Lesley Ann Warren

Lesley Ann Warren (born August 16, 1946) is an American actress and singer. Warren made her Broadway debut in 1963, and in 1965 received wide recognition for playing the title role in the television musical production of Cinderella. She later had starring roles in the Disney musical films The Happiest Millionaire (1967) and The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968).

In the 1970s, Warren worked mostly on television, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for playing Dana Lambert in the CBS drama series Mission: Impossible (1970–71). In 1978, she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for the NBC miniseries Harold Robbins’ 79 Park Avenue. In 1983, Warren was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Norma Cassidy in Victor/Victoria. She received two additional Golden Globe nominations for performances in Songwriter (1984) and Family of Spies (1990). Her other film appearances include A Night in Heaven (1983), Choose Me (1984), Clue (1985), Burglar (1987), Cop (1988), Pure Country (1992), Color of Night (1994), The Limey (1999), and Secretary (2002).

Early life

Warren was born in New York City, the daughter of Margot (née Verblow; 1916–2012), a British-born singer, and William Warren (1915–1985), a real estate agent. She has a brother, Richard Lewis Warren (b. 1952).

She attended the Professional Children’s School at the age of 6 and The High School of Music & Art at the age of 13.

Career

1960s and 1970s

In 1961, Warren began training as a ballet dancer at the School of American Ballet at the age of 14. Her career began in 1962 at age 15 when she made a tape of herself singing the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute (the first and only time she sang opera). She entered the Actors Studio at the age of 17—reputedly the youngest applicant ever to be accepted. Her Broadway debut came in 1963 in the musical 110 in the Shade. She won the Theatre World Award for her performance in the 1965 flop musical Drat! The Cat!. In 1973, she portrayed Scarlett O’Hara in the Los Angeles production of the musical Scarlett; however, the play was poorly reviewed and did not continue to Broadway as planned.

Having failed to obtain the role of Liesl in The Sound of Music, Warren achieved her first major television success in the title role of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella in 1965. She appeared in shows including Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke, The Mod Squad, Love, American Style and The Carol Burnett Show. Her film debut was in the 1967 musical comedy The Happiest Millionaire, the last movie Walt Disney worked on before his death. The following year, she went to star opposite Walter Brennan in the musical film The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band. This year, she placed at No. 15 on the Laurel Awards list for Female New Face.

During the 1970s, Warren appeared in only two feature films: Pickup on 101 (1972) and Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976). Meanwhile, Warren worked regularly on television. She played the role of Dana Lambert, the leading female on the CBS action drama Mission: Impossible, during the 1970–71 season. According to The Complete Mission: Impossible Dossier by Patrick White, she was considered too inexperienced for the part and left after only one year. For her performance, she received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Despite her departure, throughout the 1970s Warren became a leading lady of TV movies and miniseries. Her notable credits include The Daughters of Joshua Cabe (1972), The Letters (1973), The Legend of Valentino (1975), Betrayal (1978) and Pearl (1978). She appeared as a guest star in the third season of The Muppet Show. In 1975, Warren played a gullible psychiatric patient opposite Peter Falk and George Hamilton in the Columbo episode “A Deadly State of Mind”. Warren also played Lois Lane in the 1975 TV special It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman, adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name. Warren went on to screen test for the role of Lois Lane in the 1978 Superman film, a role that was ultimately won by Margot Kidder (footage of Warren’s screen test has been included as a supplementary feature on VHS and DVD releases of the film). In 1978, she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for the NBC miniseries Harold Robbins’ 79 Park Avenue.

1980s and 1990s

In 1981, Warren returned to the big screen starring alongside Ken Wahl, George Peppard, and Donald Pleasence in Race for the Yankee Zephyr, a New Zealand suspense-action-thriller film directed by David Hemmings. The following year, she played dim-witted gangster’s moll Norma Cassidy in Blake Edwards’ musical comedy Victor/Victoria. Warren was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She went to star in the 1983 romantic drama A Night in Heaven with Christopher Atkins; critics widely panned the film. Warren received another Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for starring opposite Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson in the 1984 musical comedy film Songwriter. That same year, she had a leading role in the love triangle drama Choose Me with Keith Carradine and Genevieve Bujold. She turned down a chance to audition for the Kathleen Turner role in Romancing the Stone. In 1985, she starred as one of the prime murder suspects, Miss Scarlet, in the comedy film version of the popular board game Clue.

