--- name: "Holland Taylor" canonical: "https://film.one/person/holland-taylor" fi1m_id: "holland-taylor" imdb_id: "nm0852466" tmdb_id: 11318 wikidata_id: "Q235198" roles: ["Actor"] born: "14 January 1943" reviewed_on_fi1m: 6 average_fi1m_score: 66 average_as: "actor" average_over: 6 updated: "2026-10-22T01:36:22.948566+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Holland Taylor ## Identity Holland Taylor - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/holland-taylor - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** holland-taylor - **IMDb ID:** nm0852466 - **TMDB ID:** 11318 - **Wikidata ID:** Q235198 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Taylor, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q235198, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0852466/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11318 Actor. Born 14 January 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 14 January 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - **Active:** 1984–present - **Also known as:** Holland Virginia Taylor, ホランド・テイラー - **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 66, as actor, over 6 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 65 (2), 1990s 88 (1), 2000s 66 (2), 2020s 47 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 65 across 4 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 6, Action 2, Adventure 2, Romance 2, Drama 1 - **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $589m across 4 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Taylor, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q235198, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0852466/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11318 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Truman Show*](https://film.one/film/the-truman-show.md) (88) - **HBO Max:** [*Legally Blonde*](https://film.one/film/legally-blonde.md) (78) - **Tubi:** [*Romancing the Stone*](https://film.one/film/romancing-the-stone.md) (77) - **Peacock:** [*Two and a Half Men*](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md) (55) - **Apple TV:** [*Brothers*](https://film.one/tv/brothers.md) (47) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Holland Taylor > Holland Taylor is particularly good at playing women who expect to be obeyed. We value her dry timing and the humanity she gives them, though we would like more parts that ask something else of her. Professor Stromwell in *Legally Blonde* (2001) gives Holland Taylor a job she does particularly well: making professional authority credible in a comedy. Her dry timing suits a tough law professor, and we like the firmness she brings to a supporting role without needing it to become the whole attraction. Reese Witherspoon remains the reason to see the film, giving Elle Woods the wit and determination to carry it through some indifferent jokes. The comedy is predictable and could be more sharply timed. Taylor’s suitability for Stromwell is also a useful way into the problem of a career spent so often playing the person in charge. Television has supplied much of that work, from her breakthrough as Ruth Dunbar in *Bosom Buddies* (1980) to Judge Roberta Kittleson in *The Practice* (1998) and Evelyn Harper in *Two and a Half Men* (2003). The professions and family arrangements change; the expectation of authority often does not. Taylor’s strength is making tough or overbearing women human without apologising for their sharpness. That is useful in both comedy and drama, although repeated casting of this kind can leave us knowing what to expect before she has spoken. *The Truman Show* (1998) is the stronger of the two films, though Taylor’s supporting part is not the main reason to recommend Peter Weir’s comedy. We were unsettled by Jim Carrey’s vulnerability: the hurt of a life turned into television survives the cleverness of the premise. The film makes blame too easy to assign, but that does not cancel its emotional force. Her later screen work includes Ellen Kincaid in *Hollywood* (2020), while *Ann* (2013), the one-woman play she wrote and performed, gives a useful corrective to the picture of a permanent supporting actor. We would like more screen roles that require something other than authority from her. The reservation is about the repetition of the assignments, not a lack of skill in carrying them out. Start with *Legally Blonde* if predictable comedy is no objection. ## Biography Holland Taylor is an American actress born on 14 January 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She trained in drama at Bennington College before moving to New York to pursue a stage career. Her breakthrough came with the role of Ruth Dunbar in the sitcom *Bosom Buddies* (1980–82). She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1999 for playing Judge Roberta Kittleson in *The Practice* (1998–2003) and received four further Emmy nominations for Evelyn Harper in *Two and a Half Men* (2003–15). Taylor is known for film roles including Beatrice Stanhope in *George of the Jungle* (1997), Professor Stromwell in *Legally Blonde* (2001) and her part in *The Truman Show* (1998). She wrote and starred in the one-woman play *Ann* about Ann Richards, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, themoviedb.org.