In 1994, Kaczmarek appeared Off-Broadway in Kindertransport, playing a Jewish woman who sends her daughter to England for safety during the Holocaust. She later reprised that role in California.

Born December 21, 1955, in Milwaukee, WI, Kaczmarek is married to actor Bradley Whitford, and they have three children.Last updated: January 14, 2009.

Jane Frances Kaczmarek (born December 21, 1955) is an American actress. She is best known for playing the character of Lois on the television series Malcolm in the Middle. She lives in San Marino, California.

Kaczmarek was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Evelyn, a teacher, and Edward Kaczmarek, a defense department worker. She grew up in Greendale and is of Polish ancestry. Kaczmarek was raised strict Roman Catholic. She majored in theater at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and later studied at the Yale School of Drama for her graduate degree and was a part of its theater company.

She has had several Broadway hits, including Lost In Yonkers and Raised In Captivity, where she won an LA Drama Critics’ Award. Her first television role was that of Margie Spoletto on For Lovers Only (1982). Her first major role was that of Linda Bauer on Equal Justice from 1990-1991.

Kaczmarek has also appeared in over forty television roles, the most notable including:

In 2000, Kaczmarek was cast to play Lois in the FOX mid-season replacement Malcolm in the Middle. TV Guide dubbed her role in the series as a "true breakout; a female Homer Simpson", and critics hailed her for her comic talents. Later, Kaczmarek would credit the show for bringing out her comedic side, claiming, "[Before Malcolm] I couldn’t even get auditions for comedies. I played very unfunny people."

Kaczmarek was nominated seven times for an Emmy for her performance on the show, one for every year. She also earned three Golden Globe nominations and two Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations, was honored with a Television Critics Association Award in 2000 and 2001, plus an American Comedy Award and a Family Television Award in 2001.

Following the end of Malcolm in the Middle, Kaczmarek went on to star in the short-lived series Help Me Help You co-starring Ted Danson.

Starting Fall 2008, she is starring in the hour long TNT series Raising the Bar as Judge Trudy Kessler. She also continues to voice Judge Constance Harm on several Simpsons episodes as mentioned above.