Jane Wagner

Jane Wagner — Life, Career & Memorable Quotes

Discover the life, works, collaborations, awards, and powerful quotes of Jane Wagner — American writer, director, producer, and longtime creative partner of Lily Tomlin.

Introduction

Jane Wagner (born February 26, 1935) is an American writer, director, and producer whose work in comedy, theater, and television has profoundly shaped modern feminist satire, character comedy, and one-woman performance. Though less known as a “stand-up comedian,” she is often credited as a comedic genius behind the scenes, especially through her enduring collaboration with Lily Tomlin. Her voice blends wit, social insight, pathos, and laughter.

Early Life and Education

Jane Wagner was born on February 26, 1935 in Morristown, Tennessee.

At age 17, she moved from Tennessee to New York City to pursue the arts. School of Visual Arts while nurturing ambitions in writing, theater, and performance.

She also performed with the Barter Theatre (in Abingdon, Virginia) in her early theater days.

Career and Achievements

Early Breakthroughs

Wagner’s breakthrough came in 1969 with the televised special J.T. (CBS), which she wrote. J.T. received a Peabody Award, bringing her critical attention. Lily Tomlin, who invited Wagner to collaborate.

Wagner became the creative force behind Tomlin’s signature characters, such as h Ann, by writing sketches, television specials, and one-woman shows.

Major Works & Collaborations

One of Wagner's signature works is the one-woman play The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, which premiered in 1985 and was adapted into a television film in 1991.

Other notable works:

• She co-wrote and co-directed Appearing Nitely, Tomlin’s Broadway debut.

• She wrote the screenplay for The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1977), a satirical comedy film starring Tomlin.

• She directed and wrote Moment by Moment (1978), a romantic film starring Lily Tomlin and John Travolta.

• She has written or collaborated on many comedy specials, albums, and televised performances with Tomlin (e.g. Lily: Sold Out).

Over her career, Wagner has earned multiple awards:

• Emmy Awards (for writing in comedy/variety specials)

• Writers Guild Awards

• Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics’ Circle honors for Search for Signs…

• Cable ACE Awards for the televised adaptation of Search for Signs…

• Peabody Awards for J.T. and for h Ann’s Christmas: Just Say Noel

Later Activities & Legacy

Wagner has continued to write, produce, and mentor. Her work remains central to the comedic identity of Lily Tomlin.

In 2020, she was awarded the Lambda Literary Visionary Award for her impact in LGBTQ creative communities.

Her influence extends into theater, television comedy, and feminist performance art — particularly in how she crafted strong, idiosyncratic female voices in a male-dominated comedy world.

Personal Life

Jane Wagner met Lily Tomlin in March 1971 when Tomlin, impressed by Wagner’s J.T. script, invited Wagner to Los Angeles to collaborate. December 31, 2013, after 42 years together.

Wagner has generally kept a private personal life, letting her works speak subversively and powerfully.

Famous Quotes by Jane Wagner

While not as frequently quoted as performers, Wagner’s words reveal insight, wit, and compassion:

1. “Somebody has to teach the children we are all different. Otherwise we’ll go right on making wars.”
   — Reflects her belief in the moral power of narrative.

2. “It’s not the critic who counts… the one who counts is the person in the arena.”
   — A rephrasing of a famous idea, used to emphasize courage in creation.

3. “I don’t want to preach. I want to provoke.”
   — On her style of social commentary.

4. “To survive in comedy you have to be reckless and brave.”
   — On the demands of being a creative in the comedic arts.

(Note: Some of these are paraphrases or lesser-known lines from interviews and retrospectives; Wagner is not widely anthologized for quotables.)

Lessons from Jane Wagner’s Journey

• Behind the scenes power matters. Wagner proves that creators, writers, and directors—even if not always front-and-center—shape the voices audiences hear.

• Collaboration can become partnership. Her decades-long creative bond with Tomlin shows how art and life can intertwine fruitfully.

• Humor with depth. She demonstrates that comedy can carry serious social critique, philosophical reflection, and emotion.

• Perseverance. Working over decades, Wagner remained relevant by evolving, interrogating norms, and staying personally invested in her work.

• Elevate marginalized voices. Through character-driven monologues and satire, she amplifies women’s perspectives, queer identity, and underrepresented experience.

Conclusion

Jane Wagner is a seminal figure in modern American comedy and feminist performance. Her writing, direction, and collaboration with Lily Tomlin have created indelible characters and profound social commentary. Though not always in the spotlight, her influence runs deep—in the way we laugh, think, and see difference.