History of Tina Fey in Timeline
Tina Fey is a multifaceted American entertainer known for her work as an actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She gained prominence during her time on Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1997 to 2006, where she served as both a cast member and head writer. Following her SNL tenure, Fey created and starred in the acclaimed NBC sitcom 30 Rock and later created the Netflix sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Her career also extends to film, with notable roles in movies such as Mean Girls, Baby Mama, Date Night, Megamind, Muppets Most Wanted, Sisters, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Wine Country, Soul, and A Haunting in Venice. Fey's contributions to comedy and television have solidified her status as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
February 1921: Arrival of Tina Fey's Grandmother in the US
Tina Fey's maternal grandmother, Vasiliki Kourelakou, arrived in the United States in February 1921.
May 18, 1970: Birth of Tina Fey
Tina Fey was born on May 18, 1970, in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania.
1988: High School Graduation
Tina Fey graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1988.
1992: College Graduation
Tina Fey graduated from the University of Virginia in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama.
1994: Begins Dating Jeff Richmond
Tina Fey started dating Jeff Richmond, who later became her husband, in 1994 after joining Chicago's Second City improvisational theatre troupe.
1995: Tina Fey Starts Wearing Glasses
Tina Fey began wearing glasses in 1995, a feature that would later become part of her comedic persona.
1997: Tina Fey Joins SNL as a Writer
In 1997, Tina Fey joined Saturday Night Live as a writer after submitting scripts at Adam McKay's request.
1997: Tina Fey Joins Saturday Night Live
In 1997, Tina Fey joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live after submitting scripts at the request of Adam McKay.
1997: Medieval Madness Voice Acting
In 1997, Tina Fey voiced characters in the pinball game Medieval Madness.
1998: Tina Fey Decides to Lose Weight
After appearing as an extra in a 1998 SNL episode, Tina Fey decided to lose weight.
1999: Deer Avenger 2 Voice Acting
In 1999, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler provided voice work for the video game Deer Avenger 2: Deer in the City.
1999: Tina Fey Becomes SNL's First Female Head Writer
In 1999, Tina Fey became the first female head writer for Saturday Night Live.
2000: Dratch & Fey Off Broadway Show
In 2000, Tina Fey partnered with Rachel Dratch for the well-received Off Broadway show "Dratch & Fey".
2000: Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon Co-Anchor Weekend Update
Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon began co-anchoring Weekend Update on SNL in 2000.
January 2001: Appearance on Real World/Road Rules Extreme Challenge
Tina Fey appeared as a judge on an episode of Real World/Road Rules Extreme Challenge in January 2001.
June 3, 2001: Marriage to Jeff Richmond
Tina Fey married Jeff Richmond, a composer, on June 3, 2001, in a Greek Orthodox ceremony.
2001: Named Entertainer of the Year
In 2001, Entertainment Weekly named Tina Fey one of their Entertainers of the Year for her work on "Weekend Update."
2001: Little Stranger Production Company Formation
In 2001, Tina Fey and Eric Gurian founded the television production company Little Stranger.
2001: Writers Guild of America Award
Tina Fey and the SNL writing staff won a Writers Guild of America Award in 2001 for the show's 25th anniversary special.
2002: Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing
In 2002, Tina Fey and the SNL writing staff won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
2002: Initial Comedy Pilot Proposal
In 2002, Tina Fey pitched a pilot for a comedy series about a cable news network to NBC, which was initially rejected.
2002: Appearance in Martin & Orloff
Tina Fey appeared in the comedy film Martin & Orloff in 2002.
2002: Ranked on Maxim's Hot 100 List
Tina Fey was ranked number 80 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 List in 2002.
May 2003: NBC Contract and 30 Rock Development
In May 2003, Tina Fey signed a contract with NBC, enabling her to continue as SNL's head writer and develop a prime-time project, which eventually became 30 Rock.
2003: Named One of People's 50 Most Beautiful People
People magazine named Tina Fey one of their 50 Most Beautiful People in 2003.
May 2004: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Co-Anchor Weekend Update
Following Jimmy Fallon's departure, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler became the first two women to co-anchor Weekend Update in May 2004.
2004: Mean Girls Release
In 2004, Tina Fey co-starred in and wrote the screenplay for the movie Mean Girls.
2004: Expresses Interest in Filmmaking
In a 2004 interview, Tina Fey expressed her desire to write and direct films.
2004: Continued SNL Work
Tina Fey continued in her role as head writer for SNL through the 2004-2005 television season.
