Kate McKinnon Berthold[1] (born January 6, 1984)[2] is an American actress, comedian, and writer. She is known for her character work and celebrity impressions on the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live (2012–2022), of which she was a cast member for eleven seasons, and formerly The Big Gay Sketch Show (2007–2010).[3][1] She has appeared in films such as Balls Out (2014), Ghostbusters (2016), Office Christmas Party (2016), Rough Night (2017), The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018), Yesterday (2019), and Bombshell (2019). In 2022, she played the role of Tiger King subject Carole Baskin in the miniseries Joe vs. Carole.
Kate McKinnon | |
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![]() McKinnon in 2018 | |
Born | Kate McKinnon Berthold (1984-01-06) January 6, 1984 (age 38) Sea Cliff, New York, U.S. |
Education | Columbia University (BA) |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2004–present |
McKinnon has been nominated for ten Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and nine for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning in 2016 and 2017.
McKinnon was born and raised on Long Island in the town of Sea Cliff, New York,[1][4] to Laura Campbell, a parent educator, and Michael Thomas Berthold, an architect.[5][6] She has a younger sister, comedian Emily Lynne, with whom she has collaborated on the Audible series Heads Will Roll,[7] as well as the digital series Notary Publix.[1][6] Their father died when McKinnon was 18 years old.[1][5]
As a child, McKinnon played several instruments. She started playing the piano when she was five years old, the cello at age 12, and taught herself how to play the guitar at 15.[8]
McKinnon's knack for accents began when she was in fifth grade. She auditioned to be "the queen of reading week" and used an English accent. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she says, "I think the genesis of my entire life, probably, was the smiles I elicited doing this British accent. I've been chasing that dragon ever since."[9]
She graduated from North Shore High School in 2002,[10][3] and from Columbia University in 2006 with a degree in theatre. There she co-founded a comedy group, Tea Party, that focused on musical improv comedy.[1][11] At Columbia, she starred in three Varsity shows: V109 Dial D for Deadline, V110 Off-Broadway and V111 The Sound of Muses.[1][12][13] Her cast and crewmates included future actors Jenny Slate and Grace Parra, directors Tze Chun and Greta Gerwig, and The Onion managing editor Peter Koechley.[14][15][16] She was also a member of Prangstgrüp, a student comedy group which set up and recorded elaborate college pranks.[17]
In 2007, McKinnon joined the original cast of Logo TV's The Big Gay Sketch Show, where she was a cast member for all three seasons.[18]
Since 2008, she has performed live sketch comedy regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City.[18][19] She has also worked as a voice-over actress, and has voiced characters for series such as The Venture Bros., Robotomy, and Ugly Americans.[19][20] In 2009, McKinnon won a Logo NewNowNext Award for Best Rising Comic.[21] She was nominated for an ECNY Emerging Comic Award in 2010.[18] In 2014, she appeared in the Kennedy Center Honors as part of a tribute to Lily Tomlin. In 2016, she starred in the reboot Ghostbusters, alongside Melissa McCarthy, and fellow SNL cast members Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones.[22]
McKinnon has made appearances as a voice actress in series like The Simpsons (as Hettie in "Gal of Constant Sorrow") and Family Guy (as Karen / Heavy Flo in season 14, episode 6 "Peter's Sister", and additional voices in other episodes), and films such as Finding Dory, The Angry Birds Movie, Ferdinand and DC League of Super-Pets. McKinnon voiced Fiona Frizzle in The Magic School Bus Rides Again, a continuation of the Magic School Bus children's series, from 2017 to 2020.[23] She also voiced Squeeks the Mouse in the PBS Kids series Nature Cat, alongside fellow SNL cast members Taran Killam and Bobby Moynihan since 2015.
McKinnon joined the cast of Saturday Night Live as a featured player on April 7, 2012, following a March 28, 2012 report of her being hired.[24][25] She was promoted to repertory status in season 39 in 2013.[26][27]
In 2013, McKinnon was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Comedy.[28] McKinnon won the 2014 American Comedy Award for Best Supporting Actress, TV for her work on SNL.[29] In 2014, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series,[30] as well as for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics along with four of her colleagues for the song "(Do It On My) Twin Bed".[31] She was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the second time in 2015.[32] She won the following year, becoming the first actor from SNL to win the award since Dana Carvey in 1993.[citation needed]
McKinnon began appearing as Hillary Clinton on the series leading up to the 2016 presidential election. The real Clinton appeared alongside her in a sketch during the show's season 41 premiere.[33] McKinnon has said that her impression of Hillary Clinton comes from a deep admiration, and that she "unequivocally want[ed] her to win" the 2016 presidential election.[34] On November 12, 2016, which was the first show after Clinton's loss in the election, she reprised the role to open the show with a solo performance of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, whose death was announced two days before her performance.[35] After the election, McKinnon began to impersonate Kellyanne Conway alongside Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump. On February 11, 2017, she debuted her impression of Elizabeth Warren during Weekend Update and Jeff Sessions in the cold open.