* ## On Fi1m (6) - *Brothers* (2026), Fi1m 47, as Ma Mac — [page](https://film.one/tv/brothers.md) - *Two and a Half Men* (2003), Fi1m 55, as Evelyn Harper — [page](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md) - *Legally Blonde* (2001), Fi1m 78, as Professor Stromwell — [page](https://film.one/film/legally-blonde.md) - *The Truman Show* (1998), Fi1m 88, as Angela Montclair / Alanis Montclair — [page](https://film.one/film/the-truman-show.md) - *The Jewel of the Nile* (1985), Fi1m 53, as Gloria — [page](https://film.one/film/the-jewel-of-the-nile.md) - *Romancing the Stone* (1984), Fi1m 77, as Gloria — [page](https://film.one/film/romancing-the-stone.md) ## Complete filmography (116) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Brothers* (2026), series, as Ma Mac — Fi1m 47, [page](https://film.one/tv/brothers.md) - *N/A* (2026), as N - *Fantasy Life* (2026), as Dr. Greene - *Motherland* (2025), as Toni - *Unachievable Sound of Silence* (2024), Thanks - *Quiz Lady* (2023), as Francine - *The Chair* (2021), series, as Joan Hambling - *The Great North* (2021), series, as Goldie (voice) - *The Stand In* (2020), as Barbara Cox - *Bill & Ted Face the Music* (2020), as The Great Leader - *Hollywood* (2020), series, as Ellen Kincaid - *To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You* (2020), as Stormy - *Bombshell* (2019), as Faye (uncredited) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/bombshell.md) - *The Morning Show* (2019), series, as Cybil Richards - *Gloria Bell* (2019), as Hillary Bell - *Ann* (2018), as Ann Richards · Writer - *The Orville* (2017), series, as Jeannie Mercer - *Mr. Mercedes* (2017), series, as Ida Silver - *Kepler's Dream* (2016), as Violet von Stern - *Speechless* (2016), series, as Andrea - *Divorce: The Greatest Hits* (2016), Actor - *The New Yorker Presents* (2016), series, as Truman's Moher - *Billions* (2016), series, as Dr. Eleanor Mayer - *Twinkle Toes* (2011), as Principal Garfield (voice) - *The Chosen One* (2010), as Ruth - *Baby Mama* (2008), as Rose - *Cinderella III: A Twist in Time* (2007), as Prudence (voice) - *D.E.B.S.* (2005), as Ms. Petrie - *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Mrs. Dawson (voice) - *The Wedding Date* (2005), as Bunny - *The L Word* (2004), series, as Peggy Peabody - *Two and a Half Men* (2003), series, as Evelyn Harper — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/two-and-a-half-men.md) - *Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over* (2003), as Grandmother - *Fillmore!* (2002), series, as Mrs. Cornwall (voice) - *Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams* (2002), as Grandmother - *Monk* (2002), series, as Peggy Davenport - *Home Room* (2002), as Dr. Hollander - *Baby Bob* (2002), series, as Madeline Collins - *Cinderella II: Dreams Come True* (2002), as Prudence (voice) - *Fits and Starts* (2002), Actor - *The Day Reagan Was Shot* (2001), as Nancy Reagan - *Strange Frequency* (2001), series, as Marge Crowley - *Legally Blonde* (2001), as Professor Stromwell — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/legally-blonde.md) - *Town & Country* (2001), as Mistress of Ceremonies - *DAG* (2000), series, as Kathering Twigg - *Strong Medicine* (2000), series, as Lillian Pynchon - *The Deadly Look of Love* (2000), as Evelyn McGinnis - *Keeping the Faith* (2000), as Bonnie Rose - *Mail to the Chief* (2000), as Katherine Horner - *The Spiral Staircase* (2000), as Emma - *Happy Accidents* (2000), as Therapist - *The Lot* (1999), series, as Letitia DeVine - *The Sex Monster* (1999), as Muriel - *The Unknown Cyclist* (1998), as Celia (uncredited) - *Hercules* (1998), series, as Queen Myrrha (voice) - *Next Stop Wonderland* (1998), as Piper Castleton - *The Truman Show: Tru-Talk* (1998), as Alanis Montclair - *The Truman Show* (1998), as Angela Montclair / Alanis Montclair — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-truman-show.md) - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1997), series, Actor - *Veronica's Closet* (1997), series, as Millicent - *Ally McBeal* (1997), series, as Judge Roberta Kittleson — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md) - *George of the Jungle* (1997), as Beatrice Stanhope - *The Practice* (1997), series, as Judge Roberta Kittleson - *Just Write* (1997), as Emma Jeffreys - *Betty* (1997), as Crystal Ball - *One Fine Day* (1996), as Rita - *Last Summer in the Hamptons* (1995), as Davis Mora Axelrod - *How to Make an American Quilt* (1995), as Mrs. Rubens - *Steal Big Steal Little* (1995), as Mona Rowland-Downey - *To Die For* (1995), as Carol Stone - *The Naked Truth* (1995), series, as Camilla Dane - *Perry Mason: The Case of the Jealous Jokester* (1995), as Janice - *Awake