Pamela Fionna Adlon (; ; born July 9, 1966) is an American actress. She is known for voicing
Bobby Hill in the animated comedy series ''
King of the Hill
''King of the Hill'' is an American animated sitcom created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It aired its original non-syndicated run from January 12, 1997, to September 13, 2009, and centers on the Hills, an ...
'' (1997–2010),
for which she won a
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
. She also voiced Baloo in ''
Jungle Cubs
''Disney's Jungle Cubs'' is an American animated series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation for ABC in 1996, serving as the prequel to the 1967 film ''The Jungle Book'' as it's set in the youth of the animal characters years before the ...
'' (1996–1998), the title role in the ''
Pajama Sam
The ''Pajama Sam'' series is a collection of point and click children's adventure and puzzle games originally created by Humongous Entertainment. After the release of the first two adventure games, the series was proving a success when the produc ...
'' video game series (1996–2001), Lucky in ''
101 Dalmatians: The Series'' (1997–1998), Ashley Spinelli in ''
Recess'' (1997–2001), Otto Osworth in ''
Time Squad
''Time Squad'' is an American animated television series created by Dave Wasson for Cartoon Network and the 10th of the network's Cartoon Cartoons. It follows the adventures of Otto Osworth, Buck Tuddrussel, and the robot Larry 3000, a trio of ...
'' (2001–2003), and Brigette Murphy in ''
Milo Murphy's Law
''Milo Murphy's Law'' is an American animated television series created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh for Disney Channel and Disney XD. The series premiered on October 3, 2016 on Disney XD. It revolves around the title character, Mi ...
'' (2016–2019), among numerous others.
Adlon is also known for her roles in the comedy-drama series ''
Californication'' (2007–2014) and ''
Louie'' (2010–2015), the latter of which she additionally wrote and produced alongside
Louis C.K. Her work on ''Louie'' garnered her four
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
nominations. From 2016 to 2022, Adlon starred as Sam Fox on the acclaimed
FX comedy-drama series ''
Better Things'', which she also co-created, wrote, produced, and directed. The series won a
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Peabody, honor the most powerful, enlightening, and invigorating stories in television, radio, and ...
, and she was nominated twice for a
. She also starred alongside
Redd Foxx
John Elroy Sanford (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991), better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Foxx gained success with his raunchy nightclub act before and during the civil rights moveme ...
on
The Redd Foxx Show
''The Redd Foxx Show'' is an American television sitcom that premiered January 18, 1986 on ABC. The show was cancelled after 3 months, partly due to low ratings in its Saturday-night timeslot (the eighth episode aired in a Friday-night slot). Alt ...
as 'Toni' in 1986.
Adlon was featured in numerous films since making her acting debut in ''
Grease 2
''Grease 2'' is a 1982 American musical romantic comedy film and the sequel to the 1978 film ''Grease'', adapted from the 1971 musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Originally titled ''More Grease'', the film was produce ...
'' (1982). Her most notable films include ''
Say Anything...'' (1989), ''
Bed of Roses'' (1996), ''
Lucky 13
''Lucky 13'' is a 2005 American romantic comedy film directed by Chris Hall and starring Brad Hunt, Harland Williams, Lauren Graham, Sasha Alexander, Debra Jo Rupp, John Doe, Kaley Cuoco and Taryn Manning
Taryn Manning is an American actres ...
'' (2005), ''
Conception'' (2011), ''
I Love You, Daddy
''I Love You, Daddy'' is a 2017 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Louis C.K. and starring C.K., Chloë Grace Moretz, Rose Byrne, Charlie Day, Edie Falco, Pamela Adlon, Ebonee Noel, Helen Hunt, and John Malkovich. Co-producer ...
'' (2017), ''
All Square'' (2018), and ''
Holler
Holler may refer to:
Places
* Holler, Germany, a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate
* Holler, Luxembourg, a village in Weiswampach
People
* Höller, a German surname
* Holler (surname)
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Field holler, a song f ...
'' (2020).
Early life
Adlon was born in New York City.
She is the daughter of Marina Lucy (Leece) and Donald Maxwell "Don" Segall, who was a television comedy writer-producer and author of comic books and science fiction pulp novels.
Her father produced ''The Dave Garroway
David Cunningham Garroway (July 13, 1913 – July 21, 1982) was an American television personality. He was the founding host and anchor of NBC's '' Today'' from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing and relaxing style belied a lifelong battle with depre ...
Show'', which became ''AM New York
''AM New York Metro'' is a free daily newspaper that is published in New York City by Schneps Media. According to the company, the average Friday circulation in September 2013 was 335,900. When launched on October 10, 2003, ''AM New York'' was the ...
