Concetta Tomei (born December 30, 1945) is an American theatre, film and television character actress, best known for her roles as Major Lila Garreau on the ABC series China Beach (1988–1991) and as Lynda Hansen on the NBC series Providence (1999–2002). Early life and education Tomei was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She earned a degree in education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and worked four years as a teacher before deciding to pursue her love of theatre at the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University). She earned a BFA and moved to Houston, Texas, where she worked for the Alley Theatre for two years before moving to New York City. In the Milwaukee area, she studied at Sunset Playhouse with Alan Furlan. Career Tomei appeared in the original cast of several pioneering Off-Broadway productions, including Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine and Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart. She appeared opposite Kevin Kline in the New York Shakespeare Festival's Richard III (winning New York's Bayfield Shakespearean award for her performance) and starred with David Bowie in the Broadway production of The Elephant Man, continuing in the national tour. In the 1980s, she moved to California and appeared in many regional theatres, including Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum, the Oregon Contemporary Theatre, and San Francisco's ACT. She was a regular cast member in the TV-series China Beach, which ran from 1988 to 1991. She was also in the cast of the short-lived "Madman of the People" (1994–95). She appeared in recurring roles in several TV series, including L.A. Law, Falcon Crest, Picket Fences, Max Headroom, and Judging Amy. She also appeared in the films Murder in Three Acts (1986), The Betty Ford Story (1987) and In Love and War (1987). In 1991 and 1994, Tomei guest appeared in Season 3 Episode 10 of the TV sitcom Wings titled "The Late Mrs. Biggins,” and Season 5 Episode 21, titled “Roy Crazy”; in both episodes, she played the former wife of Roy Biggins. In 1991, she also had the role of Mrs. Crandell in the cult film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. She starred in the 1992 miniseries The Burden of Proof. In 1997 she portrayed Minister Odala in Star Trek: Voyager episode Distant Origin. From 1999 to 2002, Tomei appeared in 63 episodes of the NBC television series Providence, costarring with Melina Kanakaredes and Mike Farrell.