Jane Lynch

Born: 1960-07-14 in Evergreen Park, Illinois, USA

Known For: Acting

Biography

Jane Marie Lynch (born July 14, 1960) is an American actress, comedian, and author. Lynch is known for starring as Sue Sylvester in the Fox musical comedy series Glee (2009–2015), which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award. She also gained recognition for her roles in Christopher Guest's mockumentary films, such as Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). Lynch had a recurring role in the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men (2004–2014), for which she received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award, as well as recurring roles in the Showtime drama series The L Word (2005–2009), the CBS police drama series Criminal Minds (2006–2020), the CBS All Access drama series The Good Fight (2017–present), and the Amazon Prime Video period comedy series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–present), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award. Since 2013, she has hosted the NBC game show Hollywood Game Night, which has earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards. Lynch has had roles in numerous mainstream comedy films, such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), Role Models (2008), Paul (2011), and The Three Stooges (2012). She has lent her voice to numerous animated films, including Space Chimps (2008), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), Shrek Forever After (2010), Rio (2011), Wreck-It Ralph (2012), and Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018). In 2013, Lynch received the 2,505th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the television category, located at 6640 Hollywood Blvd. Among her numerous accolades, Lynch has received five Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.

Filmography

2025

Celebrity Weakest Link as Self - Host
Only Murders in the Building: Official Podcast as Self
Flower of the Dawn as Sinistra (voice)
The 2025 FOX Fall Preview as Self

2024

Happy's Place as Val
The Little Pageant That Could as Self (archive footage)
Dolly Parton's Pet Gala

2023

Krapopolis as Brenda the Sphinx (voice)
Digman! as Amelia Earhart (voice)
Velma as Donna (voice)
The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart as Bobbi St. Simone (voice)
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love as Self - Guest

2022

The Jennifer Hudson Show as Self - Guest
Sherri as Self - Guest
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder as Celia (voice)
Oddballs as Grandma (voice)
El Deafo as Mrs. Sinklemann (voice)
Ivy + Bean: The Ghost That Had to Go as Mrs. Noble
Her War, Her Story: World War II as Self - Narrator (voice)

2021

Only Murders in the Building as Sazz Pataki
The Great North as Aunt Dirt (voice)
The Ghost and Molly McGee as Ms. Roop (voice)
Harriet the Spy as Ole Golly (voice)
Money, Explained as Self - Narrator

2020

Close Enough as Barb (voice)
Solar Opposites as Kabronius (voice)
Stars in the House as Self
Space Force as Admiral Maywheather
100% Wolf as The Commander (voice)
Weakest Link as Self - Host
Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine as KJ Dillard
Meet the Chimps as Narrator

2019

The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
Tamron Hall as Self - Guest
UglyDolls as Scanner / Electronic Female Voice (voice)
Middle School Moguls as Mogul Victoria (voice)
#NoJoke as Self
Prime Day Concert 2019 as Self

2018

Summer Camp Island as Skadi's Mom (voice)
25 Words or Less as Self
Ralph Breaks the Internet as Calhoun (voice)
Final Space as AVA (voice)
Blark and Son as Frankie
Dallas & Robo as Carol
A Legendary Christmas with John & Chrissy as Self
A Play as Betty

2017

The Good Fight as Madeline Starkey
Manhunt as Janet Reno
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as Sophie Lennon
Big Hero 6 The Series as Supersonic Sue (voice)
Will & Grace as Roberta
Talking with Chris Hardwick as Self
Earth Live as Herself - Co-Host
Dropping The Soap as Olivia Vanderstein

2013

Hollywood Game Night as Self - Host
Escape from Planet Earth as Io (voice)
A.C.O.D. as Dr. Judith
Afternoon Delight as Lenore
Ronny & i ... (Executive Producer)

2012

Wreck-It Ralph as Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun (voice)
Finding Your Roots as Self
Inside Comedy as Self
The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange as Cob (voice)
The Three Stooges as Mother Superior
Dino Time as Sue Fitzpatrick (voice)
8 as Maggie Gallagher
Abominable Christmas as Margaret Knowhow (voice)
WordGirl: The Rise of Miss Power
Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne as Self
Glee: Keep on Believin' as Self

2011

Bob's Burgers as Carol (voice)
Bubble Guppies as The Genie (voice)
Portlandia as Barbecue Planner
Rio as Alice / Goose (voice)
Paul as Pat Stevenson
Small Fry as Queen Neptuna (voice)
Web Therapy as Claire Dudek
The Glee Project as Self
Glee: The Concert Movie as Sue Sylvester (scenes deleted)
The Lady with 700 Cats as narrator

2010

Conan as Self
MasterChef as Self
Shrek Forever After as Gretched (voice)
Donkey's Christmas Shrektacular as Gretched (voice)
Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back as Dr. Poole (voice)

2009

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
Glee as Sue Sylvester
The Cleveland Show
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs as Diatryma Mom (voice)
Party Down as Constance Carmell
Julie & Julia as Dorothy McWilliams
Post Grad as Carmella Malby
Spring Breakdown as Senator Hartmann
Weather Girl as J.D.
Mr. Troop Mom as Miss Hulka
Annul Victory as Self
The Toe Tactic as Honey Strumpet
The Face is Familiar
Man Maid as Sabena

