Theresa Tilly

Theresa Tilly began her career in entertainment as a stand-up comedian in Detroit. Her early aspirations led her to The Second City Chicago, an acclaimed improv comedy troupe, where her work attracted attention, ultimately leading to a role in the sketch comedy pilot “YouTV” alongside Steve Allen. Although the pilot was not picked up, this experience spurred her move to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time.

Tilly made her significant feature film debut as Shelly in Sam Raimi’s classic “The Evil Dead” (1981), a role that garnered her widespread recognition within the horror genre. Following this, her career expanded to include appearances in over 100 films, TV shows, plays, and commercials. Her filmography includes a role in “Debutante” (1998) with Selma Blair and Josh Hartnett, and “Back in the Day” (2014), written and directed by Michael Rosenbaum. She also appeared in a PBS special based on a story by Elmore Leonard, “Brutal Massacre: A Comedy” (2007) with Gunnar Hansen, and reunited with Sam Raimi in “Oz the Great and Powerful” (2013). Notably, she was the first female to announce the ESPN ESPY Awards.

Her more recent work includes “American Fable” (2016), a film that earned its director Anne Hamilton the Best New Director title at SXSW 2016, and “Stomping Ground” (2014), which received the Soul of Southern Film Award at the Indie Memphis Film Festival. Tilly’s work has also extended to voice acting in video games, reprising her role as Shelly in “Evil Dead: The Game” (2022). She continues to be an active presence in the entertainment industry, taking on varied roles and projects.