Kathy Najimy is known for her memorable performances in over 25 films and several TV projects. She most recently received the Lilly Actress/Activist award from Gloria Steinem and is very proud to have been named a Ms. Magazine WOMAN OF THE YEAR!

In the theater, Kathy starred as legendary Mae West on Broadway in the hit Broadway play “Dirty Blonde,” and later at The Old Globe Theatre (Outer Critics Circle Best Actress).

With Mo Gaffney, Najimy wrote and starred in “The Kathy and Mo Show,” her long-running off Broadway play, (Obie Award) which became two award-winning hit HBO specials.

Kathy Najimy co-created and directed the acclaimed off-Broadway hit “Back to Bacharach and David,” directed and co-wrote “These Girls” with Olivia Wilde, Chelsea Handler, Zosia Mamet, Amy Schumer, Amy Poehler and Gabby Sidibe, as well as several other stage projects.

Najimy is currently rehearsing her solo show for the NY stage, “Lift Up Your Skirt,” and is thrilled to be currently co-executive producing an in-progress series about the women’s movement. She has created a Broadway show idea about Gloria Steinem produced by Lincoln Center Theater.

For TV, Kathy voiced Peggy Hill (14 seasons) on the Emmy Award-winning “King of the Hill”, for which she received several Annie awards. Najimy starred as Olive on NBC’s “Veronica’s Closet” for 3 seasons with Kirstie Alley. She also appeared as a series regular on “Numb3rs” and “The Big C,” and starred last season as captain of the NYPD Major Crimes Section on A&E’s “Unforgettable.” Najimy recurs frequently on HBO’s “VEEP” and TVLand’s “Younger.”

Other TV projects include “Ellen,” “Five” (directed by Jennifer Aniston), “Desperate Housewives” “Drop Dead Diva,” “Ugly Betty,” “Make It or Break It,” “Difficult People,” and Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer.”

Najimy sang and danced the opening segment of the 1995 Academy Awards with Tim Curry, and was featured as Elmo’s stepmother on Fox’s special “Cinderelmo.” In 1993, she starred in the Emmy Award-winning TNT musical “In Search of Dr. Seuss.”

Kathy is internationally known for her award-winning portrayal of Sister Mary Patrick in the blockbuster hits “Sister Acts 1 &2.” Her work includes starring roles in “Hocus Pocus,” “Rat Race,” Pixar’s Oscar and Golden Globe winning “WALL-E,” “A Madea Christmas” and “Say Uncle” (Philadelphia Film Festival Best Actress). Najimy was featured in “Hope Floats,” “Zack and Reba,” “Soapdish,” “The Hard Way,” “The Wedding Planner,” “Jeffrey,” “The Big K,” “Blowtorch,” “Clutter,” and “The Guilt Trip” with Barbra Streisand. Animated films include “Tinkerbell,” “Brother Bear 2,” “Cats Don’t Dance,” and “The Jungle Book.” Some of her recently released film projects are Disney’s hit “The Descendants,” “A Christmas Melody” (directed by Mariah Carey), and Kenny Ortega’s “A Change of Heart.”

Ms. Najimy-- a proud feminist and social justice advocate-- has been awarded and recognized with numerous honors for her enthusiastic work supporting women’s, girls’ and LGBT rights, AIDS, animal rights, and reproductive rights. She is proud to be one of the founding members of V-Day.

Kathy lives in NYC and shares her life with husband Dan Finnerty (The Dan Band) and their 19-year-old daughter, singer/ songwriter/actor, Samia.