Editing Julie Kavner

{{short description|American actress (born 1950)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Julie Kavner
| image              = Julie Kavner 1974.JPG
| caption            = Kavner in 1974
| birth_name         = Julie Deborah Kavner
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1950|9|7}}
| birth_place        = [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
| occupation         = Actress
| known_for          = [[Marge Simpson]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]''<!--DO NOT REMOVE. See [[Talk:Julie Kavner#Removing Marge Simpson from infobox]] for more details.-->
| alma_mater         = [[San Diego State University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| years_active       = 1974–present
| partner            = [[David Davis (TV producer)|David Davis]] (1976–2022; his death)
}}
'''Julie Deborah Kavner''' (born September 7, 1950)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-15-ca-2655-story.html|title=Julie Kavner: A Private Person in Many Roles|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=June 15, 1989|access-date=September 2, 2019|archive-date=September 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902190312/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-15-ca-2655-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> is an American actress. Before becoming well known for her voice role as [[Marge Simpson]] on the animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]'', Kavner attracted notice for her role as Brenda Morgenstern, the younger sister of [[Valerie Harper]]'s title character in the sitcom ''[[Rhoda]]'', for which she won a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series]]. She also voices other characters for ''The Simpsons'', including Marge's mother, [[Simpson family#Jacqueline Bouvier|Jacqueline Bouvier]], sisters [[Patty and Selma|Patty and Selma Bouvier]], and half-step-great-aunt Eunice Bouvier.

Known for her improvisation and distinctive "honeyed gravel voice",<ref name="darling"/> Kavner was cast in her first professional acting role as Brenda Morgenstern in ''Rhoda'' in 1974. Starting in 1987, Kavner appeared on ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]''. ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' included a series of [[The Simpsons shorts|animated shorts]] about a dysfunctional family. Voices were needed for the shorts, and the producers asked Kavner to voice Marge. The shorts were spun off into ''The Simpsons''.

Kavner has been described as "nearly reclusive";<ref name="darling"/> part of her contract says that she will never have to promote ''The Simpsons'' on video.<ref name="Hamilton"/><ref name="Sheridan"/> For her work as Marge, Kavner received another [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]] in 1992 and an [[Annie Award]] nomination for her performance as the character in ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'' (2007).

Typically cast as a "woman who is supportive, sympathetic or self-effacingly funny",<ref name="darling"/> Kavner grew to dislike playing such roles. In 1992, she starred in ''[[This Is My Life (1992 film)|This Is My Life]]'', her first leading role in a feature film. Kavner has also appeared in live-action roles in six films written by [[Woody Allen]], and in the [[Adam Sandler]] comedy ''[[Click (2006 film)|Click]]''.

==Early life==
Kavner was born in Los Angeles, California, on September 7, 1950,<ref>{{cite news|title=Today in History – September 7|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna20468369|work=[[NBC News]]|date=2007-09-07|access-date=2009-02-13|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=September 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908064813/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20468369/|url-status=live}}</ref> the second daughter of Rose, a family counselor, and David Kavner, a furniture manufacturer,<ref name="darling"/> and grew up in Southern California. She decided to pursue a career in acting because "There was nothing else I wanted to do, ever".<ref name="darling"/> She attended [[Beverly Hills High School]] (which she later admitted she hated), where she was "something of a loner", and unsuccessfully tried out for several plays.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/03/04/The-weird-thing-about-actress-Julie-Kavner-is-her/7765699685200/ | title=The weird thing about actress Julie Kavner is her }}</ref><ref name="darling"/> [[John Ingle]], formerly the chairman of the Beverly Hills High School art department, later commented that Kavner was "excellent at improvisation, but she wasn't an [[Ingénue|ingenue]] [sic] and not that castable at that age".<ref name="darling"/>

After graduating from high school, Kavner attended [[San Diego State University]] and majored in drama, being cast in several productions including a role as [[Charlotte Corday]] in ''[[Marat/Sade]]'', becoming known for her improvisation and ability to do both comedy and drama. After graduating in 1971, she got a day job as a typist at the [[UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture]].<ref name="darling"/>

