Kathy Ann Najimy (/nəˈdʒɪmi/ nə-JIM-ee; born February 6, 1974 in San Diego, California)[1] is an American actress. She is best known for voicing Peggy Hill on the animated television series King of the Hill (1997–2010), and for her roles in the films Sister Act (1992) and Hocus Pocus (1993), as well as her portrayal of Olive Massery on the NBC sitcom Veronica's Closet (1997–2000). Prior to achieving wider recognition, she was known for her professional partnership with Mo Gaffney, working as the duo "Kathy and Mo".
Early life[]
Najimy was born on February 6, 1974 in San Diego, California, the daughter of Lebanese American parents Samia (née Massery) and Fred Najimy, a postal worker.[2][3] She was raised Maronite Catholic[4] and attended Crawford High School.[5]
Career[]
Najimy's film career began in the early 1990s, with a number of off-beat minor roles, but her first major role was in the 1992 comedy Sister Act, in the role of Sister Mary Patrick. She reprised this role in 1993 in Sister Act 2. She also starred in Hocus Pocus with Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters. She appeared with Ellen Degeneres in three episodes of her sitcom Ellen, playing a different character each time (including a non-speaking cameo in the iconic "Puppy Episode") and in the TV movie If These Walls Could Talk 2. In 1997, she lent her voice to Warner Bros. Family Entertainment as Tilly the Hippo in the film Cats Don't Dance, alongside actors Scott Bakula, Jasmine Guy, John Rhys-Davies and Don Knotts, and has also played a role on the Nightmare Ned video game. In 1998, she made a cameo in Bride of Chucky as the maid who discovers Diane's and Russ's bodies. In 1999, she played the Stepmother in CinderElmo, a primetime special for Sesame Street. In 2001, she co-starred in the hit comedy film Rat Race alongside John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Lovitz and Seth Green. She guest starred in That's So Raven. She has made four movies with Goldberg (Soapdish, Sister Act 1 and 2, and Rat Race).
From film, Najimy expanded into television roles, including a dramatic recurring role on Chicago Hope. Najimy was part of the cast of Veronica's Closet from 1997 to 2000. She co-created and starred in the hit Off-Broadway show and HBO specials "Kathy & Mo", with friend and actress Mo Gaffney. She appeared as Mae West in the Broadway hit Dirty Blonde. She also portrayed Dr. Mildred Finch on Numbers. Najimy also provided the voice of the drama teacher, Miss Thespius, in the 1998 Disney show Hercules: The Animated Series.
In 2003, Najimy provided the voice of Margalo in Stuart Little: The Animated Series, taking over from Melanie Griffith. She is the co-creator and director of the musical revue Back to Bacharach and David, which ran in New York City in 1992 and 1993, and which she directed again in Los Angeles in April 2009. She also appeared in Drop Dead Diva. In October 2009, Najimy played a police officer investigating an attack on Wisteria Lane on an episode of Desperate Housewives.[6] In March 2010, she appeared in the Ugly Betty episode "Million Dollar Smile", portraying Betty's new orthodontist, Dr. Frankel. In July 2011, Najimy appeared in TNT's Franklin and Bash episode "Bangover", playing a judge. Premiering in August 2015, Najimy appeared in Disney's Descendants as the Evil Queen. In the movie, she makes references to her previous role as Mary Sanderson in Hocus Pocus.[7]
Other work[]
Najimy, an outspoken feminist, is also noted as an activist for human rights and gay rights. She uses her celebrity status to donate money to charities by appearing on game shows. She appeared as a contestant on a celebrity version of The Weakest Link where she won $50,000 (beating Anthony Anderson) for The Feminist Majority Foundation's Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan. She has appeared three times on Celebrity Poker Showdown and won the season six tournament, donating the $100,000 to V-Day, an organization that helps stop violence against women and girls. She was also crowned Grand Champion on CBS's Gameshow Marathon in 2006, donating the $100,000 winnings to Girls Best Friend, a charity that helps empower girls.[citation needed] She's also worked with PETA on a number of animal welfare issues and posed with Todd Oldham for the "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign.[8] In 2013, she was a contestant on Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off on Team Rachael where she was playing for PETA, cooking only vegetarian food. She was eliminated on the Feb. 3 episode, reaching third place.[9] PETA awarded her their Compassionate Action Award in 2014.[10]
In 1981, she was a contestant on Family Feud, which was used as the finale in Gameshow Marathon. Najimy and her family were winners on both shows. In the 1981 Feud episode they won by 230 points, and in the Marathon version they scored 202 points to give Najimy the win. Najimy also appeared on the $25,000 Pyramid as a civilian contestant, on the episode dated July 31, 1985. Her celebrity partners were Constance McCashin and LeVar Burton. She failed to reach the bonus round, although she did win a Commodore 64 computer. She claimed, on the Pyramid show, that she also had been on American Bandstand. She returned to the "Pyramid" (The $100,000 Pyramid) on the June 26, 2016, episode as a celebrity guest opposite Rosie O'Donnell.[11] She appeared once again in Season 2, Episode 7 on July 23, 2017 to play against Alexandra Wentworth, helping her contestant partner win the $150,000 grand prize.[12][13]
Najimy is also very vocal about issues regarding weight and body imagingamong females. In August 2006 Najimy voiced her opinions over a remark made by Heidi Klum on the television series Project Runway after Klum said one model's outfit made her look plus sized.[14]
Personal life[]
In August 1998, Najimy married actor/singer Dan Finnerty.[15][16] Gloria Steinemofficiated the ceremony.[15] Najimy and Finnerty have daughter, named Samia, born in 1996, and a son, named Joey born in 1999, and a son, named Ben born in 2002, and a daughter, named Sally born in 2005.
