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Lily Tomlin

Lily Tomlin

Actor, also producer · Born September 1, 1939 (87) · Detroit, Michigan, USA

6 Primetime Emmys · Golden Globe winner · Screen Actors Guild Award winner · 8 other major award bodies

Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (born September 1, 1939) is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer. She has won multiple awards from many quarters, including Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award and has also been nominated for an Academy Award.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 1, 1939 (87)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
55 on MovieCove · 77 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 18% in 30 days

What are Lily Tomlin's films like?

Across their 49 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Genres

Comedy19 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
27%
Society
24%
Bonds
15%
Morality
13%
Ideas
11%
Power
8%
Survival
2%
Community19 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 43 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 30 · Serious 9 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 32 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 24 · Charged 17 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 27 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 16

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 25 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 24 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 34 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

20 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 20 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 20
Mentor
5 of 20
Shapeshifter
4 of 20
Hero
4 of 20
Threshold guardian
1 of 20
Trickster
1 of 20
Show the 20 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
23
Warm
23
Absurd
15
Hopeful
18
Contemplative
15
Other
41

How their films linger

Feel-good20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy21
  • Bittersweet18
  • Ambiguous8
  • Cyclical1
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lily Tomlin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 55 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lily Tomlin's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

77 credits, 55 with a MovieCove page; 80 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Moving On(2022)

    as Evelyn

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • 80 for Brady(2023)

    as Lou

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin: Ladies Night Live(2022)

    Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration(2022)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Emily @ the Edge of Chaos(2021)

    as Ayn Rand (voice)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Radium Girls(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • I Am Richard Pryor(2019)

    Thanks · as Self - Actress and Comedian

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse(2018)

    as Aunt May (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Magic School Bus Rides Again(2017)

    Show as Professor Frizzle

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Grandma(2015)

    as Elle

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Grace and Frankie(2015)

    Show 94 episodes · Executive Producer · as Frankie Bergstein

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • An Apology to Elephants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Executive Producer · as Narrator (voice)

  • Admission(2013)

    as Susannah

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Inequality for All(2013)

    as Violet Newstead (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Malibu Country(2012)

    Show 18 episodes · as Lillie Mae MacKenzie

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Stars in Shorts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Jason's Mom

  • The Procession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Jason's mom

  • Web Therapy(2011)

    Show 15 episodes · as Putsy Hodge

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Eastbound & Down(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · as Tammy Powers

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Pink Panther 2(2009)

    as Mrs. Berenger

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Web Therapy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 7 episodes · as Putsy Hodge

  • Damages(2007)

    Show 10 episodes · as Marilyn Tobin

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Walker(2007)

    as Abigail Delorean

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Ant Bully(2006)

    as Mommo (voice)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • A Prairie Home Companion(2006)

    as Rhonda Johnson

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 6 episodes · as Roberta Simmons

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • I Heart Huckabees(2004)

    as Vivian Jaffe

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Penelope Langston

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Orange County(2002)

    as Charlotte Cobb

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Bette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Kid(2000)

    as Janet

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 34 episodes · as Deborah Fiderer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Tea with Mussolini(1999)

    as Georgina "Georgie" Rockwell

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Margot

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Krippendorf's Tribe(1998)

    as Ruth Allen

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Edith Ann's Christmas (Just Say Noël) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Executive Producer · as Edith Ann (voice)

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Getting Away with Murder(1996)

    as Inga Mueller

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Flirting with Disaster(1996)

    as Mary Schlichting

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Celluloid Closet(1995)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Kids for Character (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Ms. Valerie Frizzle(archive footage) (voice)

  • Blue in the Face(1995)

    as Waffle eater

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Magic School Bus(1994)

    Show 52 episodes · as Ms. Frizzle (voice)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Edith Ann: Homeless Go Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Edith Ann (voice)

  • All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!(1994)

    as Ernestine (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Edith Ann: A Few Pieces of the Puzzle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Executive Producer · as Edith Ann (voice)

