Jane Wagner (born February 26, 1935) is an American writer, director and producer. She is Lily Tomlin's comedy writer, collaborator, and wife.

Early life and education

Wagner was born and raised in Morristown, Tennessee, where she developed an interest in writing. She attended Morristown High School, where she wrote for the school newspaper. At 17, she moved from East Tennessee to New York City, where she studied painting and sculpture at the School of Visual Arts and pursued an acting career.

Career

Early in her life, she toured with the Barter Theatre of Abingdon, Virginia, and later became a designer for such firms as Kimberly-Clark and Fieldcrest. She made her writing debut with the CBS afternoon special J.T. (1969), for which she won the Peabody Award — and drew the attention of Tomlin, who was looking for someone to help develop the Laugh-In character Edith Ann. It was the beginning of a collaboration that continues to this day. Wagner has been nominated for Grammy Awards, with Tomlin, for the comic's recorded albums and has won three Emmy Awards and a Writers Guild of America award, also with Tomlin, for the comic's television specials. She wrote and directed Moment by Moment, starring Tomlin and John Travolta, and wrote The Incredible Shrinking Woman, which starred Tomlin. The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe won Wagner a Special Award from the New York Drama Critics' Circle and a New York Drama Desk Award. The film adaptation of the play brought Wagner a Cable ACE Award. Wagner won a second Peabody for the ABC special, Edith Ann's Christmas: Just Say Noel (1996). Since its launch in 2008, Wagner has been a contributor to wowOwow.com, a website for women to discuss culture, politics and gossip.

Honors, awards and nominations

Annie Award 1997: nominated – Best Individual Achievement: Writing in a TV Production – Edith Ann's Christmas: Just Say Noel Drama Desk Award 2001: nominated – Outstanding Revival of a Play – The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe 1986: won – Unique Theatrical Experience – The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe Emmy Award 1993: nominated – Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special – The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe 1981: won – Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program – Lily: Sold Out 1981: nominated – Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Program – Lily: Sold Out 1976: won – Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special – The Lily Tomlin Special 1976: nominated – Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Special – The Lily Tomlin Special 1974: won – Outstanding Writing in Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music – Lily Peabody Award 1996: won – Edith Ann's Christmas: Just Say Noel 1970: won – J.T. Tony Award 2001: nominated – Best Revival of a Play – The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe Lambda Literary Award 2020: won – Lambda Literary Visionary prize

Personal life

Wagner met her future wife, writer Lily Tomlin, in March 1971. After watching the after-school TV special J.T. written by Wagner, Tomlin invited Wagner to Los Angeles to collaborate on Tomlin's comedy LP album And That's The Truth. On December 31, 2013, Wagner and Tomlin married in a private ceremony in Los Angeles after 42 years together.

Works and publications