Lily Tomlin, born Mary Jean Tomlin in 1939, is a distinguished American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, she began her career as a stand-up comedian in the late 1960s. Tomlin quickly gained recognition with her unique comedic style that often involved creating vivid, quirky characters. Her breakthrough came in 1969 when she joined the cast of the popular television show, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, where her comedic prowess and distinctive character portrayals, including Ernestine the telephone operator and Edith Ann, the philosophical five-year-old, won her widespread acclaim. In the following decades, Tomlin successfully branched out into film and theatre, proving herself as a versatile artist. Her performance in Robert Altman's film Nashville (1975) earned her an Academy Award nomination. She also made waves on Broadway with her one-woman show, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, written by her long-time collaborator and partner Jane Wagner. The show, which debuted in 1985, was a critical success and won Tomlin the Tony Award for Best Actress. Off-stage and screen, Tomlin is known for her activism, particularly supporting feminist and LGBTQ+ causes. Tomlin's contributions to the entertainment industry have been recognized with numerous awards, including multiple Emmys, two Tonys, and a Grammy. In 2003, she was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, acknowledging her significant impact on the world of comedy.