Credit card rewards help our family save money on groceries, gas and other necessities. After years of minor and uncredited film and television appearances, Janney's breakthrough came with the role of C. J. Cregg in the NBC political drama series The West Wing (19992006), for which she received four Primetime Emmy Awards. "I'm just enjoying this new chapter in my hairdo world.". I wish I could play the way he did so I could go to parties and be present but not have to be called upon for small talk, she told Esquire. IMDB reports that Janneys father is Jervis Spencer Janney, Jr., a real estate developer and jazz musician. Janneys parents were married in 1957 in Long Island. JANNEY: Oh, Terry, Terry, would that that were true. [38][39] Janney also voiced Margaux Needler in the animated version of The Addams Family. In 2018, Janney participated in the 2018 Women's March in Los Angeles, part of a larger national movement for women's rights, human rights, and social justice. Janney's brother, Henrywho went by "Hal"battled addiction and depression. [15] For her portrayal of C. J. Cregg, Janney won four Primetime Emmy Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Award, a Satellite Award and four nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, making her the most awarded cast member of the series. Apparently, she was ready to quit numerous times, but something always seemed to come up. However, Janney hasn't always flown solo; over the years, she's had quite a few relationships. Philip Joncas Has Been In Her Life For A While", "Philip Joncas: Meet Allison Janney's Media-Shy Boyfriend", "Allison Janney dedicates Oscar win to her late brother", "Allison Janney's Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need toKnow", "Allison Janney Joining New Star Tours plus AC-38 Droid to Pilot Starspeeder 1000 in 2011", "Allison Janney | Hollywood Walk of Fame", "Natalie Portman, Allison Janney, Viola Davis Join Women's March Los Angeles Lineup", "Allison Janney talks the Women's March on the 2018 SAG Awards red carpet", "Allison Janney Charity Work, Events and Causes", "When the U.S. surgeon general met the cast of 'Mom', "Allison Janney Delivers Important Message About Addiction At The White House", "Actress Allison Janney donates $10,000 to Foodbank", "Allison Janney wins $10,000 for Dayton charity as part of 'Ellen' episode partly recorded at mom's house here", "Broadway stars and drag queens to unite for voter drive show", "F Is For Family knows that all family debts come due sometime", "Allison Janney clowns around in Rachael Yamagata's new video", The Interviews: An Oral History of Television, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Allison_Janney&oldid=1152491012, Voice, episode: "In Bed Surrounded by Loved Ones", Episode: "Key & Peele's Super Bowl Special", Episode: "Allison Janney Wears a Chambray Western Shirt and Suede Fringe Boots", Episode: "Alison Janney Gifts A Showstopper", This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 15:21. Thank you! You know what I'm saying, Oliver? And then they come in with notepads and tell us, now say this this time. https://t.co/bUpXHghLrc #Oscars pic.twitter.com/xNvDNro67G. Janney has said that people think shes gay because shes tall and not married. According to EOnline, he was identified as a 35-year-old production coordinator by the name of Philip Joncas who actually worked with Janney a few years ago., The two were also photographed at a movie premiere that same year. Carlson. 645, This story has been shared 623 times. JANNEY: (As Bonnie) What kind of question is that? She's already won two Emmys for "Mom." Cregg) I was told to report to you. Jervis tied the knot with Allisons mother on March 2, 1957. Outside of academia, Janney is involved in supporting youth. Part of HuffPost News. "I just decided I wanted to be free from hair color and hair extensions and so this is the most authentic me," she said. She also appeared in Nurse Betty (2000), The Hours (2002), Finding Nemo (2003), How to Deal (2003), The Chumscrubber (2005), Winter Solstice (2004), and Our Very Own (2005). Following minor roles in similar productions like; Prescribed Laughter In The Emergency Caf, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and Blue Window, Janney made her Broadway debut with the 1996 revival of Nol Coward's Present Laughter. And I felt like I wanted to be a part, and I didn't feel that there was anything - anyone was making fun of this process at all. I'm still single! She's nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance on the CBS sitcom "Mom." Allison Janney may be in her 60s, but she always seems to be