Warren played supporting roles in a number of movies, including Burglar (1987) with Whoopi Goldberg, Cop (1988) with James Woods, Worth Winning (1989) with Mark Harmon, Life Stinks (1991) with Mel Brooks and Pure Country (1992) with George Strait. In Color of Night (1994) Warren played a nymphomaniac; the film was poorly received, and she was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress. However, it was successful on the home video market. On television, she went to star in Beulah Land (1980), Portrait of a Showgirl (1982), Evergreen (1985) and Baja Oklahoma (1988). She received Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film nominations for Family of Spies in 1990. Warren also played Princess Jeanetta in the 1987 Faerie Tale Theatre episode The Dancing Princesses, an adaptation of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. In 1986, Lesley was prominently featured in Bob Seger’s popular music video for his hit song “American Storm.” In 1989, she appeared in the Aerosmith video “Janie’s Got a Gun”, wherein she played Janie’s mother. She was also featured in a video for the Eagles’ “Life in the Fast Lane”. In 1995, she co-starred opposite Ben Kingsley in the television film Joseph. She had a major role in Steven Soderbergh’s The Limey (1999), starring Terence Stamp.

2000s and 2010s

In 2000s, Warren appeared in a number of independent films, most notably the 2002 comedy-drama Secretary, playing the mother of the title character. She had recurring roles on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace from 2001 to 2006 as Will Truman’s father’s mistress and in 2005 in the ABC comedy-drama Desperate Housewives as Susan Mayer’s mother. Other television credits included Touched by an Angel, The Practice, Crossing Jordan and Less than Perfect. From 2008 to 2012, Warren played the role of Jinx Shannon, the lead character’s alcoholic mother in the USA Network drama series In Plain Sight. While working on that show, Warren was offered Mary Steenburgen’s role in Step Brothers (2008) but had to turn it down because of scheduling conflicts.

Warren appeared in the films Peep World (2010), Jobs (2013), and I Am Michael (2015). In 2013, she reunited with Clue castmates Christopher Lloyd and Martin Mull when they guest-starred in an episode of Psych. In 2016, she had a recurring role in the Starz comedy Blunt Talk and in 2018 appeared in the Netflix superhero series Daredevil as Esther Falb. In 2019, she co-starred in the short-lived Lifetime comedy-drama series American Princess, and appeared opposite Sarah Drew in the Lifetime Christmas movie Twinkle All the Way.

Personal life

Warren married producer Jon Peters in 1967 and divorced him in 1975 after a two-year separation. They have one son, Christopher Peters.

From 1977 to 1985, she lived with choreographer Jeffrey Hornaday.

Since 2000, Warren has been married to ad executive Ron Taft, whom she met at a hair salon in 1991.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1967	The Happiest Millionaire	Cordy
1968	The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band	Alice Bower	Laurel Award for Female New Face (15th place)
1972	Pickup on 101	Nicky
1976	Harry and Walter Go to New York	Gloria Fontaine
1981	Treasure of the Yankee Zephyr	Sally
1982	Victor/Victoria	Norma Cassidy	Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated — New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
1983	A Night in Heaven	Faye Hanlon
1984	Choose Me	Eve
1984	Songwriter	Gilda	Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
1985	Clue	Miss Scarlet
1987	Burglar	Dr. Cynthia Sheldrake
1988	Cop	Kathleen McCarthy
1989	Worth Winning	Eleanor Larimore
1991	Life Stinks	Molly
1992	Pure Country	Lula Rogers
1994	Color of Night	Sondra Dorio
1995	Bird of Prey	Carla Carr
1996	Natural Enemy	Sandy
1997	Going All the Way	Nina Casselman
1998	Love Kills	Evelyn Heiss
1998	All of It	Glenda Holbeck
1999	The Limey	Elaine
1999	Twin Falls Idaho	Francine
1999	Teaching Mrs. Tingle	Faye Watson
2000	Ropewalk	Charlie’s mom
2000	Trixie	Dawn Sloane
2001	Delivering Milo	Anna
2001	The Quickie	Anna
2001	Losing Grace	Mary Reed
2002	Secretary	Joan Holloway
2004	My Tiny Universe	Vee
2005	Constellation	Nancy Boxer
2005	When Do We Eat?	Peggy Stuckman
2005	Deepwater	Pam
2005	The Shore	Mrs. Becky Harris
2006	Miracle Dogs Too	Nurse Bleaker
2006	10th & Wolf	Tina
2010	Stiffs	Joy Tramontana
2010	A Little Help	Joan Dunning
2010	Peep World	Marilyn Meyerwitz
2013	Jobs	Clara Jobs
2015	I Am Michael	Susan
2015	The Sphere and the Labyrinth	Wendy
2016	It Snows All the Time	Anne
2016	Between Us	Elsa
2018	American Pets	Judy
2019	The Bay House	Joan Brooks
2019	3 Days with Dad	Dawn
2020	Echo Boomers	Author

