Snobby, snooty and superior might describe her best-loved character in Newhart, but it’s far from the truth as far as Julia Duffy’s concerned. The actress has starred in iconic sitcoms like Designing Women, detailed her acting ‘failures’ in her 2018 memoir Bad Auditions and raised two children who followed her into show business.
Read on to find out more about the actress’ career, blissfully happy marriage and her two talented children.
© Getty ImagesJulia got her start in the early ’70s on TV hits like ‘Love of Life’ and ‘The Doctors’
Who is Julia Duffy?
Born on 27 June 1951 in Minnesota, Julia Duffy got her start on soap opera Love of Life in 1972. She followed it up with a long-running role in romantic TV drama The Doctors for several years.
The seven-time Primetime Emmy nominee is likely best known for roles on sitcoms like Newhart as Stephanie Vanderkellen and Designing Women as Allison Sugarbaker.
© CBS via Getty ImagesThe snooty Stephanie Vanderkellen was a fixture and favourite for viewers of ‘Newhart’
Eighties stardom
Julia Duffy is best recognised for her role as the spoiled and snooty Stephanie Vanderkellen on Newhart between 1983 and 1990, which earned her seven Primetime Emmy nominations.
Following her time on Newhart, Julia joined the Designing Women cast as Allison Sugarbaker, cousin to Julia and Suzanne, and became a partner at the firm.
© Getty ImagesJerry Lacy is best-known for roles in ‘Dark Shadows’ and ‘Play It Again, Sam’
Marriage to Jerry Lacy
Born on 27 March 1936, Gerold LeRoy Lacy is best known for his time on TV classic Dark Shadows, his various roles including Tony Peterson, Reverend Trask and Lamar Trask. He also worked on comedy Play It Again, Sam (1972) and thriller Doctor Mabuse (2013).
Julia and Jerry wed in 1984 and have been happily coupled up since. The couple share two children, son Danny and daughter Kerry Kathleen.
© AFP via Getty ImagesKerry is the oldest child of Julia and Jerry
Kerry Kathleen Lacy
Kerry Kathleen Lacy was born on 29 April 1986, the eldest of Julia and Jerry’s two children and has clearly inherited her parents’ creative talent, working in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
She has been credited as an actress on 2018 short Viola and 2021 action-comedy Artist Unknown. Kerry was also credited as a production designer on Artist Unknown, alongside projects like 2021 series Strut and 2017 series Royally.
© FilmMagic via Getty ImagesDanny was the youngest child of Julia and Jerry
Danny Lacy
Julia Duffy and Jerry Lacy welcomed their only son Danny on 19 August 1989. Like his sister, Danny pursued a career in entertainment, working on films like Crack-Duck (2014), Correcting Christmas (2014) and Elijah’s Ashes (2017).
He also co-authored and illustrated At Least You’re Not These Monsters. Danny sadly passed in 2019.
© Getty ImagesJulia hasn’t left the work of acting behind and humorously detailed her past ‘failures’ in a 2018 memoir
Where is she now?
Julia is still acting today and has taken on several recent projects including TV mystery The ‘Burbs and Primetime Emmy-winning dark comedy Palm Royale.
The 74-year-old actress released memoir Bad Auditions in 2018, detailing the unsuccessful auditions throughout her career as a beacon of hope for aspiring actors.