==Career==

===Early career===
[[File:Rhoda cast 1977.JPG|alt=Three women standing around a candle in a black-and-white photo|right|thumb|Kavner (left) in a promo for the cast of ''[[Rhoda]]'' in 1977]]
In 1973, Kavner auditioned for a role as one of [[Rhoda Morgenstern]]'s sisters in ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''. David Davis, producer of the show, had convinced her to audition for the part, but decided to cast another actress instead.<ref name="Boston">{{Cite news|title=From sitcoms to films, Kavner is true to her characters|work=[[Boston Globe]]|author=Golden, Daniel|date=1991-06-30}}</ref> A year later, Rhoda Morgenstern became the leading character in a spin-off called ''Rhoda''. Kavner was cast in her first professional acting role as Brenda Morgenstern, sister of the eponymous character.<ref name="darling"/> ''Rhoda'' ran on CBS from September 9, 1974, to December 1978. She received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series|Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series]] for playing Brenda, winning in 1978.<ref name="emmys">{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search|title=Primetime Emmy Awards Advanced Search|publisher=Emmys.org|access-date=2009-02-10|archive-date=September 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904172046/http://www.emmys.com/award_history_search|url-status=live}}</ref> She also received four [[Golden Globe Award]] nominations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29391 |title=Julie Kavner |publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Agency |access-date=2009-02-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830042711/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29391 |archive-date=2008-08-30 }}</ref> In 1975, she received [[Daytime Emmy Award]] nomination for her starring role in the daytime special ''The Girl Who Couldn't Lose''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/julie-kavner/bio/159366|title=Julie Kavner|work=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=2009-02-13|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202135628/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/julie-kavner/bio/159366/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following ''Rhoda'', Kavner had a guest appearance on ''[[Taxi (TV series)|Taxi]]''<ref name="Winding">{{cite news|title=Kavner's long and winding Rhoda|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/621566|work=[[Toronto Star]]|date=2009-04-21|access-date=2009-04-21|author=Salem, Rob|archive-date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019181319/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/621566|url-status=live}}</ref> and appeared in the 1985 comedy ''[[Bad Medicine (film)|Bad Medicine]]''<ref>{{Cite news|title='Bad Medicine' overdoses on bad jokes|date=1985-11-26|author=Christiansen, Richard|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> as well as the 1987 film ''[[Surrender (1987 American film)|Surrender]]'', both of which were box office failures (and also starred [[Steve Guttenberg]]).<ref name="Lift"/> She appeared in the television movies ''[[Revenge of the Stepford Wives]]'', ''No Other Love'' and ''A Fine Romance'', and shot a television pilot.<ref name="darling"/> She also starred in several stage plays, including a play called ''It Had to Be You''<ref name="Lift"/> at a dinner theater in Canada, ''Particular Friendships'' in New York City in 1981,<ref>{{cite news|title=Theater: 'Particular Friendships', A First Play|url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?pagewanted=print&res=9F0CEFDC1539F932A35753C1A967948260|work=The New York Times|date=1981-10-01|access-date=2009-02-13|author=Rich, Frank|archive-date=July 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729065641/http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?pagewanted=print&res=9F0CEFDC1539F932A35753C1A967948260|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Two for the Seesaw'', directed by [[Burt Reynolds]].<ref name="Lift"/> [[Woody Allen]] first saw Kavner one night while he was watching ''Rhoda'' in the 1970s. He thought that she was remarkable and later offered her a role in his 1986 film ''[[Hannah and Her Sisters]]''.<ref name="Boston"/> Kavner agreed, and credits Allen and the film with rejuvenating her career.<ref name="Lift">{{Cite news|title=Coming into her own – Kavner's sagging career got needed lift from Allen films|work=[[Syracuse Herald-Journal]]|author=Vadeboncoeur, John E.|date=1992-03-19}}</ref>

Kavner was then cast as a sidekick to [[Tracey Ullman]] in ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'', which debuted on Fox in 1987. Kavner described the show as, "like being back in school, a chance to play a wide variety of characters, some really vicious people, to not rest on laurels, to not play it safe".<ref name="darling"/> Kavner commented, "What I do is not mimicry or an impersonation, but more of an assimilation. [On ''The Tracey Ullman Show''] we did a lot of looking at people to find out who<!-- sic --> to base our characters on. We did our homework on our lunch hour."<ref name="darling"/> She received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program|Best Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program]].<ref name="emmys"/>

