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Actress Julia Duffy with Bob Newhart, who she starred with in the sitcom "Newhart" through much of the '80s. Source: https://www.aada.edu/article/alumna-julia-duffy-bad-auditions (May be subject to copyright) |
Although playing a mother now, I was taken back close to 40 years to an inn near a sleepy Vermont town, when she played an heiress “reduced” to being a chamber maid.
Julia Duffy’s most famous role was Stephanie Vanderkellen on “Newhart”. However, she did a lot more before and after that iconic role that garnered her several award nominations along the way.
The early years
Julia Duffy began her career on the television soap operas. She was in “Love of Life” in 1972, then in “The Doctors” from 1973 to 1978 and “One Life to Live” in 1977.
Julia Duffy began her career on the television soap operas. She was in “Love of Life” in 1972, then in “The Doctors” from 1973 to 1978 and “One Life to Live” in 1977.
She had several guest starring roles in “The Love Boat”; “Lou Grant”; “Cheers”, where she had been considered for the part of Diane Chambers before Shelley Long was cast; “Voyagers”; the Civil War miniseries “The Blue and the Gray”; and “Simon and Simon”.
Duffy also appeared in several movies starting with Roger Corman’s “Battle Beyond the Stars” in 1980. They also included the forgettable features “Cutter’s Way”; “Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker”; and “Wacko”.
In 1983 she had a recurring role in the medieval comedy spoof “Wizards and Warriors” as Princess Ariel for eight episodes. This is a show I always wanted to see, but it was never on peasant vision.
Later that same year the trajectory of Julia Duffy’s career would change dramatically with a very special role.
Newhart
The sitcom “Newhart” debuted in 1982 on Channel 9 on the peasant vision dial. It starred Bob Newhart as Dick Loudon, a New York City author who, with his wife Joanna played by Mary Frann, buy an inn in rural Vermont and move there to run it. One of their staff members is maid Leslie Vanderkellen, played by Jennifer Holmes.
The sitcom “Newhart” debuted in 1982 on Channel 9 on the peasant vision dial. It starred Bob Newhart as Dick Loudon, a New York City author who, with his wife Joanna played by Mary Frann, buy an inn in rural Vermont and move there to run it. One of their staff members is maid Leslie Vanderkellen, played by Jennifer Holmes.
In that first season, Julia Duffy guest starred as Leslie’s upper class, snobby, self-absorbed cousin Stephanie in 1982. At the start of the second season, Duffy joined the cast as the inn’s maid, staying for the duration of the show’s run, which ended in 1990.
Duffy would turn in a signature performance. She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Stephanie Vanderkellen in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actressin a Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 1988.
The rest of the decade
Duffy closed out the ‘80s with guest spots in “The Love Boat” and “Hotel”, and appeared in three more television movies.
Duffy closed out the ‘80s with guest spots in “The Love Boat” and “Hotel”, and appeared in three more television movies.
The years after
Julia Duffy kept right on working after “Newhart” ended. She immediately was part of “Baby Talk” in 1991, a sitcom told through the eyes of a baby who only the audience can hear talking. It tried to capitalize on the popularity of the “Look Who’s Talking” movies. However, there was strife on the set and Duffy left after 12 episodes.
Julia Duffy kept right on working after “Newhart” ended. She immediately was part of “Baby Talk” in 1991, a sitcom told through the eyes of a baby who only the audience can hear talking. It tried to capitalize on the popularity of the “Look Who’s Talking” movies. However, there was strife on the set and Duffy left after 12 episodes.
She immediately joined the cast of “Designing Women” as Allison Sugarbaker appearing in 23 episodes for the 1991-1992, ostensibly replacing Delta Burke. Again, she left the series after one season after encountering conflict over the direction of her character.
Duffy, then joined the cast of “The Mommies” from 1993 to 1995 for 28 episodes as the neighbour of the title characters.
She would also have guest roles in “Grace Under Fire”; “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”; “Diagnosis: Murder”; “Reba”; “The Drew Carey Show”; “CSI: New York”; “7th Heaven”; “Melissa and Joey”; “Shameless”; “Anger Management”; most recently “Night Court”; and much more. She has also appeared in a fair number of theatrical releases and television movies.
Parting thoughts
I will always remember the transition from season one of “Newhart” to season two. The show looked very different that first year, starting with the fact it was shot in video, then moved to film. The Loudons’ neighbour was a compulsive liar named Kirk Devane, played by Steven Kampmann who owned the Minute Man Café next door. Their housekeeper was Leslie Vanderkellen, played by Jennifer Holmes.
I will always remember the transition from season one of “Newhart” to season two. The show looked very different that first year, starting with the fact it was shot in video, then moved to film. The Loudons’ neighbour was a compulsive liar named Kirk Devane, played by Steven Kampmann who owned the Minute Man Café next door. Their housekeeper was Leslie Vanderkellen, played by Jennifer Holmes.
When season two started, Leslie was gone. She was replaced by her cousin Stephanie who was vain and lazy, as the long, award-nominated run of Julia Duffy began. Dick moved into community television. His producer, Michael Harris, was played by Peter Scolari, and would become a love interest to Stephanie. They would eventually marry and have children. Kirk left in the third season, and the Minute Man Café was then owned by Larry, Daryl and Daryl, who had been kind of an ongoing joke in season one.
No matter how prolific Julia Duffy is, she will always be Stephanie Vanderkellen to me.
That was the first thing that came to mind when she appeared on “Night Court”.
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