Jane Wagner

Jane Wagner was born on February 26, 1935, in Morristown, Tennessee. She developed an interest in writing at a young age and attended Morristown High School, where she contributed to the school newspaper. At 17, she moved to New York City to study painting and sculpture at the School of Visual Arts and pursue an acting career.

Wagner's career began with touring performances with the Barter Theatre and working as a designer for companies like Kimberly-Clark. Her writing debut came with the CBS special *J.T.* (1969), earning her a Peabody Award and attracting Lily Tomlin, leading to their long-term collaboration. Together, they won three Emmy Awards and a Writers Guild of America award. Wagner wrote and directed films such as *Moment by Moment* and authored works like *Edith Ann – My Life, So Far*. Her play *The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe* received numerous awards, including a Drama Desk Award and a Cable ACE Award.

Wagner has received multiple accolades, including two Peabody Awards (1970 and 1996) and a Lambda Literary Award in 2020. She met Lily Tomlin in 1971 after Tomlin saw *J.T.*; they married in 2013 after 42 years together. Wagner's contributions extend to various books, plays, and recordings, often in collaboration with Tomlin. Her academic work includes a thesis on feminist consciousness-raising groups.