Welcome to Jane Kaczmarek Watch, an occasional look in on one of Greendale's most famous celebrities. Kaczmarek grew up in Greendale and graduated from Greendale High School in 1974. She's well known for her Emmy-nominated role as the mother on popular TV show Malcolm in the Middle. In addition, she has appeared in dozens of television, movie and stage productions.

Children's Defense Fund Fundraiser

Kaczmarek attended the 20^th annual Beat the Odds Awards on Dec. 2. The awards show is hosted by the Children's Defense Fund. It honored five Los Angeles area high school students who overcame challenging environments to graduate from high school. Kaczmarek joined Elizabeth Shue, Zoe Saldanna, J.J. Abrams, Conan O'Brien and Jeff Probst at the banquet.

The Autumn Garden

Kaczmarek's latest job is on the stage. She's starring in Lillian Hellman's The Autumn Garden in Los Angeles.  The play centers on Hellman's life, which included a long affair with Dashiell Hammett, author of The Maltese Falcon. Kaczmarek's performance is well reviewed. This reviewer said she "can project happiness and sorrow and boredom and curiosity and vulnerability and strength and wisdom all in the same moment."

The Christmas Gift

'Tis the season to revisit one of Kaczmarek's first television roles as Susan in The Christmas Gift starring John Denver. Kaczmarek plays Denver's love interest in a story about a family who travels to a mystical town where everyone believes in Santa Claus. It's a beloved, but obscure holiday movie. The only time we found it on TV this month was  Dec. 8 at 4 a.m. on the Hallmark Channel.