===''The Simpsons''===
Kavner became known for her role as [[Marge Simpson]] on the animated television show ''[[The Simpsons]]'', a show that continues to the present day. ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' included [[The Simpsons shorts|a series of animated shorts]] about the dysfunctional Simpson family. Voices were needed for the shorts, so the producers decided to ask Kavner and fellow cast member [[Dan Castellaneta]] to voice Marge and Homer rather than hire more actors.<ref name="The Age">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/27/1046064146568.html|title=D'oh, you're the voices|access-date=2009-02-10|date=2003-02-27|author=Lee, Luaine|newspaper=[[The Age]]|location=Melbourne|archive-date=September 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905010546/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/27/1046064146568.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="FN">{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/doh-the-voice-of-homer-is-deceivingly-deadpan|title=D'oh!: The Voice of Homer Is Deceivingly Deadpan|access-date=2009-02-10|date=2008-08-18|author=Elber, Lynn|agency=Associated Press|work=Fox News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703090128/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C129665%2C00.html|archive-date=July 3, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Kavner has what Hilary de Vries of ''[[The New York Times]]'' described as a "honeyed gravel voice".<ref name="darling">{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEFDF1F38F935A15752C0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1|title=Darling! Listen to Me|access-date=2009-02-10|date=1992-01-26|author=De Vries, Hilary|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=December 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209000856/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEFDF1F38F935A15752C0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Kavner says her voice is due to "a bump on [her] vocal cords".<ref>{{cite news|title=The actress with the one-of-a-kind voice stars in Nora Ephron's comedy 'This is my Life'.|date=1992-03-13|work=[[The Orlando Sentinel]]|author=Haun, Harry}}</ref>

Although Marge is her highest profile character on the show, Kavner's favorite characters to voice are Marge's sisters [[Patty and Selma|Patty and Selma Bouvier]] because "they're really funny and sad at the same time".<ref name="Hamilton">{{cite news|title=Ay caramba!: Only TV could call this work|date=1996-12-31|work=[[The Hamilton Spectator]]|author=Duffy, Mike}}</ref> Series creator [[Matt Groening]] instructed Kavner to voice the duo as characters who "suck the life out of everything".<ref>Groening, Matt (2001). Commentary for "[[Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete First Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> Both have similar raspy voices, but Patty's voice is more masculine and has a lower register, while Selma's voice is a little sweeter.<ref name="Jean">Jean, Al (2004). Commentary for "[[Selma's Choice]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Fourth Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> Kavner also provides the voices of every other female member of the Bouvier family, including Marge's mother [[Jaqueline Bouvier|Jacqueline]], Great-Aunt Gladys (a dead relative who was introduced on season four's "[[Selma's Choice]]"), and an unnamed grandmother seen on the season six episode "[[Fear of Flying (The Simpsons)|Fear of Flying]]".<ref name="Jean"/>

While cast members and crew have referenced Kavner as a deep fan of the series and the characters she voices, part of Kavner's contract says that she will never have to promote ''The Simpsons'' on video nor has she performed Marge's voice in public because she believes the publicity "destroys the illusion. People feel these are real people."<ref name="Hamilton"/><ref name="Sheridan">{{cite news|title=Meet the Simpsons|date=2004-05-06|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Express]]|author=Sheridan, Peter}}</ref> Kavner takes recording sessions seriously, and feels that voice acting is "a little more limiting than live acting. And I have nothing to do with my character's movement."<ref name="Water">{{cite news|title=Treading 'Water' Julie Kavner takes break from Marge Simpson to star in Woody Allen's TV Movie |date=1994-09-18|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|author=Weiskind, Ron}}</ref> [[Nancy Cartwright]], who voices [[Bart Simpson]], said in her book ''[[My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy]]'' (2000) that Kavner is a warm person who is "a workhorse of an actor" with "extraordinary professionalism and quiet work ethic", and notes that she is rarely late for recording sessions.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cartwright|first=Nancy|title=[[My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy]]|year=2000|publisher=[[Hyperion (publisher)|Hyperion]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/mylifeastenyearo00nanc/page/48 48]|location=New York City|isbn=0-7868-8600-5}}</ref> Kavner had very few recorded interviews in regard to her work on the show. In behind-the-scenes footage from 1992, she describes Marge as "a wonderful person" with "a great sex life".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P99p4iB62Mw |title=The voice of Marge Simpson - Julie Kavner - YouTube<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[[YouTube]] |date=July 29, 2021 |access-date=October 26, 2021 |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026044816/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P99p4iB62Mw |url-status=live }}</ref> On a 1994 appearance on ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'', Kavner explains that performing the voice of Marge in a live-action setting would break the illusion of the character, and that she does not want her own likeness to overlap with that of the character. However, after being coaxed by Letterman, Kavner turns to face away from the camera and speaks briefly in the voice of Marge.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=David Letterman, Julie Kavner |date=1 February 1994 |title=''The Late Show with David Letterman'' |type=TV episode |language=en |url= |access-date= |format= |time= |location= |publisher= |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote=}}</ref>

