Nora Dunn (born April 29, 1952) is an American actress, comedian and writer. She first garnered popularity during her tenure as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990. Following her departure from SNL, she played Dr. Reynolds in The Nanny from 1998 to 1999, and she had a recurring role as Muriel in Home Economics from 2021 to 2022.
Early life Dunn was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Margaret (née East), a nurse, and John Dunn, a musician and poet. She has two brothers, actor Kevin Dunn and Michael Dunn, a high school history teacher and football coach, as well as one sister, Cathy Zimmerman. She was raised in a Catholic family, and has Irish, English, Scottish and German ancestry. She attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Career
Saturday Night Live Dunn joined SNL in 1985 with the return of Lorne Michaels as executive producer. The 1985–1986 season proved to be a ratings disaster, and she was one of only five cast members who was not fired at its end (the others were newcomers Jon Lovitz, A. Whitney Brown, Dennis Miller and longtime featured player Al Franken).
Dunn's characters included half of "The Sweeney Sisters" lounge act alongside Jan Hooks, as well as talk show host Pat Stevens (which became a popular recurring role starting in the low-rated 1985–1986 season), melodramatic French hooker Babette, and film buff Ashley Ashley from the "Actors on Film" sketch from the 1985–1986 season. Her impressions included Ann Landers, Imelda Marcos, Liza Minnelli, Tyne Daly, Joan Baez, Martina Navratilova, and Cokie Roberts.
Dunn made headlines in 1990 when she, along with original musical guest Sinéad O'Connor, boycotted an episode that was hosted by comedian Andrew Dice Clay because they found his misogynistic humor offensive. Looking back on the incident ahead of SNL's 40th anniversary, she explained, "Lorne said, 'Andrew Dice Clay was a phenomenon worth examining.' And yeah, he was a phenomenon, but if you’re going to examine him, he shouldn’t be the host, you should write an article. We didn’t examine the hosts of "SNL." We supported them, we wrote for them, and we made them look good. Otherwise you'd never get a host. You're there to make them look good [...] My objection to Andrew Dice Clay was that his character was only about one thing: abusing women and laughing about abusing women. There was nothing else behind it. There was nothing else about it except to make him look harmless."
Recurring characters on SNL Ashley Ashley, a pretentious film critic from the recurring sketch, "Actors on Film" (her partner was Jimmy Chance, played by Robert Downey, Jr.) Babette, a melodramatic French prostitute Pat Stevens, a model turned talk show host Denise Venetti, host of "Learning To Feel" Dr. Norma Hoeffering, a lesbian psychiatrist who writes male-bashing self-help books Liz Sweeney, one of two singing sisters (the other played by Jan Hooks) Loose Chang, Ching Chang's (Dana Carvey) love interest Mrs. Campbell, Wayne Campbell's (Mike Myers) mom
Celebrity impersonations
Ann Landers Imelda Marcos Liza Minnelli Tyne Daly Martina Navratilova Cokie Roberts Jeane Dixon Jeane Kirkpatrick Joan Baez Brigitte Nielsen B.D. Hyman Catherine Deneuve Donna Rice Barbara Bush Cindy Adams Barbara Merrill Leona Helmsley Linda Dano Peggy Lee Shelley Duvall Marilyn Quayle Pat Schroeder Linda Ellerbee Mary Hart Raisa Gorbacheva Frida Kahlo Benazir Bhutto
Other work Dunn appeared in recurring roles on Sisters from 1993 to 1996 and The Nanny from 1998 to 1999, as well as a guest-starring role in a two-part episode of The X-Files in 1998. In the 8th episode of the 9th season of crime procedural drama Bones, she played author Tess Brown, a feuding rival of protagonist Temperance Brennan. In 2015 she appeared in the fourth season of New Girl. In 2009, Dunn played the sister-in-law of Frank Reynolds in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Her film work includes Working Girl (1988), How I Got into College (1989), Miami Blues (1990), I Love Trouble (1994), Shake, Rattle and Rock! (1994), The Last Supper (1995), Three Kings (1999), What Planet Are You From? (2000), What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001), Zoolander (2001), Max Keeble's Big Move (2001), Bruce Almighty (2003), Runaway Jury (2003), The Hebrew Hammer (2003), Love for Rent (2005), Pineapple Express (2008), My Suicide (2009), LOL (2012), Entourage (2015) and The Lost Husband (2020).
In 2014, Dunn began appearing in a series of commercials for Clorox. She has also been a storytelling contributor to Chicago's Under the Gun Theater.
Dunn directed the American Theater Company's production of Augusta in Chicago in 2008.
Personal life Dunn is a fan of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League.