McKinnon is known for her character work[18] and celebrity impressions[36] of pop singer Justin Bieber, comedian television host Ellen DeGeneres, and numerous political figures, including US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Senator Lindsey Graham, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Clinton, Warren, Robert Mueller, Angela Merkel, and Rudy Giuliani. She has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and six for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning in 2016 and 2017.
McKinnon's return to season 46 officially made her the show's longest tenured female cast member, surpassing her cast mates Cecily Strong and Aidy Bryant by five episodes.[37][38] Both Bryant and McKinnon departed the series after season 47.[39] McKinnon's record will be surpassed a few episodes into Strong's return to SNL for season 48.[40]
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Aside from SNL, McKinnon also co-created and co-stars in the web series Notary Publix with her sister Emily Lynne.[43][44] In addition to Aidy Bryant (who stars in the series), McKinnon's SNL co-stars Beck Bennett, Jay Pharoah and SNL writer Paula Pell all guest-starred in the six-episode first season of the web series.[43]
McKinnon and Lynne also created and released the fantasy-comedy Audible audio series Heads Will Roll, which premiered in May 2019.[7] The show features guest appearances from Meryl Streep, Peter Dinklage, Audra McDonald, Bob the Drag Queen, Queer Eye's Fab Five, and Tim Gunn. Additionally, many of McKinnon's SNL co-stars are featured, including Aidy Bryant, Alex Moffat, Heidi Gardner and Chris Redd.[45]
In 2015, McKinnon appeared in a number of commercials for the Ford Focus.[46]
In 2016, McKinnon co-hosted the 31st Independent Spirit Awards with Kumail Nanjiani.[47]
In 2019, she played a supporting role in the movie Yesterday.[48]
Her absence from the first seven episodes of Saturday Night Live's 47th season was due to her filming the Peacock miniseries Joe vs. Carole, where she stars as Carole Baskin. It premiered March 3, 2022.[49]
McKinnon was in a relationship with photographer and actress Jackie Abbott.[50][51] While presenting Ellen DeGeneres with the Carol Burnett Award at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, McKinnon opened up about being a lesbian and thanked DeGeneres for making it less scary for her to accept her sexual orientation while watching her TV sitcom Ellen.[52] While attending Columbia University, she dated future journalist Bari Weiss.[53]
McKinnon has a cat, Nino Positano—named after a pizza restaurant where he was found—whom she jokingly refers to as her son.[54][55] Nino appeared in a "Whiskers R We" sketch filmed from McKinnon's home in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, playing the role of all the cats up for adoption.[56]
She does not have any social media accounts, fearing that she will "misrepresent [her] real feelings".[57]
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Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Mr. Ross | Debby | Short film |
2011 | Elizabeth Taylor's Video Will | Elizabeth Taylor | Short film |
Pudding Face | Amy | Short film | |
2012 | My Best Day | Heather | |
Hannah Has a Ho-Phase | Nicky | ||
2014 | Life Partners | Trace | |
Balls Out | Vicky Albrecht | ||
2015 | Giant Sloth | Nina | Voice role Short film |
Ted 2 | Herself | ||
Staten Island Summer | Mrs. Bandini Jr. | ||
Sisters | Sam | ||
2016 | The Angry Birds Movie | Stella / Eva | Voice roles; Cameo |
Finding Dory | Inez | Voice role | |
Ghostbusters | Dr. Jillian Holtzmann | ||
Masterminds | Jandice Gartrell | ||
Office Christmas Party | Mary Winetoss | ||
2017 | Rough Night | Pippa | |
Leap! | Régine Le Haut / Felicie's Mother / Mother Superior | Voice roles | |
Ferdinand | Lupe | Voice role, also vocal effects | |
2018 | Irreplaceable You | Glass Half Full Kate | |
Family[58] | Jill | ||
The Spy Who Dumped Me | Morgan Freeman | ||
2019 | Yesterday | Debra Hammer | |
Bombshell | Jess Carr | ||
2020 | The Magic School Bus Rides Again: Kids in Space | Miss Fiona Frizzle | Voice role |
2022 | The Bubble | Paula | |
DC League of Super-Pets | Lulu | Voice role | |
2023 | Barbie ![]() |
TBA | Post-production |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007–2010 | The Big Gay Sketch Show | Various | 23 episodes |
2008 | Mayne Street | Olga Svenson | Episode: "Parking Tickets" |
2010 | We Have to Stop Now | Angela | Episode: "Celesbianism" |
2010 | Concierge: The Series | Mary | 3 episodes |
2010 | Vag Magazine | Bethany | 6 episodes |
2010–2011 | Robotomy | Additional voices | 5 episodes |
2010–2016 | The Venture Bros. | Nikki and Margaret Fictel / Additional voices | 10 episodes |
2011 | The Back Room | Susan Boyle | Episode: "Todd Barry" |
2011 | The 40-Year-Old 20-Year-Old | Kate | 5 episodes |
2012–2022 | Saturday Night Live | Various | Main cast |
2012 | Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday | Various | 2 episodes |
