Poker has gained worldwide popularity as a mind sports. The game is played globally by people from diverse backgrounds. Even many famous people from Hollywood love this beautiful game of cards. While the spotlight often falls on iconic actors like Tobey Maguire and Ben Affleck, we hardly hear female celebrities being associated with the poker industry. However, Jennifer Tilly is breaking the stereotype by drawing substantial attention for her poker talent. She is a celebrated actress, voice actor and a renowned poker player, with a net worth of approximately $44 million as of January 2024.
She is an American-Canadian and her first major breakthrough in acting came with her role in the 1994 Woody Allen film “Bullets Over Broadway,” which won her an Academy Award nomination. With an impressive 120 credits, she has achieved immense commercial success in both film and television.
She was lauded for her performances in “Bound” (1996), “House Arrest” (1996), “Liar Liar” (1997), and “The Haunted Mansion” (2003). Her role in Tiffany Valentine in the “Child’s Play” franchise and voicing Bonnie Swanson in “Family Guy” reflect her versatility. Her voice acting in Disney’s “Monsters, Inc.” and its sequel was appreciated globally. Inspired by her boyfriend, Phil Laak, she entered the professional poker in 2004 and her victory in the World Series’ Ladies World Poker Championship in 2005 showcased her poker prowess, adding a new dimension to her portfolio.
Early Life
Jennifer Tilly’s original name was Jennifer Ellen Chan and she was born on September 16, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. Her family included her mother Patricia, a school teacher and former actress, and her father Harry, a car salesman. She had 3 siblings, namely Steve, Meg, and Rebecca. Meg pursued acting and got recognition by winning a Golden Globe for her role in the 1985 film “Agnes of God.”
When she was just 5 years old, her parents separated. Her mother remarried John Ward, who was described by Meg as a “sadistic pedophile.” Rebecca supported Meg’s allegations, but Jennifer did not confirm these statements. The family experienced another turbulent time when Jennifer was 16. Her mother divorced John Ward and the family relocated to Victoria. Jennifer completed her high school studies Belmont High School and got a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Stephens College in Missouri.
Acting Career
Despite the rough childhood, Jennifer was determined to make a name and fame for herself. Jennifer Tilly entered television in 1983, debuting with guest roles on “Oh Madeline” and “Boone.” The late ’80s, saw her make waves on shows like “Remington Steele” (1985), “Cheers” (1986), “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” (1987), and “Moonlighting” (1989). Side by side, she showcased her talent in over 11 films, including “Johnny Be Good” (1988) and “The Fabulous Baker Boys” (1989). Tilly also made her mark on television during that period with TV appearances in “Dream On” (1992) and a lead role on “Key West” (1993), plus films like “Bullets over Broadway” (1994) winning her an Oscar nomination.
In the late ’90s, Tilly took up the role of Tiffany Valentine in the “Child’s Play” franchise, beginning with “Bride of Chucky” (1998). She entered Broadway with “The Women” (2001) and voiced Celie Mae in “Monsters, Inc.” (2001). The mid-2000s saw her lead the cast of CBS sitcom “Out of Practice” (2005-2006) and contribute with films like “Bart Got a Room” (2008). Meanwhile, Tilly kept using Television as a platform to showcase her talents, featuring in guest appearances on “Modern Family” in 2011 and 2014. She also had a guest judging stint on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” way back in 2012.
2012 saw Tilly return to Broadway, earning an Audience Choice Award nomination for he role in “Don’t Dress for Dinner.” The next year she starred in the play “Grasses of a Thousand Colors” at the Joseph Papp Theater. Recent years saw her appear in films like “7 Days to Vegas” (2019) and “Poker Queens” (2020). She also voiced the character of Little Red Riding Hood in an episode of “JJ Villard’s Fairy Tales” (2020). 2021 was a busy year for her with films like “Sallywood,” “High Holiday,” and “Boom”.
Poker Career
Tilly had a prior exposure to poker as her dad also played the sport. This multi-talented lady became interested in the game when her father gave her a copy of the World Series of Poker video game. After relocating to Los Angeles, she delved deeper into poker, receiving guidance from her boyfriend Phil Laak who taught her poker and inspired to play the game professionally. In 2005, Tilly won the WSOP Ladies’ No-Limit Texas hold ’em event, earning $158,625 and he first WSOP r bracelet. The same year, she also won a WPT Ladies Invitational tournament. Tilly clinched a third place on Bravo’s “Celebrity Poker Showdown” in 2006, and was also seen on the tables in GSN’s “Poker Royale” series.
2007 saw her featuring in the “World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions 2007 Edition” video game. Her poker career took a break in 2008 when she announced her retirement from poker to focus more on her acting career. However, she came back in 2010 and in 2014, Jennifer was nominated for Spirit of Poker Living Legend Award. By 2017, Tilly had won over $992,000 in live poker tournaments. As of now, she has more than $1,000,000 in live earnings.
Personal Life
Jennifer married Sam Simon, the co-creator of “The Simpsons,” in 1984 but they separated in 1991. The two maintained a strong friendship even after the divorce. Sadly, Sam passed away from colorectal cancer in 2015. Reflecting on their enduring bond, Tilly said, “Sam was my best friend for thirty years. He was a brilliant man and a great humanitarian. I miss him terribly.” Since 2004, Jennifer has found a friend in Phil Laak, a seasoned poker player and commentator. They met at the 2004 World Poker Tour Invitational, an event that found a winner in Laak and marked their romantic journey.
Jennifer Tilly’s Net Worth
Having had so many TV and film projects alongside poker winnings, you would expect Tilly to have a sizeable net worth. Well, her net worth is now estimated to be around $44 million. Although most of that has come from acting career, she has decent winnings from poker with a little over $1,000,000 in live earnings. Her most recent victory was in the $ 1,000 No Limit Hold’em at 2023 One Step Closer Charity Event where she earned $ 15,200 in top prize. Let us look at her top five tournament cashes:
2005 – 1st place 36th Annual WSOP – $158,625
2010 – 1st place Bellagio Cup VI – $124,455
2013 – 7th place PartyPoker Premier League – $98,000
2008 – 12th place L.A Poker Classic – $61,610
2006 – 15th place Borgata Open WPT – $52,380
So, have you ever seen Jennifer Tilly playing poker? What do you think about her poker prowess? Do you think she would be better off pursuing her acting career than playing poker? Share your thoughts.
Image Credit: WPT
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