Until 1998, Kavner was paid $30,000 per episode. During a pay dispute in 1998, Fox threatened to replace the six main voice actors with new actors, going as far as preparing to cast new voices.<ref name=Glaister/> However, the dispute was soon resolved and she received $125,000 per episode until 2004 when the voice actors demanded that they be paid $360,000 an episode.<ref name=Glaister>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/02/1080544690429.html|title=Simpsons actors demand bigger share|access-date=2009-02-10|date=2004-04-03|author=Glaister, Dan|newspaper=The Age|location=Melbourne|archive-date=November 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116081914/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/02/1080544690429.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The issue was resolved a month later,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/simpsons-cast-goes-back-to-work/|title='Simpsons' Cast Goes Back To Work|access-date=2009-02-10|date=2004-05-01|work=[[CBS News]]|archive-date=September 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913212830/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/01/entertainment/main615066.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and Kavner earned $250,000 per episode.<ref name="Sheridan"/> After salary re-negotiations in 2008, the voice actors received approximately $400,000 per episode.<ref>{{cite news | title = Simpsons cast sign new pay deal | work = BBC News | date = 2008-06-03 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7434296.stm | access-date = 2009-02-10 | archive-date = September 14, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080914050545/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7434296.stm | url-status = live }}</ref> Three years later, with Fox threatening to cancel the series unless production costs were cut, Kavner and the other cast members accepted a 30 percent pay cut, down to just over $300,000 per episode.<ref>{{cite news|last=Block|first=Alex Ben|title='The Simpsons' Renewed for Two More Seasons|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simpsons-renewed-two-more-seasons-245748|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=October 15, 2011|date=October 7, 2011|archive-date=October 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010170625/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simpsons-renewed-two-more-seasons-245748|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the [[44th Primetime Emmy Awards]], Kavner received a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]] for voicing Marge in the [[The Simpsons (season 3)|season three]] episode "[[I Married Marge]]".<ref name="emmys"/> In 2004, Kavner and [[Dan Castellaneta]] won a [[Young Artist Award]] for Most Popular Mom & Dad in a TV Series.<ref name="YAA">{{cite news|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms25.htm |title=25th Annual Winners and Nominees |access-date=2009-02-10 |publisher=Youngartistawards.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817061116/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms25.htm |archive-date=2016-08-17 }}</ref> For her performance in ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'', Kavner was nominated for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature at the 2007 [[Annie Awards]], but [[Ian Holm]] from ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'' received the award.<ref name="A35">{{cite news|url=http://annieawards.org/foryourconsideration.html |title=For Your Consideration |access-date=2009-02-10 |date=2007-12-31 |publisher=Annie Awards |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217224351/http://annieawards.org/foryourconsideration.html |archive-date=2009-02-17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117980588.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1|title='Ratatouille' nearly sweeps Annies|access-date=2009-02-10|date=2008-02-08|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|author=Debruge, Peter|archive-date=May 24, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524113040/http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117980588.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Kavner's emotional performance in the movie got positive reviews, and one critic said she "gave what must be the most heartfelt performance ever to find its way into a movie based on an irreverent cartoon".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metroweekly.com/arts_entertainment/film.php?ak=2879 |title=Homer's Odyssey |publisher=Metro Weekly |access-date=2009-02-10 |date=2007-07-26 |author=Shulman, Randy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231021/http://www.metroweekly.com/arts_entertainment/film.php?ak=2879 |archive-date=2007-09-26 }}</ref> Some scenes in the movie, such as Marge's emotional video message to Homer, were recorded over 100 times, leaving Kavner exhausted.<ref name=moviesonline>{{cite news|url=http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_12524.html |title=The Simpsons Movie Interviews |author=Roberts, Sheila |access-date=2009-02-10 |publisher=Movies Online |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104132905/http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_12524.html |archive-date=2009-01-04 }}</ref>

