Elaine Stritch

Who is Elaine Stritch?

Elaine Stritch is an American actress and singer, best known for her work on Broadway. She has appeared in numerous stage plays and musicals, feature films, and many television programs.

She made her professional stage debut in 1944 and her Broadway debut in the comedy Loco in 1946. Notable Broadway credits include her Tony Award nominated roles in the original production of William Inge's 1955 play Bus Stop, Noël Coward's 1961 musical Sail Away, Stephen Sondheim's 1970 musical Company, which includes her performance of the song "The Ladies Who Lunch", the 1996 revival of the Edward Albee play A Delicate Balance and her 2001 Tony Award winning one-woman show Elaine Stritch at Liberty.

In the 1970's, she relocated to London, starring in several West End productions, including Tennessee Williams' Small Craft Warnings in 1973 and the Neil Simon play The Gingerbread Lady in 1974. On television, she starred with Donald Sinden in the ITV sitcom Two's Company, which ran from 1975-1979 and earned Stritch a BAFTA Award nomination.

She won an Emmy Award in 1993, for her guest role on Law & Order and another in 2004, for the television documentary of her one woman show. Since 2007, she has had a recurring role as Jack Donaghy's mother Colleen on NBC's 30 Rock, a role that won her a third Emmy in 2008.