Anna F. "Ann" Risley (born

Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population, second-most populous city in the state, with a population of 269,840 at the 2020 Uni ...

) is a retired American actress and comedian. She was a cast member of the TV series ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...

'' for the 12 episodes of the 1980–1981 season. These 12 broadcasts were the first episodes after producer

Lorne Michaels Lorne Michaels (born Lorne David Lipowitz; November 17, 1944) is a Canadian and American television writer and film producer. He created and produced ''Saturday Night Live'' (1975–1980, 1985–present) and produced the ''Late Night (franchise) ...

left the show.

Life and career

She was spotted by

Woody Allen Heywood Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American filmmaker, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades. Allen has received many List of awards and nominations received by Woody Allen, accolade ...

in a theatre production of his material and encouraged her to pursue an acting career in New York. Risley was cast in small parts in Allen's films ''

Annie Hall ''Annie Hall'' is a 1977 American satirical romantic comedy-drama film directed by Woody Allen from a screenplay written by Allen and Marshall Brickman, and produced by Allen's manager, Charles H. Joffe. The film stars Allen as Alvy Singer ...

'', ''

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

'' and ''

Stardust Memories ''Stardust Memories'' is a 1980 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, who stars alongside Charlotte Rampling, Jessica Harper, Marie-Christine Barrault, and Tony Roberts. Sharon Stone has a brief role, in her film de ...

''. Before joining the cast of ''

'', she had a cameo on the show in 1976 as a psychiatrist's patient. She was cast for ''Saturday Night Live'' by Jean Doumanian, who had previously been the show's guest-booker, then associate producer. After 12 episodes, Doumanian was replaced by

Dick Ebersol Duncan Richard Ebersol (; born July 28, 1947) is an American television executive and a senior adviser for NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. He had previously been the chairman of NBC Sports, producing large-scale television events such as the ...

, who fired Risley along with

Gilbert Gottfried Gilbert Jeremy Gottfried (February 28, 1955 – April 12, 2022) was an American stand-up comedian and actor, best-known for his exaggerated shrill voice, strong New York dialect, his squint, and his edgy, often-controversial, sense of humor. Hi ...

and

Charles Rocket Charles Adams Claverie (August 28, 1949 – October 7, 2005), known by stage names Charlie Hamburger, Charlie Kennedy, and Charles Rocket, was an American actor. He was a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live,'' played the villain Nicholas Andre ...

before his first episode. In a 1999 article in ''

People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...

'', Risley was quoted as saying her ''SNL'' experience was "horrible". Prior to (and after) ''Saturday Night Live'', Risley had roles in nine feature films, including ''

Honky Tonk Freeway ''Honky Tonk Freeway'' is a 1981 British comedy film directed by John Schlesinger. The film, conceived and co-produced by Don Boyd, was one of the most expensive box office bombs in history, losing its British backers Thorn EMI between $11 mill ...

'' and '' Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean''. She appeared in starring roles in two television pilots (''Off Campus'' and ''Night After Night''), was a five-week guest star on the daytime soap '' The Doctors'', and appeared in five made-for-TV movies, including '' The Young Riders'' and ''Telling Secrets''. After moving to

Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...

, Risley ran an acting/improv studio called The Studio for Actors beginning in 1986.

Celebrity impersonations

* Doria Palmieri * Toni Tennille *

Rosalynn Carter Eleanor Rosalynn Carter ( ; ; August 18, 1927 – November 19, 2023) was an American activist and humanitarian who served as the first lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981, as the wife of President Jimmy Carter. Throughout her decades of ...

Feature film (speaking roles)

* 1977 ''

'' as Susan (Directed by

) * 1978 '' Oliver's Story'' as Jane (Directed by

John Korty John Korty (June 22, 1936 – March 9, 2022), was an American film director and animator, best known for the television film '' The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman'' and the documentary '' Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen K ...

) * 1979 ''

'' as Mrs. Finch (Directed by Woody Allen) * 1980 '' Simon'' as Pam (Directed by Marshall Brickman) * 1980 ''

'' as Nurse (Directed by Woody Allen) * 1981 ''

'' as Patricia (Directed by

John Schlesinger John Richard Schlesinger ( ; 16 February 1926 – 25 July 2003) was an English film and stage director, and actor. He emerged in the early 1960s as a leading light of the British New Wave, before embarking on a successful career in Hollywood ...