Filmography[]
Film[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Hard Way | Lang's "Girl Friday" | |
| Soapdish | Tawny Miller | ||
| The Fisher King | Crazed Video Customer | ||
| 1992 | Topsy and Bunker: The Cat Killers | Marge | |
| This Is My Life | Angela | Credited as Kathy Ann Najimy | |
| Sister Act | Sister Mary Patrick | American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
| |
| 1993 | Hocus Pocus | Mary Sanderson | Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | Sister Mary Patrick | Nominated – American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | |
| 1994 | It's Pat | Tippy | |
| 1995 | Jeffrey | Acolyte | |
| 1997 | Cats Don't Dance | Tillie Hippo (voice) | |
| Nevada | Ruth | ||
| 1998 | Hope Floats | Toni Post | |
| Zack and Reba | Mrs. Simpson | ||
| Bride of Chucky | Tabby, Motel Maid | ||
| The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story | Chil (voice) | Direct-to-video | |
| 2000 | Attention Shoppers | Penelope | |
| 2001 | The Wedding Planner | Geri | |
| Rat Race | Beverly 'Bev' Pear | ||
| 2003 | Star Baby | Alexis | |
| 2004 | Bottle Bay Musical Movie | Bingette Bunny (voice) | |
| 2006 | Say Uncle | Maggie Butler | |
| Brother Bear 2 | Aunt Taqqiq (voice) | Direct-to-video | |
| 2008 | WALL-E | Mary (voice) | |
| 2010 | Step Up 3D | Moose's Mom | |
| 2012 | BearCity 2: The Proposal | Rose | |
| 2012 | The Guilt Trip | Gayle | |
| 2013 | A Madea Christmas | Kim | |
| 2015 | Descendants | The Evil Queen Grimhilde | |
| 2016 | No Letting Go | Dr. Nancy Harris | |
| 2017 | A Change of Heart | Ruthie | |
| Dating My Mother | Lisa | ||
| 2018 | Dumplin | Ms. Mitchellchuck |
Television[]
| Year | Work | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The $25,000 Pyramid | Herself (contestant) | Celebrity Guests: Constance McCashin & LeVar Burton[18] |
| 1985 | Walls of Glass | ||
| 1991 | The Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives | Herself | Television Special
Nominated – CableACE Award for Writing an Entertainment Special(shared with Mo Gaffney) (1993) |
| 1994 | In Search of Dr. Seuss | Kathy Lane | Television movie |
| 1994 | Ellen | Theresa / Lorna Irons / Woman in Gay Bar | 3 Episodes: "So Funny" (Season 2) / "Go Girlz" (Season 3) / "The Puppy Episode, Part 2" (Season 4) |
| 1994 | ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter | Dr. Femus | Short |
| 1995 | The Kathy & Mo Show: The Dark Side | Herself | Television Special
CableACE Award for Performance in a Comedy Special(shared with Mo Gaffney) (1995) |
| 1996 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues | The Old Woman (voice) | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Chicago Hope | Dr. Barbara 'Bix' Konstadt | recurring role; 3 episodes
|
| 1997–1999 | Hey Arnold | Madame Blanche (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1997–2000 | Veronica's Closet | Olive Massery | 67 episodes
OFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1998) |
| 1997–2010 | King of the Hill | Peggy Hill(voice) | 258 episodes
OFTA Television Award for Best Voice-Over Performance (2001) Nominated – Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Television Production(1998) Nominated – OFTA Television Award for Best Voice-Over Performance (1998, 2004, 2005) |
| 1997 | Early Edition | Psychic | Episode: "Psychic" |
| 1997 | Shantay | Toyota Carter | Short |
| 1998–1999 | Hercules | Thespis the Muse (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1998–2000 | Pepper Ann | Coach Doogan / Margot LaSandre (voice) / Additional Voices | 5 episodes |
| 1999 | The Wild Thornberrys | Ostrich #1 / Sand Grouse (voices) | Episode: "Have Yourself a Thornberry Little Christmas" |
| 1999 | The Sissy Duckling | Mother Duck #1 (voice) | Television film |
