Quinn Cummings
Encyclopedia
Quinn Cummings is an American
inventor, businesswoman, television and film actress, and author best known for her Oscar-nominated
role in Neil Simon's
The Goodbye Girl
and her humorous memoir "Notes From The Underwire" She is currently working on a second book, "The Year of Learning Dangerously", about homeschooling, which is scheduled to come into stores September 2012.
James Wong Howe
. She soon began landing roles in numerous television commercials, eventually winning the role of Marsha Mason's
daughter, Lucy McFadden, in the 1977
film The Goodbye Girl. Cummings' performance was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.
In 1978, Cummings landed a recurring role on the drama series Family
. In 1985, Cummings also appeared in the short-lived ABC
sitcom, Hail to the Chief
, playing the daughter of the first female President of the United States
(played by Patty Duke
).
During the late-1980s, Cummings acted occasionally and worked as a casting agent. In the 1990s, she quit acting because she wasn't comfortable living her life in the public eye and stated that, ..."nobody could conceive of hiring me". She went on to attend UCLA for two years, and had a stint recruiting writers to publish short stories online. Her last acting role was in a 1991 episode of Blossom
.
In February 2005, Cummings created The QC Report , a blog which discusses the ironies of modern life from the point of view of a career-mom in her thirties. It has received numerous recommendations including Newsweek's
BlogWatch pick of the week. Cummings has also appeared in magazines such as Los Angeles Magazine and Good Housekeeping.
Cummings' first book, "Notes From The Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life" was published in July 2009 by Hyperion Books http://www.hyperionbooks.com/author.asp?AUTH_ID=Cummings.
Golden Globe
Young Artist Award
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor, businesswoman, television and film actress, and author best known for her Oscar-nominated
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
role in Neil Simon's
Neil Simon
Neil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that...
The Goodbye Girl
The Goodbye Girl
The Goodbye Girl is a 1977 American romantic comedy-drama film. Directed by Herbert Ross, the film stars Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Quinn Cummings, and Paul Benedict...
and her humorous memoir "Notes From The Underwire" She is currently working on a second book, "The Year of Learning Dangerously", about homeschooling, which is scheduled to come into stores September 2012.
Early career
Quinn Cummings began her career after being discovered by famed cinematographerCinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
James Wong Howe
James Wong Howe
James Wong Howe, A.S.C. was a Chinese American cinematographer who worked on over 130 films...
. She soon began landing roles in numerous television commercials, eventually winning the role of Marsha Mason's
Marsha Mason
Marsha Mason is an American actress and television director.She received four Academy Award nominations as Best Actress for her performances in Cinderella Liberty, The Goodbye Girl, Chapter Two, and Only When I Laugh. She is also known for starring in the 1986 film Heartbreak Ridge.-Life:Mason was...
daughter, Lucy McFadden, in the 1977
1977 in film
The year 1977 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*In the Academy Awards, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight win Best Actor and Actress and Supporting Actress awards for Network....
film The Goodbye Girl. Cummings' performance was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...
and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.
In 1978, Cummings landed a recurring role on the drama series Family
Family (TV series)
Family is an American television drama series that aired on ABC from 1976 to 1980. Creative control of the show was split between executive producers Leonard Goldberg, Aaron Spelling and Mike Nichols...
. In 1985, Cummings also appeared in the short-lived ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
sitcom, Hail to the Chief
Hail to the Chief (TV series)
Hail to the Chief is an American sitcom about the first woman President of the United States, portrayed by Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke...
, playing the daughter of the first female President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
(played by Patty Duke
Patty Duke
Anna Marie "Patty" Duke is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years, she progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely...
).
During the late-1980s, Cummings acted occasionally and worked as a casting agent. In the 1990s, she quit acting because she wasn't comfortable living her life in the public eye and stated that, ..."nobody could conceive of hiring me". She went on to attend UCLA for two years, and had a stint recruiting writers to publish short stories online. Her last acting role was in a 1991 episode of Blossom
Blossom (TV series)
Blossom is an American sitcom broadcast on NBC from January 3, 1991 to May 22, 1995. The series stars Mayim Bialik as Blossom Russo, a teenage girl living with her father and two brothers. It was created by Don Reo.- Synopsis :...
.
