# Maggie Wheeler

Maggie Wheeler (née Jakobson) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Janice on the television sitcom Friends (1994–2004), and Anita on Ellen (1994–1996). In addition to her acting and voiceover work, she is a singer, songwriter, choir director, and workshop facilitator.

## Early life and education

Wheeler is the daughter of Barbara, a writer, and John Jakobson, one of the members of the New York Stock Exchange. She was raised in a secular Jewish household and graduated from The Calhoun School in New York City.

## Career

In the 1980s, Wheeler (under her maiden name of Jakobson) briefly dabbled in voice acting. In the animated series SilverHawks, she voiced not only the villainess Melodia and the heroine Steelheart/Emily Hart, but all of the female characters; she also worked on the Karate Kat and Mini-Monsters segments of The Comic Strip. In 1989 she appeared in the live-action film, New Year's Day, alongside David Duchovny.
After she became Maggie Wheeler, it was rumored that she auditioned for the role of Monica Geller in Friends. She denied this in an interview, stating that she only auditioned for the role of Janice Goralnik, which she was invited to play. Janice was a recurring character of the series and particularly known as a frequent love interest of main character Chandler Bing. She featured in 19 episodes, appearing at least once in each season.
She also auditioned for the role of Debra Barone, on the American sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. Although she was the producers' choice, CBS ended up selecting Patricia Heaton. Instead, Wheeler played the recurring role of Debra's friend, Linda.
According to Kathy Griffin's autobiography, Official Book Club Selection, Wheeler was cast in the role of Vicki for the pilot episode of Suddenly Susan and was later replaced by Griffin.
She had a star billing in the first season of Ellen. She appeared on the hit comedy Seinfeld in the episode "The Fix-Up", as one of Elaine's friends who is set up with George. She has appeared in many other television programs, including Drake & Josh, ER, The X-Files, The War at Home, Will & Grace, Jack and Jill, How I Met Your Mother and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
In 1997, Wheeler voiced Harley Quinn's replacement in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Millions".
In 1998, she appeared in the remake of Disney's The Parent Trap, playing the younger of a mother-daughter pair of camp counselors. Wheeler provided the voice of Odile in Barbie of Swan Lake, and Trinette in the animated sitcom Archer.
In 2011, she guest-starred in the Disney Channel series Shake It Up as Dina's mother.
Wheeler is the co-founder and director of the Golden Bridge Community Choir in Hollywood, a non-auditioned, intergenerational choir which supports local and global communities through fundraising concerts. She travels to retreat centers, universities, communities and schools to teach vocal workshops.

## Personal life

She has been married to sculptor Daniel Borden Wheeler since 1990. They have two children.

## Filmography

Film roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1982 | Soup for One | Nurse | |
| 1983 | Portfolio | Assistant Choreographer | |
| 1987 | Someone to Love | Attendee | |
| 1989 | Mortal Sins | Marie | |
| 1989 | New Year's Day | Lucy | |
| 1993 | Sexual Healing | Suzanne | Short film |
| 1998 | The Parent Trap | Marva Kulp, Jr | |
| 2003 | Barbie of Swan Lake | Odile | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2006 | Dr. Dolittle 3 | Brown Hen/Fluffy Hen | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2007 | Waking Dreams | Jenny | |
| 2015 | The 3 Tails: A Mermaid Adventure | Maria | |
| 2019 | The Addams Family | Trudy Pickering | Voice |
| 2021 | Mark, Mary & Some Other People | Lisa | |
| 2025 | Dog Man | Nurse | Voice |
Television roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | The New Show | Various | 8 episodes |
| 1985 | The Paper Chase | N/A | Episode: "The Day Kingsfield Missed Class" |
| 1986 | SilverHawks | Melodia/Steelheart | Voice, main role |
| 1990 | L.A. Law | Paula Lights | Episode: "The Good Human Bar" |
| 1991 | Dream On | Bonnie Decker | Episode: "So Funny I Forgot to Laugh" |
| 1992 | Seinfeld | Cynthia | Episode: "The Fix-Up" |
| 1992 | Civil Wars | Patricia McDermott | Episode: "Mob Psychology" |
| 1992 | Doogie Howser, M.D. | Dr. Elena Spencer | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | The X-Files | Det. Sharon Lazard | Episode: "Born Again" |
| 1994–2004 | Friends | Janice Litman-Goralnik (née Hosenstein) | Recurring role, 19 episodes |
| 1994–1996 | Ellen | Anita Warrell | Main role (season 1); guest role (season 3); 7 episodes |
| 1995 | Pride & Joy | Flight Attendant | Episode: "Terror at 30,000 Feet" |
| 1996–2004 | Everybody Loves Raymond | Linda Gruenfelder | Recurring role, 11 episodes |
| 1998 | The New Batman Adventures | Fake Harley Quinn | Voice, episode: "Joker's Millions" |
| 1998 | Love Boat: The Next Wave | Cindy | Episode: "True Course" |
| 1999 | Get Real | Jennifer | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2001 | Jack & Jill | Kristen Moss | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | It's Like, You Know... | Rachel | Episode: "Walking Tall" |
| 2002 | Will & Grace | Polly | Episode: "Dyeing Is Easy, Comedy Is Hard" |
| 2002 | Justice League | Antiope | Voice, episode: "Fury" |
| 2003 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Stand-Up Comedian | Episode: "Last Laugh" |
| 2004 | Kim Possible | Dr. Renton | Voice, episode: "Motor Ed" |
| 2005 | Paine Management | Jeanine Bernsen | Television film |
| 2005 | Fat Actress | Woman Diapering Baby | Episode: "Charlie's Angels or Too Pooped to Pop" |
| 2005 | Higglytown Heroes | Street Sweeper Hero | Voice, episode: "Higgly Frog Day" |
| 2005 | E-Ring | Investigator | Episode: "Escape and Evade" |
| 2006 | Drake & Josh | Denise | Episode: "Alien Invasion" |
| 2006 | ER | Amy Kellerman | Episode: "Ames v. Kovac" |
| 2006 | Friday Night Lights | Teacher | Episode: "It's Different for Girls" |
| 2007 | The War at Home | Mindy | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | How I Met Your Mother | Margaret | Episode: "Dowisetrepla" |
| 2009 | Without a Trace | Gail Menken | Episode: "Wanted" |
| 2009 | The Breakdown | Jennifer | Unsold television pilot |
| 2009–2012, 2017, 2022 | Archer | Trinette McGoon | Voice, 12 episodes |
| 2010 | Glenn Martin DDS | N/A | Voice, episode: "Jackie of All Trades" |
| 2011 | Shake It Up | Mrs Garcia | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Ilene Solotaroff | Episode: "Palestinian Chicken" |
| 2011 | The Closer | Gail's friend | Episode: "Road Block" |
| 2013 | Californication | Ophelia Robbins | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 2014 | Hot in Cleveland | Rachel | Episode: "Murder House" |
| 2014 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Small Town Reporter | Voice, episode: "Race with the Demon" |
| 2015 | I Didn't Do It | Fortune Teller | Episode: "The Bite Club" |
| 2016 | Maron | Steph | Episode: "Shrink and Kink" |
| 2018 | Shameless | Fiona's lawyer | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants | Lunch Lady / Mrs. Yewh | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Friends: The Reunion | Herself | Television special |