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Kathy Najimy is equally at home in films, in television and on stage. Her television credits include three seasons opposite Kirstie Alley as "Olive" on "Veronica's Closet," for which she received an American Comedy Award. For the past 10 seasons, she has provided the voice of "Peggy Hill" on the Emmy award-winning animated series "King of the Hill," (Annie Award, two WIN awards.) She was thrilled to play Sharon Stones' gynecologist in HBO's "If These Walls Could Talk 2," and in 2003 she appeared in Disney's "The Scream Team" with Eric Idle. The original "Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives" garnered her two Cable Ace Awards for the first HBO special and an Obie Award for the Off-Broadway stage show. The 1996 HBO version, entitled Kathy & Mo: The Dark Side," won Cable Ace Awards for her roles as actor, writer and Executive Producer of the special, as well as an American Comedy Award nomination for her performance. Najimy was featured in a three-part arc on CBS's "Chicago Hope" as well as in the series "She TV," "Fool for Love," "Early Edition" and three episodes of "Ellen." She is shamefully proud of her appearance on Celebrity Poker Showdown, in which she won the grand champion tournament and $100, 000 for her charity, V-Day. Najimy sang and danced as Elmo's stepmother on the special Cinderelmo, as well as starred in the musical opening number of the 1995 Academy Awards. She also headed the Emmy award-winning musical special "In Search Of Dr. Seuss in 1993."
Najimy is known internationally for her portrayal of "Sister Mary Patrick" in the hit feature films "Sister Act" and "Sister Act 2," which won her an ACA award for Funniest Supporting Actress and the Hollywood Women's Press club's female Discovery of the Year. She has appeared in over 20 films, including a starring role in "Hocus Pocus" with Bette Midler, "Rat Race," "Hope Floats," "Nevada," "Cats Don't Dance," "Zack and Reba" opposite Brittany Murphy, "This Is My Life," "The Fisher King," "Soapdish" and "The Hard Way," with cameo appearances in "It's Pat," "The Wedding Planner," "Jeffrey," "The Big K" and Margaret Cho's "Bam Bam and Celeste." Kathy has a starring role in the 2006 Peter Paige film "Say Uncle."
Kathy Najimy has performed in "V-Day" on Broadway, and at Madison Square Garden in the "Vagina Monologues" with Susan Sarandon, Gloria Steinem and Alanis Morrisette. She has starred as the legendary Mae West in "Dirty Blonde," both on Broadway and at The Old Globe Theatre (2003 Best Actress Critic's circle Award). Recently, "Kathy and Mo" returned to Broadway with "Afterbirth: Kathy and Mo's Greatest Hits." Her other stage work includes over a dozen musicals, including "Godspell" and "Grease," five years with "Sisters on Stage" and "It's My Party," her one-woman show. She directed the Off-Broadway critical hit "Back to Bacharach and David" and several other off-off Broadway shows.
In 2005, Najimy was named Ms. Magazine's' Woman of the Year. For her 20 years of AIDS activism, she has been honored with LA Shanti's Founder Award, as well as the LA Gay and Lesbian Center's Distinguished Achievement Award. As a proud Lebanese American, Kathy has received awards from the ACC and The ADC. Kathy has posed twice for PETA's popular campaign, "I'd Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur," and in 2000 she received their Humanitarian of the Year Award from Paul McCartney. Najimy has been published in the New York Times, as well as in several national magazines. She contributed a chapter to the book "The Choices We Made," which was released on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, and is featured in "Starpower," showcasing politically active celebrities. On tape, she voiced Wally Lamb's best-selling novel "She's Come Undone."
Kathy Najimy lives in Los Angeles with her husband, actor/singer Dan Finnerty (the Dan Band), their glorious daughter, Samia, their dogs, Princess and Happy, and bunny Chocolate.
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