2013 | Toy Story of Terror! | PEZ Cat (voice) | Television special |
2013 | Hudson Valley Ballers | Just Jamie | 2 episodes |
2014 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Effie Villalopolus | Episode: "Nick Offerman Wears a Green Flannel Shirt & Brown Boots" |
2014–2015 | The Awesomes | Lola Gold / Additional voices | 7 episodes |
2015 | China, IL | Sunshine (voice) | 5 episodes |
2015 | The Spoils Before Dying | Dallas Boudreaux[59] | Episode: "That's Jazz" |
2015 | Difficult People | Abra Cadouglas[60] | Episode: "Pledge Week"[61] |
2015 | Moonbeam City | Panache Miller (voice) | Episode: "Lasers and Liars" |
2015–2016 | Family Guy | Karen Griffin / Additional voices | 3 episodes |
2015–present | Nature Cat | Squeeks (voice) | 81 episodes |
2016 | 31st Independent Spirit Awards | Herself (host) | Television special |
2016 | Maya & Marty | Heidi Cruz | Episode: "Jimmy Fallon & Miley Cyrus" |
2016 | The Simpsons | Hettie Mae Boggs (voice) | Episode: "Gal of Constant Sorrow" |
2017 | Friends from College | Shawna | Episode: "All-Nighter" |
2017–2018 2020 |
The Magic School Bus Rides Again | Fiona Felicity Frizzle (voice) | Main role |
2018 | Sesame Street | Mother Goose[62] | Episode: "Elmo's Nursery Rhyme" |
2019 | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Herself | [63] |
2022 | Joe vs. Carole | Carole Baskin | 8 episodes |
Year | Title | Role | Production role |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Heads Will Roll | Queen Mortunana of the Night Realm | Co-creator and star[64] |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | NewNowNext Awards[65] | Brink of Fame: Comic | Won | |
2010 | ECNY Awards[18] | Emerging Comic Award | Nominated | |
2012 | Ashland Independent Film Festival Awards | Special Jury Mention for Acting Ensemble: Feature | My Best Day | Won |
2013 | EWwy Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Saturday Night Live | Nominated |
2014 | American Comedy Awards[66] | Comedy Supporting Actress – TV | Won | |
Dorian Awards[67] | Wilde Wit of the Year | Nominated | ||
Primetime Emmy Awards[68] | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Saturday Night Live | Nominated | |
Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | Nominated | |||
2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
2016 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Won | ||
Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Comedy Series | Won | ||
The Advocate Awards | The Advocate's Person of the Year | Finalist[69] | ||
USA Today Awards | USA Today's Entertainer of the Year | Won[70] | ||
Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Actress in a Comedy Movie | Ghostbusters | Nominated | |
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | Best Comedic Performance | Nominated | ||
Women Film Critics Circle | Best Comedic Actress | Won | ||
Best Female Action Hero | Won | |||
Best Ensemble | Nominated | |||
2017 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
People's Choice Awards | Favorite Comedic Collaboration | Saturday Night Live | Nominated | |
Dorian Awards | T.V. Musical Performance of the Year | Won | ||
Wilde Wit of the Year | Nominated | |||
Wilde Artist of the Year | Won | |||
Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Nature Cat | Nominated | |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Saturday Night Live | Won | |
2018 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Comedic Performance | Nominated | |
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
2019 | Nominated | |||
2020 | Nominated | |||
Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Acting Ensemble | Bombshell | Nominated | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
2021 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Saturday Night Live | Nominated |
2022 | Nominated |
Berthold (under the stage name of Kate McKinnon — her "gentler" middle name)...
2002 North Shore High School grad Kathryn Berthold was voted "Funniest" and "Most Theatrical" by her fellow seniors
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)Also a former fixture of the comedy scene is the dearly departed Prangstgrüp, which staged pranks and performances, kind of like Improv Everywhere. Kate 'McKinnon' Berthold of SNL was a member.
...UCB's McKinnon, will make her debut on SNL's next show next Saturday hosted by Sofia Vergara
Featuring Vanessa Bayer, Taran Killam, Kate McKinnon, Jay Pharoah.
With Fred Armisen, Vanessa Bayer, Bill Hader, Taran Killam, Seth Meyers, Bobby Moynihan, Nasim Pedrad, Jay Pharoah, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson. Featuring Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, Tim Robinson, Cecily Strong.
With Vanessa Bayer, Aidy Bryant, Taran Killam, Kate McKinnon, Seth Meyers, Bobby Moynihan, Nasim Pedrad, Jay Pharoah, Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson. Featuring Beck Bennett, John Milhiser, Kyle Mooney…
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