full of energy and that's because she's careful to stay in great shape. In the spring of 1994, she appeared in the season-four finale of Law & Order, titled "Old Friends", as a reluctant witness against a member of the Russian mob. ALLISON JANNEY: (As Bonnie) Are you awake? GROSS: That's my guest Allison Janney with Oliver Platt in a scene from "The West Wing." JANNEY: (As C.J. Actress Allison Janney attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations presents "Troop Zero" at SAG-AFTRA Foundation Screening Room on February 04, 2020. Allisons brother Jay is the department chair of the Department of Management and Marketing at the University of Dayton. Allisons brother Hal committed suicide when he was 49, in February 2011. . Send this article to anyone, no subscription is necessary to view it, Minneapolis toddler's death triggers fresh concerns about child protection, Arrest made in arsons at two Minneapolis mosques, First Republic Bank seized, sold to JPMorgan Chase, Hiawatha Golf Course added to the National Register of Historic Places, Sim Glaser, Minneapolis' rock 'n' roll rabbi, dies at 67, St. Paul DFL endorses three City Council candidates, Grand Marais man's death has locals pulling for his alleged killer, 5 current questions about Vikings include Cousins, Cook, cornerbacks, Anderson: Environmental Q&A with former Gov. While most people hate getting COVID tests, Janney actually admitted that she loved them, so the daily tests weren't a problem for her. Cregg) When did the president tell you? She had dreams of becoming an Olympic skater before a freak accident derailed that -- she ran blindly through a glass door and was severely injured. Cregg) Should I have my lawyer here? Allison Janney from Mom attends the 73RD EMMY AWARDS on Sunday, Sept. 19 on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on. Even though Joncas was 20 years younger than Janney, they seemed to be a good match. [on her towering height] Years ago, one casting agent told me that the only roles I could play were lesbians and aliens. Nick Cannon Rejoices in Cancellation of Jada Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talk: That Table Was Toxic, Porn to Be Wild: The Steamiest Movies on Showtime. PLATT: (As Oliver Babish) I've got better things to do with my imagination. At age 13, Jacob 's brother (the future Man in Black) finds a Senet game. As of 2016, has appeared in four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6100 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 17, 2016. [80], 20172022: Awards success and continued work, 2017: Return to theatre and critical acclaim, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble, Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female, Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Critics' Choice Movie Award Best Acting Ensemble, Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Female, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play, Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance, A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote, List of awards and nominations received by Allison Janney, List of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, List of actors with Academy Award nominations, List of alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, "Hotchkiss Honors Award-Winning Actress Allison Brooks Janney '77 with the 2016 Alumni Award", "Macy B. Putnam Engaged to Wed; Bennett Alumna Is Fiancee of Jervis S. Janney Jr., a Graduate of Princeton", "What Macy Janney has to say about her famous daughter's big Oscar night", "My World Turned Upside Down: Actress Allison Janney Recalls a Tragic Demise of Her Brother Who Took His Own Life", "The Miami Valley School - Awards & Honors - Distinguished Alumni Award", "Why Allison Janney Never Cashed In Her Favor From Paul Newman", "American Theatre Wing - Downstage Center - Allison Janney - August, 2009", "Allison Janney: Her time is now the unerring ascent of Hollywood's towering talent", "A Definitive Ranking of Every Character on The West Wing", "From Sports Night to Studio 60: Vulture Ranks Aaron Sorkin's TV Characters", "Allison Janney Just Keeps Getting Better", "My World Turned Upside Down: Actress Allison Janney Recalls A Tragic Demise Of Her Brother Who Took His Own Life", "Emmy episode analysis: Allison Janney shows her versatility with third nomination for 'Masters of Sex', Chapter 16. JANNEY: But no, I can't - I don't have that. Powered by. She sent him to countless rehabs, but it was all in vain. Cregg) So why should I trust you? In 2014, for her guest role of Margaret Scully, a sexually repressed 1950s housewife