Kelly Bishop

Carole “Kelly” Bishop (born February 28, 1944) is an American actress, who may be best-known for her role as matriarch Emily Gilmore on the series Gilmore Girls. Bishop was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Jane Karen Lenore (née Wahtola, of Finnish origin) and Lawrence Boden Bishop. She grew up in Denver, Colorado, where she trained to be a ballet dancer, attending the American Ballet Theatre School and the San Jose Ballet School. At eightee... more

Carole “Kelly” Bishop (born February 28, 1944) is an American actress, who may be best-known for her role as matriarch Emily Gilmore on the series Gilmore Girls. Bishop was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Jane Karen Lenore (née Wahtola, of Finnish origin) and Lawrence Boden Bishop. She grew up in Denver, Colorado, where she trained to be a ballet dancer, attending the American Ballet Theatre School and the San Jose Ballet School. At eighteen, she headed to New York City and landed her first job dancing in a year-round ballet company at Radio City Music Hall. Bishop continued to dance in Las Vegas, summer stock and on television until she was cast in 1967 in Golden Rainbow, her first Broadway role. Bishop's big break came when she was cast as the sexy, hard-edged Sheila in the Broadway production of A Chorus Line. Her performance earned her the 1976 Tony Award as "Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical)", as well as the 1976 Drama Desk Award for "Outstanding Actress in a... less