2008

Web Therapy as Claire Dudek
Role Models as Gayle Sweeny
Another Cinderella Story as Dominique Blatt
Space Chimps as Dr. Poole (voice)
The Rocker as Lisa
Big Breaks as M.J.
Tru Loved as Ms. Maple
I Do & I Don't as Nora Stelmack
Adventures of Power as Joni
Alex's Halloween as Mother

2007

Phineas and Ferb as Mrs. Johnson (voice)
iCarly as Pam Puckett
Alvin and the Chipmunks as Gail
Smiley Face as Casting Director
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story as Gail the Television Reporter
Thank God You're Here as Self
Area 57 as Irene Maloof
The Hammer as Knowledgable Shopper (uncredited)
The List as Dr. Davina
Suffering Man's Charity as Ingrid Sorensen
Holly Hobbie and Friends: Best Friends Forever as Joan Hobbie / Minnie (voice)
Eye of the Dolphin as Glinton
Holly Hobbie and Friends: Secret Adventures as Joan Hobbie (voice)
Holly Hobbie and Friends: Surprise Party as Joan Hobbie / Minnie (voice)

2006

Psych as Commander Barbara Dunlap
The New Adventures of Old Christine as Ms. Hammond
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby as Lucy Bobby
Help Me Help You
Lovespring International as Victoria Ratchford
Holly Hobbie & Friends as Joan Hobbie (voice)
For Your Consideration as Cindy
Fifty Pills as Doreen
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema as Self
Holly Hobbie and Friends: Christmas Wishes as Joan Hobbie / Minnie (voice)

2005

Criminal Minds as Diana Reid
American Dad! as Mother (voice)
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
Robot Chicken as Miss Grundy (voice)
Weeds as The Candyman
My Name Is Earl as Sissy
The Reichen Show as Self
The 40 Year Old Virgin as Paula
The Life and Times of Juniper Lee as Madame Rothchild (voice)
Blind Justice as Dr. Taylor
Unscripted as Jane Lynch
The Californians as Sybill Platt
Starcrossed ... (Associate Producer)
Bam Bam and Celeste as Darlene
PROM-troversy as Mimi Nimby (Concerned Parent)

2004

Desperate Housewives as Maxine Bennett
Boston Legal as Joanna Monroe
Veronica Mars as Mrs. Donaldson
The L Word as Joyce Wischnia
The Soup as Self
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events as Realtor (uncredited)
Father of the Pride as Lily (voice)
Rodney as Amy O'Brien
Miley's New Year's Eve Party as Self - Host
Sleepover as Gabby Corky
Surviving Eden as Maude Silver
Little Black Boot as Grace
Memoirs of an Evil Stepmother as Blanche Monroe

2003

Two and a Half Men as Dr. Linda Freeman
Real Time with Bill Maher as Self
Arrested Development as Cindi Lightballoon
Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self - Guest
Reno 911! as Therapist
Las Vegas as Helen Putasca
The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self - Guest
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series as Oscorp Executive (voice)
A Mighty Wind as Laurie Bohner
Exposed as Julie Gross

2002

Monk as Dr. Julie Waterford
The Dead Zone as Flo McMurtry
Collateral Damage as Agent Russo
MDs as Aileen Poole
Watching Ellie as Roman
The Big Time as Miss Rush

2001

According to Jim as Janice
The Division

2000

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Ranger
Gilmore Girls as Nurse
Boston Public as Jane Morrell
Titus as Prosecutor
Best in Show as Christy Cummings
The Weber Show as Carla
What Planet Are You From? as Doreen
Red Lipstick as Final TV Newscaster
Colour Me Gay

1999

Family Guy as Dotty Campbell / English Mother at airport (voice)
The West Wing as Reporter
Judging Amy as ASA Perkins
Family Law as Cheryl Bowman
Popular as Suzi Klein

1998

Dawson's Creek as Mrs. Witter
The King of Queens as Dr. Foreman
Felicity as Professor Carnes

1997

The View as Self - Guest Co-Host
Dharma & Greg as Sheryl
Touch Me as Counselor

1996

Arthur as Patty Ratburn (voice)
3rd Rock from the Sun as Ms. Koppel
7th Heaven as Nurse
Arli$$ as Penny Bullock

1995

JAG as Sandy's Friend
Caroline in the City as Hostess
NewsRadio as Carol
Cybill as Mrs. Sweeney

1994

Friends as Ellen
Party of Five as Dr. Pennant

1993

The X-Files as Mrs. Anne T. Lokensgard
Frasier as Cynthia
NYPD Blue as Susanna Howe
The John Larroquette Show as Mary Travers
The Fugitive as Kathy Wahlund
Bakersfield P.D. as Michelle Hathaway
Fatal Instinct as Prison Reporter

1992

Straight Talk as Gladys (voice)
In the Best Interest of the Children as Gwen Hatcher

1990

Law & Order as Cordelia Travers

1989

The Simpsons as Jeanie (voice)

1988

LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
Vice Versa as Ms. Lindstrom
Taxi Killer

1987

Married... with Children as Greta

1981

Entertainment Tonight as Self

1975

Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
People's Choice Awards as Self - Host

1949

The Emmy Awards as Self