Maggie Wheeler (née Jakobson) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Janice on the television sitcom Friends (1994–2004), and Anita on Ellen (1994–1996). In addition to her acting and voiceover work, she is a singer, songwriter, choir director, and workshop facilitator.https://www.eomega.org/workshops/teachers/maggie-wheeler Retrieved July 28, 2024.
Early life and education Wheeler is the daughter of Barbara Jakobson, an art collector, and John Jakobson, a member of the New York Stock Exchange. She was raised in a secular Jewish household and graduated from The Calhoun School in New York City.
Career In the 1980s, Wheeler (under her maiden name of Jakobson) briefly dabbled in voice acting. In the animated series SilverHawks, she voiced not only the villainess Melodia and the heroine Steelheart/Emily Hart, but all of the female characters; she also worked on the Karate Kat and Mini-Monsters segments of The Comic Strip. In 1989 she appeared in the live-action film, New Year's Day, alongside David Duchovny.
After she became Maggie Wheeler, it was rumored that she auditioned for the role of Monica Geller in Friends. She denied this in an interview, stating that she only auditioned for the role of Janice Goralnik, which she was invited to play. Janice was a recurring character of the series and particularly known as a frequent love interest of main character Chandler Bing. She featured in 19 episodes, appearing at least once in each season.
She also auditioned for the role of Debra Barone, on the American sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. Although she was the producers' choice, CBS ended up selecting Patricia Heaton. Instead, Wheeler played the recurring role of Debra's friend, Linda.
According to Kathy Griffin's autobiography, Official Book Club Selection, Wheeler was cast in the role of Vicki for the pilot episode of Suddenly Susan and was later replaced by Griffin.
She had a star billing in the first season of Ellen. She appeared on the hit comedy Seinfeld in the episode "The Fix-Up", as one of Elaine's friends who is set up with George. She has appeared in many other television programs, including Drake & Josh, ER, The X-Files, The War at Home, Will & Grace, Jack and Jill, How I Met Your Mother and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
In 1997, Wheeler voiced Harley Quinn's replacement in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Millions".
In 1998, she appeared in the remake of Disney's The Parent Trap, playing the younger of a mother-daughter pair of camp counselors. Wheeler provided the voice of Odile in Barbie of Swan Lake, and Trinette in the animated sitcom Archer.
In 2011, she guest-starred in the Disney Channel series Shake It Up as Dina's mother.
Wheeler is the co-founder and director of the Golden Bridge Community Choir in Hollywood, a non-auditioned, intergenerational choir which supports local and global communities through fundraising concerts. She travels to retreat centers, universities, communities and schools to teach vocal workshops.https://maggiewheeler.net/about Retrieved July 28, 2024.
Personal life She has been married to sculptor Daniel Borden Wheeler since 1990. They have two children.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1982Soup for OneNurse1983PortfolioAssistant Choreographer1987Someone to LoveAttendee1989Mortal SinsMarieNew Year's DayLucy1993Sexual HealingSuzanneShort film1998The Parent TrapMarva Kulp Jr.2003Barbie of Swan LakeOdile (voice)Direct-to-video film 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 credits or other reliable sources of information.2006Dr. Dolittle 3Brown Hen (voice)Fluffy Hen (voice)2007Waking DreamsJenny2015The 3 Tails: A Mermaid AdventureMaria2019The Addams FamilyTrudy Pickering (voice) 2021 Mark, Mary & Some Other People Lisa2025Dog ManNurse (voice)
Television Year Title Role Notes1984Various8 episodes1985Episode: "The Day Kingsfield Missed Class"1986SilverHawksMelodia/Steelheart Voice, main role1990L.A. LawPaula LightsEpisode: "The Good Human Bar"1991Dream OnBonnie DeckerEpisode: "So Funny I Forgot to Laugh"1992SeinfeldCynthiaEpisode: "The Fix-Up"Civil WarsPatricia McDermottEpisode: "Mob Psychology"Doogie Howser, M.D.Dr. Elena Spencer2 episodes1994Det. Sharon LazardEpisode: "Born Again"FriendsJanice Litman-GoralnikRecurring role1994–1996EllenAnita WarrellMain role (season 1); guest role (season 3)1995Pride & JoyFlight AttendantEpisode: "Terror at 30,000 Feet"1996–2004Everybody Loves RaymondLinda GruenfelderRecurring role (season 1, 4, 7–8); guest role (season 2)1998Fake Harley Quinn (voice)Episode: "Joker's Millions"Love Boat: The Next WaveCindyEpisode: "True Course"1999Get RealJenniferEpisode: "Pilot"2001Jack & JillKristen Moss2 episodesIt's Like, You Know...RachelEpisode: "Walking Tall"2002Will & GracePollyEpisode: "Dying Is Easy, Comedy Is Hard"Justice League Antiope (voice)Episode: "Fury"2003 CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStand-Up ComedianEpisode: "Last Laugh"2004Kim PossibleDr. Renton (voice)Episode: "Motor Ed"2005Paine ManagementJeanine BernsenTelevision filmFat ActressWoman Diapering BabyEpisode: "Charlie's Angels or Too Pooped to Pop"Higglytown HeroesStreet Sweeper Hero (voice)Episode: "Higgly Frog Day"E-RingInvestigatorEpisode: "Escape and Evade"2006Drake & JoshDeniseEpisode: "Alien Invasion"ERAmy KellermanEpisode: "Ames v. Kovac"Friday Night LightsTeacherEpisode: "It's Different for Girls"2007Mindy2 episodesHow I Met Your MotherMargaretEpisode: "Dowisetrepla"2009Without a TraceGail MenkenEpisode: "Wanted"JenniferUnsold television pilot2009–2012, 2017, 2022Archer Trinette McGoon (voice)12 episodes2010Glenn Martin DDS (voice)Episode: "Jackie of All Trades"2011Shake It UpMrs Garcia2 episodesCurb Your EnthusiasmIlene SolotaroffEpisode: "Palestinian Chicken"The CloserGail's friendEpisode: "Road Block"2013CalifornicationOphelia Robbins5 episodesPerceptionBarbara BrucknerEpisode: "Alienation"2014Hot in ClevelandRachelEpisode: "Murder House"Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesSmall Town Reporter (voice)Episode: "Race with the Demon"2015I Didn't Do ItFortune TellerEpisode: "The Bite Club"2016MaronStephEpisode: "Shrink and Kink"2018ShamelessFiona's Lawyer2 episodesThe Epic Tales of Captain UnderpantsLunch Lady (voice)2 episodesMrs. Yewh (voice)2021Friends: The ReunionHerselfTelevision special2024Bob’s BurgersShirleyEpisode: “The Lost City of Atlantic”
References
External links
Maggie Wheeler at filmreference.com Maggie Wheeler on Facebook