) * 1981 '' Rich and Famous'' as Merideth (Directed by

George Cukor George Dewey Cukor ( ; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer, producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO Pictures, RKO when David O. Selzn ...

) * 1982 '' Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean'' as Martha (Directed by

Robert Altman Robert Bernard Altman ( ; February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director, screenwriter, and film producer, producer. He is considered an enduring figure from the New Hollywood era, known for directing subversive and sat ...

) * 1986 '' Desert Bloom'' as Mrs. Muratore (Directed by Eugene Corr)

Television

*''Saturday Night Live'' (one year) – Cast member – 1980-81 Season, NBC (N.Y.C.) *''Off Campus'' (sitcom pilot) – Bonnie (starring role) – CBS (N.Y.C.) *''Night After Night'' (sitcom pilot) – Anne (starring role) – MTM/CBS (L.A.) *''The Doctors'' (soap, 5 wk guest star) – Hermione (with

Alec Baldwin Alexander Rae Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958) is an American actor and film producer. He is known for his leading and supporting roles in a variety of genres, from comedy to drama. He has received List of awards and nominations received by A ...

) – NBC (N.Y.C.) *''The Young Riders'' (3 episodes) – Clerk/Wife (with

Josh Brolin Josh James Brolin (; born February 12, 1968) is an American actor. A son of actor James Brolin, he gained fame in his youth for his role in the adventure film ''The Goonies'' (1985). After years of decline, Brolin had a resurgence with his starr ...

) – ABC series (Tucson, AZ)

Movies for television

* 1990 '' El Diablo'' as Judith - HBO film (Tucson, AZ) * 1992 ''Sunstroke'' as Woman In Office (with

Jane Seymour Jane Seymour (; 24 October 1537) was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII from their marriage on 30 May 1536 until her death the next year. She became queen following the execution of Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, who was ...

) - TNT film (Phoenix, AZ) * 1992 '' Four Eyes and Six Guns'' as Saloon Hostess (with

Patricia Clarkson Patricia Davies Clarkson (born December 29, 1959) is an American actress. She has starred in numerous leading and supporting roles in a variety of films ranging from independent film features to major film studio productions. Her accolades incl ...

) – TNT film (Tucson, AZ) * 1993 '' Telling Secrets'' as Sally DeVries (with

Cybill Shepherd Cybill Lynne Shepherd (born February 18, 1950) is an American actress, singer and former model. Her film debut and breakthrough role came as Jacy Farrow in Peter Bogdanovich's coming-of-age drama '' The Last Picture Show'' (1971) alongside Jef ...

) - ABC miniseries (Scottsdale, AZ)

Selected stage roles

*''Come Back to the Five and Dime'' – Martha (and substitute for lead actresses

Karen Black Karen Blanche Black (née Ziegler; July 1, 1939 – August 8, 2013) was an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She rose to prominence for her work in various studio and independent films in the 1970s, frequently portr ...

and

Sandy Dennis Sandra Dale Dennis (April 27, 1937 – March 2, 1992) was an American actress. She made her film debut in the drama '' Splendor in the Grass'' (1961). For her performance in the comedy-drama film '' Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' (1966), she ...

– Broadway (NYC) *''A Little Family Business'' – role of Connie (

Angela Lansbury Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury (October 16, 1925 – October 11, 2022) was an Irish-British and American actress, producer, and singer. In a career spanning 80 years, she played various roles on stage and screen. Among her numerous accolades wer ...

's daughter) – Ahmanson Theatre (L.A.) and Broadway (NYC) *''A History of the American Film'' – (substitute for all 4 female leads) – Arena Stage (Wash. DC) *''Uncommon Women'' – Rita-Huntington Theatre (Boston, Mass.) *''Spoon River Anthology'' – 16 roles – San Francisco Tour (CA) *''The Importance of Being Earnest'' – Cecily *''Private Lives'' – Amanda *''The Owl and the Pussycat'' – Doris *''Lovers (winners)'' – Maggie *''Same Time Next Year'' – Doris

Training

*BAI – University of Wisconsin – Theatre Communications *Various individual workshops in N.Y.C. and San Francisco

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Risley, Ann Living people American film actresses American television actresses Actresses from Madison, Wisconsin American women comedians American sketch comedians Comedians from Madison, Wisconsin 21st-century American women Year of birth missing (living people)