Nora Dunn
American actress and comedian
title: "Nora Dunn" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1952-births", "20th-century-american-actresses", "21st-century-american-actresses", "actresses-from-chicago", "american-film-actresses", "american-sketch-comedians", "american-television-actresses", "american-voice-actresses", "american-women-comedians", "comedians-from-chicago", "living-people", "school-of-the-art-institute-of-chicago-alumni", "20th-century-american-comedians", "21st-century-american-comedians", "american-people-of-irish-descent", "american-people-of-english-descent", "american-people-of-scottish-descent", "american-people-of-german-descent"] description: "American actress and comedian" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nora_Dunn" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American actress and comedian ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| birthname | |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| education | School of the Art Institute of Chicago |
| occupation | Actress, comedian |
| yearsactive | 1985–present |
| spouse | {{plainlist |
| * {{marriage | Ray Hutcherson |
| * {{marriage | Sean McGarry |
| :: |
| name = | image = | birthname = | birth_date = | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | education = School of the Art Institute of Chicago | occupation = Actress, comedian | yearsactive = 1985–present | spouse = {{plainlist|
- }} Nora Dunn (born April 29, 1952) is an American actress and comedian. 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
::data[format=table title=""]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–1990 | Saturday Night Live | Herself/Various | 88 episodes |
| 1991 | Get a Life | Irma | Episode: "Prisoner of Love" |
| 1992 | Civil Wars | Madeline Lobell | Episode: "The Old Man and the 'C'" |
| 1993 | Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's | TV movie | |
| 1993–1996 | Sisters | Norma Lear | 24 episodes |
| 1994 | Shake, Rattle and Rock! | Margo | TV movie |
| 1996 | The Nanny | Mrs. Richardson | Episode: "The Bird's Nest" |
| 1997 | I Am Weasel | Bearded Girl/Lady Fan #1 | Voice role |
| Cybill | Dr. Walker | Episode: "Regarding Henry" | |
| Extreme Ghostbusters | Lilith | Voice role | |
| Everybody Loves Raymond | Helen | Episode: "The Letter" | |
| 1998 | George and Leo | Dean Shirley Martin | Episode: "The Bongos" |
| Pinky and the Brain | Precious | Episode: "Brainwashed: Part 3 - Wash Harder" | |
| The X-Files | JoAnne Fletcher | 2 episodes | |
| 1998–1999 | The Nanny | Dr. Reynolds | 7 episodes |
| 1998–2000 | Histeria! | Lydia Karaoke/Various | 26 episodes |
| 1999 | The Wild Thornberrys | Various | Voice role |
| 2000 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Mrs. Shaw | Episode: "The Mustang and the Tutor" |
| Futurama | Morgan Proctor | Episode: "How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back" | |
| 2001 | The Chronicle | Dr. Gorham | Episode: "Only the Young Die Good" |
| Weakest Link | Herself | Contestant | |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm | CBS Executive | Episode: "The Massage" | |
| 2002 | The Outer Limits | Laura Sinclair | Episode: "Dark Child" |
| 2003 | Knee High P.I. | Margery | TV movie |
| Just Shoot Me! | Naomi | Episode: "Strange Bedfellows" | |
| CSI: Miami | Kidnap Executive Rhonda | Episode: "Extreme" | |
| 2004 | Wild Card | Sammie | Episode: "Slam Dunk Funk" |
| 2005 | See Arnold Run | Arianna Huffington | TV movie |
| LAX | Episode: "Senator's Daughter" | ||
| Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution | Gloria Allred | TV movie | |
| Stacked | Lynn | Episode: "Heavy Meddle" | |
| 2006 | Law & Order | Rosalie Schaffner | Episode: "Home Sweet" |
| Three Moons Over Milford | Michelle Graybar | 9 episodes | |
| 2006–2007 | Shark | Gretchen Curbow | 2 episodes |
| 2006–2011 | Entourage | Dr. Marcus | 6 episodes |
| 2007–2008 | Boston Legal | Attorney Cynthia Rhodes | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Aliens in America | Sandy Shermer | Episode: "Smutty Books" |
| Numbers | Susan Stone | Episode: "Jack of All Trades" | |
| 2009 | Criminal Minds | Lauren | Episode: "Pleasure Is My Business" |
| Pushing Daisies | Blanche Ramora | Episode: "Kerpulnk'" | |
| Samantha Who? | Cheryl Hainstock | Episode: "The Dream Job" | |
| It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Donna | Episode: "The Gang Gives Frank an Intervention" | |
| As Told by Ginger | Coach Candace/Philbert | Voice role | |
| 2010 | Private Practice | Dr. Geraldine Ginsberg | Episode: "Eyes Wide Open" |
