Ann Jillian
A three-time Emmy Nominee and Golden Globe award winning actress, singer and motivational speaker, Ann Jillian's prowess extends from the world's concert halls to feature film to the Broadway stage she has starred in over 25 TV movies, and hundreds of other TV appearances. Her TV movie, The Ann Jillian Story which recounted her victory over breast cancer, was the #1 film of the TV season, but more importantly, it delivered Ann's message about the hopeful side of breast cancer to it's millions of viewers. Ann's latest appearance came when she starred in episode #608 of the program, Touched by an Angel. With the birth of her son after cancer, she is now a "Working Mom," in addition to being President of her own production company, 9 J.
Ann's interest in show business began at age six when her parents moved to L.A. After appearances on Art Linkletter's TV shows, she obtained an agent. On her tenth birthday, she won the role of "Little Bo Peep" in Walt Disney's Babes In Toyland. A year later she played "Dainty June" in the film musical Gypsy. Ann obtained a scholarship to the L.A. Civic Light Opera, where she studied acting and music.
Ann's very productive TV career started when she was in her teens, co starring in Ben Casey, Twilight Zone, Hazel, and Walt Disney's Wonderful World Of Color. Ann Jillian has starred in ABC's It's A Living as "Cassie," the blond wise-cracking waitress, and on NBC's Jennifer Slept Here, as well as in her own The Ann Jillian Series.
She made her Broadway debut in the original company of the hit musical Sugar Babies with Mickey Rooney in 1979. Afterwards, Ann headed straight for Hollywood.
In 1988 Ann won the Best Actress Golden Globe Award for starring in The Ann Jillian Story, which also received two EMMY nominations. Ann's career also includes EMMY nominations for her performance in Ellis Island, a 1984 CBS mini series starring the late Richard Burton, and for Mae West, a 1982 ABC TV film with music.
Ann has sung throughout the US and abroad. She has frequently performed with Bob Hope (who says she's his favorite song and dance partner), including his USO shows and his 80th and 90th birthday shows.
Ann is a volunteer for St. Vincents Meals On Wheels and the Disabled American Veterans Hospital visiting program, as well as a lifetime board member of the American Cancer Society and the St. Jude Children's Hospital.