'' and then ''The Today Show
''Today'' (also called ''The Today Show'' or informally, ''NBC News Today'') is an American news and talk morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It ...
''. He was a page at NBC with Gil Cates
Gilbert Cates ( né Katz; June 6, 1934 – October 31, 2011) was an American film director and television producer, director of the Geffen Playhouse, a member of Cates/Doty Productions, and founding dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and ...
and wrote erotic fiction under various pseudonyms, including Troy Conway.[ Adlon's mother is ]English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national id ...
, while her father, an American, was from Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the capital city, state capital and List of municipalities in Massachusetts, most populous city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financ ...
. Her father was born to a Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
family of Russian-Jewish
The history of the Jews in Russia and areas historically connected with it goes back at least 1,500 years. Jews in Russia have historically constituted a large religious and ethnic diaspora; the Russian Empire at one time hosted the largest pop ...
and Ukrainian-Jewish
The history of the Jews in Ukraine dates back over a thousand years; Jewish communities have existed in the territory of Ukraine from the time of the Kievan Rus' (late 9th to mid-13th century). Some of the most important Jewish religious and ...
descent and her mother, originally an Anglican, converted to Judaism
Conversion to Judaism ( he, גיור, ''giyur'') is the process by which non-Jews adopt the Jewish religion and become members of the Jewish ethnoreligious community. It thus resembles both conversion to other religions and naturalization. ...
. Adlon has said that her parents met at the USO
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...
event in Paris.
As a child, Adlon lived in the Carnegie House at 100 West 57th Street. She has said that she and her family lived bi-coastally, moving between Los Angeles and New York because her father was a journeyman writer and producer for TV. She began performing at age nine; one of her father's friends had a radio studio, so she would do voice-over work there. While in Los Angeles she did TV and film acting work. She attended Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in Yonkers, New York. The college models its approach to education after the Oxford/Cambridge system of one-on-one student-faculty tutorials. Sarah Lawrence scholarship, particularly i ...
for a semester. After moving to Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles
Laurel Canyon is a mountainous neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills region of the Santa Monica Mountains, within the Hollywood Hills West district of Los Angeles, California. The main thoroughfare of Laurel Canyon Boulevard connects the neigh ...
, she shared a house with Anna Gunn
Anna Gunn (born August 11, 1968) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Skyler White on the AMC drama series ''Breaking Bad'' (2008–2013), for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a ...
.
Career
Adlon made her acting debut as Dolores Rebchuck in the 1982 musical sequel film ''Grease 2
''Grease 2'' is a 1982 American musical romantic comedy film and the sequel to the 1978 film ''Grease'', adapted from the 1971 musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Originally titled ''More Grease'', the film was produce ...
''. She had a recurring role as Kelly Affinado in the sitcom '' The Facts of Life'' (1983–1984). This was followed by appearances in '' Bad Manners'' (1984), ''Night Court
''Night Court'' is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984 to May 31, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan municipal court presided over by a young, unorthodox judge, Harold "Harry" T. Stone (portra ...
'' (1984), '' Willy/Milly'' (1986), '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1989), '' Say Anything...'' (1989), '' Sgt. Bilko'' (1996), and '' Plump Fiction'' (1997). Although she was successful as a child actress she struggled to find parts in her 20s. It led her to develop a substantial voice-over career which she cited as saving her career.
Adlon gained further acclaim and recognition for voicing the starring role of Bobby Hill in the animated comedy series ''King of the Hill
''King of the Hill'' is an American animated sitcom created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It aired its original non-syndicated run from January 12, 1997, to September 13, 2009, and centers on the Hills, an ...
'' (1997–2010), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance is a Creative Arts Emmy Award given out by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. It is awarded to a performer for an outstanding "continuing or single voice-over performance in ...
in 2002. Adlon also gained recognition for voicing Margaret "Moose" Pearson in ''Pepper Ann
''Pepper Ann'' is an American animated television series created by Sue Rose and aired on Disney's One Saturday Morning on ABC. It debuted on September 13, 1997, and ended on November 18, 2000. ''Pepper Ann'' was the first Disney animated te ...
'' (1997–2000), Ashley Spinelli in '' Recess'' (1997–2001), Brigette Murphy in ''Milo Murphy's Law
''Milo Murphy's Law'' is an American animated television series created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh for Disney Channel and Disney XD. The series premiered on October 3, 2016 on Disney XD. It revolves around the title character, Mi ...