  • Sesame Street Stays Up Late!(1993)

    as Ernestine the Telephone Operator(uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1993)

    as Miss Jane Hathaway

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Short Cuts(1993)

    as Doreen Piggot

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Rita (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • And the Band Played On(1993)

    as Dr. Selma Dritz

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Lydia

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Rose Halligan

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Player(1992)

    as Lily Tomlin

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Shadows and Fog(1991)

    as Prostitute

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Trudy the Bag Lady / Agnus Angst / Kate / Brandy / Tina / Chrissy / Lud / Marie / Vince / Edie / Lynn / Marge

  • The Simpsons(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Tammy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Murphy Brown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 46 episodes · as Kay Carter-Shepley

  • Big Business(1988)

    as Rose Ratliff / Rose Shelton

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Waiting Tables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • All of Me(1984)

    as Edwina Cutwater

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Lily for President? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Lily Tomlin / Various

  • Lily: Sold Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Executive Producer · as Self / Various Characters

  • The Incredible Shrinking Woman(1981)

    as Pat Kramer / Judith Beasley / Telephone Operator

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • 9 to 5(1980)

    as Violet Newstead

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Moment by Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Trisha Rawlings

  • The Paul Simon Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Writer · as Self

  • The Late Show(1977)

    as Margo

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • TVTV Looks at the Oscars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Judy Beasley/Self

  • Nashville(1975)

    as Linnea Reese

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Juke and Opal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Opal

  • Lily (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Writer · Actor

  • Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Telephone Voice (voice) (uncredited)

  • The Electric Company(1971)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ernestine the Operator

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Music Scene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 17 episodes · Actor

  • Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In(1967)

    Show 100 episodes · as Regular Performer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 75 titles from 1968 to 2023; peak year 2023.

Biggest box office

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

$395M worldwide

Highest rated

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Grace and Frankie (2015)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19682023

Peak 2023 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 14 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 8 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting71 of 75: 65 only acting, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndWriting2 of 75: 1 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing7 of 75: 2 only producing, 5 with another roleOther crew1 of 75: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

75 titles, 6 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1960s2 · acting1970s9 · 8 acting · 2 crew1980s9 · 8 acting · 1 crew1990s25 · 25 acting · 3 crew2000s13 · acting2010s12 · 11 acting · 3 crew2020s5 · 4 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 14% of 28 roles
75850010

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

6 Primetime Emmys, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and 3 other major awards from 55 major nominations, 1971–2019.

WinNomination
  1. 2019
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
  2. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
  3. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
  4. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Comedy
  5. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
  6. 2013
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Voice-Over Performance
  7. 2010
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
  8. 2007
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Acting Ensemble
Show 19 earlier years
  1. 2005
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Spoken Word Album
  2. 2003
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  3. 1997
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Female
  4. 1996
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Informational Special
  5. 1994
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
    • Golden Globe, won
  6. 1993
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Venice award, won
  7. 1992
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Female Lead
  8. 1985
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  9. 1984
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
  10. 1981
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program
  11. 1979
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Comedy Recording
  12. 1978
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actress
  13. 1977
    • Berlinale award, won · Best Actress
  14. 1976
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Special - Comedy-Variety or Music
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture - Female
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Comedy Recording
  15. 1975
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Special - Comedy-Variety or Music
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special
  16. 1974
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Best Writing in Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music Special
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Written Variety Script
  17. 1973
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Achievement by a Supporting Performer in Music or Variety
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Comedy Recording
  18. 1972
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Achievement by a Performer in Music or Variety
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Supporting Actress - Television
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Grammy Award, won · Best Comedy Recording
  19. 1971
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Special Classification of Outstanding Program and Individual Achievement - Individuals

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Lily Tomlin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 43 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 68th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Midcredits score across 55 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 55 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

Emily @ the Edge of Chaos (2021)

96th percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Lily Tomlin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 19 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore15 titles7–45 · median 30 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity19 titles20–47 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity15 titles22–74 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles8–66 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles9–49 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Lily Tomlin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lily Tomlin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jane Fonda shares the most, 8.

Directors

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers