Connell began her career with her husband Gordon, entertaining in San Francisco night clubs such as The Purple Onion and The Hungry I. Eventually the couple moved to New York City, where Connell made her Off-Broadway debut in the 1955 revival of The Threepenny Opera, a long-running hit at the Theatre de Lys. In the London production of Once Upon a Mattress, Connell starred as Winifred, the role that Carol Burnett had originated in New York. Her Broadway debut came in the role of Mrs. Peachum in Threepenny Opera. Connell's most prominent success came in 1966 when she was cast as Agnes Gooch in the original Broadway production of Jerry Herman's Mame. She recreated the role in the 1974 screen adaptation after Lucille Ball, the film's star, became dissatisfied with Madeline Kahn, who originally had been signed to play Gooch. Only four-foot-eleven, Connell was described as a master of the large comic gesture in The Oxford Companion to American Theatre, which described her as "a tiny woman with a giant, squeaking voice". Connell was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Me and My Girl. Additional Broadway credits include New Faces of 1956 ; Drat! The Cat! ; Dear World, once again supporting Angela Lansbury; the short-lived 1983 revival of Mame, in which Lansbury reprised her 1966 lead role; Lend Me a Tenor ; Crazy for You ; and Moon Over Buffalo, starring Carol Burnett; The Full Monty, succeeding Kathleen Freeman, who died during her run in show, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Jane and Gordon Connell enjoyed extensive theatre careers. They appeared together on Broadway in Lysistrata, starring Melina Mercouri in the title role. She appeared in New York City Center Encores! production of Call Me Madam, and the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall concert presentation of Noël Coward's Sail Away. Jane Connell's film roles included Ladybug Ladybug, Kotch, Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood, House Calls, Rabbit Test, and Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde. Her television appearances included Bewitched in a memorable turn imitating Queen Victoria, Green Acres, All in the Family, Love, American Style, M*A*S*H, Maude, Good Times and Law & Order. Connell portrayed Jane in the comedy series Stanley. She was a regular on the children's seriesMr. Mayor and the situation comedy The Dumplings. From 1991 to 1994, she had the recurring role of social worker Roberta Domedian on the sitcom Big Brother Jake.
Family
She married Gordon Connell, an actor and musician, in 1948. They remained married until her death in 2013. The couple had two daughters.