'' (2016–2019), and the voice of newborn Halley Wolowitz in ''The Big Bang Theory
''The Big Bang Theory'' is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom served as executive producers on the series, along with Steven Molaro, all of whom also served as head writers. It premiered on CBS ...
.''
Adlon is recognizable for her husky voice, which led to her voicing young boys in numerous animated series and films. She voiced Baloo in ''Jungle Cubs
''Disney's Jungle Cubs'' is an American animated series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation for ABC in 1996, serving as the prequel to the 1967 film ''The Jungle Book'' as it's set in the youth of the animal characters years before the ...
'' (1996–1998), the title role in the video game series ''Pajama Sam
The ''Pajama Sam'' series is a collection of point and click children's adventure and puzzle games originally created by Humongous Entertainment. After the release of the first two adventure games, the series was proving a success when the produc ...
'' (1996–2001), Lucky in '' 101 Dalmatians: The Series'' (1997–1998), Hector McBadger in ''Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks
''Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks'' (or simply ''Jakers'' in Europe) is a computer-animated children's television series. The series was broadcast on PBS Kids in the United States, and on CBBC and CBeebies in the United Kingdom. It was a ...
'' (2003–2007), and Andy in '' Squirrel Boy'' (2006–2007), among numerous others. She was nominated for an Annie Award
The Annie Awards are accolades which the Los Angeles branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood, has presented each year since 1972 to recognize excellence in animation shown in cinema and television. Originally d ...
for her role as Otto Osworth in the Cartoon Network animated comedy series ''Time Squad
''Time Squad'' is an American animated television series created by Dave Wasson for Cartoon Network and the 10th of the network's Cartoon Cartoons. It follows the adventures of Otto Osworth, Buck Tuddrussel, and the robot Larry 3000, a trio of ...
'' (2001–2003). She continued to voice characters in films, such as ''The Animatrix
is a 2003 adult animated science-fiction anthology film produced by the Wachowskis. The film details through nine animated short films the backstory of ''The Matrix'' film series, including the original war between humanity and machines which ...
'' (2003) and as Vidia in the ''Tinker Bell'' film series (2008–2015).
Adlon had notable live-action roles as Emma Path in the ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
legal drama series ''Boston Legal
''Boston Legal'' is an American legal drama and comedy drama television series created by former lawyer and Boston native David E. Kelley, produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for ABC. The series aired from October 3, 2004 ...
'' (2007–2008), Marcy Runkle in the Showtime
Showtime or Show Time may refer to:
Film
* ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film
* ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur
Television Networks and channels
* Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global ...
comedy-drama series '' Californication'' (2007–2014), and as Pamela in the FX comedy series '' Louie'' (2010–2015). She was also a writer and consulting producer for the lattermost series.
Adlon's professional relationship with Louis C.K. began in 2006 when she played his wife in the short-lived HBO
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
sitcom '' Lucky Louie''. She appeared as the friend of Louie (a fictional character based on C.K.) in his FX single-camera series '' Louie''. She appeared in every season but the third. Adlon co-wrote seven episodes of the series and became a consulting producer. She earned a total of four Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
nominations for her work on ''Louie''. She earned two nominations as a producer for Best Comedy Series, one nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series is an annual award presented as part of the Primetime Emmy Awards. It recognizes writing excellence in regular comedic series, most of which can generally be described as situati ...
for co-writing the episode "Daddy's Girlfriend Part 1", and one nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
In 2015, FX gave a pilot order to '' Better Things'', a comedy created by and starring Adlon. She plays an actress raising three daughters. The pilot was written by Adlon and Louis C.K., who also directed it. It was picked up for a 10-episode series on August 7, 2015. The show, which premiered on September 8, 2016, is semi-autobiographical. C.K. served as a co-writer and occasional director for the first two seasons, while Adlon has served as director and writer throughout the series' run.
The series received widespread critical acclaim and was honored with a Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Peabody, honor the most powerful, enlightening, and invigorating stories in television, radio, and ...
. Adlon received a Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the first two seasons of ''Better Things''. She also received a nomination for the , and four nominations for the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy. Adlon was represented by manager Dave Becky until November 2017, when she fired him following his involvement in the Louis C.K. sexual harassment scandal.
Adlon had recent live-action roles in the romantic drama film '' First Girl I Loved'' (2016), the science fiction action film ''Bumblebee
A bumblebee (or bumble bee, bumble-bee, or humble-bee) is any of over 250 species in the genus ''Bombus'', part of Apidae, one of the bee families. This genus is the only extant group in the tribe Bombini, though a few extinct related gene ...