===Further career===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Julie Kavner - This is my life.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Kavner's portrayal of Dottie Ingels in ''[[This Is My Life (1992 film)|This Is My Life]]'' was her first leading role in a feature film.]] -->
Many of Kavner's roles have been described by ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' writer Hilary de Vries as a "woman who is supportive, sympathetic, or self-effacingly funny".<ref name="darling"/> Kavner grew to despise playing such roles, saying "If it smacks of Brenda Morgenstern, I won't take the job."<ref name="darling"/> She had a supporting role as Eleanor Costello, a nurse who befriends [[Robin Williams]]' character in the [[Academy Award]] nominated film ''[[Awakenings]]'' (1990).<ref>{{cite news|title=Awakenings |url=https://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/24664/Awakenings.html?dataSet=1 |work=Variety |access-date=2009-02-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724205645/http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/24664/Awakenings.html?dataSet=1 |archive-date=July 24, 2009 }}</ref> Kavner interviewed several nurses in preparation for the role, and [[Penny Marshall]], the director of the film, described Kavner as "a low-maintenance actor [...] You never have to worry about giving [her] back-story for her characters."<ref name="darling"/> In 1992, Kavner starred in ''[[This Is My Life (1992 film)|This Is My Life]]'', her first leading role in a feature film. Kavner played Dottie Ingels, an aspiring [[stand-up comedian]] who starts neglecting her family when her career begins to take off. Kavner described Dottie as "really selfish" but admitted, "I liked the role for that very reason."<ref name="darling"/> Kavner had been asked to play a character with a smaller role in the film, but [[Joe Roth]], at the time the chairman of [[20th Century Fox]], suggested that they cast a lesser known actress in the lead role.<ref name="darling"/> [[Nora Ephron]], the writer of ''This Is My Life'', said Kavner "has so little vanity that it is almost shocking. Not only does she have no demands as an actress – 'How big is my trailer, what's in my refrigerator?' – but she will do anything for the character if it makes sense to her."<ref name="darling"/>

Kavner has frequently appeared in [[Woody Allen]] films, having roles in ''Hannah and Her Sisters'' (1986), ''[[Radio Days]]'' (1987), ''[[New York Stories]]'' (1989), ''[[Alice (1990 film)|Alice]]'' (1990), ''[[Shadows and Fog]]'' (1991), the television movie ''[[Don't Drink the Water (1994 film)|Don't Drink the Water]]'' (1994)<ref name="FoxFlash"/> and ''[[Deconstructing Harry]]'' (1997).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117329532?refcatid=31|title=Deconstructing Harry|author=Stratton, David|date=1997-09-07|access-date=2009-02-13|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107212105/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117329532?refcatid=31|url-status=live}}</ref> Allen described her as "a naturally funny person. When she does a scene, you listen to her and look at her, and the prism through which it's all filtered is funny."<ref>{{Cite news|title=The choicest of voices |author=Diamond, Jamie|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|date=1991-01-19}}</ref> Kavner believes he is "a true filmmaker, one that has something to say, continually experimenting on different themes within his own film-making", adding that "anything [Allen] ever does, I always want to do, [...] I don't even have to read it."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Julie Kavner would follow Woody anywhere, even to the difficult medium of TV| work=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Gazette]]|date=1994-12-17}}</ref>

