Wendie Malick

When she was just 22 she left her modeling job to work for Republican Congressman Jack Kemp. A few years later, she realized the adversarial life of DC was not for her and she turned to acting, where she appeared in bit parts across the major networks.

Then, in 1997, she got her big break as the vain and neurotic Nina in the NBC program Just Shoot Me!. After the series ended, she became a television regular, showing her comedy talents in Frasier, Hot in Cleveland, and Billions, amongst others. Despite her busy television career, she proved a reliable character actress in a myriad of diverse films: The American President, Apollo 11, The Emperor's New Groove, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and A Little White Lie.

When asked about her long marriage to her husband, she quipped "I make him laugh and he makes me think."

She is Wendie Malick.

One of my favorite comedy actresses.

Seems like a terrific person, and always delivers in her role.

So much screen presence and natural elegance coming off her, loved watching her in Just Shoot Me growing up. Was my diva even before Karen Walker.

Horrible person according to a friend who worked with her. He blanches when her name is brought up. Apparently it was a pretty bad experience.

She's enough of a gem that I'll eventually fork over $3 to rent her Lifetime film "Deranged Granny" on Amazon.

I love this scene in the comedy Waiting...

Malick and Ryan Reynolds are hilarious

[quote]Horrible person according to a friend who worked with her.

Cuts both ways, asshole.

She never seems to take herself too seriously, which I appreciate

She does a lot of voice work too

My husband did a show with her. She hit on him. He loves telling that story. Often.

Love her in everything she’s done. On his blog, Ken Levine had nothing but praise for her.

I recall Ken Levine saying he directed her in something. He said she was a real pro and a pleasure to work with.

Ha — two simultaneous Ken Levine references!

I thought she got her big break on some HBO show called Dream On?

[quote]to work for Republican Congressman Jack Kemp.

I'm surprised that this tidbit has actually changed my opinion of her.

I still think she does great work and find her entertaining. But, I am now wondering whether she's not an awful person.

Loved her “rivalry” with Susan Lucci on Hot in Cleveland. She was the only person I liked on that show and the only reason I sometimes watched it.

Yes, her first big show was Dream On, and later she hit with Just Shoot Me before Hot in Cleveland.

With guest starring roles everywhere in between.

The show we need is with Malick and Christine Baranski being awful humans to other people.

I'd watch that show.

She was in a gay film. Can't remember the name of it but she played the sister of a late in life gay coming out of the closet and new to the scene.

R15: You do realize that was 50 years ago, right?

She was actually a Democrat (from a staunchly Republican family) at the time she worked in Kemp's office. Kemp was a family friend & offered her a job when she graduated, so she could see what Washington was all about. She was only there a few months. She talks about in this interview:

R18, that would be awesome, a better version of "High Society" that "Absolutely Fabulous" rip-off Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell did a long time ago.

[quote][R18], that would be awesome, a better version of "High Society" that "Absolutely Fabulous" rip-off Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell did a long time ago.

LOL - that's exactly what I was thinking.

I remember her as "Claire", Ally's ex-husband's new wife, in Kate & Ally. As a young gayling I thought she was icy but stylish.

She was Elaine's friend on Seinfeld that had the old fashioned 60s hairdo. That still makes me laugh.

Yes, R25 that was a great episode. Wendy was a physical therapist and Carol Liefer was her receptionist.

Our Wendy had a part on the show Cybil - Season 2, Episode 4 - 'Cybil with an 'S'. It's available on Apple TV+. She played a wacky guest who talked in a weird, high-pitched voice every time Cybil turned the water on in the kitchen.

She was also on the show 'Mom' -not sure what season or episode(s).

I've always liked her - I have the DVD sets of HIC - the outtakes for season 3 are a riot thanks to her.

[quote] She is Wendie Malick.

What a precious little prisspot thing to say!

Wow, had no idea she was in her 70s.

She’s recurring on Young Sheldon as the Dean of the university Sheldon attends. Not a huge part but she makes the most of her exasperated exchanges with Sheldon.

She and Annie Potts both look fab. If Young Sheldon ends I'd like to see a comedy with the two of them.

Saw a picture of her on Twitter walking the picket lines a couple of days ago.

Always thought Wendy and Christine Baranski were the same person

She was extremely funny in Emperor's New Groove (although EVERYONE did a stellar job in that cast). Great (and distinctive) voice.

R25, the delicate genius!

R35 Only Wendie is supposedly a really nice person

[quote]Then, in 1997, she got her big break as the vain and neurotic Nina in the NBC program Just Shoot Me!

As someone else pointed out, I first saw her in HBO's "Dream On" as Brian Benben's ex-wife Judith. I had a crush on Chris Demetral and thought Denny Dillon was funny.

It was the show I watched as a kid to see naked people.

A few months back I saw that clip of Just Shoot Me where Nina flashes the window washer and he falls off the building. Gets me every time.

They should’ve had her play Lucille in the flashbacks on Arrested Development

Just Shoot Me was a very well written show and all of the characters were good. My friends and I still sing "Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot PIEEEE" from when David Cross pretended to be "special" but had the hots for Maya. Nobody would believe her when she said he was faking it.

The first place I ever saw her was on Kate and Allie. She played the new wife of either Kate or Allie's ex husband, if I remember right.

As someone who watched it at the time, I agree that her big break was Dream On.

She got great reviews and quite a bit of attention for that part.

