<<Well of course. The Academy Awards are MUCH better known than the Tony Awards. I have no idea when the Tonys are or who wins them each year, they just don't get the same publicity as the Oscars. So yes, of course she is more famous, because more people watch the Oscars. Also, Marlee has played on more mainstream TV than Phyllis. In the past 20 years, Phyllis has been on two episodes of E.R., one episode of Diagnosis Murder, two shows that are pretty well known. In the past 20 years, Marlee has been a regular character on The L Word, The West Wing, Picket Fences, and Reasonable Doubts. She has guest starred on things like Nip/Tuck, My Name is Earl, CSI, Law and Order, Desperate Housewives, E.R., and lots of other stuff. If you look at how much exposure Marlee gets compared to how much Phyllis gets, of course Marlee is more popular and famous. Phyllis is a wonderful actress and I'm sure she can take jobs whenever she wants, so she is CHOOSING to work the amount that she does. Marlee can also choose how much she wants to work, and she does more work than Phyllis. It has nothing to do with Marlee is more famous BECAUSE of the Oscar...it's how much work she does that the public sees, a lot more than Phyllis...plain and simple.>>
You don't need to go in depth about Marlee's acting credits... I already knew the shows she has been on, so there's no point in outlining them specifically. Yes, the type of award that she won has made her what she is now. When somebody wins an Oscar Academy Award, she gets offered many acting roles, so she has an advantage of becoming popular or famous. I was merely answering Aquablue's question of why she is popular, not the others, so you don't need to be defensive. As for Phyllis, FYI, she has acted in more shows that you mentioned... Sue Thomas FBYeye, Hunter, Pacific Blue, LA Law, ER, DX Murder, LINS, Gimme Break, etc.