Meet Jo Anne Worley: The Unrecognizable Icon of '60s Comedy!
SWEET 88 AND STILL SHINING! Jo Anne Worley Spills Tea on Her Iconic Career and Shares What's New
In a rare public appearance, Hollywood's beloved comedienne extraordinaire, Jo Anne Worley, turned heads in Los Angeles just days before her 88th birthday. The sassy starlet was seen rocking a vibrant print shirt and an eccentric hat that would make even the most seasoned fashionista jealous - it was as if she had stepped straight out of the variety show era!
Worley's career has been nothing short of legendary, with a whopping five-decade-long stint in the entertainment industry. She first burst onto the scene as the brassy and loud-mouthed jokester on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973. Who could forget her wild outfits alongside fellow cast members Goldie Hawn and Ruth Buzzi? Sadly, Ruth passed away in July at the ripe age of 88.
But don't worry, folks, Jo Anne is still going strong! She was spotted strolling through the streets of LA with that signature grin plastered on her face - radiating the same joy she brought to her iconic character, Wardrobe, in Disney's beloved classic Beauty and the Beast (1991). This sassy septuagenarian has been keeping busy, folks!
From becoming a regular fixture on celebrity game shows like Super Password and Hollywood Squares to taking on the role of Madame Morrible in the Los Angeles production of Wicked in 2008, Worley's versatility knows no bounds. But what many don't know is that this Indiana native had to fight tooth and nail to make it big in showbiz.
In an exclusive interview with The Scholarly Note, Jo Anne dished out the juicy details on her rise to fame: "I started out just singing in nightclubs because there weren't any examples of lady comics. I would just sing funny songs or do a twist on a song." Little did she know that this was just the beginning of an illustrious career.
When asked about her days on Laugh-In, Worley gushed: "It was very busy! If we weren't shooting, we were changing costumes, doing makeup and hair, or rehearsing. We actually had to rehearse dance moves - we were busy bees!" And what made it even more special? The supportive cast members who became like a second family to her.
"We would help each other out, be each other's audience when we weren't changing or getting made up... It was a real camaraderie," Worley shared. Ah, the good old days! But don't get it twisted - this queen of comedy isn't just about reminiscing on the past; she's got her eyes firmly fixed on the future.
"I think there's much more freedom for women today," Worley observed. "The difference is because of cable television and people working and doing stand-up in clubs who are not beholden to regular television." And what about those contemporary comedians making waves in the industry? Jo Anne was quick to name-check her favorites: "I love watching Saturday Night Live - did you know Lorne Michaels was a writer on Laugh-In?"
But don't ask her which modern-day comedians make her laugh; she's more interested in talking about the evolution of comedy itself. "The jokes are something we would never dream of doing... Comics coming up in the clubs would never do any blue material," Worley mused, hinting that the industry has indeed changed - for better or worse?
As a testament to her enduring legacy, Jo Anne Worley has been gracing our screens and stages with her presence for decades. But what's she most proud of? A heartwarming anecdote revealed: "My brother was in the Navy, and at one point I was asked to sing with the United States Air Force Band at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., and my brother was there." The moment they visited the Vietnam War Memorial together will be etched in her memory forever.
Fast forward to today, Worley's resume is a veritable who's-who of Hollywood royalty. You've seen her on TV favorites like Love, American Style, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Murder, She Wrote, and game shows galore (yes, including Super Password and Hollywood Squares). But did you know she's also lent her voice to Disney classics like Nutcracker Fantasy (1979), Beauty and the Beast (1991), and A Goofy Movie (1995)?
And let's not forget about her impressive stage career! Jo Anne has strutted her stuff in regional theater productions of Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun, Hello Dolly!, Anything Goes, and Once Upon a Mattress. She even returned to Broadway in Prince of Central Park in 1989 - though the show closed after just four performances.
But don't worry; Jo Anne hasn't lost her magic yet! In 2007, she starred as Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway and reprised the role in 2015 at The Cape Playhouse. Who knows what the future holds for this talented thespian? One thing's for sure: Jo Anne Worley will continue to bring laughter and joy to audiences of all ages.
And as we wish her a happy 88th birthday, one can't help but wonder - what's next for this Hollywood legend?
