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Rarely do we encounter an actress with such a remarkable range of talents and scope of emotion than that of Kathy Najimy. Time and time again, film, television and stage audiences are enchanted with her captivating performances. These past few years have seen Kathy Najimy skyrocket to the top of an exclusive list of actresses in high demand.
Kathy recently stared as the legendary Mae West in the Broadway play, DIRTY BLONDE to great reviews. She currently provides the voice of “Peggy Hill,” on the Emmy award winning FOX TV hit KING OF THE HILL, for which she received 2 Annie Award nominations. For three seasons she starred opposite Kirstie Alley as “Olive” on NBC's VERONICA'S CLOSET, for which she received an American Comedy Award nomination. Najimy is known internationally for her portrayal of “Sister Mary Patrick” in the blockbuster hit SISTER ACT, which won her an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress and a nomination by the Hollywood Women's Press club for female Discovery of the Year. Najimy recently performed on Broadway and in L.A. in the VAGINA MONOLOGUES with Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close, Gloria Steinem, Whoopi Goldberg and Alanis Morrisette. She was thrilled to play Sharon Stones' gynecologist in HBO's: IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2, written and directed by Anne Heche.
Najimy’s 1996 HBO version of THE KATHY AND MO SHOW entitled KATHY & MO: THE DARK SIDE, won Cable Ace Awards for both her roles as actor and Executive Producer of the special, as well as an American Comedy Award nomination for her performance. The original KATHY & MO SHOW: PARALLEL LIVES, which Kathy also starred in and wrote, with Mo Gaffney, garnered her two Cable Ace Awards for the special and an Obie Award for the Off-Broadway stage show.
Kathy's' other film work includes a starring role in HOCUS POCUS with Bette Midler, HOPE FLOATS with Sandra Bullock, NEVADA, CATS DON’T DANCE, ZACK AND REBA opposite Debbie Reynolds, THIS IS MY LIFE, THE FISHER KING, SOAPDISH, THE HARD WAY, and SISTER ACT II (American Comedy Award nomination), with cameo appearances in IT'S PAT, THE WEDDING PLANNER with Jennifer Lopez, JEFFREY, and THE BIG K.
Kathy sang and danced as Elmo’s stepmother on FOX’s TV special CINDERELMO, and also sang and danced her way through the opening number of the 1995 Academy Awards. In 1993, she starred in the Emmy award winning TNT musical special IN SEARCH OF DR. SEUSS.
On television, Najimy was featured in a three part arc on CBS’ CHICAGO HOPE, in which she portrayed an unstable psychiatrist battling manic depression. Additionally, she appeared in the television series SHE TV, FOOL FOR LOVE, guest starred on the hour drama EARLY EDITION, and was featured in 3 episodes of the hit sitcom ELLEN. She has voiced characters for HBO's animated SISSY DUCKLING as well as HEY ARNOLD!, PEPPER ANN, HERCULES, LITTLE BILL and several others. She currently provides the voice of "Peggy Hill," on the Emmy award winning FOX TV hit KING OF THE HILL, for which she recently received the Annie Award.
Besides six years of THE KATHY & MO SHOW, other stage credits include roles at The Old Globe, and over a dozen musicals, including GODSPELL and GREASE. She was a five year member of the feminist theater SISTERS ON STAGE and soloed in IT'S MY PARTY, her one-woman show.
Najimy directed the Off-Broadway production of the critical hit, BACK TO BACHARACH AND DAVID, and directed the Off-Off Broadway plays DON'T GET ME STARTED, and I CAN PUT MY FIST IN MY MOUTH. She is proud of her four years as resident director of the Emmy Award-winning New Image Teen Theater.
For her 15 years of AIDS activism, Najimy has been honored with the L.A. Shanti’s Founder award as well as the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center's Distinguished Achievement award. She is an enthusiastic supporter of AIDS, women and animal rights, and Najimy has lent her support to a variety of worthy organizations that include: Project Angel Food, APLA, GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign Fund, Broadway Cares, Equity Fights AIDS, AMFAR, Planned Parenthood, Voters for Choice, and NARAL. As a proud Lebanese American Kathy has received awards from the ACC and The ADC and in May 2000, Kathy spoke at the HRCF’s Equality Rocks concert with Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, and Chaka Kahn.
Kathy has posed twice for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals popular campaign, “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur,” and last fall, she received PETA’s Humanitarian of the Year Award from Paul McCartney.
Najimy has been published in the New York Times, as well as several national magazines. She contributed a chapter to the Random House book THE CHOICES WE MADE, which was released on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade and she will soon be featured in the upcoming book STARPOWER, which will showcase politically active celebrities. On tape, she voiced Wally Lamb's best selling novel SHE'S COME UNDONE.
In her rare spare time jumps out of airplanes. Kathy resides in Los Angeles and New York with her husband, singer/actor Dan Finnerty, their young daughter Samia, and their dogs Happy and Blondie.
Source: kathynajimy.com
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