# Joely Fisher

Joely Fisher (/ˈdʒoʊli/ JOH-lee; born October 29, 1967) is an American actress and singer, the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Connie Stevens, and half-sister of actress Carrie Fisher. Her breakthrough came in 1994, starring as Paige Clark in the ABC sitcom Ellen, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film at the 55th Golden Globe Awards. Fisher later starred in the 1999 comedy film Inspector Gadget and had leading roles in the Lifetime comedy-drama Wild Card (2003–2005), and Fox sitcom 'Til Death (2006–2010).
The national members of the trade union SAG-AFTRA elected Fisher as secretary-treasurer on September 2, 2021.

## Early life

Joely Fisher was born on October 29, 1967, in Burbank, California, one of two children born to Edwin "Eddie" Fisher and Connie Stevens (née Concetta Ingolia), both entertainers. Her father was Jewish, whose parents immigrated to the United States from the Russian Empire, whereas her mother was Catholic and of Ashkenazi Jewish, Irish, and Italian descent. Fisher has a younger sister, Tricia Leigh Fisher. Her parents divorced in 1969, after which she and Tricia were raised by Stevens. Her father married a total of five times, with Stevens as his third wife. Joely and Tricia Fisher had two older half-siblings, Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher, from her father's first marriage, with Debbie Reynolds.
Joely Fisher and her sister Tricia toured the world with Stevens, attending different schools and learning from tutors. Fisher graduated from Beverly Hills High School, then attended Emerson College in Boston, as well as the University of Paris for one semester. In the summer of 1987, Fisher attended an acting retreat conducted in Italy by coach Sandra Seacat.
Fisher was named Miss Golden Globe at the 49th Golden Globe Awards in 1992.

## Career

Her first film role was Averil in the comedy Pretty Smart (1987), which starred her sister, Tricia. Fisher then played Kris Stone on the CBS Schoolbreak Special drama "Dedicated to the One I Love" (1991) opposite Danielle Ferland. Next came the feature I'll Do Anything (1994) starring Nick Nolte, which helped her career as bigger roles followed. She also had a variety of guest roles on series such as Growing Pains, Blossom, Caroline in the City, The Golden Palace, The Outer Limits, Grace Under Fire and Coach.
In 1994, Fisher was cast as Paige Clark on the sitcom Ellen, first appearing in the second season. She played the role for four seasons until the series ended in 1998. That same year, she earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film at the 55th Golden Globe Awards. She followed Ellen with the role of Dr. Brenda Bradford in the film Inspector Gadget (1999).
Fisher's Broadway debut was as a replacement for the role of Betty Rizzo in the revival of Grease (1994). She was also a replacement for the role of Sally Bowles in the revival of Cabaret (1998). Her vocal range is alto.
Fisher's career in music not only landed her on Broadway but she was featured in albums. Her most noted album was Tradition: a Family at Christmas which she, her sister Tricia and their mother Connie Stevens sang various Christmas carols. She sang her own solo on "Grown Up Christmas List". Her vocals are also heard singing "One for My Baby" in Harold Arlen's album STAGE.
From 2003 until 2005, Fisher starred in the Lifetime network's drama series Wild Card as insurance investigator Zoe Busiek. After that, she had a recurring role as Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman)'s boss Nina Fletcher on Desperate Housewives. From 2006 until 2010, Fisher starred opposite actor Brad Garrett as Joy Stark in the Fox TV sitcom 'Til Death.
In 2021, Fisher starred as Irene Cody in the Lifetime film Girl in the Basement which was inspired by the Fritzl case.
Fisher serves on the advisory board of Voters of Tomorrow, an advocacy organization that promotes political engagement among Generation Z.

## Personal life

Fisher married cinematographer Christopher Duddy in 1996. They have three daughters, two who were born in 2001 and 2006, and a third who was adopted in September 2008. She is also stepmother to Duddy's two sons, Cameron Duddy, who is the bass guitarist for the country music band Midland, (b. 1986) and Collin (b. 1988). As of at least 2004, the family lives in Los Angeles next to Fisher's sister Tricia, with whom she is close.
In late 2008, she became an artist ambassador for Save the Children. She traveled to Xai-Xai, Mozambique, to visit with children that are part of the child sponsorship programs.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Pretty Smart | Averil | |
| 1994 | I'll Do Anything | Female D Person | |
| 1994 | The Mask | Maggie | |
| 1994 | The Companion | Stacy | TV movie |
| 1994 | Mixed Nuts | Susan | |
| 1997 | Seduction in a Small Town | Sandy Barlow | TV movie |
| 1997 | Jitters | Rita Domino | TV movie |
| 1997 | Family Plan | Lauren Osborne | |
| 1998 | Perfect Prey | Elizabeth Crane | TV movie |
| 1998 | Thirst | Susan Miller | TV movie |
| 1999 | Coming Unglued | Laura Hartwood | TV movie |
| 1999 | Kidnapped in Paradise | Beth Emerson | TV movie |
| 1999 | Inspector Gadget | Dr. Brenda Bradford/Robo-Brenda | |
| 2000 | Nostradamus | Lucy Hudson | |
| 2005 | Slingshot | Emma | |
| 2007 | Cougar Club | Lulu | |
| 2007 | Murdering Mama's Boy | Claire | Short |
| 2009 | You | Kimberly | |
| 2012 | Cupid, Inc. | Eve Lovett | TV movie |
| 2014 | Fatal Acquittal | Cassidy Miller | TV movie |
| 2014 | Happy Anniversary Honey | Jill | Short |
| 2016 | Search Engines | Judy | |
| 2016 | The Disappointments Room | Dr. Asher | |
| 2017 | The Tribes of Palos Verdes | Janet | |
| 2018 | By the Rivers of Babylon | Judith | |
| 2019 | Fall Girls | Simone Wellington | |
| 2020 | Looking for Mr. Wonderful | Barbara | |
| 2021 | Girl in the Basement | Irene Cody | |
| 2021 | The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu | Charlotte Kelly | |
| 2024 | Reagan/Quigley '85 | Joan Quigley | Short |