to Danger* (1995), as Dr. Joyce Lindley - *A Walton Wedding* (1995), as Aunt Flo - *ER* (1994), series, as Phyllis Farr — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md) - *The Favor* (1994), as Maggie Sand - *The Counterfeit Contessa* (1994), as Wallace Everett - *In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness* (1994), as Florence Newsom - *Betrayal of Trust* (1994), as Mary Shelton - *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Agent Gretchen McCord - *Saved by the Bell: The College Years* (1993), series, as Dean Susan McMann - *With Hostile Intent* (1993), as Lois Baxter - *Cop & ½* (1993), as Captain Rubio - *The Powers That Be* (1992), series, as Margaret Powers - *The Rape of Doctor Willis* (1991), as Dr. Greenway - *Alice* (1990), as Helen - *Going Places* (1990), series, Actor - *People Like Us* (1990), as Dolly - *She's Having a Baby* (1988), as Sarah Briggs - *Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson* (1987), as Ernestine King - *Wiseguy* (1987), series, Actor - *CBS Summer Playhouse* (1987), series, as Fran Grogan - *The Saint in Manhattan* (1987), as Fran Grogan - *Harry* (1987), series, Actor - *Perry Mason Returns* (1985), as Paula Gordon - *Key Exchange* (1985), as Mrs. Fanshaw - *The Jewel of the Nile* (1985), as Gloria — Fi1m 53, [page](https://film.one/film/the-jewel-of-the-nile.md) - *Me & Mom* (1985), series, Actor - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Winifred Thayer - *Romancing the Stone* (1984), as Gloria — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/romancing-the-stone.md) - *Kate & Allie* (1984), series, Actor - *I Was a Mail Order Bride* (1982), as Dottie Birmingham - *The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana* (1982), as Frances Shand Kydd - *My Mother Was Never a Kid* (1981), as Felicia Martin - *Bosom Buddies* (1980), series, as Ruth Dunbar - *Fame* (1980), as Claudia van Doren (uncredited) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/fame.md) - *O Youth and Beauty!* (1979), as Beverly Trencher - *The Sorrows of Gin* (1979), as Beverly Trencher - *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Kathy Brighton - *The Next Man* (1976), as TV Interviewer - *Beacon Hill* (1975), series, as Marilyn Gardiner - *Kojak* (1973), series, as Elizabeth — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md) - *ABC Afterschool Special* (1972), series, as Felicia Martin - *J.T.* (1971), as Mrs. Arnold - *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Ernestine King - *The Edge of Night* (1956), series, Actor ## Gallery - ![Holland Taylor](https://film.one/media/person/87637/gallery-0db23e1a9fd7.jpg) Holland Taylor — Harry Langdon Studio, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Holland_Taylor.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Star of Two and a Half Men, and the dean on Saved by the Bell: The College Years. NYC Nov '16 (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/87637/gallery-07bd502523b2.jpg) Star of Two and a Half Men, and the dean on Saved by the Bell: The College Years. NYC Nov '16 (2016) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Holland_Taylor_%2830156714523%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Taylor of Two and a Half Men, and the dean on Saved by the Bell: The College Years. NYC Nov '16 (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/87637/gallery-0f4d79aa3ddd.jpg) Taylor of Two and a Half Men, and the dean on Saved by the Bell: The College Years. NYC Nov '16 (2016) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Holland_Taylor_%2830156714523%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Denise Cavanaugh, played by Holland Taylor (standing) is a woman with a mission: to keep her husband, Miles (Joel Crothers), and the beautiful Nicole Drake (Jay (1978)](https://film.one/media/person/87637/gallery-523cd3a2dfc2.jpg) Denise Cavanaugh, played by Holland Taylor (standing) is a woman with a mission: to keep her husband, Miles (Joel Crothers), and the beautiful Nicole Drake (Jay (1978) — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Holland_Taylor_Joel_Crothers_Jayne_Bentzen_%22The_Edge_of_Night%22_%281978_ABC_press_photo%29.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Holland Taylor](https://film.one/media/person/87637/gallery-64e70c3019e7.jpg) Holland Taylor — Image via TMDB - ![Holland Taylor at the premiere of Baby Mama in New York City at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.](https://film.one/media/person/87637/gallery-ead8f91d2391.jpg) Holland Taylor at the premiere of Baby Mama in New York City at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Holland_Taylor_at_the_2008_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Holland_Taylor_at_the_2008_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won - 1999: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *The Practice* ### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2013: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/holland-taylor