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Judith Light Biography

Birth Name:Judith Ellen Licht

Birth Place:Trenton, New Jersey, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Helped Cyndi Lauper launch the pro-LGBT Give a Damn campaign in 2010
  • Is an avid supporter of the Human Rights Campaign
  • Was the third person to win back-to-back Tony Awards
  • Is a board member of the Matthew Shepard Foundation
  • Was recognized for her contributions to the LGBT community when the library at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center was named after her
  • Graduated with a degree in drama from Carnegie-Mellon University
  • Married actor Robert Desiderio in 1985
  • Toured with the European USO in the 1960s as a performer in "Guys and Dolls․"
  • Quote: "When I was three years old was when I first developed the love of performance․ My mother had helped me memorize 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and I performed it for my father․․․ and it was in that moment that I said, 'Oh, my․ This is what I want to do․'"
  • Quote: "I found that the body, mind and spirit are all connected․ They are not separte pieces․"
  • Came around to the idea of working on a soap opera after seeing how the format reaches a lot of people
  • Shaved her head to play the part of an actor dying of cancer in the off-Broadway show "Wit․"

Awards

  • 1979Soapy-Outstanding Actress: winner
  • 1980Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series: winner
  • 1980Soapy-Outstanding Actress: winner
  • 1981Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series: winner
  • 2007Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby TV Award-Ensemble of the Year: nominated
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2007Prism Award-Performance in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2007TV Land Award-The "She Works Hard for the Money" Award (Favorite Working Mom): nominated
  • 2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2008TV Land Award-Mad Ad Man (or Woman) of the Year: nominated
  • 2015Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2016Made in New York Award-: winner
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2017INOCA TV-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018Gold Derby TV Award-Ensemble of the Year: nominated
  • 2018Gold Derby TV Award-Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2018INOCA TV-Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie: winner
  • 2018OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: winner
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: nominated
  • 2019Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2020WIN Award-Outstanding Actress Made for Television Movie / Mini-Series: nominated
  • 2020WIN Award-Actress Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2023Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2023OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: winner