Seinfeld (1993)
Jennifer Coolidge kicked off her first television appearance with NBC’s sitcom Seinfeld. In the 73rd episode titled “The Masseuse”, the actress plays one of Jerry’s girlfriends, Jodi. As a masseuse that refuses to give her boyfriend a massage, complications start to arise in the relationship. Although this was Coolidge’s breakout role, she was able to showcase her sense of humor so naturally. “I didn’t really have any jobs before that,” Coolidge admitted in a GQ interview. “I only had lies on my resume…I didn’t even have decent clothes to audition in.”
American Pie (1999)
In 1999, Jennifer Coolidge jump started her early career with the sultry role of Stifler’s mom in American Pie. Coolidge continued with supporting character roles in the raunchy comedy series until 2012, where she [once again] played Jeanine Stifler in American Reunion. “‘American Pie was just…it helped my dating life in a way that I can’t ever explain,” Coolidge told Entertainment Weekly. “If I didn’t have that movie, I don’t think… Well, let’s just say it would’ve been a very dull decade.”
Legally Blonde (2001)
Coolidge at the Legally Blonde premiere. Surely you remember Reese Witherspoon teaching Coolidge’s character, Paulette Bonafonté, to bend and snap in the salon in 2001. Serving as Elle Woods’ manicurist and confidante, the actress won viewers over with a few of her most iconic lines from the film. “I’m taking the dog, dumbass!”
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
In 2003, Jennifer Coolidge somehow managed to deliver even more memorable lines in the Legally Blonde sequel Legally Blonde: Red, White & Blonde. “‘You look like the Fourth of July! Makes me want a hot dog real bad,’’ Paulette says to Elle after seeing her in a patriotic outfit. Funny enough, the actress has shared in several interviews that she’s always getting thousands of texts and videos of people recreating the fan-favorite line.
American Wedding (2003)
In 2003, Coolidge celebrated the American Wedding premiere in a glamorous white gown in Universal City, California. And you already know, she played the ultimate “MILF” in her consecutive role of Stifler’s mom.
A Cinderella Story (2004)
Acting alongside Hilary Duff, Coolidge landed the role of Fiona in the classic Cinderella remake, A Cinderella Story. She portrayed the evil and self-obsessed stepmother and really embodied the antagonist role.
During an appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, co-star Hilary Duff shared her thoughts on what it was like working with Coolidge in 2004: “She’s always been a lovely human being but I’m really proud to see her moment. I think it just reminds me that being in this industry, I feel so lucky that anything can happen at any stage.”
For Your Consideration (2006)
Although it may have not achieved Legally Blonde status, Jennifer Coolidge starred in the Christopher Guest comedy For Your Consideration. Coolidge played Whitney Taylor Brown, the heiress of a newbie movie producer. The plot ironically revolves around a group of actors doing whatever it takes in order to create an Oscar-worthy film.
2 Broke Girls (2011)
In 2011, Jennifer Coolidge began playing the recurring role of Sophie Kaczyński in the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls, which ran until its finale in 2017. Killing it in her role as the Polish neighbor with a thick accent, she was promoted to the main cast in season 2.
“Thank U, Next” Music Video (2018)
A moment that revamped Jennifer Coolidge’s career was her cameo in the Legally Blonde-themed scene of Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” music video. Coolidge became her beloved character Paulette Bonafonté in the pop music video, which consisted of lots of bending and snapping.
Coolidge and Grande recently sat down together for a chat for Entertainment Weekly’s Entertainers of the Year issue. “I think if you hadn’t put me in ‘thank u, next,’ and done that imitation, I don’t think I would be here where I am,” Coolidge admits to Grande. “I was kind of flatlining, and you got things going for me.”
Promising Young Woman (2020)
This is the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennel. In 2020, Coolidge switched the blonde to brunette when she booked the role of Susan Thomas, the mother of a 30-year-old dropout that still lives at home with her parents, in the award-winning thriller.
The White Lotus, Season 1 (2021)
There’s no doubt that Mike White’s dark comedy The White Lotus has done wonders for Jennifer Coolidge’s career. The actress portrays Tanya McQuiod, an unstable billionaire who’s traveling alone while grieving the death of her mother. Season 1’s star-studded cast also includes Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Sydney Sweeney, Alexandra Daddario and Jake Lacy.
Although Mike White created the role of a lifetime for Coolidge, she initially had hesitations about the project, which was filmed under COVID-19 restrictions at the time. The star told The New York Times that she “didn’t want to fail” and that her decision to do the show was “a great life lesson: When you want to try to get out of something, maybe it’s the best thing you could be involved in.”
74th Primetime Emmy Awards (2022)
Speaking of Coolidge’s brilliant performance in The White Lotus, she accepted her first-ever Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the awards show this past September. The star made a hilarious, one-of-a-kind acceptance speech (as she usually does), and then started lip singing and dancing on stage when the wrap-up music was queued.
The Watcher (2022)
Jennifer’s performance in the chilling Netflix series The Watcher was certainly a highlight in her career. The series was based on a true story, but Coolidge’s character, real estate maven Karen Calhoun, was fairly fictionalized. Karen held the same energy as many of the characters in Coolidge’s past roles – vain, very glamorous, and a little delusional. Although the plot revolved around a family receiving eerie letters to their new home, the actress’ character always added that much-needed laugh every now and then.
The White Lotus, Season 2 (2022)
We were more than happy to see Coolidge’s veteran character Tanya McQuiod return in Season 2 of Mike White’s hit show. This time, the scene is set in Sicily and Tanya arrives at the resort with her husband in tow, who is played by Jon Gries.
The new season also came with different–but just as impressive– castmates such as Michael Imperioli, Aubrey Plaza, Theo James, and Meghann Fahy. Sadly, it looks like this is the end for our girl.
80th Golden Globe Awards (2023)
Jennifer Coolidge was the talk of the town after the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards. The actress made her first appearance to present the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a TV series, while also joking how nervous she was to be a presenter in the show.
Later on, Coolidge returned to the stage after winning best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a limited series for her role in The White Lotus. She delivered a lengthy, emotional yet hilarious acceptance speech praising director Mike White. “You’ve given me a new beginning,” Coolidge said. “Even if this is the end, you changed my life in a million different ways.”
Shotgun Wedding (2023)
Who knew that we needed this Jennifer collab? Jennifer Coolidge teamed up with Jennifer Lopez for rom-com Shotgun Wedding, which released January 27 on Amazon Prime. While playing J.Lo’s mother-in-law in the film, The White Lotus star could not stop gushing over her co-star.
“Jennifer is beyond being likable,” Coolidge stated at a global press conference. “She’s charming and also very sort of seductive and like, you know, she’s really ripe for this part.” The actress continued on to express how she had such a fun and positive experience while filming the movie. This was the first movie that the two have done together, and we cannot wait to see what other exciting projects the 61-year-old has in store.