R42, "My pants are tight!" Love that episode (and often quote that line).

R43, (through clenched teeth) "Hello, Claaaaire!"

Have loved her since Dream On. Loved Dream On. Frequently compared spouses of exes who married up the food chain to Judith's never seen husband Richard (Brain Surgeon Olympian Humanitarian etc). Was unsettled by my attraction to Chris Demetral and I mean that in the most complimentary of tawdry ways. And some great Denny Dillon/Doris Roberts stuff that would be cancelled now.

Her character on Frasier was funny too!

Yeah, always remember her as Clare, Allie's (Jane Curtin) arch nemesis and the new wife of her ex. She and Curtin were great in their scenes together and they gave Clare some depth, more than they gave to Charles, Allie's ex.

Wendy is one of those good ol' broads.

I only know her as Grand Chancellor Hageliar.

She did a version of Santa Baby on a charity Christmas CD I have and it's the only version of that song I can stand.

She voices Eda in “The Owl House.” It’s a great show. I’m not a cartoon person, but I love that show. Of course Disney fucked it up at the end, but the early seasons are fantastic.

I remember when she burst on the scene as ex-wife of Mitch Buchannon (and mother of Hobie) on Baywatch.

She won four Cable ACE awards for Dream On back in the day.

She was amazing on Dream On.

I'm watching Hot in Cleveland right now. (Never watched it when it originally aired.) I noticed that Malick gets all the physical comedy. At times it feels like they wrote an episode just around her doing something physical. She has always been really beautiful and elegant. Contrast that to her comedic acting, and you can expect pure fun.

She did a great job playing both twins in the Ann Landers/Dear Abby TV biopic. I haven't seen that since it originally aired. I think I'll rent it tonight.

Nina Van Horn is right up there with Stephanie van der Kellen and Karen Walker as my favorite rich bitch characters who always steal the scene.

Physical comedy is always funnier when done by a beautiful woman. Who would you rather see get a pie in the face...Imogene Coca or Garbo?

Wendie is the voice in the Olive Garden commercials.

When I think of Wendie, I think of never-ending breadsticks and salad.

Dream On was a great show.

They'd add in old film clips to make it funny.

I wonder why it isn't available on Max. It was an HBO original. Same with Tales From The Crypt

She was also in the original Dynasty, the dreadful reunion two-parter.

I’m assuming there are rights issues with all the old film and TV clips they used on Dream On. Probably a nightmare to sort out and impossible to edit around.

R57

I was meh on Hot in Cleveland overall but this one was hilarious.

I would rate Hot in Cleveland an even B, certainly not an A. But it has a lot going for itself. The cast had excellent chemistry. Their acting was gutsy; none of them ever played it safe. They had a surprisingly high number of legacy stars with real comedy chops.

The premise and the stories were by-the-book. But once I started to rather watch it as a variety show with some form of red thread in an episode I was able to appreciate what everybody brought to the table.

Just Shoot Me is so underrated. I loved her guest appearance on Reba. Playing a sports manager in love with Reba.

She’s so lovely, charming and a superb actress. Her comic timing is masterful. She was marvelous as Ann Landers and Dear Abby.

R10 are you man or woman?

R15 working for Jack Kemp is a helluva lot better than the MAGA swamp today.

Love her!! She has excellent comedic timing and her delivery is always flawless.

I’m trying to remember where I read that Jack Kemp was deeply closeted. Or do I have him confused with another politician?

You should have left off deeply. It was an open secret.

[quote]As someone who watched it at the time, I agree that her big break was Dream On.

It also lasted a shocking 6 seasons and had 120 episodes.

Add in the fact she was on Hot in Cleveland and Just Shoot Me and the woman has had three long-running series.

Most actors never get that.

Wendie Malick, Christine Baranski and Lauren Lane (C.C. Babcock in THE NANNY) are 90s sitcom gold.

Nina Van Horn's make up tips.

She had no chemistry with Martin Crane.

Her episode of Seinfeld is hilarious.

If it hasn’t been mentioned before, Just Shoot Me is streaming on Hulu.

I thought she seemed too young and vital for him, r85.

I agree she and Martin didn’t seem like a good match. I enjoyed her as always but their relationship felt a bit forced

She's Arab-American. Just thought I'd throw that in there for those who love to stereotype Arabs as Muzzie extremists.

Comedy Central has the Seinfeld episode 'The Kiss Hello' - w/Wendie Malick and her bomb proof hairdo on - 8:00pm.

Fun trivia - she is missing 2 toes on her left foot.

[quote] Fun trivia - she is missing 2 toes on her left foot.

Ewww! That's not very fun for Wendy.

R77- He was good looking- back in the 1980’s.

I wonder if he was a TOP or a BOTTOM?

Her hairdo(n't) on Seinfeld was a bouffant a la Lady Bird Johnson. I don't think the visual gag of seeing this hair style on a young woman in the 90s packs quite the same punch in hindsight, but this was laugh out loud funny at the time.

She is a really nice person. She was filming a movie in Buffalo and came into the coffee shop I worked in every morning after a run. She was kind and funny. When the movie wrapped and she was leaving town, she hugged us all goodbye!

She put her incredible voice to good use in the old Nickelodeon cartoon Jimmy Neutron, as the evil spy named "Beautiful Gorgeous."

R18 throw in Jessica’s Walker from Arrested Development

Sorry ... I meant that for R96.

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