She has done voice-over work in films such as ''[[The Lion King 1½]]'' (2004),<ref>{{cite news|title=The Lion King 1½|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117923053?refCatId=1023|work=Variety|author=Leydon, Joe|date=2004-02-11|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107212134/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117923053?refCatId=1023|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Dr. Dolittle (1998 film)|Dr. Dolittle]]'' (1998)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117477646?refcatid=31|title=Dr. Dolittle|author=Klady, Leonard|work=Variety|date=1998-06-24|access-date=2009-02-13|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107212158/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117477646?refcatid=31|url-status=live}}</ref> and an uncredited role as an announcer in ''[[A Walk on the Moon]]'' (1999).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117491901?refcatid=31|title=A Walk on the Moon|author=Lovell, Glenn|date=1999-03-09|access-date=2009-02-13|work=Variety|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107212227/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117491901?refcatid=31|url-status=live}}</ref> She worked with Tracey Ullman in the HBO sketch comedy series ''[[Tracey Takes On...]]''<ref name="FoxFlash">{{cite web|title=Julie Kavner |url=http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z175z13z4&bioid=1672 |publisher=FoxFlash |access-date=2009-02-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929001926/http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z175z13z4&bioid=1672 |archive-date=2011-09-29 }}</ref> She was cast as the mother of [[Adam Sandler]]'s character in ''[[Click (2006 film)|Click]]'', released in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Man-Child Who Has His World Under Control in 'Click'|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/06/23/movies/23clic.html|author=Dargis, Manohla|date=2006-06-23|access-date=2009-02-13|work=The New York Times|archive-date=June 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622013437/http://movies.nytimes.com/2006/06/23/movies/23clic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She did not appear in a non-''Simpsons'' role after her appearance in ''Click'' until her role in the [[James L. Brooks]] film ''[[Ella McCay]]'' (2025).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Chris |date=2025-03-31 |title=James L. Brooks Set to Receive CinemaCon Award Ahead of Release of New Film ’Ella McCay’ |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/james-l-brooks-new-film-ella-mccay-cinemacon-award-1236175982/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kavner is Jewish.<ref name=kavnerbackground>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/03/04/The-weird-thing-about-actress-Julie-Kavner-is-her/7765699685200/|title=The weird thing about actress Julie Kavner is her...|first=Vernon|last=Scott|publisher=UPI|date=March 4, 1992|accessdate=December 14, 2021}}</ref> She has lived in New York City's [[Manhattan]] borough since around 1992.<ref name=kavnerbackground /> She leads an intensely private life, described by ''[[The New York Times]]'' as "nearly reclusive" and "discreet and guarded beyond the usual reticent star routine".<ref name="darling"/> She rarely makes public appearances and refuses to be photographed while working.<ref name="Winding"/> She was in a relationship with producer [[David Davis (TV producer)|David Davis]] from 1976 until his death in 2022.<ref name="Boston"/><ref name="Winding"/><ref name=deathandwife>{{cite web |last1=Barnes |first1=Mike |title=David Davis, Writer-Producer on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' 'Rhoda,' 'The Bob Newhart Show' and 'Taxi,' Dies at 86 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/david-davis-dead-bob-newhart-taxi-1235256279/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=November 5, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2022}}</ref> Neither of them confirmed being married, though reports referred to her as his wife at the time of his death.<ref name=deathandwife /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/13/arts/television/david-davis-dead.html|title=David Davis, a Force Behind Game-Changing '70s Sitcoms, Dies at 86|first=Penolope|last=Green|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 13, 2022|accessdate=February 15, 2023}}</ref>