2005: Departure from SNL
In 2005, Tina Fey departed from Saturday Night Live (SNL) to develop 30 Rock.
2005: Continued SNL Work
Tina Fey continued in her role as head writer for SNL through the 2004-2005 television season.
October 2006: 30 Rock Premiere
In October 2006, the pilot episode of 30 Rock aired on NBC, receiving generally positive reviews but placing third in its timeslot.
2006: Tina Fey Creates 30 Rock
After leaving SNL in 2006, Tina Fey created the television series 30 Rock, loosely based on her experiences at SNL.
2006: End of SNL Tenure and 30 Rock Development
In 2006, Tina Fey officially concluded her time at SNL after 117 episodes as co-host of Weekend Update, marking the longest tenure in that role at the time. She transitioned to developing her new show, 30 Rock.
2006: Curly Oxide and Vic Thrill Script
In 2006, Tina Fey worked on a script for Paramount Pictures titled Curly Oxide and Vic Thrill.
2006: Appearance in Beer League
Tina Fey appeared in Artie Lange's Beer League in 2006, earning her SAG card.
August 13, 2007: Sesame Street Guest Appearance
On August 13, 2007, Tina Fey made a guest appearance on Sesame Street.
November 25, 2007: Iron Chef America Guest Judge
On November 25, 2007, Tina Fey appeared as a guest judge on Iron Chef America.
2007: Emmy Nomination and 30 Rock Win
In 2007, Tina Fey received her first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, and 30 Rock won Outstanding Comedy Series.
2007: Listed in Time 100
Time magazine included Tina Fey in their list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2007.
2007: Voice Role in Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Tina Fey voiced the Aqua Teens' mother in the animated film Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters in 2007.
2007: Named One of People's 100 Most Beautiful People
Tina Fey was included in People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People list in 2007.
2007: Time 100 Recognition
Tina Fey was included in the Time 100 list of most influential people in 2007.
2007: Named Entertainer of the Year
Tina Fey was named one of Entertainment Weekly's Entertainers of the Year in 2007.
February 23, 2008: SNL Hosting and Emmy Nomination
On February 23, 2008, Tina Fey hosted Saturday Night Live after the Writers Guild of America strike and received an Emmy nomination for her performance.
September 13, 2008: Sarah Palin Impersonation on SNL Premiere
On September 13, 2008, the 34th season premiere of SNL, Tina Fey impersonated Sarah Palin alongside Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton. The sketch went viral.
2008: Post-2008 Projects
After 2008, Tina Fey took on various roles, including voice work in Ponyo.
2008: One of Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People
Barbara Walters selected Tina Fey as one of the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2008.
2008: Ranked Second Entertainer of the Year
In 2008, Entertainment Weekly ranked Tina Fey as their second Entertainer of the Year.
2008: Tina Fey's Sarah Palin Impersonation
In 2008, Tina Fey gained recognition for her satirical portrayal of Sarah Palin on SNL.
2008: Award Sweep for Fey and 30 Rock
In 2008, Tina Fey won the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Emmy awards for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, and 30 Rock continued its winning streak.
2008: Named One of People's 100 Most Beautiful People
Tina Fey appeared on People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People list again in 2008.
2008: Baby Mama Release
Tina Fey co-starred with Amy Poehler in the comedy film Baby Mama, which was released in 2008.
April 2009: Purchases Apartment in Upper West Side
In April 2009, Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond bought an apartment on the Upper West Side of New York City.
December 2009: Palin Impersonation Acclaim
In December 2009, Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone praised Tina Fey's Sarah Palin impersonation on SNL.
2009: Named One of the Top 15 Entertainers of the 2000s
Entertainment Weekly included Tina Fey in their list of the 15 best entertainers of the 2000s in 2009.
2009: Named One of People's 100 Most Beautiful People
For the third consecutive year, Tina Fey was named one of People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People in 2009.
2009: Appearance in The Invention of Lying
In 2009, Tina Fey appeared in the film The Invention of Lying.
2009: Various Charitable Work and Recognition
In 2009, Tina Fey served as the national spokesperson for the Light the Night Walk, benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She was also named among the Mothers Who Make a Difference by Love Our Children USA.
2009: Appears on Forbes Celebrity 100 List
Tina Fey appeared on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2009.
2009: Listed in Time 100
Tina Fey was again included in Time magazine's 100 most influential people list in 2009.
2009: Time 100 Recognition
Tina Fey was again included in the Time 100 list in 2009.
