# Jo Anne Worley

Jo Anne Worley (born September 6, 1937) is an American actress, comedian, and singer. Her work covers television, films, theater, game shows, talk shows, commercials, and cartoons. Worley is widely known for her work on the comedy-variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.

## Early life and education

Worley was born on September 6, 1937, in Lowell, Indiana, the third child of Rose Irene (née Gardner) and Joseph Lauraine Worley. In 1962, her parents divorced and her father remarried, having four children with his second wife, Nancy.
Always known for her loud voice, Worley once said that when she attended church as a little girl, she never sang the hymns but would only lip sync them for fear that she would drown out everyone else. Before graduating from high school, she was named school comedienne.
After graduating from high school in 1955, Worley moved to Blauvelt, New York, where she began her professional career as a member of the Pickwick Players. This led to a drama scholarship to Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.

## Career

After studying at Midwestern for two years, Worley moved to Los Angeles to study at Los Angeles City College and the Pasadena Playhouse. She was soon given her first musical role in a production of Wonderful Town. In 1961, Worley received her first major break when she appeared in the musical revue Billy Barnes People in Los Angeles; this production moved to Broadway, where it ran for only six performances. However, the New York Times reviewer wrote: "Jo Anne Worley has an earthy style that suggests she could be a rowdy comedienne." In 1964, she was selected to appear as a stand-in on the original Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! One year later, Worley created her own nightclub act in Greenwich Village, where she was discovered by Merv Griffin in 1966.
Impressed by Worley's talents, Griffin engaged her to be one of his primary guest stars on his show, where she made approximately 40 appearances on The Merv Griffin Show. In 1966, she appeared Off-Broadway in The Mad Show, a musical revue based on Mad Magazine. In 1967, Worley's stint on Griffin's show led to her discovery by George Schlatter, who soon cast her in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.
In 1970, Worley left Laugh-In to pursue other projects and has made guest appearances on several television series, including Love, American Style, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Andy Williams Show, Adam-12, Emergency!, Murder, She Wrote, The Middle, and different game shows such as Super Password, Hollywood Squares, and the many versions of Pyramid. She continued working in various movies, television series, and theatrical performances (original productions and revivals alike) over the years. Worley also became known for her work as a voice provider for several cartoons, animated movies, and video games. Her voice work includes Nutcracker Fantasy (1979), the Disney movies Beauty and the Beast (1991), A Goofy Movie (1995), Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World (1998), and the voice of the Wardrobe in the video game Kingdom Hearts II (2005). She remains involved with Disney, making cameos in several Disney Channel sitcoms such as Kim Possible playing the role of Bonnie Rockwaller's mother, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Jessie.
Worley performed in regional theater, such as the Melody Top Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she appeared in Gypsy: A Musical Fable as Rose (1984), Annie Get Your Gun (1982), Hello Dolly! (1980), Anything Goes (1978) and Once Upon a Mattress (1974), She also appeared at the Welk Dinner Theater in San Diego, California in Same Time, Next Year in 1985, Call Me Madam at the California Music Theatre, Pasadena, California, in 1987, and Nunsense at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, La Mirada, California, in 1991.
In 1989, Worley returned to Broadway to appear in Prince of Central Park, but the show was canceled after four performances. She was cast as the Wicked Witch of the West in a 1999 musical production of The Wizard of Oz, directed and adapted by Robert Johanson, with Mickey Rooney playing the eponymous role. The production had a limited run at the Pantages Theater, Hollywood, California, and at the Theater at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, and she also joined the limited US tour. Worley played Mrs. Tottendale in the Broadway musical, The Drowsy Chaperone at the Marquis Theatre from July through December 2007. She then reprised the role of Mrs. Tottendale at The Cape Playhouse from June to July 2015.
From January 8 until August 24, 2008, Worley played the role of Madame Morrible in the Los Angeles production of Wicked.

## Personal life

Worley is an animal lover. For more than 40 years she has been involved with the organization Actors and Others for Animals, founded in 1971, which funds spay-and-neuter programs, and provides veterinary financial assistance to pet guardians in Southern California. She served on a voluntary basis on the board of directors for several years before becoming vice president, and since 2007, has served as president of the organization.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1962 | Moon Pilot | Extra | Technicolor science fiction and comedy film directed by James Neilson. Uncredited |
| 1968 | Head | Woman in Playtex Bra Ad | Adventure musical satirical film featuring The Monkees and directed by Bob Rafelson. |
| 1976 | The Shaggy D.A. | Katrinka Muggelberg | Comedy film and sequel to The Shaggy Dog and directed by Robert Stevenson. |
| 1979 | Nutcracker Fantasy | Queen Morphia (voice) | くるみ割り人形 (Kurumiwari Ningyō, lit. The Nutcracker) Japanese-American stop motion animated film. directed by Takeo Nakamura. |
| 1991 | Beauty and the Beast | Armoire the Wardrobe (voice) | Animated musical and fantasy film directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. |
| 1995 | A Goofy Movie | Miss Maples (voice) | Animated musical road comedy film directed by Kevin Lima. |
| 1998 | Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World | Armoire the Wardrobe (voice) | Direct-to-video Musical romantic fantasy film directed by Cullen Blaine, Daniel de la Vega, Barbara Dourmashkin, Dale Kase, Bob Kline, Burt Medall, and Mitch Rochon. Credited as Joanne Worley |
| 1999 | Belle's Tales of Friendship | Armoire the Wardrobe (voice) | Direct-to-video Live action/animated directed by Jimbo Mitchell. |
| 2004 | Goodnight, We Love You | Herself | Documentary written and directed by Gregg Barson. |
| 2008 | Forever Plaid: The Movie | The Usher | Musical film directed by Stuart Ross. Scenes deleted |
| 2012 | Carol Channing: Larger Than Life Documentary | Herself | Documentary directed and co-written by Dori Berinstein. |
| 2019 | Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate | Herself |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1960 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Myrtle Tarantino | Episode: "Baby Talk" (S 2:Ep 3) |
| 1961 | Adventures in Paradise | Guest | Episode: "Act of Piracy" {S 2:Ep 18} |
| 1961 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Myrtle Tarantino | Episode: "Goodbye, Mr. Pomfritt, Hello, Mr. Chips" (S 2:Ep 34) |
| 1967 | Captain Nice | Rusty | Episode: "One Rotten Apple" (S 1:Ep 14) |
| 1968–1970 | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In | Performer | Contract role |
| 1970 | Hot Dog | Host | Contract role Saturday morning documentary series for children |
| 1970 | Pat Paulsen's Half a Comedy Hour | Underwater Wife | Episode: "Episode #1.4" (S 1:Ep 4) |
| 1970 | Love, American Style | Maggie | Episode:"Love and the Coed Dorm/Love and the Optimist/Love and the Teacher" (S 1:Ep 19) |
| 1971 | The Feminist and the Fuzz | Dr. Debby Inglefinger | TV movie directed by Jerry Paris. |
| 1971 | Love, American Style | Guest | Episode: "Love and the Boss/Love and the Jury/Love and the Logical Explanation/Love and the Pregnancy" (s 2:Ep 21) |
| 1971 | Night Gallery | Iris Travers | Episode: " House — With Ghost/A Midnight Visit to the Neighborhood Blood Bank/Dr. Stringfellow's" (S 2:Ep 9) |
| 1971 | What's a Nice Girl Like You...? | Cynthia | TV movie directed by Jerry Paris. |
| 1971 | Love, American Style | Housewife | Episode: "Love and the Detective/Love and the Guilty Conscience/Love and the Mixed Marriage/Love and the Wake-Up Girl" (S 3:Ep 5) |
| 1971 | Love, American Style | Susie | Episode: "Love and the Baby/Love and the Big Mother/Love and the Free Weekend/Love and the Jealous Husband/Love and the Old Cowboy" (S 3:Ep 9) |
| 1972 | Love, American Style | Mrs. Stevens | Episode: "Love and the Big Surprise/Love and the Security Building/Love and the Ski Lodge/Love and the Happy Unhappy Couple/Love and the Topless Policy" (S 3:Ep 16) |
| 1972 | Adam-12 | Juju Perrin | Episode: "Mary Hong Loves Tommy Chen" (S 4:Ep 19) |
| 1972 | The Mouse Factory | Guest Host | Episode: "Women's Lib" (S 1:Ep 2) |
| 1972 | The Paul Lynde Show | Fay | Episode: "An Affair to Forget" (S 1:Ep 12) |
| 1973–1974 | It Pays to Be Ignorant | Herself | Panelist |
| 1973–1991 | Pyramid | Recurring celebrity guest | Its subsequent versions |
| 1973 | Love, American Style | Beverly Arnold Rhode | Episode: "Love and the Games People Play/Love and High Spirits/Love and the Memento/Love and the Single Husband/Love and the Stutter" (S 5:Ep 4) |
| 1973 | Emergency! | Screaming Woman | Episode: "Zero" (S 3:Ep 10) |
| 1974–1976 | Match Game | Herself | Panelist |
| 1974 | The Six Million Dollar Man | Mona | Episode: "Survival of the Fittest" (S1 :Ep 2) |
| 1975 | Get Christie Love! | Miss Holmes | Episode: "Murder on High C" (S 1:Ep 16) |
| 1975 | New Zoo Revue | Vanessa Gramcracker | Episode: "September 2, 1975" |
| 1977 | The Riddlers | | unsold game show pilot |
| 1977 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Miss Osborne | Episode: "The Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World" (S 24:Ep 6) |
| 1977 | Hawaii Five-O | Anna Jovanko | Episode: "Blood Money Is Hard to Wash" |
| 1978 | The Love Boat | Sandy Beal | Episode: "A Time for Everything/The Song Is Ended/Accidental Cruise/Anoushka" (S 2:Ep 8) |
| 1978 | The Gift of the Magi | Star | Adapted made-for-TV-Movie directed by Marc Daniels. |
| 1979 | The Love Boat | Dottie Anderson | Episode: "The Stimulation of Stephanie/The Next Step/Life Begins at 40" (S 3:Ep 14) |
| 1979 | CHiPs | Herself | Episode: "Roller Disco: Part 2" (S 3:Ep 2) Uncredited |
| 1979 | The Arthur Godfrey Special | Herself | Sketch comedy musical directed by Sterling Johnson. |
| 1981 | Through the Magic Pyramid | Mutnedjmet | TV movie directed by Ron Howard. |
| 1981–82 | The All New Popeye Hour | Sgt. Bertha Blast | Contract role |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Mrs. Honeycutt | Episode: "The Dog Show: Going to the Dogs/Putting on the Dog/Women's Best Friend/Whose Dog Is It Anyway" (S 6:Ep 25) |
| 1985 | Murder, She Wrote | Carla Raymond | Episode" "My Johnny Lies over the Ocean" (S 1:Ep 13) |
| 1985 | Super Password | Herself | Game Show Contestant / Celebrity Guest Star |
| 1985 | Pound Puppies | Nose | TV movie directed by Alan Zaslove and Ray Patterson. Credited as JoAnne Worley |
| 1985 | The Wuzzles | Hopopotamus | Contract role |
| 1989 | DuckTales | Guest | Episode: "The Good Muddahs" (S 2:Ep 14) Credited as JoAnne Worley |
| 1990 | Match Game | Herself | Panelist |
| 1992 | The Elf Who Saved Christmas | Mrs. Buzzard | Short film directed by Bob Sykes. |
| 1993 | Tom & Jerry Kids | Guest | Episode:"Penthouse Mouse/Twelve Angry Sheep/The Ant Attack" (S 3:Ep 21) Credited as JoAnne Worley |
| 1993 | The Elf and the Magic Key | Mrs. Buzzard | TV movie directed by Bob Sykes. |
| 1993 | The Pink Panther | Mrs. Chubalingo | Episode: "Pilgrim Panther/That Old Pink Magic" (S 1:Ep 10) Credited as Joanne Worley |
| 1995 | Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare | Aunt Kate | TV movie directed by Neal Israel. |
| 1996 | Mad About You | Herself | Episode: "Dream Weaver" (S 4:Ep 12) |
| 1998 | Caroline in the City | Herself | Episode: "Caroline and the Sandwich" (S 3:Ep 22) |
| 1998 | Sabrina, The Teenage Witch | Aunt Beulah | Episode: "Good Will Haunting" (S 3:Ep 6) |
| 1999 | Boy Meets World | Mrs. Stevens | Episode: "Pickett Fences" (S 7:Ep 10) |
| 2002 | Kim Possible | Mrs. Rockwaller | Episode: "Downhill" (S 1:Ep 5) |
| 2004 | Hollywood Squares | Herself | Recurring |
| 2005 | Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | Herself | Episode: "Out & About" (S 1:Ep 1–Pilot) |
| 2009 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Maggie | Episode: "Alex Does Good" (S 2:Ep 17) |
| 2011 | Unscripted | Herself | Episode: "Jo Anne Worley" (S 1:Ep 6) Biography |
| 2011 | Bones | Diane Michaels | Episode "The Truth in the Myth" (S 6:Ep 18) |
| 2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Rosemary | Episode: "The Smiley Face" (S 8:Ep 4) |
| 2011 | Jessie | Nana Banana | Episode: "Zuri's New Old Friend" (S 1:Ep 6) Credited as JoAnne Worley |
| 2012 | The Middle | Miss Lambert | Episode: "The Guidance Counselor" (S 3:Ep 21) |
| 2023 | Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest | Armoire the Wardrobe (voice) | TV special |

### Stage roles

| Year | Show | Role | Venue | Notes |
| 2008 | Wicked | Madame Morrible | Pantages Theatre | Replacement |
| 2007 | The Drowsy Chaperone | Mrs. Tottendale | Marquis Theatre | Replacement |
| 1999 | The Wizard of Oz | Miss Gultch/The Wicked Witch of the West | National tour | Replacement |
| 1994 | Grease | Miss Lynch | Eugene O'Neill Theatre | Replacement |
| 1992 | Annie | Miss Hannigan | National tour | Originated role |
| 1989 | Prince of Central Park | Margie Miller | Belasco Theatre | Originated role |
| 1981 | The Pirates of Penzance | Ruth | National tour | Originated role |
| 1964 | Hello, Dolly! | Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi | St. James Theatre | Standby |
| 1961 | Carnival! | The Incomparable Rosalie | National tour | Originated role |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Disney's Beauty and the Beast Magical Ballroom | Armoire the Wardrobe (voice) |
| 2005 | Kingdom Hearts II | Armoire the Wardrobe (voice) | キングダムハーツII (Japanese: Kingudamu Hātsu Tsū), an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. Credited as JoAnne Worley |
| 2007 | Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ | Armoire the Wardrobe (archive foootage) | キングダムハーツII (Japanese: Kingudamu Hātsu Tsū), an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. Credited as JoAnne Worley |