Personal life
In June 2000, Cummings gave birth to a daughter. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her daughter and her long-time boyfriend.Recent years
Inspired by the birth of her first child, Cummings created the HipHugger, a sling-type device for carrying a baby. She began selling the HipHugger and was the president of the HipHugger company, before selling the company.In February 2005, Cummings created The QC Report , a blog which discusses the ironies of modern life from the point of view of a career-mom in her thirties. It has received numerous recommendations including Newsweek's
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
BlogWatch pick of the week. Cummings has also appeared in magazines such as Los Angeles Magazine and Good Housekeeping.
Cummings' first book, "Notes From The Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life" was published in July 2009 by Hyperion Books http://www.hyperionbooks.com/author.asp?AUTH_ID=Cummings.
Television
- Big Eddie (Unknown episodes, 1975)
- Jeremiah of Jacob's Neck (1976)
- The Six Million Dollar ManThe Six Million Dollar ManThe Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a former astronaut with bionic implants working for the OSI...
(1 episode, 1976) - Night Terror (1977)
- Visions (1 episode, 1977)
- Intimate StrangersIntimate Strangers (1977 film)Intimate Strangers is a 1977 made-for-tv drama film directed by John Llewellyn Moxey, and written and produced by Richard and Esther Shapiro....
(1977) - Starsky and HutchStarsky and HutchStarsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
(1 episode, 1978) - BarettaBarettaBaretta is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a milder version of a successful 1973–74 ABC series, Toma, starring Tony Musante as chameleon-like, real-life New Jersey police officer David Toma...
(1 episode, 1978) - CBS Library (1 episode, 1980)
- FamilyFamily (TV series)Family is an American television drama series that aired on ABC from 1976 to 1980. Creative control of the show was split between executive producers Leonard Goldberg, Aaron Spelling and Mike Nichols...
(36 episodes, 1978–1980) - The Babysitter (1980)
- DarkroomDarkroom (TV series)Darkroom was an American television thriller series that aired on ABC from November 27, 1981 to January 15, 1982. It was an anthology horror/thriller series, similar in style to Rod Serling's Night Gallery. Each 60 minute episode featured two or more stories of varying length with a new story and...
(1 episode, 1981) - Grandpa, Will You Run with Me? (1983)
- Remington SteeleRemington SteeleRemington Steele is an American television series, co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on the NBC network from 1982 to 1987. The series blended the genres of romantic...
(1 episode, 1984) - Hail to the ChiefHail to the Chief (TV series)Hail to the Chief is an American sitcom about the first woman President of the United States, portrayed by Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke...
(Unknown episodes, 1985) - The Love BoatThe Love BoatThe Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
(1 episode, 1986) - BlossomBlossom (TV series)Blossom is an American sitcom broadcast on NBC from January 3, 1991 to May 22, 1995. The series stars Mayim Bialik as Blossom Russo, a teenage girl living with her father and two brothers. It was created by Don Reo.- Synopsis :...
(1 episode, 1991)
Awards and nominations
Academy Award- Nominated: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, The Goodbye GirlThe Goodbye GirlThe Goodbye Girl is a 1977 American romantic comedy-drama film. Directed by Herbert Ross, the film stars Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Quinn Cummings, and Paul Benedict...
(1978)
Golden Globe
- Nominated: Best Motion Picture Actress in a Supporting Role, The Goodbye GirlThe Goodbye GirlThe Goodbye Girl is a 1977 American romantic comedy-drama film. Directed by Herbert Ross, the film stars Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Quinn Cummings, and Paul Benedict...
(1978)
Young Artist Award
Young Artist Award
The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
- Nominated: Best Young Actress in a Movie Made for Television, Grandpa, Will You Run with Me? (1984)
- Won: Best Young Actress in a Television Series, FamilyFamily (TV series)Family is an American television drama series that aired on ABC from 1976 to 1980. Creative control of the show was split between executive producers Leonard Goldberg, Aaron Spelling and Mike Nichols...
(1981) - Nominated: Best Juvenile Actress in a TV Series or Special, FamilyFamily (TV series)Family is an American television drama series that aired on ABC from 1976 to 1980. Creative control of the show was split between executive producers Leonard Goldberg, Aaron Spelling and Mike Nichols...
(1980)