Phyllis Diller
Biography
Phyllis Ada Diller (née Driver; July 17, 1917 – August 20, 2012) was an American stand‑up comedian, actress, author, musician and visual artist. Born in Lima, Ohio, she became one of the first female comics to achieve household‑name status in the United States, noted for an eccentric stage persona, self‑deprecating humor, wild hair and clothes, and an exaggerated cackling laugh. Diller’s acting career encompassed more than 40 films and numerous television appearances, including roles on Get Smart, The Red Skelton Show and The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, as well as starring in The Phyllis Diller Show (1966‑1967) and The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show (1968). The TMDB database lists her with 162 known acting credits.
Career overview
Phyllis Ada Diller (née Driver; July 17, 1917 – August 20, 2012) was an American stand‑up comedian who also built a substantial acting career. Born in Lima, Ohio, Diller became widely recognized for her eccentric stage persona, self‑deprecating humor, wild hair and clothes, and an exaggerated, cackling laugh. Her comedic style helped her become one of the first female comics to achieve household‑name status in the United States, and she later influenced later performers such as Joan Rivers, Roseanne Barr and Ellen DeGeneres. In addition to her stand‑up work, Diller appeared in more than forty films, contributing to a broad body of screen work that complemented her television presence.
On television, Diller headlined her own variety series, The Phyllis Diller Show, which aired from 1966 to 1967, and later The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show in 1968. She also made notable appearances on popular programs including Get Smart, The Red Skelton Show, and The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. Across her career she accumulated 162 credited acting roles, as recorded by the Motion Picture Database. Diller’s visibility extended beyond comedy; she cultivated a large gay following and is regarded as a gay icon, and she was among the first celebrities to openly champion plastic surgery, earning recognition from the cosmetic‑surgery industry. Her multifaceted contributions to film and television cemented her legacy as a pioneering figure in American entertainment.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
177 titles- Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Pat Rocco Dared (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- This Is Bob Hope... (2017) as Self (archive footage)
- Robot Chicken: Christmas Specials (2014) as Various (voice) (archive sound)
- Carol Channing: Larger Than Life (2012) as Self
- Looking for Lenny (2011) as Self
- Ruth Lyons: First Lady of Television (2011) as Self
- How to Live Forever (2011) as Self
- I Am Comic (2010) as Self
- Celebrity Ghost Stories (2009) as Self
- Found Footage Festival Volume 4: Live in Tucson (2009) as (archive footage)
- Phyllis Diller: Not Just Another Pretty Face (2007) as Self (archive footage)
- The Megan Mullally Show (2006) as Self - Guest
- Casper's Scare School (2006) as Aunt Spitzy (voice)
- Unbeatable Harold (2006) as Mrs. Clancy
- Forget About It (2006) as Mrs. Hertzberg
- The Chuck Barris Story: My Life On The Edge (2006) as Self
- Robot Chicken (2005) as Phillys Diller / Mrs. Claus / Hooker (voice)
- Robot Chicken (2005) as Mrs. Dorsey / Phyllis Diller (voice)
- The Aristocrats (2005) as Self
- Robot Chicken's Christmas Special (2005) as Mrs. Claus (voice)
- Boston Legal (2004) as Self
- Quintuplets (2004) as Aunt Sylvia
- Goodnight, We Love You (2004) as Self
- Nip/Tuck (2003)
- Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer (2003) as Self
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002) as Granny Neutron (voice)
- Life with Bonnie (2002) as Phyllis Frost
- The 1st 13th Annual Fancy Anvil Awards Show Program Special: Live in Stereo (2002) as Self
- The Last Place on Earth (2002) as Mrs. Baskin
- Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO (2002) as Self
- Kiss My Act (2001) as Phyllis Diller
- The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2 (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1 (2001) as Self (archive footage)
- Even Stevens (2000) as Coach Korns
- Titus (2000) as Grandma Titus
- Everything's Jake (2000) as Victoria Pond
- Family Guy (1999) as Thelma Griffin (voice)
- The Nuttiest Nutcracker (1999) as Sugar Plum Fairy (Voice)
- Yesterday's Tomorrows (1999) as Self
- The Debtors (1999)
- Funny Is Money (1999) as Self
- Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars Club (1999) as Self
- The Powerpuff Girls (1998) as Mask Scara (voice)
- The Wild Thornberrys (1998) as Sam (voice)
- A Bug's Life (1998) as Queen (voice)
- Emily of New Moon (1998) as Great Aunt Nancy Priest
- The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1998) as Self (archive footage)
- The View (1997) as Self
- King of the Hill (1997) as Lillian (voice)
- Cow and Chicken (1997) as Red's Mom / Cop (voice)
- I Am Weasel (1997) as Red's Mother (voice)
- Arli$$ (1996) as Phyllis Diller
- Hey Arnold! (1996) as Mitzi
- 7th Heaven (1996) as Gabrielle
- 7th Heaven (1996) as Mabel
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- The Drew Carey Show (1995) as Bebe
- Cybill (1995)
- MADtv (1995) as Self - Hostess
- The Silence of the Hams (1994) as Old Secretary
- The Perfect Man (1994) as Mother
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) as Phyllis Diller
- Boy Meets World (1993) as Madame Ouspenskaya
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Herself
- Vicki! (1992) as Self
- Vicki! (1992) as Self - Guest
- Wisecracks (1992)
- Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue (1992) as Phyllis Diller