on Showtime's period drama series Masters of Sex, she won a fifth Emmy. As she explained on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," her first thought was to throw a gigantic retro-themed bash called "Studio 60," an homage to the famous Studio 54. While kids aren't in her future, she is still hoping to meet a special someone who could become a life partner. I want to do - I feel like I am qualified to be in this world. "Nothing further from the truth," she adds. Catch the full HuffPost Live conversation with Allison Janney here. What a grounded outlook on kids and family after all, starting a family isn't the goal for everyone. Block and Megan Hilty. And then I went to Kenyon College, which is where I hooked up with, you know, my freshman year - Paul Newman, who went to Kenyon, came to direct the brand new theater they had built there. Actress: The Help. And exercise, of course. Naturally, she was eager to mark the occasion with some kind of special event. JANNEY: (As C.J. had. What Time Does 'Yellowjackets' Season 2, Episode 6 Air On Showtime? Did you take a test? The two appeared in public only in 2015 for the first time. She began a new relationship, and while it didn't last, it helped her open her mind to new relationships. And I wasn't that good anyway. "I just stopped thinking there was going to be anybody out there for me. Janney often plays talkative characters, but her father was the one who didnt like to talk to people. ", Allison Janney dedicated her #Oscar for Best Supporting Actress to her late brother. [23][24] On the Disney Channel animated show Phineas and Ferb, Janney voiced Charlene. A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote. This year, she won an Oscar for best supporting actress for her performance in "I, Tonya.". Janney starred in the 1998 revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge[48] to positive reviews. She starred in the ABC network comedy Mr. Sunshine. ", Personality Crisis: One Night Only Finds Punk Pioneer David Johansen Recounting His Many Lives, Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Legacy of J Dilla' on FX/Hulu, Exploring The Life, Beats, And Career Of The Late Hip-Hop Hero, Stream It Or Skip It: Little Richard: I Am Everything on VOD, A Biodoc As Vibrant As Its Subject, Stream It Or Skip It: Dear Mama on FX, A Powerfully-Told Docuseries About The Life and Legacy of Tupac Shakur, Stream It Or Skip It: 'Peter Pan and Wendy' on Disney+, Director David Lowery's Lightly Visionary Disney Rehash, Where Was Peter Pan and Wendy Filmed? GROSS: And is that all laughter from the audience. The publication also ranks her as the best character from the series. In 2000, after starring in American Beauty with Annette Bening and Kevin Spacey, the actress became famous all over the world. Wow, that's definitely more interesting than the classic awkward shuffle most of us do at parties. But his big sister says she still calls him now and again. She explained on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "[Carol Burnett is] the reason I'm an actress. Allison Janney ("Mom," "Breaking News in Yuba County"); Ellen video chats with a teacher who has ovarian cancer. Of all of the actresses in Hollywood, we think that Allison Janney would definitely be one of the best people to party with she's funny and laid back, and, by the looks of things, she's got some great moves, too. [55] She was romantically involved with computer programmer Dennis Gagomiros. JANNEY: (As C.J. Apparently, Janney was eager to give something back to her (via People). Allison Janney opened up to ET about her brother's suicide in 2011 and reflected on the death of Robin Williams. Ill probably never get married, and I dont think I really want to be. Trust me; there's fruit in these loins. "It's like a puppy getting scratched or something it relaxes me, I don't know," she said. 1162 Was Allison Janney blindsided by CBS' decision to end Mom? [31] She also appeared in Margaret (2011), Struck by Lightning (2012), Liberal Arts (2012), Spy (2015), The DUFF (2015), Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016), Tallulah (2016), and The Girl on the Train (2016). Allison Janneys episode of Celebrity I.O.U. However, she has said she is not a lesbian. JANNEY: (As Bonnie) I think I'm pregnant. "As far as I was concerned I was proving her wrong just by working at all.". [44], Janney is currently in production with two films: the comedy The People We Hate at the Wedding[45] and the sci-fi film The Creator.