'' (2018), and the comedy-drama film '' The King of Staten Island'' (2020). She had a guest role as Mrs. Wolowitz in the CBS sitcom ''Young Sheldon
''Young Sheldon'' is an American coming-of-age sitcom television series created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro for CBS. The series, set in the late 1980s and early 1990s, is a spin-off prequel to ''The Big Bang Theory'' and begins with the ...
'' (2017) and a recurring role as Dr. Leigh in the acclaimed NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters ...
drama series ''This Is Us
''This Is Us'' is an American family drama television series that aired on NBC from September 20, 2016, to May 24, 2022. The series follows the lives and families of two parents, and their three children, in several different time frames. It ...
'' (2020).
Personal life
In 1996, Adlon married Felix O. Adlon, the son of German director Percy Adlon
Paul Rudolf Parsifal "Percy" Adlon (; born 1 June 1935) is a German director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his film '' Bagdad Cafe''. He is associated with the New German Cinema movement (ca. 1965–1985), and has been noted ...
. Felix O. Adlon directed Pamela in ''Eat Your Heart Out'' (1997). They divorced in 2010, and he then moved to Germany. They have three daughters who are actresses: Gideon
Gideon (; ) also named Jerubbaal and Jerubbesheth, was a military leader, judge and prophet whose calling and victory over the Midianites are recounted in of the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible.
Gideon was the son of Joash, from the Ab ...
, Odessa
Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrat ...
, and Valentine "Rocky" Adlon.
Adlon splits her time between the Upper West Side
The Upper West Side (UWS) is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is bounded by Central Park on the east, the Hudson River on the west, West 59th Street to the south, and West 110th Street to the north. The Upper West ...
of Manhattan
Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of co ...
and Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...
.
In January 2020, Adlon became a citizen of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
.
Filmography
Adlon is known for her collaborations with Louis C.K
Louis Alfred Székely (; born September 12, 1967), known professionally as Louis C.K. (), is an American stand-up comedian, screenwriter, actor, and filmmaker. C.K. won three Peabody Awards, three Grammy Awards, six Primetime Emmy Awards, and a ...
and her performances in '' Lucky Louie'' (2006), '' Louie'' (2010–2015), and '' Better Things'' (2016–2022). She has had major performances in '' The Facts of Life'' (1983–1984) and '' Californication'' (2007–2014) as well as making guest appearances in ''The Jeffersons
''The Jeffersons'' is an American sitcom television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. ''The Jeffersons'' is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history, ...
'' (1984), ''Boston Legal
''Boston Legal'' is an American legal drama and comedy drama television series created by former lawyer and Boston native David E. Kelley, produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for ABC. The series aired from October 3, 2004 ...
'' (2007–2008), '' Parenthood'' (2012), and ''This is Us
''This Is Us'' is an American family drama television series that aired on NBC from September 20, 2016, to May 24, 2022. The series follows the lives and families of two parents, and their three children, in several different time frames. It ...
'' (2020). She is also a well known voice artist. Her voice credits include the animated programs ''Bobby's World
''Bobby's World'' (originally known as ''The World According to Bobby'') is an American animated comedy children's television series, which ran from September 8, 1990, to February 23, 1998, on the Fox Kids network. The show was created by Canadi ...
'' (1992–1998), ''Rugrats
''Rugrats'' is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The show focuses on a group of toddlers; most prominently—Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, and twins Phil and Lil, an ...
'' (1992–2004), '' Recess'' (1997–2001), ''King of the Hill
''King of the Hill'' is an American animated sitcom created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It aired its original non-syndicated run from January 12, 1997, to September 13, 2009, and centers on the Hills, an ...
'' (1997–2010), and ''Bob's Burgers
''Bob's Burgers'' is an American adult animated sitcom created by Loren Bouchard that premiered on Fox on January 9, 2011. The show centers on the Belcher family—parents Bob and Linda and their three children, Tina, Gene, and Louise—who ...
'' (2012–2020).
Awards and nominations
References
Further reading
* (Online version is titled "Pamela Adlon, the TV auteur hiding in plain sight".)
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adlon, Pamela
Living people
20th-century American actresses
20th-century American comedians
21st-century American actresses
21st-century American comedians
Actresses from New York City
Pamela
American child actresses
American expatriates in England
American film actresses
American people of English descent
American people of Russian-Jewish descent
American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent
American television actresses
American video game actresses
American voice actresses
American women television producers
Citizens of the United Kingdom through descent
Jewish American actresses
Jewish American female comedians
People from the Upper West Side
Primetime Emmy Award winners
Television producers from New York City
Writers Guild of America Award winners
American women television directors
American television directors
21st-century American Jews
1966 births