In 1983, ''[[Current Biography]]'' referred to Kavner as an avid athlete and [[Pescetarianism|pescetarian]].<ref>''[[Current Biography Yearbook]], Volume 53''. (1992). H. W. Wilson Co. p. 318. "Largely indifferent to food, Kavner generally follows a vegetarian diet, although she occasionally eats fish."</ref> In a 1992 interview with ''The New York Times'', she said she was considering retiring "except for doing three days a year for [[Woody Allen|Woody [Allen]]]", but had a feeling that she would receive a script she wanted "to do more than life itself" upon retiring.<ref name="darling"/>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Film work by Julie Kavner
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Film
!scope="col"| Role
!scope="col"| Notes
|-
| 1979
|scope="row"|''No Other Love''
| Janet
|
|-
| 1982
|scope="row"|''[[National Lampoon's Movie Madness]]''
| Mrs. Falcone
| 
|-
| 1985
|scope="row"|''[[Bad Medicine (film)|Bad Medicine]]''
| Cookie Katz
|
|-
| 1986
|scope="row"|''[[Hannah and Her Sisters]]''
| Gail
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1987
|scope="row"|''[[Radio Days]]''
| Mother
|
|-
|scope="row"|''[[Surrender (1987 American film)|Surrender]]''
| Ronnie
|
|-
| 1989
|scope="row"|''[[New York Stories]]''
| Treva
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1990
|scope="row"|''[[Awakenings]]''
| Eleanor Costello
|
|-
|scope="row"|''[[Alice (1990 film)|Alice]]''
| Decorator
|
|-
| 1991
|scope="row"|''[[Shadows and Fog]]''
| Alma
|
|-
| 1992
|scope="row"|''[[This Is My Life (1992 film)|This Is My Life]]''
| Dottie Ingels
| 
|-
| 1994
|scope="row"|''[[I'll Do Anything]]''
| Nan Mulhanney
|
|-
| 1995
|scope="row"|''[[Forget Paris]]''
| Lucy
|
|-
| 1997
|scope="row"|''[[Deconstructing Harry]]''
| Grace
|
|-
| 1998
|scope="row"|''[[Dr. Dolittle (1998 film)|Dr. Dolittle]]''
| Female pigeon (voice)
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1999
|scope="row"|''[[Judy Berlin]]''
| Marie
|
|-
|scope="row"|''[[A Walk on the Moon]]''
| P.A. Announcer
|
|-
|scope="row"|''Story of a Bad Boy''
| Elaine
|
|-
| 2001
|scope="row"|''[[Someone like You (2001 film)|Someone like You]]''
| Furry animal (voice)
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2004
|scope="row"|''Barn Red''
| Unnamed character
|
|-
|scope="row"|''[[The Lion King 1½]]''
| Ma (voice)<ref>{{cite web |title=Ma Voiced By: Julie Kavner #JulieKavner Movie: The Lion King 1 1/2 Year: 2004 Known For: Marge Simpson Moving along with The Simpsons cast, most people would probably not realize Ma's voice is the same as Marge Simpson. @OOCCouchGags @NC_DisneyTVA #LionKing #Simpsons |url=https://twitter.com/vas_90s/status/1393607673787080708?lang=en |website=twitter.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ACTORS: JULIE KAVNER Lion King 1 1/2 |url=https://disneymovieslist.com/actor/julie-kavner/ |website=disneymovieslist.com}}</ref>
| Direct-to-DVD
|-
| 2006
|scope="row"|''[[Click (2006 film)|Click]]''
| Trudy Newman
|
|-
| 2007
|scope="row"|''[[The Simpsons Movie]]''
| [[Marge Simpson]], [[Patty and Selma|Patty and Selma Bouvier]] (voices)
| 
|-
|2022
|''[[The Simpsons Meet the Bocellis in "Feliz Navidad"]]''
|Rowspan=2| Marge Simpson (voice)
|Rowspan=2|Short film
|-
|2024
|''[[May the 12th Be with You]]''
|-
|2025
|''[[Ella McCay]]''
|
|Post-production
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Television work by Julie Kavner
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Role
!scope="col"| Notes
|-
| 1974–1978
|scope="row"|''[[Rhoda]]''
| Brenda Morgenstern
| 110 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1975
|scope="row"|''[[The ABC Afternoon Playbreak]]''
| Jane Darwin
| Episode: "The Girl Who Couldn't Lose"
|-
|scope="row"|''[[Katherine (film)|Katherine]]''
| Margot Weiss Goldman
| Television film
|-
|scope="row"|''[[Petrocelli]]''
| Julie
| Episode: "To See No Evil"
|-
| 1976
|scope="row"|''[[Bert D'Angelo/Superstar]]''
| Billy Gordon
| Episode: "The Brown Horse Connection"
|-
| 1977
|scope="row"|''[[Lou Grant (TV series)|Lou Grant]]''
| Alice
| Episode: "Housewarming"
|-
| 1979
|scope="row"|''No Other Love''
| Janet Michaels
