Lily Tomlin is a comedienne, actress, and writer. She was born on September 1, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan. Over the years, she has made people laugh with her humorous characters from the child Edith Ann to the snarky operator Ernestine. Some of these wacky characters were introduced on the hit comedy series Laugh-In, which ran from 1969 to 1973. Her work on the series catapulted her to stardom. She went on to appear in dramatic and comedic films, such as Nashville (1975) directed by Robert Altman, the working women’s revenge comedy Nine to Five (1980) with Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda, and All of Me (1984) with Steve Martin. Tomlin starred in a one-woman Broadway show,The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, written by her long-time life partner, writer/producer Jane Wagner. In recent years, she continues to appear in films as well as television programs, most recently Web Therapy and Malibu County. These are among her most memorable observations:
Reality is really nothing more than a collective hunch.
I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.
For fast-acting relief try slowing down.
God created time so that everything doesn’t all happen at once.
I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.
Don’t be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an opportunity somebody wishes they had missed.
Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain.
Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hard-working, honest Americans. It’s the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then–we elected them.
No matter how cynical you get, it is impossible to keep up.
I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.
Reality is the leading cause of stress among those in touch with it.
Sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world.
The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.
The road to success is always under construction.
We’re all in this alone.