Lise Simms

**Elisabeth Caroline Simms** (born March 17, 1963 in southern Colorado), credited as **Lise Simms**, is an American actress, singer, and dancer.

## Biography

Lise grew up in southern Colorado. Her parents are Bill and Jacque Simms and is the sixth of nine children. Her brother, Tom Simms, is a Spanish teacher at Centennial High School. Lise graduated from Centennial High School in 1981, and from Oklahoma State University in 1985.

### Broadway and theater

Lise began her acting career at age 13. She started doing Broadway after graduating from high school and starred in numerous plays such as _Other People's Money_, _Mame_, _Can-Can_, _Sweet Charity_, and _Bye Bye Birdie_ during the 1980s. She was also a member of the original Los Angeles, California cast of _Beauty and the Beast_ and toured around the world with _A Chorus Line_ in 1986.

### Television

Simms was the host of Style Network's _Area_. She had a recurring role on _Sunset Beach_, but is best known for her role as "Barbara Diffy", Phil's mom in the Disney Channel original series _Phil of the Future_, where she also played "The Timekeeper" in the episode "It's a Wonder-Phil Life". She had a recurring role as "Connie Wayne" in the soap opera _The Young and the Restless_, and made guest appearances on _Friends_, _Providence_, _MADtv_, _3rd Rock from the Sun_, _Star Trek: Voyager_ and many others. She performed for President Ronald Reagan in 1988's _Great Performances at the White House_ series, which aired on PBS.

Most recently, Simms can be seen as co-host and interior designer on Home & Garden Television's _Desperate Spaces_. Simms works with co-host and designer Daniel Kucan to decorate a room of a home in just two days and with only $2,500. They choose 1 room from 3 deserving rooms in need. _Desperate Spaces_ premiered January 1, 2008.

Simms had a guest spot on the February 3, 2009 episode of _90210_ as Ty's mother, Louise Collins.

### TV commercials

Simms has been in commercials for the game Jenga, the remedies Tums, Maalox, Advil, Bluefly, Post Cereal's Shredded Wheat, and Dairy Queen's "Moolate" shakes. At one time, she co-hosted an infomercial for Rug Doctor carpet cleaning products. Simms also hosted a infomercial for Franklin Wheel and won an Astrid Award. She had appeared in Disney Channel's _Express Yourself_ segments with other Disney Channel stars.

## Filmography

- _Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride_ (1992) - Female guest.
- _The Dentist_ (1996) - Paula Roberts.
- _The Omega Code_ (1999) - Talk show reporter.
- _Star Trek: Away Team_ (2001) - T'Andoria.
- _Dragonfly_ (2002) - Nephrology desk nurse.
- _Suits on the Loose_ (2006) - Christine.
- _Snow Buddies_ (2008) - Meg.

## Television roles

- _Sunset Beach_ (1997) - Nurse Kathy Baker (1998).
- _The Young and the Restless_ (1973) - Connie Wayne (1999).
- _Area_ (2002) - Host.
- _Phil of the Future_ (2004) - Barbara Diffy.
- _Desperate Spaces_ (2008) - Host.

### Guest appearances

- _90210_ (2009) - Louise Collins.
- _iCarly_ (2008) - Mrs. Linda Peeloff.
- _ER_ (2006) - Emcee.

## Infobox (actor)

- **name**: Lise Simms
- **birthname**: Elisabeth Caroline Simms
- **birth place**: southern Colorado, USA
- **occupation**: Actress, Interior designer
- **yearsactive**: 1992–present
- **spouse**: Terry Rhoads (?-present)
- **known for**: Playing "Barbara Diffy" on _Phil of the Future_