Annie Golden

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Annie Golden
Born (1951-10-19) October 19, 1951 (age 72)
New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1975–present
Known forOrange Is the New Black

Annie Golden (born October 19, 1951)[1] is an American actress and singer. She first came to prominence as the lead singer of the punk band the Shirts from 1975 to 1981 with whom she recorded three albums. She began her acting career as Mother in the 1977 Broadway revival of Hair; later taking on the role of Jeannie Ryan in the 1979 film version of the musical. Other notable film credits include Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Baby Boom (1987), Longtime Companion (1989), Strictly Business (1991), Prelude to a Kiss (1992), 12 Monkeys (1995), The American Astronaut (2001), It Runs in the Family (2003), Adventures of Power (2008), and I Love You Phillip Morris (2009).

Golden is best known for portraying mute Norma Romano in the Netflix comedy-drama streaming television series Orange Is the New Black from 2013 to 2019. In 1985–1986 she appeared as the recurring character Tommy in Miami Vice, and from 1989 to 1992 she portrayed the recurring role of Margaret O'Keefe on the classic sitcom Cheers. She has appeared as a guest star on several television programs, including American Playhouse, Dear John, Father Dowling Mysteries, High Maintenance, Law & Order, and True Blue among others.

She currently stars as Cinderella's Mother, Granny, and the Giant's Wife in the 2022 Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods .[2]

Early life[edit]

Golden was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York.[1] She sang in school and church choirs as a child. Her father, a Teamster,[3] died at age 52 and her mother died in 1974, at the age of 42. Golden on her family: "My mom never saw me do anything." She said that she "had no training."[4] When she met Art LaMonica in 1971, he invited her to join his group called Lackeys & Schemers.[5]

Career[edit]

Music[edit]

Golden began her career as the lead singer of the Shirts.[3] The band headlined CBGB in the late 1970s and recorded 3 albums for Capitol Records, The Shirts (1978), Street Light Shine (1979) and Inner Sleeve (1980). During the early 1990s she performed as part of the duo Golden Carillo with Frank Carillo. They released three albums, Fire in Newtown (1992), Toxic Emotion (1994), and Back for More (1997).[6] She returned to the Shirts, but she has also performed solo and with a band. In 1984, her song "Hang Up the Phone" was featured on the soundtrack of the film Sixteen Candles.[7] She performs a revue of songs from her stage career along with originals called Annie Golden's Velvet Prison.[8] Golden appeared at Phish's New Year Eve concert on December 31, 2023, where she portrayed the grandmother of the character Jimmy from the song "Harpua" during a performance of their Gamehendge song cycle.[9][10]

Film and TV[edit]

While with the Shirts, Golden was discovered by Miloš Forman, who gave her a part in Hair.[3] She had featured roles on the television series Cheers and Miami Vice. Golden was the voice of Marina in the Don Bluth animated feature film The Pebble and the Penguin. She played a taxi driver in Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys (1995), wherein she had a scene with Bruce Willis and Madeline Stowe.

In recent years, she has been seen in commercials for Coinstar, in which she portrays the Tooth Fairy. She appears in the musical film Temptation with actor Adam Pascal, Tony Award winners Alice Ripley and Anika Noni Rose, and film actress Zoe Saldana and in 2009 had a small role in I Love You Phillip Morris with actors Ewan McGregor and Jim Carrey, playing a simple woman requiring legal assistance.[7]

In 2013, she began playing the role of the nearly mute Norma Romano in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black, for which she won a 2015 Screen Actors Guild Award (along with the rest of the ensemble cast).[4][7]

Stage[edit]

On Broadway, she has appeared in the 1977 revival of Hair, Leader of the Pack (1985), Ah, Wilderness! (1988), On the Town (1998), and The Full Monty (2000). She had the title role in the workshop of the short-lived adaptation of Stephen King's novel Carrie. She also played the role of Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme in Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's musical Assassins during its world premiere at Playwrights Horizons in New York City in 1990–1991, and is featured on the cast recording of it, on the RCA label.[11] In 2003 she joined other original off-Broadway cast members in a Reprise! (Los Angeles) concert production of Assassins.[12] In 2007, she was stand-by for the two comic villain roles in the musical Xanadu on Broadway.[1]

She played Lucy Schmeeler, the whiny friend with the chronic cold, in the off-Broadway Public Theater production at the Delacorte Theater of On the Town in August 1997. She also appeared in the lab production of the musical Hit the Lights! in 1993 at the Vineyard Theatre.[13]

Golden has appeared in three separate versions of Hair: a Broadway revival in 1977, the motion picture in 1979 and a special benefit performance concert in 2004. Golden starred with Peter Scolari in the world premiere of The Nutcracker and I from November 29 to December 31, 2011, at the George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Comically playing the Sugar Rush Fairy (and three other roles) in this musical comedy featuring the music of Tchaikovsky and lyrics by Gerard Alessandrini, she and Scolari were compared in one review to the team of Imogene Coca and Sid Caesar.[14]

Golden appeared in the musical Violet starring Sutton Foster on Broadway in 2014.[15]

From May 4-15, 2022, Golden appeared as Cinderella's Mother/Granny/Giant's Wife in the Encores! production of Into the Woods at the New York City Center. The production transferred to the St. James Theatre on Broadway, opening on June 28, 2022. Golden stayed with the production until its closing on January 8, 2023.