### Television

| Year | TV show | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | Starting from Scratch | Sylvia | Episode: "Kate Leaves Home" |
| 1989 | Something Is Out There | Leanne Healy | Episode: "The Keeper" |
| 1990 | Growing Pains | Sally Garner | Guest Cast: Season 1-2 |
| 1991 | Blossom | Bambi | Episode: "Tough Love" |
| 1991 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Kris Stone | Episode: "Dedicated to the One I Love" |
| 1993 | The Golden Palace | Paula Webb | Episode: "Runaways" |
| 1994 | ABC Weekend Specials | Princess Pamina (voice) | Episode: "The Magic Flute" |
| 1994–98 | Ellen | Paige Clark | Main Cast: Season 2-5 |
| 1996 | The Dana Carvey Show | Paige Clark | Episode: "The Mountain Dew Dana Carvey Show" |
| 1996 | Caroline in the City | Jill | Episode: "Caroline and the Ex-Wife" |
| 1996 | The Outer Limits | Amy | Episode: "Out of Body" |
| 1996–98 | Superman: The Animated Series | Lana Lang (voice) | Guest Cast: Season 1-3 |
| 1997 | Coach | Paige Clark | Episode: "Viva Las Ratings" |
| 1997 | Grace Under Fire | Paige Clark | Episode: "Vegas" |
| 1997 | The Drew Carey Show | Paige Clark | Episode: "Drew Gets Married" |
| 1998 | Genesis Awards | Herself/Host | Main Host |
| 1999 | Love, American Style | Jeannie | Segment: "Love and The Heimlich Maneuver" |
| 2000 | Mad TV | Herself | Episode: "Episode #6.6" |
| 2000 | Grosse Pointe | Hope Lustig | Recurring Cast |
| 2000 | Normal, Ohio | Pamela Theresa Gamble-Miller | Main Cast |
| 2001 | Danny | Molly | Main Cast |
| 2002 | Hollywood Squares | Herself/Panelist | Episode: "Episode May 1, 2002" |
| 2002 | Intimate Portrait | Herself | Episode: "Joely Fisher" |
| 2002–03 | Baby Bob | Lizzy Collins Spencer | Main Cast |
| 2003–05 | Wild Card | Zoe Busiek | Main Cast |
| 2004 | E! True Hollywood Story | Herself | Segment: "Ellen DeGeneres" |
| 2005 | Desperate Housewives | Nina Fletcher | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 2006 | Jeopardy! | Herself | Episode: "2006 Celebrity Jeopardy! Game 8." |
| 2006–10 | 'Til Death | Joy Stark | Main Cast |
| 2007 | The Bronx Bunny Show | Herself | Episode: "Episode #1.9" |
| 2008 | E! True Hollywood Story | Herself | Segment: "Mariska Hargitay" |
| 2009 | Hollywood Lives | Herself | Recurring Guest |
| 2011 | Celebrity Close Calls | Herself | Episode: "Peter Fonda/Joely Fisher/Annie Potts" |
| 2011 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Meg Robinson | Episode: "Alex the Puppetmaster" |
| 2012 | RuPaul's Drag U | Herself/Guest Professor | Episode: "Time to Grow Up" |
| 2012 | The Haunting of... | Herself | Episode: "Connie Stevens" |
| 2014–15 | Celebrity Name Game | Herself/Celebrity Player | Recurring Guest |
| 2014–16 | Last Man Standing | Wendi | Guest: Season 3, Recurring Cast: Season 4-5 |
| 2016 | Hollywood Game Night | Herself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "It's My Jane in the Box" |
| 2016 | Celebrity Family Feud | Herself | Episode: "Episode #3.4" |
| 2016 | Scorpion | Lorraine | Episode: "The Fast and the Nerdiest" |
| 2016 | Modern Family | Maggie Braithwaite | Episode: "The Alliance" |
| 2017 | Battle of the Network Stars | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "ABC Stars vs. Variety" |
| 2018 | The '80s Greatest | Herself | Recurring Guest |
| 2018 | The '90s Greatest | Herself | Recurring Guest |
| 2018 | Station 19 | Denise | Episode: "No Recovery" |
| 2019 | 9-1-1 | Cynn | Episode: "Triggers" |
| 2019–20 | The Very Very Best of the 70s | Herself | Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2 |
| 2022 | The Very Very Best of the 80s | Herself | Episode: "Action Movie Stars" |
| 2022 | How I Met Your Father | Sue | Episode: "Jay Street" |
| 2023 | Dark Side of Comedy | Herself | Episode: "Ellen DeGeneres" |
| 2023 | Fantasy Island | Joy Summers | Episode: "The Urn" |
| 2024 | S.W.A.T. | Caroline Wolf | Episode: "Allegiance" |
Theater :
| Year | Production | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Grease | Betty Rizzo | |
| 1998 | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | |

## Discography

* 1993: Tradition: A Family at Christmas; she sang 3 songs with her mother Connie Stevens and sister Tricia Leigh Fisher. She has 1 solo: "Grown Up Christmas List"
* 1995: S.T.A.G.E. Music of Harold Arlen, "One for My Baby"
* 1998: Lerner, Lowe, Lane and Friends, "Come Back to Me"
* 2000: Adler, Brock, and Coleman, "Welcome to Holiday Inn"