Massachusetts Native Jennifer Coolidge to Receive Prestigious Harvard Honor
From Stifler’s Mom to Woman of the Year. Not a bad arc for Boston-born Jennifer Coolidge.
This week, the Norwell native was named Woman of the Year by Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals. According to a release from the organization, the award is “bestowed annually on performers who have made lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment.”
Coolidge is more recently known for her work in HBO’s The White Lotus and the Netflix series The Watcher. However, she is also known for her comedic performances in the American Pie series, as well as the Harvard-set Legally Blonde.
The festivities will take place on February 4, when Coolidge will be honored with a parade through Harvard Square. That evening, a roast will be held in Coolidge’s honor.
Coolidge is a 1985 graduate of Boston’s Emerson College and made guest appearances on a number of '90s sitcoms including Seinfeld, Friends, and Frasier.
On the big screen, she is regular in Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, such as Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration.
Already a beloved figure in comedy, television, and film circles, Coolidge’s portrayal of Tanya McQuoid in The White Lotus earned her an Emmy, Golden Globe, and two Critics Choice awards in 2022.
But it was her performance as the flirtatious Mrs. Stifler that put her on the map in the late-'90s, as American Pie surged at the box office and led to two sequels.
Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk had previously been announced as the Hasty Pudding Man of the Year.