Born in Burbank, CA. Joely Fisher is the daughter of actress Connie Stevens and singer Eddie Fisher, and grew up on the road. She began performing on stage in her mother’s Las Vegas act at the age of seven. By age 12, she was singing all over the world, and she performed with Bob Hope during the Persian Gulf War, which led to her performance for President and Mrs. George H.W. Bush at the Kennedy Center.
Having compiled favorite songs for years, inspired by standards, Broadway or the most current hits, Fisher plans to record an album. She created and performed “Joely Fisher… From Here to Maternity,” her first cabaret act in Los Angeles, while eight months pregnant. She also joined the Pasadena Pops and conductor Rachel Worby for an evening of “Mozart, McCartney and More…” in her first headlining symphonic concert.
During the 2005-2006 television season, Fisher joined the cast of “Desperate Housewives,” playing Lynette Scavo’s (Felicity Huffman) unapologetically bitchy boss Nina Fletcher. Previously, Fisher had her first series regular role from 1994-98, she portrayed Paige Clark, the Hollywood development executive in the groundbreaking, Emmy® Award-winning “Ellen.” The part brought her instant recognition, and garnered her a Golden Globe Award nomination.
Since “Ellen,” Fisher’s other series include portraying the lead for two seasons in Lifetime’s drama series “Wild Card,” starring opposite John Goodman in “Normal, Ohio,” and in Darren Starr’s “Grosse Pointe.”
In between her television work, Fisher drew raves starring as Sally Bowles in Cabaret on Broadway, and in the national touring company. She made her Broadway debut in Grease.
In feature films, she has appeared in “The Mask” with Jim Carrey, in “Mixed Nuts” with Steve Martin, in “I’ll Do Anything” with Nick Nolte, and “Slingshot” opposite David Arquette. Her biggest film thus far has been Disney’s $200 million-grossing “Inspector Gadget” with Matthew Broderick.
Her telefilms and mini-series include “Thirst,” “Jitters,” “Kidnapped in Paradise,” “Coming Unglued,” and “Seduction of a Small Town.” She has also done voice work on television, having been heard as the character of Lana Lang in the animated series “Superman” from 1996 – 2000.
She recently starred as the brash and sardonic Joy Stark, long-suffering wife in a 20-year marriage, who, together with husband Eddie (Brad Garrett), have been through it all - and still survived - in the Sony Pictures Television’s original comedy series ‘TIL DEATH for FOX.
Fisher is passionate about making the world a better place and works closely with children’s and AIDS charities. After an incredible journey to Mozambique, Joely has been named the new ambassador for Save the Children Worldwide.
She is also the Celebrity Ambassador for The Dream Foundation, the only national organization granting dreams to terminally ill adults when research and medicine can no longer help.
Fisher received her education at Emerson College in Boston and Paris Sorbonne University. She is married to cinematographer/director Christopher Duddy and they have five children. Their magical modern family includes Cameron, Collin, Skylar, True, and the recently adopted Olivia Luna.