[46]. She even wanted Chaka Khan to perform. JANNEY: Well, I know. "I don't think it's ever going to get better," she said. Another added, Allison Janney really said oh, you thought you were DONE being in love with me after you finished West Wing????? She has also appeared on "Law & Order" as two different characters in 1992, she played Nora, and in 1994, she played Ann. Allisons personal life is the subject of rumors and speculation. [29][30], In 2011, Janney appeared in Tate Taylor's period drama The Help, which won the Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble. Shes just a giver and its hard to make her receive., When the project is complete, Janney and the Scott brothers transform Ilanas home and add an oversized kitchen island, a custom refrigerated wine cabinet and a sleek, stone fireplace to give her and her husband more room to entertain. "I couldn't wrap my mind around that," she said. Her family spent a long time with him in the world of recovery. In past interviews, Janney has spoken about her sibling's long struggle with addiction that led to his suicide and inspired her to take a role in CBS's "Mom" as a mother who herself is an addict. She returned to Broadway in 2009 in a production of the musical "9 to 5," in which she played Violet. As Janney explained on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," the new 'do came about because her roots had started growing out during lockdown. For the last of these she received nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Award, and Critics' Choice Movie Award Best Acting Ensemble. It feels really good to give to someone like her whos been there for me in ways I would have never expected.. And this is a scene - President Bartlet had MS, but he was not telling people about it. After the final season of "The West Wing," Janney's brother died suddenly. GROSS: But then you had a really bad accident and injured your leg. I don't even work out one hour a week." I sent him to countless rehabs. https://t.co/Y9iSOLRS8J, Bethany Biron (@bethanybiron) December 22, 2020, Why yes, I am entirely undone by Allison Janney in an evening gown and construction boots wielding a sledgehammer, thanks so much for asking. PLATT: (As Oliver Babish) I'm your lawyer. JANNEY: (As C.J. 707, This story has been shared 667 times. Her Broadway debut came in 1996 when she played Liz in Noel Coward's "Present Laughter"(via Playbill). In late 2009, she was chosen to play the role of Sheila Jackson in the pilot episode of Shameless, but when Showtime picked up the series, she was replaced after the pilot by Joan Cusack. I feel like this is a wonderful opportunity for me to do something lovely for her. 2,328, This story has been shared 1,388 times. During an appearance on Wednesday's The Late Late Show, the Emmy Award winner told James Corden that she anticipated the. Allison Janney may have been focused on figure skating as a child, but she was also developing a passion for comedy. When She realized that she would probably forget a lot of the event after "a few martinis," so she opted instead for a much more low-key affair with a small dinner for only a few family members. I hope you'll join us. "There was skinny dipping and there was some other things that I am not at liberty to share with you on television," she laughed. Cregg) That much has sunk in in the last six hours. FARIS: (As Christy) At 2:30 in the morning - you betcha. After all, it gave her the space to really get to know herself and her own company. For her portrayal of Bonnie Plunkett, a cynical recovering addict on the CBS sitcom Mom (20132021), Janney won two more Emmys. I don't know you. She also told The Advocate that she wouldnt mind marrying a gay man. It was an outdoor party, and there were these sliding doors - some of them open, some of them closed - right by the band. She reportedly dated actor Dennis Gagomiros in 1994. JANNEY: (As C.J. Over the years, Allison Janney hasn't only proven herself on screen and made her mark on stage. Roberta Shorrock directs the show. Apparently, it happened when she was working on "Breaking News in Yuba County." a long-time St. Paul resident who died in 2011. In past interviews, Janney has spoken about her sibling's long struggle with addiction that led to his. as C. J., we'd never have had the Sorkin woman argument in the first place". That's it. Her third serious relationship came in 2012 when she started daring Philip Joncas, production manager of "The Way, Way Back." PLATT: (As Oliver Babish) Two days after that. [67][68], Janney has campaigned for numerous issues like women's rights, LGBTQ rights, mental health, animal rights, and addiction recovery. Janney was born on November 19, 1959, in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Janney made her film debut with a minor part in Who Shot Pat? "I felt like my career started late and I think it was because of my height and maybe some of my confidence issues," she confessed to NPR in 2014, adding, "It's made me definitely more of a character actress in terms of my love of doing comedy. 