Since 2005, Golden has frequently appeared in stage concerts for composer Joe Iconis. She starred in the Barrington Stage Company production of his Broadway Bounty Hunter,[16] with the book by Iconis, Lance Rubin and Jason "Sweettooth" Williams, directed by Julianne Boyd, which opened on August 13, 2016.[17][18] This role was written by Iconis for Golden; he said of Golden: "She's essentially playing a fictionalized version of herself, so she's been so helpful... Her personality has imbued the whole spirit of the show."[19] The Variety reviewer wrote: "Golden does woebegone really well....Surprisingly, however, the show underserves its star... except for a rousing, climactic paean to “the blood... back in my veins,” the material isn't there... There's only limited chance to see her take full command of stage and story."[20] The Boston Globe called the musical "rowdy, funny, cheerfully cockeyed."[21] A concert version of Broadway Bounty Hunter, starring Golden, was presented at Joe's Pub in New York City on September 26, 2016.[22] She starred in Broadway Bounty Hunter at the off-Broadway Greenwich House Theater in July 2019.[23]

Acting credits[edit]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Director Notes
1979 Hair Jeannie Ryan Miloš Forman
1985 Desperately Seeking Susan Band Singer Susan Seidelman
Key Exchange Val Barnet Kellman
Streetwalkin' Phoebe Joan Freeman
Hometown Kim Friedman TV series (1 episode)
1985–86 Miami Vice Prostitute at police station (Episode The Prodigal Son).

Tommy

Paul Michael Glaser, Craig Bolotin & John Nicolella TV series (3 episodes)
1986 Class of '86 Jerry Adler
American Playhouse Caroline Luis Soto TV series (1 episode)
Down to Earth Starr Gardner Russ Petranto TV series (1 episode)
1987 Forever, Lulu Diana Amos Kollek
Love at Stake Abigail Baxter John Moffitt
Baby Boom Nanny Charles Shyer
1989 Longtime Companion Heroin Addict Norman René
Dear John Sylvia John Rich TV series (1 episode)
True Blue Connie Tollin William A. Graham & George Mendeluk TV series (2 episodes)
1989–92 Cheers Margaret O'Keefe James Burrows TV series (4 episodes)
1990 Father Dowling Mysteries Florence Galthworthy Ron Satlof TV series (1 episode)
1991 Strictly Business Sheila Kevin Hooks
1992 This Is My Life Marianne Nora Ephron
Prelude to a Kiss Tin Market Musician Norman René (2)
1995 The Pebble and the Penguin Marina Don Bluth & Gary Goldman
12 Monkeys Woman Cabbie Terry Gilliam
1996 One Way Out Eve Kevin Lynn
1997 Arresting Gena Sally Hannah Weyer
My Divorce The middle sister Andrea Clark
1998 Barriers Phil Alan Baxter
1999 Law & Order Frances Padden Constantine Makris TV series (1 episode)
Third Watch Amber Gastin Christopher Chulack TV series (1 episode)
2001 The American Astronaut Cloris Cory McAbee
Mourning Glory Mediator Barrett Esposito
Third Watch Crazy Woman Jesús Salvador Treviño TV series (1 Episode)
2002 Delayed Sarah Charles Ricciardi
2003 It Runs in the Family Deb Fred Schepisi
Trouble in Paradise Dolores Dave Coleman Short
2004 Messengers Alice Farmer Philip Farha
Temptation Nora Mark Tarlov
2005 Tom and Francie Francie Patrick Michael Denny
Live at Five Annie Averie Storck Short
2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Varla Arthur W. Forney TV series (1 episode)
2007 Brooklyn Rules Dottie Michael Corrente
Sexina: Popstar P.I. Vera's Mom Erik Sharkey
2008 Adventures of Power Farrah Ari Gold
2009 I Love You Phillip Morris Eudora Mixon Glenn Ficarra & John Requa
2009–10 Wiener & Wiener Deena Dante Russo TV series (4 episodes)
2012 The Trouble with Cali Mrs. Katie Saperstein Paul Sorvino
NYC 22 Unmarried Woman Martha Mitchell TV series (1 episode)
2013–2019 Orange Is the New Black Norma Romano Several TV series (32 episodes)
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2015 American Songbook at NJPAC David Stern TV series
2016 Miles Rhonda Roth Nathan Adloff
2017 Difficult People Flipper Jeffrey Walker TV series
2018 One Dollar Craig Zobel TV series
2019 High Maintenance Barbie Katja Blichfeld TV series (1 episode)
2020 Run Marjorie Kate Dennis TV series (1 episode)
2022 New Amsterdam Kate Carnegie Michael Slovis TV series (1 episode)
Evil Traci Peter Sollett TV series (1 episode)
2023 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Marge Daniel Palladino, Amy Sherman-Palladino & Scott Ellis TV series (3 episodes)

