Joely Fisher was elected SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer in 2021 and re-elected in 2023. The daughter of former Screen Actors Guild Secretary-Treasurer Connie Stevens, Fisher continues her mother’s legacy as a performer and in participating as a union leader.
As Secretary-Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair, Fisher took the leading role in acquiring SAG-AFTRA’s future headquarters in North Hollywood, California, a fiscally responsible move that will ultimately save the union millions. She also serves on SAG-AFTRA’s TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee, participating in important negotiations that impact the union’s nearly 160,000 members.
Born in Burbank, California, to entertainers Connie Stevens and Eddie Fisher, Fisher was named Miss Golden Globe at the 1992 Golden Globe awards and would go on to be a triple threat in television, musical theater and motion pictures. After her Broadway debut as Rizzo in Grease, she made a “sensational and sexy” turn as Sally Bowles in Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall’s critically acclaimed Broadway revival of Cabaret, which earned her rave reviews.
However, it was her five seasons as the monstrously ambitious and seductive Hollywood executive Paige Clark on the groundbreaking ABC show Ellen, that introduced her to television audiences around the world and earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She next starred opposite John Goodman in FOX's series Normal, Ohio, playing the hilariously fascinating combo of a young caring mother who just happened to be a "bit of a slut." She also spent two seasons starring in her own series, Wild Card, for Lifetime.
In 2005, Fisher joined the cast of the hit television series Desperate Housewives as Felicity Huffman’s tough and complex boss, Nina Fletcher. She then returned to television opposite Brad Garrett for four seasons in FOX’s ‘Till Death, where their incredible chemistry kept audiences rolling with laughter. She also appeared in a recurring role on ABC’s Last Man Standing, opposite Hector Elizondo.
Fisher's film credits have placed her opposite some of the finest actors in film, such as Jim Carrey in The Mask; Steve Martin in Mixed Nuts; and Nick Nolte in I’ll Do Anything.
Her crowning achievement to date was starring with Matthew Broderick in the smash-hit Disney film, Inspector Gadget. She is a stand out in such indie films as Perfect Prey, Slingshot, Killing Winston Jones and Search Engines. Recently, she’s been seen in Tribes of Palos Verdes, opposite Jennifer Garner, as well as The Disappointments Room and By the Rivers of Babylon.
Her television movies include a starring role in NBC's Thirst, Showtime's Jitters, ABC's Seduction in a Small Town and Hallmark’s Cupid.
Though the focus of her career seems to be acting, the underlying accompaniment throughout has been her love of singing and performing. She tells the tale of sleeping in the orchestra pit during one of mother Connie Stevens’ performances, and by 12, she was singing all over the world, appearing in a USO tour with Bob Hope during the Persian Gulf War, and performing for President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush at the Kennedy Center. Joely has written, directed and performed in multiple one-woman shows, and was featured at a young age on the Tony awards, the Academy Awards.
In recent years, Fisher has embarked on a directing career in television and short films. Her black comedy short, Sunset Fever, is a commentary on reality television and the Hollywood family. Her first music video, “Sonte” by European artist MIRUD, has over a million views and landed her on a short list of women called upon to direct multi-camera television for the Disney Channel. This year, she will make her feature directorial debut with Oliver Storm, a family adventure film. In addition, she has directed socially conscious PSA campaigns for The International Fund for Animal Welfare and Welcome US, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg’s organization for immigrant heritage. She hopes to continue on this path and give the world delicious and compelling stories and lead the pack of women who make change in the world.
In her book Growing Up Fisher, she writes in gut-wrenching detail how the sudden loss of her sister, Carrie Fisher, inspired her creativity and gave her the strength to write.
Fisher has been married for more than two decades to cinematographer and director Christopher Duddy. Together they have five children: Cameron, Collin, and daughters Skylar Grace, True Harlow and Olivia Luna.