Jan Hooks Biography

Fast Facts

• Was nominated for an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series for "Saturday Night Live" in 1990
• Attended the University of West Florida, but dropped out after getting an acting gig
• Joined the "Saturday Night Live" cast in 1986 after appearing on "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and "Not Necessarily the News․"
• Was a member of the Groundlings and appeared in sketch comedy shows like "The 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour," "Tush," and "Comedy Break․"
• Quote: "(On leaving "SNL" to join "Designing Women"): "Although my five-year contract was up, I was fully intending to return․ But I wanted to investigate other possibilities․""
• Did several celebrity impressions, including Diana Ross, Betty Ford, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Sinéad O'Connor
• Best known as a "Saturday Night Live" cast member and as Carlene Frazier Dobber in "Designing Women․"
• Made a cameo appearance as Jen, the Penguin's image consultant, in the 1992 film "Batman Returns․"
• Was the first ever "Saturday Night Live" cast member to impersonate Hillary Rodham Clinton, and returned several times to portray her after she left the show in 1991
• Had extreme stage fright during "Saturday Night Live" and credits castmate Phil Hartman with helping her to get over it