| 1999 | CinderElmo | Elmo's Stepmother | Television movie |
| 2000 | If These Walls Could Talk 2 | The doctor in the made-for-TV movie's "2000" segment | Television movie |
| 2000 | Leaving Peoria | Dr. Albright | Short |
| 2000–2001 | Little Bill | Mrs. Shapiro (voice) | 2 episodes; succeeded Madeline Kahn, the original voice of Mrs. Shapiro, shortly after her death in 1999. |
| 2001 | The Legend of Tarzan | Dania (voice) | 1 episode |
| 2002 | The Scream Team | Mariah | Television movie |
| 2002 | Looking Glass | White Queen | Television movie |
| 2003 | The Mummy | Calliope / Aglaophone #2 (voices) | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Stuart Little | Margalo (voice) | Episode: "The Meatloaf Bandit" |
| 2003 | Ozzy & Drix | Loretta Epstein (voice) | 1 episode |
| 2004–Present | Oswald | Bingette Bunny (voice) | |
| 2004 | Higglytown Heroes | Photographer Hero (voice) | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Rocket Power | Patsy (voice) | 1 episode |
| 2005 | Wayside | Mrs. Jewls (voice) | Television movie |
| 2005 | Getting Played | Dr. Heidi Z. Klemmer | Television movie |
| 2005 | Balto III: Wings of Change | Dipsy (voice) | Video |
| 2006 | Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! | Sunny St. Cloud (voice) | Video |
| 2006 | Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers | Blue Parrot Betty (voice) | Video |
| 2006 | Rugrats | Goosey (voice) | 1 episode |
| 2006 | That's So Raven | Lora Stelladora | Episode: "The Dress Is Always Greener" |
| 2006–2007 | Numbers | Dr. Mildred Finch | 9 episodes |
| 2007 | The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Principal | Episode: "First Day of High School" |
| 2008 | Tinker Bell | Minister of Summer (voice) | Video |
| 2009 | Drop Dead Diva | Claire Porter | Episode: "The Magic Bullet" |
| 2009 | Desperate Housewives | Detective Denise Lapera | Episode: "Careful the Things You Say" |
| 2010 | Ugly Betty | Dr. Frankel | Episode: "Million Dollar Smile" |
| 2010–present | American Dad! | Barbara "Barb" Hanson (voice) | |
| 2010 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself (Guest Judge) | Episode: "Country Queens" |
| 2011 | Mr. Sunshine | Myrna | Episode: "Employee of the Year" |
| 2011 | Five | Rocky | Television movie |
| 2011–2012 | Make It or Break It | Sheila / Sheila Baboyon / Kelly's Mom | 5 episodes |
| 2012 | Men at Work | Sasha Ryan | Episode: "Heterotextual Male" |
| 2012 | How to Fall in Love | Kim | Television movie |
| 2012 | Stars in Shorts | Sid's Mother | |
| 2013 | Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off | Herself | Season 2 participant (Team Rachael) |
| 2013 | The Big C | Therapist | 4 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Inside Amy Schumer | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2014–present | Veep | Wendy Keegan | 10 episodes |
| 2015–present | Younger | Denise Heller | 5 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Unforgettable | Sandra Russo | Series regular, 10 episodes |
| 2015 | A Christmas Melody | Sarah | Hallmark television movie |
| 2015 | Difficult People | Carol Donato | Episode: "The Children's Menu" |
| 2016 | Harvey Beaks | Hanzi / Angry Bride | 4 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Graves | Sylvia Miller | 4 episodes |
| 2016–2018 | The $100,000 Pyramid | Herself (celebrity guest) | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | Elementary | Rayna Carno | Episode: "Rekt in Real Life" |
| 2017 | BoJack Horseman | Marcie (voice) | Episode: "Commence Fracking" |
| 2017 | The President Show | Ivana Trump | Episode: "I Came Up with Christmas: A President Show Christmas" |
| 2018 | Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure | Mother (voice) | Episode: "Freebird" |