Kathy Najimy

Infobox actor

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caption = Kathy Najimy, August 2007
birthname = Kathy Ann Najimy
birthdate = birth date and age|1957|2|6
birthplace = San Diego, California, U.S.
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website = http://www.kathynajimy.com/

Kathy Ann Najimy (born February 6, 1957) is an American actress, known as Olive Massery on the television series "Veronica's Closet", Sister Mary Patrick in "Sister Act" and the voice of Peggy Hill on the animated television series "King of the Hill".

Biography

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. In 1997, she lent her voice to Warner Bros. Family Entertainment as Tilly the Hippo in the little-known film "Cats Don't Dance", alongside actors Scott Bakula ("Quantum Leap", ""), Jasmine Guy ("A Different World", "Dead Like Me"), John Rhys-Davies ("Raiders of the Lost Ark", "The Lord of the Rings") and Don Knotts ("The Apple Dumpling Gang", "Three's Company"). Singer Natalie Cole also lent her voice for the film, as the singing voice for Sawyer the Cat, the character voiced by Jasmine Guy. In 1998, she made a cameo in "Bride of Chucky" as the maid who discovers Diane and Russ' bodies. 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 done 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 garnered rave reviews for her performance as Mae West in the Broadway hit "Dirty Blonde". She currently portrays the pushy Dr. Mildred Finch on "NUMB3RS".

Personal life and activism

Najimy was born in San Diego, California, the daughter of Lebanese immigrant parents Samia (née Massery) and Fred Najimy, a postal worker. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/6/Kathy-Najimy.html Kathy Najimy Biography (1957-) ] ] [ [http://www.lebwa.org/life/life.php LEBWA - Lebanese Women's Awakening ] ] She was raised Catholic [ [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-bonavoglia/fearless-on-abortion_b_31057.html Angela Bonavoglia: Fearless on Abortion - Living on The Huffington Post ] ] and attended Crawford High School.

Najimy married comedic actor/singer Dan Finnerty in August 1995; they have one daughter. Najimy is a outspoken feminist and is also noted as an activist for human rights and gay rights. She uses her celebrity 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 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 help stop violence against women and girls. She was also crowned Grand Champion on CBS' "Gameshow Marathon" in 2006, donating the $100,000 winnings to Girls Best Friend, a charity that helps empower girls.

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 is also very vocal about issues regarding weight and body imaging among 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, saying it made her look plus sized.

Filmography

* "Walls of Glass" (1985)
* "Soapdish" (1991) .... Tawny Miller
* "The Hard Way" (1991) .... Lang's Girl Friday
* "The Fisher King" (1991) .... Crazed video customer
* "Sister Act" (1992) .... Sister Mary Patrick
* "" (1992) .... Marge
* "This Is My Life" (1992) (as Kathy Ann Najimy) .... Angela
* "" (1993) .... Sister Mary Patrick
* "Hocus Pocus" (1993) .... Mary Sanderson
* "In Search of Dr. Seuss" (1994) (TV) .... Kathy Lane
* "It's Pat" (1994) .... Tippy
* "King of the Hill" (1997-present) (TV) .... Peggy Hill
* "Cats Don't Dance" (1997) .... Tillie Hippo
* "Shantay" (1997) .... Toyota Carter
* "Nevada" (1997) .... Ruth
* "Hercules" (TV).... Thespis the Muse (1 episode, 1998)
* "Bride of Chucky" (1998) .... Tabby, Motel Maid
* "Zack and Reba" (1998) .... Mrs. Simpson
* "Hope Floats" (1998) .... Toni Post
* "The Wild Thornberrys" (TV) .... Ostrich (1 episode, 1999)
* "Attention Shoppers" (2000) .... Penelope
* "If These Walls Could Talk 2" (2000) (TV) .... Doctor (segment "2000")
* "Leaving Peoria" (2000) .... Dr. Albright
* "Rat Race" (2001) .... Beverly 'Bev' Pear
* "The Wedding Planner" (2001) .... Geri
* "The Scream Team" (2002) .... Mariah
* "Wayside" (2005 pilot)
* "Say Uncle" (2006) .... Maggie
* "Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy!" (2006) .... Sunny St Cloud
* "That's So Raven" (TV) .... Lora Stelladora (1 episode, 2006)
* "NUMB3RS".... Dr. Mildrid Finch (2006-2007)
* "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" (TV) .... Principal (1 episode, 2007)
* "WALL·E" (2008) (voice of Mary)

Winners of the Celebrity Poker Showdown Championship Table

References

External links

* [http://www.kathynajimy.com/ Official web site]
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