Filmography
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1985–1990Saturday Night LiveHerself/Various88 episodes1991Get a LifeIrmaEpisode: "Prisoner of Love"1992Civil WarsMadeline LobellEpisode: "The Old Man and the 'C'"1993Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90'sTV movie1993–1996SistersNorma Lear24 episodes1994Shake, Rattle and Rock!MargoTV movie1996The NannyMrs. RichardsonEpisode: "The Bird's Nest"1997I Am WeaselBearded Girl/Lady Fan #1Voice role; Episode: "Deep Sea Tour"CybillDr. WalkerEpisode: "Regarding Henry"Extreme GhostbustersLilithVoice role; Episode: "A Temporary Insanity"Everybody Loves RaymondHelenEpisode: "The Letter"1998George and LeoDean Shirley MartinEpisode: "The Bongos"Pinky and the BrainPreciousEpisode: "Brainwashed: Part 3 - Wash Harder"The X-FilesJoAnne Fletcher2 episodes1998–1999The NannyDr. Reynolds7 episodes1998–2000Histeria!Lydia Karaoke/Various26 episodes1999The Wild ThornberrysVariousVoice role; 2 episodes2000 Chicken Soup for the SoulMrs. ShawEpisode: "The Mustang and the Tutor"FuturamaMorgan ProctorEpisode: "How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back"2001The ChronicleDr. GorhamEpisode: "Only the Young Die Good"Weakest LinkHerselfContestant Episodes: "Comedians Special"Curb Your EnthusiasmCBS ExecutiveEpisode: "The Massage"2002The Outer LimitsLaura SinclairEpisode: "Dark Child"2003Knee High P.I.MargeryTV movieJust Shoot Me!NaomiEpisode: "Strange Bedfellows"CSI: MiamiKidnap Executive RhondaEpisode: "Extreme"2004Wild CardSammieEpisode: "Slam Dunk Funk"2005See Arnold RunArianna HuffingtonTV movieLAXEpisode: "Senator's Daughter"Amber Frey: Witness for the ProsecutionGloria AllredTV movieStackedLynnEpisode: "Heavy Meddle"2006Law & OrderRosalie SchaffnerEpisode: "Home Sweet"Three Moons Over MilfordMichelle Graybar9 episodes2006–2007SharkGretchen Curbow2 episodes2006–2011EntourageDr. Marcus6 episodes2007–2008Boston LegalAttorney Cynthia Rhodes2 episodes2008Aliens in AmericaSandy ShermerEpisode: "Smutty Books"NumbersSusan StoneEpisode: "Jack of All Trades"2009Criminal MindsLaurenEpisode: "Pleasure Is My Business"Pushing DaisiesBlanche RamoraEpisode: "Kerpulnk'"Samantha Who?Cheryl HainstockEpisode: "The Dream Job"It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaDonnaEpisode: "The Gang Gives Frank an Intervention"As Told by GingerCoach Candace/PhilbertVoice role 2 episodes2010Private PracticeDr. Geraldine GinsbergEpisode: "Eyes Wide Open"PsychEve AsherEpisode: "In Plain Fright"The DefendersAmber MaxEpisode: "Nevada v. Dennis"2011Harry's LawJudge Sandra KilliamEpisode: "Last Dance"2012Don't Trust the B— in Apartment 23Joyce BermanEpisode: "Parent Trap"2013The NeighborsLindaEpisode: "The Gingerbread Man"Franklin & BashJudge ClemonsEpisode: "By the Numbers"2013–2014BonesTess Brown2 episodes2014Hot in ClevelandElizabeth/VictoriaEpisode: "Playmates"MulaneyPatty MulaneyEpisode: "In the Name of the Mother, and the Son and the Holy Andre"2014–2015SirensBridget2 episodes2015Girlfriends' Guide to DivorceAmandaEpisode: "Rule #3: Don't Stand in the Doorway"2015–2016Best Friends WheneverJanet Smythe6 episodesNew GirlLouise Schmidt4 episodes2016Life in PiecesCarolEpisode: "CryTunes Divorce Tablet Ring"*Loosely Exactly NicoleNora McNabEpisode: "Danny Boom"Grace and FrankieDr. RossmoreEpisode: "The Wish"2016–2022Chicago MedDr. Richardson10 episodes2016–2017GravesLaura Wolf2 episodes20172 Broke GirlsTeresa2 episodesChicago P.D.Dr. RichardsonEpisode: "Army of One"Worst Cooks in AmericaHerselfContestant - Third Place2017–2019How to Get Away with MurderJudge Lily Nanjani2 episodes2018The LibrariansJanet HedgeEpisode: "And a Town Called Feud"DetroitersSueEpisode: "Trevor"The Boss Baby: Back in BusinessGigiVoice role; 10 episodes2019Liza on DemandClaudineEpisode: "Maximum Occupancy"2021The Big LeapGina5 episodes2021–2022Home EconomicsMuriel11 episodes2022DMZOona2 episodes
Film +YearTitleRole1988Working GirlGinny1989How I Got into CollegeFrancine Bauer1990Miami BluesEllita Sanchez1991Stepping OutPam1992Passion FishTi-Marie Robichaux1993Born YesterdayCynthia Screiber1994I Love TroubleLindy1995The Last SupperSheriff Alice Stanley1998BulworthMissy BerlinerAir Bud: Golden ReceiverNatalyaThe Thin Pink LineSandy Delongpre1999Drop Dead GorgeousColleen DouglasThree KingsAdriana Cruz2000What Planet Are You From?Madeline2001HeartbreakersMiss MadressWhat's the Worst That Could Happen?Lutetia FairbanksZoolanderBritish DesignerMax Keeble's Big MoveLily Keeble2002CherishBellStorm WatchRose Chase2003Die, Mommie, Die!Shatzi Van AllenThe Hebrew HammerMrs. CarverBruce AlmightyAlly LomanOut of TimeDr. DonovanRunaway JuryStella Hulic2004NovemberDr. FaynPaper CutKatherineLaws of AttractionJudge Abramovitz2005The Civilization of Maxwell BrightMary JaneLove for RentHelen BaumanThe Prize Winner of Defiance, OhioGirl Group Member2006The Darwin AwardsMrs. PearlmanPuckedLeonaSouthland TalesCyndi Pinziki2008Pineapple ExpressShannon2009The Answer ManTerry FraserArchie's Final ProjectGretchen WilliamsIt's ComplicatedSally2012LOLEmily's Mom3, 2, 1... Frankie Go BoomMom (Karen)The Guilt TripAmy2015EntourageDr. MarcusA Light Beneath Their FeetDr. Krolly2018DudeRosaCanal StreetMarge SudermillTagLina MalloyThe OathEleanor2019Boy GeniusSelma Ally2020The Lost HusbandJean2021Together TogetherAdele 2022 The Hater Genie
References
External links