Honestly, if you try to pin down exactly what makes Lily Tomlin a legend, you’re going to be at it for a while. She isn't just a comedian or an actress; she’s basically a human library of characters. From the moment she snorted her way into the American consciousness as Ernestine the telephone operator, she changed the rules. Most people know the big hits, but the sheer depth of Lily Tomlin movies and TV shows is actually kind of staggering when you look at the timeline.
She’s been working since the 1960s. Think about that. She’s transitioned from variety show sketches to Oscar-nominated dramas, voiced the most famous science teacher in history, and then basically reinvented the "streaming era" sitcom alongside Jane Fonda. She’s one of the few performers who feels just as relevant to a boomer as she does to a Gen Z kid who grew up watching Ms. Frizzle.
Why 9 to 5 Still Rules the Conversation
You can't talk about her filmography without starting at the office. 9 to 5 (1980) wasn't just a funny movie about three women kidnapping their "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" of a boss. It was a cultural earthquake. Lily played Violet Newstead, the hyper-competent office manager who kept getting passed over for promotions by men she’d literally trained.
The chemistry between Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton wasn't a fluke. They genuinely clicked. It’s funny because, originally, the movie was supposed to be a serious drama about the plight of clerical workers. It was Lily and the team who realized that making people laugh was a much better way to get them to listen to the message.
And boy, did they.
Even now, forty-plus years later, that movie is the gold standard for workplace comedies. It’s weirdly prescient. We’re still talking about the same stuff—equal pay, harassment, the soul-crushing nature of a cubicle. Every time someone watches it for the first time on a streaming service, they’re shocked by how "current" it feels.
The Characters You Might’ve Forgotten (But Shouldn’t)
Before the big movies, there was Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. This is where she built her foundation. If you’ve never seen a clip of Ernestine, you’re missing out on a masterclass in physical comedy. "One ringy-dingy... two ringy-dingies..." That snort? Iconic.
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But then there was Edith Ann.
Imagine a grown woman sitting in a giant rocking chair, playing a five-and-a-half-year-old who tells deep truths about her dysfunctional family. "And that’s the truth," followed by a tongue-out raspberry. It was surreal. It was hilarious. And it showed that Lily could do more than just tell jokes—she could inhabit a person’s entire soul.
The Big Screen Shifts
In 1975, Robert Altman cast her in Nashville. This was a pivot. Most people expected her to do something wacky, but instead, she played Linnea Reese, a gospel-singing mother of two deaf children. She was nominated for an Academy Award for it. It proved she had "serious" chops.
- All of Me (1984): She co-starred with Steve Martin. She played a dying heiress whose soul accidentally ends up inhabiting one half of Steve Martin’s body. The physical comedy here is nuts.
- Big Business (1988): She teamed up with Bette Midler. They played two sets of identical twins separated at birth. It’s a classic 80s farce, but the timing is so sharp you could cut glass with it.
- The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (1991): This started as a stage play written by her wife, Jane Wagner. It’s a one-woman tour de force where Lily plays a dozen different people. It’s arguably her greatest artistic achievement.
The Magic School Bus and the Voice of a Generation
Let’s be real: for an entire generation, Lily Tomlin is Ms. Frizzle.
From 1994 to 1997, she voiced the eccentric teacher on The Magic School Bus. She brought this frantic, joyous energy to science. She made kids want to "take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!" It’s one of those roles that stays with you forever. Even when the show was rebooted as The Magic School Bus Rides Again, she came back as Professor Frizzle.
It’s a different kind of legacy. It’s not about box office numbers; it’s about being the voice inside a kid's head telling them that learning is actually an adventure.
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The Grace and Frankie Era
Then came the Netflix years. Grace and Frankie (2015–2022) is one of the longest-running original series on the platform for a reason. It took the 9 to 5 dynamic and updated it for the 21st century. Lily played Frankie Bergstein, the weed-smoking, vibrator-inventing, eccentric artist who has to move in with her straight-laced rival (Fonda) after their husbands reveal they’re in love with each other.
It was revolutionary.
Television usually treats women over 70 as either "the sweet grandma" or "the bitter crone." Lily and Jane refused that. They showed women who were sexual, ambitious, angry, and incredibly funny. They tackled aging with a bluntness that most Hollywood executives are terrified of.
The show ran for seven seasons. 94 episodes. It’s a massive body of work that introduced her to a whole new demographic. People who weren’t even born when 9 to 5 came out were suddenly obsessed with Frankie’s kaftans and her "shroom" induced wisdom.
Beyond the Lead Roles: Guest Spots and Hidden Gems
Lily is a total pro at the "prestige" guest spot. You’ve probably seen her pop up in things and thought, Wait, is that Lily Tomlin? 1. The West Wing: She played Deborah Fiderer, the President’s secretary after Mrs. Landingham passed away. She was the only person who could go toe-to-toe with Martin Sheen’s Josiah Bartlet and win.
2. Damages: She took a dark turn as Marilyn Tobin in a season that was basically a fictionalized version of the Madoff scandal.
3. Orange County: She has a tiny, hilarious role as a high school guidance counselor who accidentally ruins a student's life because she can't find his transcript.
4. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Yes, that was her as Aunt May! A much tougher, cooler version of the character than we’re used to.
Moving On and 80 for Brady (The Recent Hits)
Lately, she’s been leaning into the "ensemble of legends" vibe. In 2023, she did 80 for Brady with Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field. It’s exactly what it sounds like: four friends going to the Super Bowl. It’s pure comfort food.
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But then there’s Moving On (2022), which is much sharper. She and Jane Fonda play two old friends who reunite at a funeral and decide to kill the widower because of something he did decades ago. It’s dark, it’s dry, and Lily is absolutely brilliant in it. She has this way of delivering a line—just a look or a slight tilt of the head—that says more than a three-page monologue.
What to Watch First
If you’re new to the world of Lily Tomlin movies and TV shows, don't just dive in at random. You’ve gotta see the evolution.
Start with 9 to 5. It’s mandatory. Then, check out her solo special The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe to see the actual genius at work. If you want something cozy, start Grace and Frankie from the beginning.
She’s 86 now, and she isn't slowing down. She’s still out there doing stand-up and developing new projects. There’s something deeply inspiring about that. She never "retired." She just kept finding new ways to make us laugh and, occasionally, make us think about what it actually means to be human.
Next Steps for the Tomlin Fan:
- Audit her early work: Look for clips of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In on YouTube to see where characters like Ernestine began.
- Watch the Robert Altman films: Nashville and A Prairie Home Companion show her range beyond pure comedy.
- Explore her voice work: Beyond The Magic School Bus, listen for her in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to see how she brings personality to animation.