- Pebble Mill (1991) as Self
- The Boneyard (1991) as Miss Poopinplatz
- Blossom (1990)
- Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990)
- Dream On (1990) as Mrs. Barish
- The Nutcracker Prince (1990) as Mousequeen (voice)
- Dr. Hackenstein (1989) as Mrs. Trilling
- Happily Ever After (1989) as Mother Nature (voice)
- Hanna-Barbera's 50th (1989) as Self
- Friend to Friend: Armenian Earthquake Relief (1989) as Self
- Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog (1989) as Mrs. Frasco
- The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1988) as Self
- Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC (1988) as Self
- Full House (1987) as Phyllis Diller
- Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge (1987) as Jonathan's Mother
- Alice Through the Looking Glass (1987) as The White Queen
- How to Have a Moneymaking Garage Sale (1987) as Herself
- All Star Party for Clint Eastwood (1986) as Self (uncredited)
- 227 (1985) as Louanne costello
- Larry King Live (1985) as Self
- Tales from the Darkside (1984) as Nora Mills
- Reading Rainbow (1983) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- The Bob Monkhouse Show (1983)
- George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business (1983) as Self
- Wogan (1982) as Self
- Madame's Place (1982) as Self
- Pink Motel (1982) as Margaret
- Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980) as Self
- The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979) as Self
- A Pleasure Doing Business (1979) as Mrs. Wildebeest
- Mickey's 50 (1978) as Self
- Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace! (1978) as Herself
- Rock 'n' Roll Sports Classic (1978) as Self
- Christmas at Walt Disney World (1978) as Self
- The Love Boat (1977) as Martha Morse
- The Love Boat (1977) as Viola Penny
- CHiPs (1977) as Wanda
- On Location: Phyllis Diller (1977) as himself
- The Muppet Show (1976) as Self - Special Guest Star
- The Gong Show (1976)
- Joys (1976) as Self
- Easy Does It... Starring Frankie Avalon (1976)
- The Jeffersons (1975)
- The Sunshine Boys (1975) as Self
- The Sunshine Boys (1975) as Performer on Fictional TV Program (uncredited)
- The Lion Roars Again (1975) as Self
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Tattletales (1974) as Herself
- Tony Orlando and Dawn (1974) as Self
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973) as Self
- The Bobby Darin Show (1973)
- The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1972) as Phyllis Diller (voice)
- Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (1972)
- The Julie Andrews Hour (1972) as Self
- The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1971)
- The Pearl Bailey Show (1971) as Self
- Mooch Goes to Hollywood (1971) as Phyllis Diller (uncredited)
- Night Gallery (1970) as Pamela (segment "Pamela's Voice")
- The Flip Wilson Show (1970) as Self
- Swing Out, Sweet Land (1970) as Belva Lockwood
- The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians (1970) as Self (voice)
- Love, American Style (1969) as Daphane Daniels
- Love, American Style (1969) as Bella
- Love, American Style (1969) as Edna
- Love, American Style (1969) as Sally Walker
- Love, American Style (1969)
- The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969) as Self
- The Jim Nabors Hour (1969)
- The Adding Machine (1969) as Mrs. Zero
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- That's Life (1968)
- The Movie Orgy (1968) as Self (archive footage)
- The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show (1968) as Self - Host
- Rowan & Martin at the Movies (1968) as Self
- The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell (1968) as Nurse Nellie Krause
- Jack Benny's Bag (1968) as Self
- Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? (1968) as Agatha Knabenshu
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest
- Mad Monster Party? (1967) as The Monster's Mate (voice)
- Eight on the Lam (1967) as Golda
- Batman (1966) as Scrubwoman
- The Pruitts of Southampton (1966) as Phyllis Pruitt
- The Fat Spy (1966) as Camille Salamander
- Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! (1966) as Lily
- Get Smart (1965) as Maxwell Smart (uncredited)
- The Hollywood Palace (1964) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self - Guest Hostess
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Hostess
- Splendor in the Grass (1961) as Texas Guinan
- Kraft Music Hall (1958) as Self - Host
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Greta Gargoyle
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as BoBo Van Beacon
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Clara
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Killer Diller
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Zoo Tour Guide
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1948) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Phyllis Diller best known for?
Phyllis Diller is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Meek One (1960), Celebrity Ghost Stories (2009), Yentl (1983), Licence to Kill (1989).
When and where was Phyllis Diller born?
Phyllis Diller was born on July 17, 1917 in Lima, Ohio, USA. They passed away on August 20, 2012.
How many credits does Phyllis Diller have?
Phyllis Diller has accumulated over 177 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2024.
What is Phyllis Diller's background in cinema and television?
Phyllis Ada Diller (née Driver; July 17, 1917 – August 20, 2012) was an American stand‑up comedian, actress, author, musician and visual artist. Born in Lima, Ohio, she became one of the first female comics to achieve household‑name status in the United States, noted for an eccentric stage persona, self‑deprecating hum...