| rowspan="2" | Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1980
|scope="row"|''[[Revenge of the Stepford Wives]]''
| Megan Brady
|-
|scope="row"|''[[Taxi (TV series)|Taxi]]''
| Monica Banta Douglas
| Episode: "Tony's Sister and Jim"
|-
| 1983
|scope="row"|''A Fine Romance''
| Laura Prescott
| Television film
|-
| 1987–1990
|scope="row"|''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]''
| Various characters
| 43 episodes
|-
| 1989–present
|scope="row"|''[[The Simpsons]]''
| [[Marge Simpson]], [[Patty and Selma|Patty and Selma Bouvier]], Additional voices
| Main role
|-
| 1990
|scope="row"|''[[42nd Primetime Emmy Awards]]''
| Marge Simpson (voice)
| Television special
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1991
|scope="row"|''[[Sibs]]''
| Julia
| Episode: "Honey, I Shrunk My Head"
|-
|scope="row"|''To the Moon, Alice''
| Sitcom Producer
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1994
|scope="row"|''[[Birdland (TV series)|Birdland]]''
| Madeline Diamond
| Episode: "Grand Delusion"
|-
|scope="row"|''[[Don't Drink the Water (1994 film)|Don't Drink the Water]]''
| Marion Hollander
| rowspan="2" | Television film
|-
| 1996
|scope="row"|''[[Jake's Women]]''
| Karen
|-
| 1996–1999
|scope="row"|''[[Tracey Takes On...]]''
| Various characters
| 14 episodes
|-
| 2014
|scope="row"|''[[Family Guy]]''
| Marge Simpson, [[Patty and Selma|Patty and Selma Bouvier]] (voices)
| Episode: "[[The Simpsons Guy]]"
|-
| 2015
|scope="row"|''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''
| Marge Simpson (voice)
| Episode: "Final Show"
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Video game work by Julie Kavner
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Role
!scope="col"| Notes
|-
| 1990
| scope="row" |''[[Storybook Weaver]]''
| Mayzie Bird
|
|-
| 1991
|scope="row"|''[[The Simpsons (arcade game)|The Simpsons]]''
| Marge Simpson
|
|-
| 1994
|scope="row"|''[[Storybook Weaver|Storybook Weaver Deluxe]]''
| Mayzie Bird
|
|-
| 1996
| scope="row" |''[[The Simpsons Cartoon Studio]]''
| Marge Simpson
|
|-
| 1997
| scope="row" |''[[Virtual Springfield]]''
| rowspan="2" | Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, Selma Bouvier
|
|-
| 1999
| scope="row" |''[[Simpsons Bowling]]''
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2001
| scope="row" |''[[The Simpsons Wrestling]]''
| rowspan="3" | Marge Simpson
|
|-
| scope="row" |''[[The Simpsons: Road Rage]]''
|
|-
| 2002
| scope="row" |''[[The Simpsons Skateboarding]]''
|
|-
| 2003
| scope="row" |''[[The Simpsons: Hit & Run]]''
| rowspan="3" | Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, Selma Bouvier
|
|-
| 2007
| scope="row" |''[[The Simpsons Game]]''
|
|-
| 2012
|scope="row"|''[[The Simpsons: Tapped Out]]''
|
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Music video work by Julie Kavner
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Song
!scope="col"| Role
!scope="col"| Artist
|-
| 1990
|scope="row"| "[[Do the Bartman]]"
| Marge Simpson
| [[Nancy Cartwright]]
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Theme park work by Julie Kavner
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Role
!scope="col"| Notes
|-
| 2008
|scope="row"|''[[The Simpsons Ride]]''
| Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, Selma Bouvier
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb name|1413}}
* {{tcmdb name}}
* {{iobdb name|3618}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for Julie Kavner
| list =
{{EmmyAward ComedySupportingActress 1976-2000}}
{{EmmyAward VoiceOver 1990-2000}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kavner, Julie}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American Ashkenazi Jews]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American video game actresses]]
[[Category:American women comedians]]
[[Category:American voice actresses]]
[[Category:Comedians from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Jewish American actresses]]
[[Category:Jewish American comedians]]
[[Category:Jewish women comedians]]
[[Category:Actresses from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:San Diego State University alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]