# Concetta Tomei

Concetta Tomei (born December 30, 1945) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Major Lila Garreau on the ABC drama series China Beach (1988–1991) and as Lynda Hansen on the NBC medical drama series Providence (1999–2002).

## Early life and education

Tomei was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She earned a degree in education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and worked four years as a teacher before deciding to pursue her love of theatre at the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University). She earned a BFA and moved to Houston, Texas, where she worked for the Alley Theatre for two years before moving to New York City. In the Milwaukee area, she studied at Sunset Playhouse with Alan Furlan.

## Career

Tomei appeared in the original cast of several pioneering Off-Broadway productions, including Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine and Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart. She appeared opposite Kevin Kline in the New York Shakespeare Festival's Richard III (winning New York's Bayfield Shakespearean award for her performance) and starred with David Bowie in the Broadway production of The Elephant Man, continuing in the national tour.
In the 1980s, she moved to California and appeared in many regional theatres, including Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum, the Oregon Contemporary Theatre, and San Francisco's ACT. She was a regular cast member in the TV-series China Beach, which ran from 1988 to 1991. She was also in the cast of the short-lived Madman of the People (1994–95). She appeared in recurring roles in several TV series, including L.A. Law, Falcon Crest, Picket Fences, Max Headroom, and Judging Amy. She also appeared in the films Murder in Three Acts (1986), The Betty Ford Story (1987) and In Love and War (1987).
In 1991 and 1994, Tomei guest appeared in Season 3 Episode 10 of the TV sitcom Wings titled "The Late Mrs. Biggins,” and Season 5 Episode 21, titled “Roy Crazy”; in both episodes, she played the former wife of Roy Biggins. In 1991, she also had the role of Mrs. Crandell in the cult film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. She starred in the 1992 miniseries The Burden of Proof. In 1997 she portrayed Minister Odala in Star Trek: Voyager episode Distant Origin. From 1999 to 2002, Tomei appeared in 63 episodes of the NBC television series Providence, costarring with Melina Kanakaredes and Mike Farrell. In 2005, Tomei guest appeared in an episode of The King of Queens. One year later, in 2006, she returned to Off-Broadway with an acclaimed performance in Sarah Ruhl's The Clean House. In 2007 she appeared opposite Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner in a Broadway production of the play Cyrano de Bergerac, which was also recorded and broadcast on PBS's Great Performances in 2009.
From 1997 to 2011, Tomei played guest roles on TV shows, such as 7th Heaven, Touched by an Angel, Second Time Around, The King of Queens, Weeds, Numb3rs, Kitchen Confidential, The Closer, Cold Case, Ghost Whisperer, Nip/Tuck, Rubicon, Necessary Roughness, and Star Trek: Voyager.
In 2017, she appeared in two episodes of The Mick titled "The Grandparents" & "The Matriarch" as Tippy Pemberton, the twisted, abusive grandmother of Sabrina, Chip and Ben.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1991 | Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead | Mom |
| 1993 | Twenty Bucks | Sam's Mother |
| 1993 | The Goodbye Bird | Miss Van Borins / Doris |
| 1997 | Out to Sea | Madge |
| 1998 | Deep Impact | Patricia Ruiz |
| 1999 | The Muse | Nurse Rennert |
| 2002 | Purpose | Lily Elias |
| 2003 | View from the Top | Mrs. Stewart |
| 2007 | The List | Ms. Fitch |
| 2018 | Reach | Doris |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1982 | ABC Afterschool Special | Mrs. Mixner | Episode: "Amy & the Angel" |
| 1985 | Doubletake | Hazel Carter | Miniseries |
| 1986 | Dynasty | Ilene | Episode: "The Warning" |
| 1986 | Falcon Crest | Dr. Estelle Kramer | 6 episodes |
| 1986 | Murder in Three Acts | Janet Crisp | Television film |
| 1986 | My Sister Sam | Mrs. Trager | Episode: "Teacher's Pet" |
| 1987 | The Betty Ford Story | Jan | Television film |
| 1987 | In Love and War | Doyen Salsig | Television film |
| 1987–1988 | Max Headroom | Blank Dominique | Recurring role |
| 1988 | St. Elsewhere | Elise Praeger | Episode: "Final Cut" |
| 1988–1991 | China Beach | Maj. Lila Garreau | Main cast |
| 1990, 1992 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Elizabeth Henderson | 2 episodes |
| 1990–1993 | L.A. Law | Susan Hauber | 5 episodes |
| 1991, 1994 | Wings | Silvia | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | The Burden of Proof | Clara Stern | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Sisters | Diana Gottfried | Episode: "Crimes and Ms. Demeanors" |
| 1992–1994 | Picket Fences | Ellen McGrath | 4 episodes |
| 1993 | Civil Wars | Helen Gould | Episode: "Alien Aided Affection" |
| 1994 | Sin & Redemption | Marina Preston | Television film |
| 1994 | Birdland | Elizabeth | Episode: "Lower Than the Angels" |
| 1994 | Diagnosis: Murder | Sister Regina | Episode: "Sister Michael Wants You" |
| 1994–1995 | Madman of the People | Delia Buckner | Main cast |
| 1995 | Kirk | Sabrina | Episode: "Educating Kirk" |
| 1995 | The Client | Honey Dupree | Episode: "The Prodigal Father" |
| 1996 | Touched by an Angel | Kate Carpenter | Episode: "'Til We Meet Again" |
| 1996 | Ellen | Professor Bass | Episode: "Witness" |
| 1996 | Murder One | Jeanette Rennick | Episode: "Chapter Eighteen" |
| 1997 | Star Trek: Voyager | Minister Odala | Episode: "Distant Origin" |
| 1997, 1998 | Murphy Brown | Doris Dial | 2 episodes |
| 1999–2002 | Providence | Lynda Hansen | Main cast |
| 2003 | Judging Amy | Joanne Collins | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | 7th Heaven | Mrs. Hampton | Episode: "Major League" |
| 2005 | Second Time Around | Christia | Episode: "The Dinner Party" |
| 2005 | Gone But Not Forgotten | Rita | Television film |
| 2005 | The King of Queens | Joyce | Episode: "Catching Hell" |
| 2005 | Weeds | Celia's Mother – Pat | Episode: "Higher Education" |
| 2006 | Numbers | Dr. Sarah Kemple | Episode: "Protest" |
| 2006 | Kitchen Confidential | Grace | Episode: "An Affair to Remember" |
| 2006 | The Closer | Mrs. Rawley | Episode: "The Other Woman" |
| 2008 | Cold Case | Violet Golding | Episode: "Wednesday's Women" |
| 2008 | Ghost Whisperer | Margaret | Episode: "Imaginary Friends and Enemies" |
| 2008 | Great Performances | Roxane's Duenna | Episode: "Cyrano de Bergerac" |
| 2010 | Nip/Tuck | Maureen Ayers | Episode: "Christian Troy II" |
| 2010 | Rubicon | Georgina Brant | 2 episodes |
| 2011–2013 | Necessary Roughness | Angela | Recurring role |
| 2016 | Veep | Connie DiBenedetto | Episode: "Congressional Ball" |
| 2017 | The Mick | Tippy Pemberton / Evelyn | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Arrested Development | Mrs. Livingston | Episode: "Saving for Arraignment Day" |
| 2019 | Abby's | Nemo | Episode: "Rosie's Band" |
| 2020 | Space Force | Rep. Pitosi | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | Going Home | Fay Hutton | Episode #1.4 |