Concetta Tomei (born December 30, 1945) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Major Lila Garreau on the ABC drama series China Beach (1988–1991) and as Lynda Hansen on the NBC medical drama series Providence (1999–2002).
Early life and education Tomei was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She earned a degree in education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and worked four years as a teacher before deciding to pursue her love of theatre at the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University). She earned a BFA and moved to Houston, Texas, where she worked for the Alley Theatre for two years before moving to New York City. In the Milwaukee area, she studied at Sunset Playhouse with Alan Furlan.
Career Tomei appeared in the original cast of several pioneering Off-Broadway productions, including Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine and Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart. She appeared opposite Kevin Kline in the New York Shakespeare Festival's Richard III (winning New York's Bayfield Shakespearean award for her performance) and starred with David Bowie in the Broadway production of The Elephant Man, continuing in the national tour.
In the 1980s, she moved to California and appeared in many regional theatres, including Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum, the Oregon Contemporary Theatre, and San Francisco's ACT. She was a regular cast member in the TV-series China Beach, which ran from 1988 to 1991. She was also in the cast of the short-lived Madman of the People (1994–95). She appeared in recurring roles in several TV series, including L.A. Law, Falcon Crest, Picket Fences, Max Headroom, and Judging Amy. In 1991 and 1994, Tomei guest appeared in Season 3 Episode 10 of the TV sitcom Wings titled "The Late Mrs. Biggins” and Season 5 Episode 21, titled “Roy Crazy”; in both episodes, she played the former wife of Roy Biggins. She starred in the 1992 miniseries The Burden of Proof. In 1997, she portrayed Minister Odala in Star Trek: Voyager episode "Distant Origin".
She appeared in such television series as 7th Heaven, Touched by an Angel, Second Time Around, The King of Queens, Weeds, Numb3rs, Kitchen Confidential, The Closer, Cold Case, Ghost Whisperer, Nip/Tuck, Rubicon, Necessary Roughness, and Star Trek: Voyager. She appeared in 63 episodes of the NBC television series Providence. In 2005, she appeared in an episode of The King of Queens. In 2017, she appeared in two episodes of The Mick titled "The Grandparents" & "The Matriarch" as Tippy Pemberton, the twisted, abusive grandmother of Sabrina, Chip and Ben.
In 2006, she returned to Off-Broadway with an acclaimed performance in Sarah Ruhl's The Clean House. In 2007, she appeared opposite Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner in a Broadway production of the play Cyrano de Bergerac, which was also recorded and broadcast on PBS's Great Performances in 2009.
She played "Mrs. Crandell" in the cult film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991). She also appeared in the films Murder in Three Acts (1986), The Betty Ford Story (1987) and In Love and War (1987).
Filmography Film +YearTitleRole1991Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Mom1993Twenty BucksSam's Mother1993The Goodbye BirdMiss Van Borins / Doris1997Out to SeaMadge1998Deep ImpactPatricia Ruiz1999The MuseNurse Rennert2002PurposeLily Elias2003View from the TopMrs. Stewart2007The ListMs. Fitch2018ReachDoris
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1982ABC Afterschool SpecialMrs. MixnerEpisode: "Amy & the Angel"1985DoubletakeHazel CarterMiniseries1986DynastyIleneEpisode: "The Warning"1986Falcon CrestDr. Estelle Kramer6 episodes1986Murder in Three ActsJanet CrispTelevision film1986My Sister SamMrs. TragerEpisode: "Teacher's Pet"1987The Betty Ford StoryJan Television film1987In Love and WarDoyen Salsig Television film1987–1988Max HeadroomBlank DominiqueRecurring role1988St. ElsewhereElise PraegerEpisode: "Final Cut"1988–1991China BeachMaj. Lila GarreauMain cast1990, 1992CBS Schoolbreak SpecialElizabeth Henderson2 episodes1990–1993L.A. LawSusan Hauber5 episodes1991, 1994WingsSilvia2 episodes1992The Burden of ProofClara Stern2 episodes1992SistersDiana GottfriedEpisode: "Crimes and Ms. Demeanors"1992–1994Picket FencesEllen McGrath4 episodes1993Civil WarsAssistant District Attorney Episode: "Alien Aided Affection"1994Sin & RedemptionMarina PrestonTelevision film1994BirdlandElizabethEpisode: "Lower Than the Angels"1994Diagnosis: MurderSister ReginaEpisode: "Sister Michael Wants You"1994–1995Madman of the PeopleDelia BucknerMain cast1995KirkSabrinaEpisode: "Educating Kirk"1995The ClientHoney DupreeEpisode: "The Prodigal Father"1996Touched by an AngelKate CarpenterEpisode: "'Til We Meet Again"1996EllenProfessor BassEpisode: "Witness"1996Murder OneJeanette RennickEpisode: "Chapter Eighteen"1997Star Trek: VoyagerMinister OdalaEpisode: "Distant Origin"1997, 1998Murphy BrownDoris Dial2 episodes1999–2002ProvidenceLynda HansenMain cast2003Judging AmyJoanne Collins2 episodes20047th HeavenMrs. HamptonEpisode: "Major League"2005Second Time AroundChristiaEpisode: "The Dinner Party"2005Gone But Not ForgottenRitaTelevision film2005The King of QueensJoyceEpisode: "Catching Hell"2005WeedsCelia's Mother – PatEpisode: "Higher Education"2006NumbersDr. Sarah KempleEpisode: "Protest"2006Kitchen ConfidentialGraceEpisode: "An Affair to Remember"2006The CloserMrs. RawleyEpisode: "The Other Woman"2008Cold CaseViolet GoldingEpisode: "Wednesday's Women"2008Ghost WhispererMargaretEpisode: "Imaginary Friends and Enemies"2008Great PerformancesRoxane's DuennaEpisode: "Cyrano de Bergerac"2010Nip/TuckMaureen AyersEpisode: "Christian Troy II"2010RubiconGeorgina Brant2 episodes2011–2013Necessary RoughnessAngelaRecurring role2016VeepConnie DiBenedettoEpisode: "Congressional Ball"2017The MickTippy Pemberton / Evelyn2 episodes2019Arrested DevelopmentMrs. LivingstonEpisode: "Saving for Arraignment Day"2019Abby'sNemoEpisode: "Rosie's Band"2020Space ForceRep. Pitosi2 episodes2022Going HomeFay HuttonEpisode #1.42026ElsbethLorena Marchukseason 3 episode 19 "Catch and Kill"
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External links
Concetta Tomei discusses animal rescues at Pet360 Concetta Tomei reflects on her years working on the television series China Beach during the show's 25th anniversary reunion at the Paley Center