Concetta Tomei
Born: 1945-12-30 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Character actress Concetta Tomei was born on December 30, 1945, and raised in her hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin, the only child of a policeman who was a talented artist on the sly. She came from a long line of educators and was likely drawn to that career at an influential age. She attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education. After teaching school in a Milwaukee suburb for four years, however, she abruptly quit to pursue her acting dream. She became a student of the famed Goodman School of Drama in Chicago where she received a another degree, a Bachelor of Fine Arts, in theater arts. She started her professional career on the stock and repertory stages and gathered a formidable list of early credits appearing in such plays as "A Streetcar Named Desire, "Candida," "Blithe Spirit" and "The Corn Is Green." She made her debut on Broadway replacing Carole Shelley in "The Elephant Man" playing the actress/grande dame Mrs. Kendal. She continued in her role when a subsequent tour went out starring David Bowie. Seeking on-camera experience, she moved out West in the 1980s and found plentiful work on TV with her all-controlling, severe-looking femmes, which culminated in the critically acclaimed Vietnam War drama China Beach (1988) in which she played a hard-as-nails major. She continued with a host of guest parts on "L.A. Law," "Murphy Brown," "Picket Fences" and "Wings," among many others. Not readily known for her film work, she has nevertheless offered occasional arch support (since 1991) in such pictures as Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991), Twenty Bucks (1993), Out to Sea (1997) Deep Impact (1998), The Muse (1999) and View from the Top (2003). Another regular series TV role came with Providence (1999), in which she played a chain-smoking mom.
Filmography
2022
- Going Home as Fay Hutton
2020
- Stars in the House as Self
- Space Force as Rep. Pitosi
2019
- Abby's as Nemo
2018
- Reach as Doris
- For Muriel as Elaine
2017
- The Mick as Evelyn
2012
- Veep as Connie DiBenedetto
2008
- Cyrano de Bergerac as Roxane's Duenna
2007
- The List as Ms. Fitch
2005
- Ghost Whisperer as Margaret
- Weeds as Celia's Mother
- The Closer as Mrs. Rawley
- Numb3rs as Dr. Sarah Kemple
- Kitchen Confidential as Grace
- Gone But Not Forgotten as Rita
2004
- Second Time Around as Christia Muse
2003
- Cold Case as Violet Golding (2008)
- Nip/Tuck as Maureen Ayers
- Arrested Development as Mrs. Livingston
- View from the Top as Mrs. Stewart
1999
- Judging Amy as Joanne Collins
- Providence as Lynda Hansen
- The Muse as Nurse Rennert
1998
- The King of Queens as Joyce
- Deep Impact as Patricia Ruiz
1996
- 7th Heaven as Mrs. Hampton
- Lush Life
1995
- Star Trek: Voyager as Minister Odala
- Murder One as Jeanette Rennick
1994
- Ellen as Professor Bass
- Touched by an Angel as Kate Carpenter
- Madman of the People as Delia Buckner
- The Goodbye Bird as Victoria Van Borins
- Sin & Redemption as Marina Preston
- Sin and Redemption as Marina Preston
1993
- Diagnosis: Murder as Sister Regina
- Twenty Bucks as Sam's Mother
1992
- Picket Fences as Ellen McGrath
- The Burden of Proof as Clara Stern
1990
- Wings as Sylvia
1988
- Murphy Brown as Doris Dial
- China Beach as Lila Garreau
- China Beach: Pilot as Maj. Lila Garreau
1987
- Max Headroom as Blank Dominique
- In Love and War as Doyen Salsig
- The Betty Ford Story as Jan
1986
- L.A. Law as Susan Hauber
- Murder in Three Acts as Janet Crisp
1985
- Doubletake as Hazel Carter
1982
- St. Elsewhere as Elise Praeger
- Amy and the Angel as Mrs. Mixner
1981
- Falcon Crest as Dr. Estelle Kramer