Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (born September 1, 1939) is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer. Best known for her character sketches on the 1970s TV show Laugh In and numerous movies including 9 to 5 with Dolly Parton in 1980, The Incredible Shrinking Woman in 1981 and I Heart Huckabees in 2004.

Lily Tomlin began her career as a stand-up comedian in Detroit and New York City in the 1950s. She joined the cast of the sketch comedy show Laugh In in 1969. She quickly became popular for her portrayal of different characters, including telephone operator Ernestine and the bratty child Edith Ann rocking in an over-sized rocking chair.


Tomlin met her partner Jane Wagner in 1971. After watching an after school special written by Wagner, Tomlin invited her to Los Angeles to collaborate on a comedy album. Although Tomlin officially came out to the press in 2001, her sexual orientation has not really been a secret; in interviews she would often refer to Jane Wagner as her partner. As Tomlin herself stated in 2008, in an interview for Just Out magazine: "Everybody in the industry was certainly aware of my sexuality and of Jane... In interviews I always reference Jane and talk about Jane, but they don't always write about it." She also had fights over jokes about her sexual orientation with late-night TV mogul Johnny Carson.

When asked about the secret to the success of her relationship with Jane Wagner she said:

"I think just knowing that it takes real attention and caring and time and effort and work and knowing that it's a commitment. And it's respecting. I respect her talent and her brain and who she is as a person -- and that kind of admiration and respect is a big factor in binding someone in a relationship. I know what a good heart she has, and how empathetic she is with all kinds of people and issues -- she's so brilliant on top of it that she can voice these things. And she's as funny as she can possibly be. She makes me laugh."

"I didn't want to be known as a gay comedian; I wanted to be known as a human comedian. I don't think gay people's experience as humans is as different from any other humans. I was never secretive, but I never held a press conference." (from Just Out).

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