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1965	Cinderella	Cinderella	TV film
1965	For the People	Terry	“Dangerous to the Public Peace and Safety”
1966	Dr. Kildare	Bonda Jo Weaver	Guest role (4 episodes)
1966	Gunsmoke	Betsy Payson	“Harvest”
1966	Run for Your Life	Julie Foster	“The Last Safari”
1967	The Carol Burnett Show	Herself	“The Lost Episodes”
1969	The Mod Squad	Virginia ‘Ginny’ Wells	“A Run for the Money”
1969	Seven in Darkness	Deborah Cabot	TV film
1969	Love, American Style	Tippi	“Love and the Divorce Sale”
1970–71	Mission: Impossible	Dana Lambert	Main role (season 5) Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
1971	Love Hate Love	Sheila Blunden	TV film
1971	Cat Ballou	Cat Ballou	TV film
1972	Assignment: Munich	Cathy Lange	TV film
1972	The Daughters of Joshua Cabe	Mae	TV film
1973	Dr. Simon Locke	Laura March	“Requiem for a Canary”
1973	Night Gallery	Hyacinth	“Death on a Barge”
1973	The Letters	Laura Reynolds	TV film
1973	Saga of Sonora	Emmy Lou	TV film
1975	It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman	Lois Lane	TV film
1975	Columbo	Nadia Donner	“A Deadly State of Mind”
1975	S.W.A.T.	Linda	“Deadly Tide: Parts 1 & 2”
1975	Doctors’ Hospital	Sybil Payson	“Sleepless and Pale Eyelids”
1975	Harry O	Gail Stephens	“APB Harry Orwell”
1975	The Legend of Valentino	Laura Lorraine	TV film
1976	Snip	Beverly	Unsold TV series
1976	Jigsaw John	Claudine	“Too Much, Too Soon”
1977	79 Park Avenue	Marja Fludjicki / Marianne	TV miniseries Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
1978	Betrayal	Julie Roy	TV film
1978	Pearl	Dr. Carol Lang	TV miniseries
1979	The Muppet Show	Herself	Episode 3.15
1979	Portrait of a Stripper	Susie Hanson	TV film
1980	Beulah Land	Sarah Pennington	TV miniseries
1982	Portrait of a Showgirl	Jillian Brooks	TV film
1985	Evergreen	Anna Friedman	TV miniseries
1986	Apology	Lily	TV film
1986	A Fight for Jenny	Kelsey Wilkes	TV film
1987	Faerie Tale Theatre	Jeanetta	“The Dancing Princesses”
1988	Baja Oklahoma	Juanita Hutchins	TV film Nominated — CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries
1990	Family of Spies	Barbara Walker	TV miniseries Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
1990	American Playwrights Theater: The One-Acts	Flora	“27 Wagons Full of Cotton” Nominated — CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries
1990	Lola	Lola Baltic	TV film
1991	A Seduction in Travis County	Melanie Evans	TV film
1992	In Sickness and in Health	Anita Mattison	TV film
1992	Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story	Wanda Holloway	TV film
1993	A Mother’s Revenge	Carol Sanders	TV film
1995	Murderous Intent	Gayle	TV film
1995	Joseph	Potiphar’s Wife	TV Miniseries
1999	Jesse	Susan	“Momma Was a Rollin’ Stone”
2000	Twice in a Lifetime	Rhonda Finkelstein / Sadie Arnstein	“Matchmaker, Matchmaker”
2001	Wolf Girl	Dr. Klein	TV film
2001–2006	Will & Grace	Tina	Recurring role
2002	St. Sass	Slim Kaplan	TV film
2002–2005	Crossing Jordan	Arlene Lebowski	“Don’t Look Back”, “Locard’s Exchange”
2003	Touched by an Angel	Kelly Cartwright	“As It Is in Heaven”
2003	The Practice	Sylvia Bakey	“Choirboys”, “Special Deliveries”
2003	Recipe for Disaster	Marie Korda	TV film
2004	Less than Perfect	Diane Steadman	“Claude’s Apartment”
2005–2011	Desperate Housewives	Sophie Bremmer	Recurring role
2008–2012	In Plain Sight	Jinx Shannon	Main role
2009	Bound by a Secret	Jane Tetley	TV film
2011	Working Class	Barbara	“Medieval Woman”
2013	Psych	Leslie	“100 Clues”
2015	Community	Deb Perry	“Lawnmower Maintenance & Postnatal Care”, “Advanced Safety Features”
2015	Gigi Does It	Tretchy Feinberg	“Wart-a-Colors”, “Whine”
2016	Blunt Talk	Cornelia	3 episodes
2016–17	Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce	Dina	“No Means… No”, “Let Them Eat Cupcakes”
2018	Daredevil	Esther Falb	Episode: “Reunion”
2019	The Cool Kids	Kathleen	Episode: “Charlie’s Angel”
2019	American Princess	Joanntha Klein	3 Episodes
2019	Twinkle All the Way	Twinkle Harrison	Television film
2020	Broke	Alex McBride	Episode: “Mom’s Secret”
2020	Blind Psychosis	Tabatha Burks	Television film
2021	All Rise	Samara Strong	Episode: “Bette Davis Eyes”