DeLARIA, Lea 1958–

(Lea De Laria)

PERSONAL

Born May 23, 1958, in Belleville, IL; daughter of Robert (a social worker and jazz pianist) and Jerry (a homemaker) DeLaria. Education: Attended Illinois Wesleyan University.

Addresses: Agent— William Morris Agency, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019.

Career: Actress, director, singer, comedienne, and writer. Singer in jazz clubs as a teenager; standup comedienne, beginning c. 1982, including appearance at Highways Performance Space, Los Angeles, 1993. Master of ceremonies for a gay and lesbian march, Washington, DC, 1993.

Awards, Honors: Obie Award, outstanding performance, Village Voice, Theatre World Award, outstanding new performer, New York Theatre Award, and Drama Desk Award nomination, all 1998, for On the Town; Bistro Award, outstanding recording, 2002, for Play It Cool; Los Angeles Ovation Award nomination, for Boyd from Syracuse.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, off–Broadway production, 1998.

Marryin' Sam, "Li'l Abner," City Center Encores!, City Center Theatre, New York City, 1998.

Hildy Esterhazy, On the Town (musical), New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre (some sources cite Gershwin Theatre), New York City, 1998–1999.

It's Delightful, It's Delicious, It's DeLaria (nightclub act), Joe's Pub, New York City, beginning 1999.

Audrey, As You Like It, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA, 1999.

Eddie and Dr. Scott, The Rocky Horror Show (musical), Circle in the Square, New York City, 2000–2002.

Cinder, Little Fish (musical), Second Stage Theatre, New York City, 2003.

Appeared in Broadway Favorites: The Leading Ladies and Tribute to Judy Garland, both Carnegie Hall, New York City; in Box Lunch, Apollo Theatre, London; and in Boys from Syracuse, Los Angeles. Concert performances include Billie Holiday Tribute, Carnegie Hall and Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA; End of the Millennium, Hollywood Bowl; and Jazz All Stars Salute Sondheim, Carnegie Hall; Boyd from Syracuse ; also performs at jazz festivals.

Major Tours:

Appeared as Big Mama Morton, Chicago, U.S. cities.

Film Appearances:

Herself, Camp Christmas, 1993.

(As Lea De Laria) Elise's fan, The First Wives Club, Paramount, 1996.

Mr. Purple and herself, Plump Fiction, Legacy Releasing, 1996.

Sadie, Rescuing Desire, 1996.

Clementine, Homo Heights (also known as Happy Heights ), Lehmann–Moore Productions, 1998.

We're Funny That Way (documentary), 1998.

Angie, Edge of Seventeen, Strand Releasing, 1999.

Betsy Brick, Mercury in Retrograde (short film), Finishing Pictures, 2002.

Film Work; Director:

Homo Heights (also known as Happy Heights ), Lehmann–Moore Productions, 1998.

Television Appearances; Series:

Madame Delphina, One Life to Live, ABC, 1999.

Voice of Helga Phugly, The Oblongs ... (animated series), The WB, 2001.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Captain White, OP Center (also known as Tom Clancy's "OP Center "), NBC, 1995.

Willie Omiak, Further Tales of the City (also known as Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City ), Showtime, 2001.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Comedy from the Danger Zone, Showtime, 1993.

Host, Out There, Comedy Central, 1993.

Out There in Hollywood, Comedy Central, 1995.

The World According to Us, Lifetime, 1995.

In thru the Out Door, Showtime, 1998.

My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies, PBS, 1999.

Just for Laughs (also known as Judith Lacy's Just for Laughs ), 2002.

Herself, The Award Show Awards Show, 2003.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Guest, The Arsenio Hall Show, syndicated, 1990.

Detective Pat Poletti, "Dead Air," Matlock, ABC, 1994.

Detective Jordan, "The Murder Game," Matlock, ABC, 1994.

"A Dark and Stormy Night," The John Larroquette Show, NBC, 1994.

Loreli, "Wrestling Matches," The John Larroquette Show, NBC, 1995.

Miss Hearst, "Ryan's Worst Nightmare," Saved by the Bell: The New Class, NBC, 1995.

Woman in laundromat, "The One with the Lesbian Wedding," Friends, NBC, 1996.

Jewel, "Drewstock," The Drew Carey Show, ABC, 1997.

Kathy Speck, "The Beat Goes On," The Beat, UPN, 2000.

Kiki, "Gina," The Job, ABC, 2002.

Nurse Carver, "Swimming from Cambodia," Will & Grace, NBC, 2003.

Also appeared as a guest on Politically Incorrect, ABC; The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated; and The Sandra Bernhard Show.

RECORDINGS

Albums:

Bulldyke in a China Shop, G–Spot, 1992.

(With others) Box Lunch (soundtrack recording), Rising Star Records, 1997.

(With others) Fruit Cocktail, Streeter Music, 1998.

Play It Cool, Warner Bros. Jazz, 2001.

WRITINGS

Screenplays:

Author of Stone Butch Bitches.

Television Specials:

Out There, Comedy Central, 1993.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Advocate, September 15, 1998, pp. 54–55.

Next, November 9, 2001, p. 22.

People Weekly, May 10, 1993, pp. 49–50.

Time Out New York, June 14, 2001, p. 18.