April 10, 2010: Second SNL Hosting and Emmy Nomination
On April 10, 2010, Tina Fey hosted SNL for the second time, receiving another Emmy nomination.
June 2010: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Announced
It was announced in June 2010 that Tina Fey would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2010: Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
In 2010, Tina Fey received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, becoming the youngest recipient.
2010: Golden Globe Nomination and SAG Award
In early 2010, Tina Fey received a Golden Globe nomination and won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
2010: Appears on Forbes Celebrity 100 List
Tina Fey again made the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2010.
2010: Release of Date Night and Megamind
Tina Fey appeared in the films Date Night and Megamind in 2010.
2010: Date Night and Megamind Release
Tina Fey co-starred in Date Night and voiced a character in Megamind, her most commercially successful film, in 2010.
April 5, 2011: Bossypants Release
Tina Fey's autobiography, Bossypants, was released on April 5, 2011, and received positive reviews.
May 8, 2011: SNL Hosting and Palin Impersonation
Tina Fey hosted SNL on May 8, 2011, and reprised her Sarah Palin impression.
September 2011: Tops Forbes' List of Highest-Paid TV Actresses
Forbes magazine ranked Tina Fey as the highest-paid TV actress in September 2011.
2011: The Secret Life of Girls Narration
In 2011, Tina Fey narrated The Secret Life of Girls, a radio documentary about women and girls.
2011: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In 2011, it was announced that Tina Fey would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2011: 30 Rock Season Premiere Delay
The premiere of 30 Rock's 2011-2012 season was delayed due to Tina Fey's second pregnancy.
2011: Appears on Forbes Celebrity 100 List
Tina Fey appeared on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list for the third consecutive year in 2011.
2011: Bossypants Release
Tina Fey released her memoir, Bossypants, in 2011, which became a New York Times Best Seller.
2012: 30 Rock Returns Midseason
30 Rock returned for its 2011-2012 season midseason after a delay.
2012: Rap Debut and iCarly Appearance
In 2012, Tina Fey made her rapping debut on Childish Gambino's mixtape Royalty and appeared as herself on iCarly.
2012: Appears on Forbes Celebrity 100 List
Tina Fey made her fourth consecutive appearance on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2012.
January 13, 2013: Golden Globe Awards Hosting with Amy Poehler
On January 13, 2013, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the Golden Globe Awards, receiving critical acclaim. They hosted again in 2014 and 2015.
September 28, 2013: SNL Hosting
Tina Fey hosted Saturday Night Live on September 28, 2013.
2013: Crowned "The Once and Future Queen" of TV
Entertainment Weekly called Tina Fey "The Once and Future Queen" of television in 2013.
2013: Admission Release
Tina Fey starred in the romantic comedy-drama Admission in 2013.
2014: Honored at Elle's Women in Hollywood Awards
Elle magazine honored Tina Fey at their Women in Hollywood Awards in 2014.
2014: Muppets Most Wanted Release
Tina Fey appeared in Muppets Most Wanted in 2014.
2014: This Is Where I Leave You Release
Tina Fey starred in the comedy-drama This Is Where I Leave You in 2014.
February 2015: Rolling Stone Accolade
In February 2015, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Tina Fey third in importance among all 141 SNL cast members, crediting her with revitalizing Weekend Update and the show itself.
March 6, 2015: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Premiere
Tina Fey's new comedy series, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, premiered on Netflix on March 6, 2015, to critical acclaim.
April 17, 2015: Monkey Kingdom Release
On April 17, 2015, Tina Fey narrated the Disneynature film, Monkey Kingdom.
July 16, 2015: Emmy Nominations for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
On July 16, 2015, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt received seven Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series and a nomination for Tina Fey for Outstanding Guest Actress.
December 19, 2015: SNL Hosting and Emmy Win
Tina Fey hosted SNL on December 19, 2015, and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
2015: Inside Amy Schumer Guest Appearance
In 2015, Tina Fey guest starred in Inside Amy Schumer.
2015: Sisters Movie Released
In 2015, Tina Fey starred in the movie "Sisters," playing a character that differed from her typical type-A roles.
2015: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Premieres
Tina Fey co-created the Netflix sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which premiered in 2015.
2016: Maya & Marty and Difficult People Appearances
In 2016, Tina Fey had guest roles in Maya & Marty and Difficult People.
2016: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot and Dedication
In 2016, Tina Fey starred in the biographical war comedy-drama Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, which she dedicated to her late father, Don Fey. The film received mixed reviews and was criticized for whitewashing characters of color.