| Psych | Eve Asher | Episode: "In Plain Fright" | |
| The Defenders | Amber Max | Episode: "Nevada v. Dennis" | |
| 2011 | Harry's Law | Judge Sandra Killiam | Episode: "Last Dance" |
| 2012 | Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 | Joyce Berman | Episode: "Parent Trap" |
| 2013 | The Neighbors | Linda | Episode: "The Gingerbread Man" |
| Franklin & Bash | Judge Clemons | Episode: "By the Numbers" | |
| 2013–2014 | Bones | Tess Brown | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Hot in Cleveland | Elizabeth/Victoria | Episode: "Playmates" |
| Mulaney | Patty Mulaney | Episode: "In the Name of the Mother, and the Son and the Holy Andre" | |
| 2014–2015 | Sirens | Bridget | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce | Amanda | Episode: "Rule #3: Don't Stand in the Doorway" |
| 2015–2016 | Best Friends Whenever | Janet Smythe | 6 episodes |
| New Girl | Louise Schmidt | 4 episodes | |
| 2016 | Life in Pieces | Carol | Episode: "CryTunes Divorce Tablet Ring" |
| *Loosely Exactly Nicole | Nora McNab | Episode: "Danny Boom" | |
| Grace and Frankie | Dr. Rossmore | Episode: "The Wish" | |
| 2016–2022 | Chicago Med | Dr. Richardson | 10 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Graves | Laura Wolf | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | 2 Broke Girls | Teresa | 2 episodes |
| Chicago P.D. | Dr. Richardson | Episode: "Army of One" | |
| Worst Cooks in America | Herself | Contestant - Third Place | |
| 2017–2019 | How to Get Away with Murder | Judge Lily Nanjani | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | The Librarians | Janet Hedge | Episode: "And a Town Called Feud" |
| Detroiters | Sue | Episode: "Trevor" | |
| The Boss Baby: Back in Business | Gigi | Voice role | |
| 2019 | Liza on Demand | Claudine | Episode: "Maximum Occupancy" |
| 2021 | The Big Leap | Gina | 5 episodes |
| 2021–2022 | Home Economics | Muriel | 11 episodes |
| 2022 | DMZ | Oona | 2 episodes |
| :: |
Film
::data[format=table title=""]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Working Girl | Ginny | |
| 1989 | How I Got into College | Francine Bauer | |
| 1990 | Miami Blues | Ellita Sanchez | |
| 1991 | Stepping Out | Pam | |
| 1992 | Passion Fish | Ti-Marie Robichaux | |
| 1993 | Born Yesterday | Cynthia Screiber | |
| 1994 | I Love Trouble | Lindy | |
| 1995 | The Last Supper | Sheriff Alice Stanley | |
| 1998 | Bulworth | Missy Berliner | |
| Air Bud: Golden Receiver | Natalya | ||
| The Thin Pink Line | Sandy Delongpre | ||
| 1999 | Drop Dead Gorgeous | Colleen Douglas | |
| Three Kings | Adriana Cruz | ||
| 2000 | What Planet Are You From? | Madeline | |
| 2001 | Heartbreakers | Miss Madress | |
| What's the Worst That Could Happen? | Lutetia Fairbanks | ||
| Zoolander | British Designer | ||
| Max Keeble's Big Move | Lily Keeble | ||
| 2002 | Cherish | Bell | |
| Storm Watch | Rose Chase | ||
| 2003 | Die, Mommie, Die! | Shatzi Van Allen | |
| The Hebrew Hammer | Mrs. Carver | ||
| Bruce Almighty | Ally Loman | ||
| Out of Time | Dr. Donovan | ||
| Runaway Jury | Stella Hulic | ||
| 2004 | November | Dr. Fayn | |
| Paper Cut | Katherine | ||
| Laws of Attraction | Judge Abramovitz | ||
| 2005 | The Civilization of Maxwell Bright | Mary Jane | |
| Love for Rent | Helen Bauman | ||
| The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio | Girl Group Member | ||
| 2006 | The Darwin Awards | Mrs. Pearlman | |
| Pucked | Leona | ||
| Southland Tales | Cyndi Pinziki | ||
| 2008 | Pineapple Express | Shannon | |
| 2009 | The Answer Man | Terry Fraser | |
| Archie's Final Project | Gretchen Williams | ||
| It's Complicated | Sally | ||
| 2012 | LOL | Emily's Mom | |
| 3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom | Mom (Karen) | ||
| The Guilt Trip | Amy | ||
| 2015 | Entourage | Dr. Marcus | |
| A Light Beneath Their Feet | Dr. Krolly | ||
| 2018 | Dude | Rosa | |
| Canal Street | Marge Sudermill | ||
| Tag | Lina Malloy | ||
| The Oath | Eleanor | ||
| 2019 | Boy Genius | Selma Ally | |
| 2020 | The Lost Husband | Jean | |
| 2021 | Together Together | Adele | |
| 2022 | The Hater | Genie | |
| :: |
References
References
- "Famous birthdays for April 29: Nora Dunn, Andre Agassi".
- Davenport, Misha. (April 11, 2008). "Artwork no laughing matter to Nora Dunn". [[Chicago Sun-Times]].
- Helbig, Jack. (December 19, 2015). "Based on a True Story". [[Chicago Reader]].
- (January 27, 2008). "Nora Dunn comes home". Chicago Tribune.
- Bolonik, Kera. (April 8, 2015). "Nora Dunn: "SNL is a traumatic experience. It's something you have to survive"". [[Salon (website).
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