On July 14, 1960, Jane Marie Lynch came into the world in Evergreen Park, Illinois, born into a Catholic household. Her mother, Eileen Lynch, worked as a secretary before becoming a homemaker, and her father, Frank Lynch, made his living as a banker.
It was in third grade that Lynch discovered her passion for acting, and she never looked back. She honed her performance skills at Thorn Ridge High School, singing in the high school choir. She went on to attend Illinois State University, Chicago, in 1982, where she pursued a bachelor's degree in theater. From there, she continued her training at Cornell University, New York, where she completed a master's in acting.
Career
Few careers in Hollywood demonstrate the kind of range and skill that Jane Lynch has brought to the screen. Though most audiences recognize her as Sue Sylvester — the tyrannical cheerleading coach from the American musical series "Glee" — her body of work stretches well beyond that iconic part. She's left her mark on an impressive roster of television projects, including "Gilmore Girls," "Two and a Half Men," "Criminal Minds," "The X Files," "Weeds," "Desperate Housewives," and "L Word." Her knack for hosting TV shows and events has also won her numerous accolades from both fans and critics, highlighting just how diverse her talents truly are.
On the film side, Lynch is well known for her appearances in "Criminal Minds," "Best in Show," "Two and a Half Men," and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin". Beyond acting, she served as host of Hollywood Game Night from 2013 to 2020, a gig that netted her two Emmys (2014–15).
Disability
The 64-year-old actress lives with complete deafness in her right ear. According to Lynch, a high fever she experienced as a baby resulted in nerve deafness. She didn't learn about the condition until she was seven years old, when she and her brother were playing with a transistor radio and the hearing loss became apparent.
Personal Life
When it comes to matters of the heart, Jane Lynch has experienced both happiness and hardship. She crossed paths with Dr. Lara Embry, a clinical psychologist, in 2009, and the couple tied the knot on Memorial Day in 2010 in Massachusetts. Their marriage, however, came to an end three years later when they divorced in 2014. While Jane Lynch has no biological children, her marriage to Lara Embry made the Glee star a stepparent to Lara's two daughters, Chase and Haden — a role that has undoubtedly shaped her life in profound ways.