Jennifer Tilly, the iconic actress who swapped Hollywood for poker

Jennifer Tilly is a name that brings to mind a special era of 80s and 90s Hollywood. A queen of Y2K, she shot to peak stardom as Tiffany in the 1998 horror classic ‘Bride of Chucky’ (1998). And although you may not have heard to much from her outside that role, she’s still been killing it… just in a different profession.

Did you know that Tilly was even nominated for an Oscar? But oddly, it was her role as the bride of an evil talking doll that solidified her as a household name.

Fast forward to the new millennium, and Tilly’s life took a dramatic turn. The actress transformed into a worldwide poker powerhouse. Now, that’s a great plot twist.

Born in 1958, Tilly made her Hollywood debut at 26 in ‘No Small Affair.’ This film was a stepping stone for other newcomers too, such as Jon Cryer, Tim Robbins, and the then-rising star, Demi Moore.

Once she started, Tilly didn’t stop. She hopped from one movie set to another, starring in successful films like ‘High Spirits’ (1988) and ‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’ (1989), along with other less memorable roles. She even appeared alongside Leslie Nielsen in the TV series ‘Shaping Up.’

Tilly reached her acting career peak thanks to Woody Allen and ‘Bullets Over Broadway’.

Her role as ambitious chorus girl Olive Neal earned her nominations for a Golden Globe, BAFTA, Satellite Award, and Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Ironically, the only Oscar the film took home was for Dianne Wiest, also for Best Supporting Actress.

Despite her superb performance in ‘Bullets Over Broadway,’ Tilly’s biggest surge of popularity came with a character who’s become a piece of Hollywood’s pop culture and horror film history: Tiffany, the bride of the freaky doll Chucky.

The character of Tiffany had such an impact that it almost overshadowed Chucky himself. She appeared in four more installments of the franchise from 1998 to 2017 and was part of the 2021 series cast. This solidified her status as a horror icon.

While Tilly continued her acting career in the 21st century, her focus pivoted from the camera lens to the poker table.

Tilly was married to Sam Simon, producer of ‘The Simpsons,’ from 1984 to 1991. But it was in 2003 that she began dating Phil Laak, a well-known poker player.

Phil Laak ushered Tilly into the world of professional poker, which wasn’t entirely unfamiliar territory for her. Tilly’s father was a pro poker player too.

By 2005, Tilly was already making a name for herself on the poker scene. She won her first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet for the Ladies NLH event, the first of many victories.

That same year, she bagged the Ladies Invitational Tournament at the WPT. You might recognize the man next to her: it’s Lou Diamond Philips, her early 90s beau, with whom she still maintains a solid friendship.

Tilly’s splash in the poker world was so impactful that she starred on NBC’s ‘Poker After Dark’ from 2007 to 2009, playing with the best players of the time. She’s also made appearances on ‘High Stakes Poker,’ which has been on air since 2006.

After nearly 20 years as a professional poker player, over $1 million in winnings, and a reputation built on victory, Tilly secured her place in the ‘Poker Hall of Fame’ in 2022.

Created in 1979, the Poker Hall of Fame started honoring women players in 2008. Now, Tilly stands tall among poker’s royalty: Barbara Enright, Linda Johnson, Masha Waggoner, and Susie Isaacs.

Being an Oscar-nominated bride of Chucky wasn’t enough for Tilly. She doubled down, kept a poker face, and rightfully earned the title of Poker Queen.

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