623, This story has been shared 385 times. major characters in the popular TV series, 'Troop Zero' Star Viola Davis Reveals Her Dream Role, Spotlighting Sundance 2019's Women Directors, Away We Go -- "The Pain Is So Enlightening", Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. "She was known for her legs," Janney said. Her father was named Jervis Spencer Janney and her mother was named Macy Brooks Putnam. And I just - I hit one of the windows, and it was - and sort of the lower part of my body, my right leg, went through. 25,259, This story has been shared 2,328 times. Childhood & Early Life. Last year, she won an Oscar for her performance in "I, Tonya," as Tonya Harding's mother. Henry "Hal" Janney took his own life on Feb. 14, 2011, after a battle with addiction and These women, particularly Burnett, became her lifelong idols. Plus, in the end, her assistant's house ended up looking seriously stunning, complete with a bright open plan and a beautiful wine cabinet. Luckily, her brother was there to elevate her leg. Janney's career had a delayed start she was in her 30s when she got her first real role and 40 when she found fame in "The West Wing." 340, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Does 'Yellowstone' Return Tonight? Known for her performances across the screen and stage, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and seven Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for two Tony Awards . I mean, I may be going into too much detail. It was amazing. I - you know, and after that of course I didn't really - I didn't skate for a very long time. I spent a long time trying to help him get sober. In 2013, she appeared as Janet Ryland, a confrontational TV host, in one episode of the Julia Louis-Dreyfus comedy about a fictional Vice President. In May 2010, she appeared in the antepenultimate episode of the ABC television series Lost as the adoptive mother of the show's two mythological opponents, Jacob and The Man in Black. Allison is the daughter of Macy Brooks Janney (ne Putnam), a former actress, and Jervis Spencer Janney Jr., a real estate developer and jazz musician. 'Citadel' Episode Guide: When Do New Episodes Premiere on Prime Video? Writing for The Atlantic, John Reid says that "her capability and combination of strength and simple compassion represented the fantasy of the Bartlet White House better than anyone." She added that not having kids was something was completely "okay" with. In 2010, you may have spotted Janney as "Mother" in one episode of "Lost." Allison Janney dedicated her Oscars win to her late brother, who took his own life in 2011. In 2017, Janney returned to Broadway with the revival of John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation in the role of Ouisa Kittredge. I'm Terry Gross. Allison Janney On Sex, Sorkin And Being The Tallest Woman In The Room. The episode was pretty spectacular. It sounds like Janney plans on walking about the house looking an awful lot like Bonnie, even though the show's over! And I spent a long time trying to help him get sober. Throughout her career, her height sometimes got in the way. However, as she told Elle in 2014, there was a time when she thought she'd never be in a relationship again. The rest, of course, is history. GROSS: Now, how did that affect you as a teenager? "It was in my muscle memory when we went to film those fight scenes," she recalled. [35] Janney earned numerous accolades for her performance in the film including the Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics' Choice Movie Award, Independent Spirit Award, and BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress. Allison Janney has been nominated for an Emmy for her role on Mom. [4][5] She has an older brother, Jay and had a younger brother, Hal (19612011). In 2009, Janney starred in the musical 9 to 5 alongside Stephanie J. Allison Janney. She has become more like family to me than anything else and shes given a lot to me over the years, Janney said. In 2010, Janney appeared as Allison Pearson in In Plain Sight. Watch the full clip from her episode above. "It's so much fun. The couple began dating in 1994, and were interested in getting married but ended their relationship after seven years together in 2001. This was followed by a series of minor roles in numerous films throughout the 