 episode, 2000)
The Living Edens .... Narrator (1 episode, 2000)
The Fighting Fitzgeralds .... Rose (1 episode, 2001)
Strange Frequency .... Marge Crowley (1 episode, 2001)
Battery operated boyfriend (2002) .... Madeline Collins (unknown episodes)
Disney's Fillmore! .... Mrs. Cornwall (1 episode, 2002)
Intimate Portrait .... Herself (2 episodes, 2002–2004)
Banzai .... Herself (1 episode, 2003)
The Practice .... Judge Roberta Kittleson (29 episodes, 1998–2003)
The L Word .... Peggy Peabody (8 episodes, 2004–2008)
Big Brother .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
Monk .... Peggy Davenport (2 episodes, 2005–2007)
The 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2006) (TV) .... Herself
The 33rd Annual People's Choice Awards (2007) (TV) .... Herself
Two and a Half Men .... Evelyn Harper / ... (75 episodes, 2003–present)
Theater
Broadway
"Breakfast with Les and Bess"
"Moose Murders"
"Murder Among Friends"
"Butley" (Alan Bates)
"Something Old, Something New"
"We Interrupt this Message"
"The Devils" (Anne Bancroft)
Off-Broadway
"Vagina Monologues"
"The Cocktail Hour"
"Drinks Before Dinner"
"Children"
"Fashion"
"Colette (Zoe Caldwell)"
"Love Letters"
Regional
"Kindertransport"
"A Delicate Balance"
"Passion Play (Galati)"
"The Philanthropist"
"Black Comedy"
Los Angeles
"The Unexpected Man" The Geffen Playhouse
"Kinder Transport" The Tiffany Theatre
"Narrator – LA Philharmonic “Persephone, Stravinski, Essa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor"
"Narrator – LA Philharmonic “Ahknaten, Philip Glass, John Adams, Conductor"
References
External links
Holland Taylor Bio at CBS - Two and a Half Men
Category:American film actors
Category:American stage actors
Category:American television actors
Category:Bennington College alumni
Category:Emmy Award winners
Category:Actors from Pennsylvania
Category:People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Category:1943 births
Category:Living people