Theatre[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Hair Mom
1982-87 Little Shop of Horrors Audrey
1985 Leader of the Pack Angie
1988 Ah, Wilderness! Belle
1990-91 Assassins Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme
1995 The Sugar Bean Sisters Videlia Sparks
1997 On the Town Lucy Schmeeler
1998-99
2000 An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf Mimi
2000-02 The Full Monty Georgie
2004 Mimi le Duck Miriam
Hair
2005 Rag and Bone Hooker
Cinderella Fairy Godmother
2006 Mimi le Duck Miriam
2007-08 Xanadu Calliope, Melpomene (u/s)
2009 Citizen Ruth Jesse Dove
Xanadu Aphrodite/Calliope
2010 The Bikinis Annie
2011 The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World Annie Wiggin
Xanadu Aphrodite/Calliope
The Common Swallow Corinthia
The Nutcracker and I Sugar Rush Fairy/Mother
2012 Disaster, A 1970's disaster movie… musical Shirley
We Play For The Gods Maria
2013 Good Person of Szechwan 1st God
Marry Harry Debby
2014 Violet Old Lady 1/Hotel Hooker
2016 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Mrs. Lovett
2019 Damn Yankees Doris
2022-23 Into the Woods Cinderella’s Mother/Granny/Giant’s Wife Encores!
Broadway

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Annie Golden". IBDb.com. Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  2. ^ Alexis Soloski (July 10, 2022). "'Into the Woods' Review: Do You Believe in Magic?". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b c Kessler, Judy (September 17, 1979). "Annie Golden Finds Her Music with the Shirts Knits Up the Raveled Sleeve of 'Hair'". People.
  4. ^ a b Karras, Steve. " 'Orange is the New Black' ‘s Annie Golden" Huffington Post, June 12, 2014
  5. ^ "Annie Golden Biography" allmusic.com, accessed July 30, 2016
  6. ^ "Annie Golden Biography". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "Annie Golden". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  8. ^ Simonson, Robert (August 13, 2001). "Annie Golden Goes to Prison at Joe's Pub, Aug. 13". Playbill. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  9. ^ "Phish, Sunday 12/31/2023, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY". Phish.net. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  10. ^ "Phish Perform "Gamehendge" for the First Time Since 1994 at MSG". Jambands. January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  11. ^ "'Assassins', 1990–1991". lortel.org. Internet Off-BroadwayDatabase. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  12. ^ Hernandez, Ernio. "Original Off-Broadway Cast Members Reprise Assassins Roles for L.A.'s Reprise!" Archived March 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, August 27, 2003
  13. ^ "Hit The Lights!". lortel.org. Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on October 1, 2006. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  14. ^ Rendell, Bob. "Nutty Nutcracker A Musical Comedy Divertissement". TalkinBroadway.com. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  15. ^ Purcell, Carey. "Alexander Gemignani, Annie Golden and More Will Join Sutton Foster, Joshua Henry, Colin Donnell in Violet" Archived July 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, February 13, 2014.
  16. ^ "In Development". mrjoeiconis.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  17. ^ "Annie Golden to Lead Joe Iconis' Broadway Bounty Hunter at Barrington Stage" broadwayworld.com, July 20, 2016
  18. ^ Viagas, Robert. "Annie Golden's New Musical 'Broadway Bounty Hunter' Cancels First Preview" Playbill, August 12, 2016
  19. ^ Clement, Olivia. "Why Joe Iconis Had to Write a Musical for Annie Golden" Playbill, August 19, 2016
  20. ^ Verini, Bob. "Regional Theater Review: ‘Broadway Bounty Hunter’" Variety, August 22, 2016
  21. ^ Aucoin, Don. " 'Broadway Bounty Hunter' is a wild ride at Barrington Stage" Boston Globe, August 22, 2016
  22. ^ Gioia, Michael. " 'Broadway Bounty Hunter', Starring Annie Golden, Heads to Joe's Pub" Playbill, September 26, 2016
  23. ^ Clement, Olivia. "Brad Oscar, Alan H. Green, and More to Join Annie Golden in 'Broadway Bounty Hunter' Off-Broadway" Playbill, April 23, 2019

External links[edit]