1990s, including; Wolf, The Object of My Affection, Big Night, The Impostors, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Ice Storm, Primary Colors, 10 Things I Hate About You, Private Parts, and American Beauty. However, the actress had several bright romances and in 2012 she met Philip Joncas, a production manager who has worked on some of her projects. Is 'Are You There God? And I was like, play; just keep playing. WWE star Leah Van Dale announces pregnancy following miscarriages: 'I'm very happy', 'Harry Potter' actress Bonnie Wright expecting 1st child, Read all the books from 'The Book Case' podcast by Kate and Charlie Gibson, 'I, Tonya' star Allison Janney were sad Tonya Harding thought their portrayals were accurate, 'I, Tonya' star Allison Janney says Tonya Harding was 'misjudged'. Let's get back to our Emmy series and my interview with Allison Janney. You have told for the laugh. We'll hear more after a break. Behold Allison Janney, Patron Saint of Late Bloomers. . I want to feel sexy and pretty and young as long as I can.". Hal had battled depression and addiction for many years. As she explained, the director, Tate Taylor, housed many of the actors in his homes in Mississippi. https://t.co/KGJMUsJlgf #Oscars pic.twitter.com/1HkC69fWhA, Hal's battles influenced Janney to take on the role of Bonnie Plunkett, a recovering addict, in "Mom.". "He didn't," she continued. Actress Allison Janney, winner of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for 'Mom', poses in the press room at the 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. So, you know, I think my height probably did have something to do with it. Have you ever lied about the president's health? Janney, then 55, referred to the much younger Joncas as her boyfriend, telling US Weekly, Ive been doing the Pilates, and I have three dogs that I hike with and a boyfriend who loves to work out so that helps.. If people think Im gay, Im fine with it. JANNEY: (As C.J. "I was around the world of recovery a lot, trying to get my brother to want to recover," Janney told CBS News in 2016. GROSS: Was your leg almost - was it at risk of amputation? Jay is married and has two children: Petra and Niall. And I wanted to be part of that. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Politics scared the crap out of me because I did not grow up in a family where we talked about anything really but, you know, pass the peas, and do this. Janney made her professional stage debut in 1989 with an uncredited part in the Off-Broadway production Ladies. Allison Janney is an award-winning actress who has earned a solid In 2017, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the movie I, Tonya. Janney has also played character roles in various films, including Primary Colors (1998), American Beauty (1999), The Hours (2002), Juno (2007), Hairspray (2007), The Help (2011), Spy (2015), Bad Education (2019), and Bombshell (2019). She stated that she does not even want to have any children. So maybe giving me some room wouldn't totally be out of line. It shook the actress world and she dedicated her Oscar to her late brother. The first few years of her career were spent with roles in tiny plays. In the scene, Bonnie is calling her daughter in the middle of the night with some surprising news. JANNEY: (As C.J. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. As she told Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show," she took her character's wig, which she had worn for every season of the show (apparently, no one knew it was a wig, until Janney let her gray roots grow in!) Allison Janney isnt afraid to mix glam and gritty who else would show up to an episode of the Property BrothersCelebrity I.O.U. She was influenced to take on the role following the death of her younger brother from drug addiction, as well as her longtime desire to work on multicam comedy. This is FRESH AIR. The couple encouraged her to continue acting and offered her guidance during the early days in her career. She has spoken openly about it, and she dedicated her Oscar to her late brother Henry Hal Janney, saying: This is for Hal. Allison Janney is best known as an actress but you may also recognize her from an episode of "Celebrity IOU." 2 and says; "If all the Sorkin women were as classy, self-assured, and legitimately funny (the turkey pardon!) I wanted to be part of that. Entertainment Weekly magazine describes Janney's screen presence as "uncommonly beautiful . Janneys family was marked by some tragedy. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. It turns out, Janney actually already had more than a little experience on the rink.