Jo Anne Worley is a one-of-a-kind comedian, known for her rubber-faced antics, bouffant black hair, and unapologetic stage presence. Born on September 6, 1937, in Lowell, Indiana, she grew up as the third of five children and was always distinct with her loud voice, whether singing or not. Her high school nickname was "school comedienne," foreshadowing her future career.
After graduating in 1955, Jo Anne traveled to the East Coast to pursue her dreams, initially apprenticing with the Pickwick Players. She later transferred to Los Angeles City College and trained at the Pasadena Playhouse. Her professional debut came in a production of "Wonderful Town," followed by appearances in various musicals and revues, including "Carnival," "Second City Review," and "Hotel Passionato."
In 1966, Jo Anne co-starred with Linda Lavin and Paul Sand in the off-Broadway revue "The Mad Show," which caught the attention of talk-show host Merv Griffin. Griffin invited her to appear on his show, and she made approximately 200 appearances, eventually being discovered by producer George Schlatter, who cast her in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In in 1968.
Jo Anne's bold, infectious comic flair made her a crowd-pleaser on the show, and she became a certifiable TV star. She left the show in 1970 to pursue other creative outlets, including on-screen guest appearances, talk shows, variety shows, and game shows. Although she never found a sitcom or another TV vehicle to fully showcase her comedy, she continued to delight audiences in various formats.
With her high-wattage personality, Jo Anne has been compared to Carol Burnett, Carol Channing, and Ethel Merman. She has found a natural fit in musical theater, starring in productions such as "Gypsy," "The Wizard of Oz," "Mame," "The Pirates of Penzance," "Annie Get Your Gun," and "Nunsense." She has also appeared in numerous other shows, including "Grease!," "Call Me Madam," and "Annie."
In 1975, Jo Anne married actor Roger Perry, with whom she had no children. The couple divorced in 2000. In 1989, she returned to Broadway in the original performance of "The Prince of Central Park." Her work over the years has been plentiful, including roles in animated features like "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Goofy Movie."
In recent years, Jo Anne has made sporadic guest appearances on TV shows like "Mad About You," "Caroline in the City," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and "Bones." She has also been active on the lecture circuit, served on the Board of Directors for Actors and Others for Animals, and performed in concert, offering parodies of well-known songs. A culinary enthusiast, she has appeared on the Food Network, whipping up specialties on shows like "Ready Set Cook" and "Chef du jour."
