Biography for
Julia Louis-Dreyfus More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

13 January 1961, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name

Julia Elizabeth Scarlett Louis-Dreyfus

Nickname

Little Yum-Yum (From her Seinfeld co-stars)

Height

5' 2½" (1.59 m)

Mini Biography

Julia Louis-Dreyfus was born on January 13, 1961, in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Her parents divorced when she was still young, and she spent her childhood in Washington, D.C., and New York. She met her husband, Brad Hall, while in college.

She made her feature movie debut in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two children.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Matt Dicker

Spouse

Brad Hall

(1987 - present) 2 children

Trade Mark

Frequently plays feisty characters.

Trivia

Met her husband, Brad Hall, while both were attending Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois). She graduated in 1982.

Two sons Henry (b. 1992) and Charles (b. 1997).

Chosen by People Magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1998]

Both she and her husband, Brad Hall, appeared as part of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" (1975) cast in early 1980s. They are the only husband/wife team to do so.

Daughter of Gerard Louis-Dreyfus, a French billionaire.

Her TV series, "Watching Ellie" (2002), was created for her by husband Brad Hall. They originally wanted it to air commercial free, but that idea was rejected by NBC.

Wears a size 8 1/2 shoe.

In college, she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority.

Performed improv with Chicago's Second City and the Practical Theatre Company, started by her husband, Brad Hall.

Both her parents remarried after their divorce, and she has two half-sisters from her mother's second marriage and two half-sisters from her father's second marriage. She considers both her step-parents to be as important in her life as her biological parents.

Her grandfather, Pierre Louis-Dreyfus, was a member of the French Resistance during WWII, and flew 88 missions for Charles de Gaulle's Free French Air Force.

Fought NBC censors to allow a scene where a man runs around his house completely naked in front of Ellie (Julia's character on "Watching Ellie" (2002)). She won.

Her character on "Seinfeld" (1990), Elaine Benes, did not appear in the original pilot. She has never watched that episode--out of superstition.

Half-sister, Lauren Bowles, acts with her in "Watching Ellie" (2002).

Is included in Richard Roeper's list of actresses who've never done nude scenes in his latest book, "Ten Sure Signs a Movie Character is Doomed, and Other Surprising Movie Lists". When asked about this by Conan O'Brien, Dreyfus stated that she'd never been asked to do one.

It was announced that her TV series, "Watching Ellie" (2002) has been canceled by NBC. Lasting one year, it more than doubled the staying power of fellow "Seinfeld" (1990) alumni Jason Alexander and Michael Richards' TV series, but failed to draw a wide enough audience to warrant renewal. [June 2003]

Was originally slated to play Alison Stern in Private Parts (1997), Howard Stern's biopic. She dropped out to spend more time with her children.

Her second home in Montecito, CA, is solar-powered, radiant-heated, and built from recycled materials.

Is the first, and thus far only, one of the four primary cast members of "Seinfeld" (1990) to have received a Razzie Award nomination. She was nominated for Worst Supporting Actress in 1998 for her performance in the film Fathers' Day (1997). However, she ultimately lost the award to Alicia Silverstone in Batman & Robin (1997).

Chosen by Forbes magazine in 2006 as one of the 10 Hottest Billionaire Heiresses.

She and her future husband, Brad Hall (a year before they were married in 1987) made their feature film debut together as a couple in the fantasy horror movie Troll (1986).

Personal Quotes

"I'm not somebody who really believes in curses, but curse this baby!" - Referring to the so called "Seinfeld curse," in which little or no success has come since the show to the four main actors, upon accepting her Emmy award for "The New Adventures of Old Christine."

Where Are They Now

(August 2004) Appeared in a reading of Arthur Miller's newest play (and first comedy), "Resurrection Blues", in New York.

(October 2005) Appearing on the cover of Home & Country magazine which features an article on homes in Montecito, California where she has a second home.

(2009) Appeared in a commercial for "Healthy Choice".

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