2017: Great News and Mean Girls Musical
In 2017, Tina Fey co-executive produced and recurred in the NBC sitcom "Great News" as Diana St. Tropez. She also adapted her movie "Mean Girls" into a Broadway musical, which opened in 2018.
May 19, 2018: SNL Hosting and Palin Impersonation Revival
On May 19, 2018, Tina Fey hosted SNL and revived her Sarah Palin impression.
2018: Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence
In 2018, Tina Fey and her frequent collaborator, Robert Carlock, were jointly awarded the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence by the Writers Guild of America.
2018: Mean Girls Musical Opens on Broadway
In 2018, the musical adaptation of "Mean Girls", written by Tina Fey, opened on Broadway and received twelve Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Book of a Musical.
2018: Mean Girls Musical Premieres
The musical adaptation of Mean Girls, created by Tina Fey, premiered on Broadway in 2018.
2018: Hosts Make-A-Wish Gala
Tina Fey hosted the Power of a Wish Gala for The Make-A-Wish Foundation in New York City in 2018.
January 25, 2019: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Finale
The fourth and final season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt concluded on January 25, 2019.
May 8, 2019: Interactive Kimmy Schmidt Special Announced
An interactive special for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was announced on May 8, 2019.
August 2019: Soul Voice Role Announcement
In August 2019, it was announced that Tina Fey would voice the co-lead role of 22 in Pixar's Soul.
2019: Named Best Comedian of the 21st Century by The Guardian
The Guardian proclaimed Tina Fey as the best comedian of the 21st century in 2019.
2019: Wine Country Release
Tina Fey appeared in the film Wine Country in 2019.
January 2020: Mean Girls Musical Film Adaptation Announced
In January 2020, it was announced that the stage musical adaptation of Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey, would be adapted into a feature film by Paramount Pictures.
March 2020: Mulligan Announced
In March 2020, Netflix ordered 20 episodes of the animated sitcom "Mulligan," with Tina Fey as executive producer.
May 12, 2020: Interactive Kimmy Schmidt Special Released
The interactive special for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt premiered on May 12, 2020 and received positive reviews and an Emmy nomination.
June 23, 2020: Apology for Blackface Episodes
On June 23, 2020, Tina Fey issued an apology for episodes of 30 Rock featuring blackface, which were subsequently removed from streaming services and syndication.
July 16, 2020: 30 Rock Reunion Special
A remotely produced hour-long 30 Rock reunion special aired on July 16, 2020.
December 2020: Soul Release and Critical Acclaim
Soul, featuring Tina Fey as 22, was released on Disney+ in December 2020 to critical acclaim and received three Academy Award nominations, winning Best Animated Feature. Fey won a Critics' Choice Super Award for her voice acting.
2020: 30 Rock Reunion, Soul Release
In 2020, there was a 30 Rock reunion special. Tina Fey also voiced a character in the Pixar film Soul.
January 2021: Mr. Mayor Premieres
Tina Fey co-created, wrote, and executive produced the NBC sitcom "Mr. Mayor," starring Ted Danson and Holly Hunter, which premiered in January 2021.
February 2021: Co-hosts Golden Globe Awards
In February 2021, Tina Fey co-hosted the 78th Golden Globe Awards with Amy Poehler, marking the first bi-coastal broadcast of the event.
May 2021: Girls5eva Premieres and Only Murders Guest Appearance
In May 2021, the Peacock musical comedy series "Girls5eva," executive produced by Tina Fey, premiered to critical acclaim. Fey also guest-starred as Dolly Parton. She also started appearing as Cinda Canning in "Only Murders in the Building."
December 18, 2021: SNL Appearance During Omicron Surge
On December 18, 2021, due to the Omicron surge, Tina Fey appeared on SNL, co-anchoring Weekend Update with Michael Che.
May 2023: Mulligan Premieres
In May 2023, "Mulligan", the animated sitcom executive produced by and starring Tina Fey (as Dr. Farrah Braun), premiered on Netflix.
2023: Maggie Moore(s) and A Haunting in Venice
In 2023, Tina Fey starred in two films: the black comedy Maggie Moore(s) with Jon Hamm and the mystery film A Haunting in Venice, part of Kenneth Branagh's Hercule Poirot series.
2023: A Haunting in Venice Release
Tina Fey appeared in A Haunting in Venice in 2023.
2024: Mean Girls Musical Film Adaptation
A musical film adaptation of Mean Girls, adapted by Tina Fey, is set to be released in 2024.
