Jenny O'Hara
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
Of her experience working with Lotte Lenya: "She was incredible. She taught me how to knit German-style. We'd sit in bars after the show drinking beers and knitting like two Madame DeFarges." --Jenny O'Hara, from Touchstone Television PR for "Costello"
Biography
The older daughter of a theater-loving mother (who would follow her two children to NYC and found the Thirteenth Street Repertory Company), Jenny O'Hara got her first big break in the touring company for "Brecht on Brecht," appearing with the legendary Lotte Lenya. She made her Broadway debut as one of Dylan Thomas' lovers in the biographical play "Dylan" and her Broadway singing debut in "The Fig Leaves Are Falling," directed by George Abbott, before succeeding younger sister Jill in the role of Fran Kubelik in "Promises, Promises." She also played Sylvie in the female version of Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple" and acted in a revival of Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh," among her other Broadway productions.
Primarily a supporting player in TV and movies, although she did star opposite Larry Hagman in NBC's "The Return of the World's Greatest Detective" (1976), O'Hara portrayed Emily Mahoney during the first season (1979-80) of "The Facts of Life" (NBC) and was a series regular as Pam Dawber's loyal assistant on "My Sister Sam" (CBS, 1986-87). Numerous guest spots on series like "Murphy Brown," "Law & Order," "ER" and "The Drew Carey Show" preceded her landing the regular role of Lottie, Sue Murphy's tough, unsentimental working class mother in the short-lived Fox sitcom "Costello" (1998). Among her feature film credits are "Heart Beat" (1979, her debut), "Angie" (1994, with Geena Davis) and "Wes Craven's Wishmaster" (1997). O'Hara also enjoyed a recurring role on CBS' daytime drama "As the World Turns," paired opposite her writer-actor husband Nick Ullett.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1964
Broadway debut, "Dylan"
1967
Broadway musical debut, "The Fig Leaves Are Falling", directed by George Abbott
1971
Acted role of Fran Kubelik (originated by sister Jill) in "Promises, Promises" on Broadway
1976
Starred opposite Larry Hagman in NBC movie, "The Return of the World's Greatest Detective"
1979
Acted in CBS movie "Letters From Frank", in which her fellow family members included Art Carney, Maureen Stapleton, Mike Farrell, Lew Ayres and Margaret Hamilton
1979
Played Emily Mahoney during first season of "The Facts of Life" (NBC)
1979
Feature debut, "Heart Beat"
1980
Regular on short-lived primetime soaper, "Secrets of Midland Heights" (CBS)
1984
Portrayed Sylvie in Los Angeles stage production of the female version of Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple"
1985
Reprised "Odd Couple" role on Broadway; also understudied leading roles
1994
Acted in Martha Coolidge's feature "Angie"
1996
Appeared in "An Unexpected Family" and its sequel "An Unexpected Life" (1998) on the USA Network
1996
Portrayed Margaret Desmond in NBC movie, "Robin Cook's 'Terminal'"
1998
Had regular role as Lottie, Sue Murphy's tough, unsentimental working class mother, in the Fox sitcom "Costello"
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
Of her experience working with Lotte Lenya: "She was incredible. She taught me how to knit German-style. We'd sit in bars after the show drinking beers and knitting like two Madame DeFarges." --Jenny O'Hara, from Touchstone Television PR for "Costello"
