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IMDbPro

Kate McKinnon(I)

  • Actress
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,0003
Kate McKinnon
Take a closer look at the various roles Kate McKinnon has played throughout her acting career.
Play clip2:25
Kate McKinnon: Movie Moments
55 Videos
99+ Photos
Kathryn McKinnon Berthold (born January 6, 1984), known professionally as Kate McKinnon, is an American actress and comedienne, who is best known as a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live and The Big Gay Sketch Show, and for playing the role of Dr. Jillian Holtzmann in the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot.

McKinnon is known for her character work and celebrity impressions of pop singer Justin Bieber, comedian television host Ellen DeGeneres, and political figures Hillary Clinton, Kellyanne Conway, Elizabeth Warren, Betsy DeVos, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Robert Mueller, and Jeff Sessions. She has been nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards; one for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and four for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning in 2016 and 2017.

Kathryn McKinnon Berthold was born and raised in the Long Island town of Sea Cliff, New York. She is the daughter of Laura Campbell, a parent educator, and Michael Thomas Berthold, an architect. She has a younger sister, Emily. Her father died when she was 18 years old.

As a child, McKinnon played several instruments. She started playing the piano when she was 5 years old, the cello when she was 12, and taught herself how to play the guitar when she was 15. She graduated from North Shore High School in 2002, and from Columbia University in 2006 with a theater major, where she co-founded a comedy group, Tea Party, which focused on musical improv comedy. At Columbia, she starred in three Varsity shows: V109 "Dial D for Deadline", V110 "Off-Broadway" and V111 "The Sound of Muses". She was also a member of Prangstgrüp, a student comedy group who set up and recorded elaborate college pranks.

In 2007, McKinnon joined the original cast of Logo TV's The Big Gay Sketch Show, where she was a cast member for all three seasons. Since 2008, she has performed live sketch comedy regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City. She has also worked as a voice-over actress, and has voiced characters for series such as The Venture Bros., Robotomy, and Ugly Americans. In 2009, McKinnon won a Logo NewNowNext Award for Best Rising Comic. She was nominated for an ECNY Emerging Comic Award in 2010. In 2014, she appeared in the Kennedy Center Honors as part of a tribute to Lily Tomlin. In 2016, she starred in the reboot Ghostbusters, alongside Melissa McCarthy, and fellow SNL cast members Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones. In 2017, McKinnon is attached to star in Amblin Entertainment's Lunch Witch, an adaptation of a young adult graphic novel by Deb Lucke. She has been set to play the title role of Grunhilda, an out-of-work witch who takes a job in a school cafeteria to make ends meet. McKinnon voices the character of Ms. Frizzle in the reboot of the Magic School Bus children's series.

McKinnon debuted as a featured player on Saturday Night Live on April 7, 2012. She was promoted to repertory status in season 39 in 2013. Following the departure of Vanessa Bayer, McKinnon is now the longest serving female cast member.

In 2013, McKinnon was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress, Comedy. McKinnon won the 2014 American Comedy Award for Best Supporting Actress, TV for her work on SNL. In 2014, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, as well as for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics along with four of her colleagues for the song "(Do It On My) Twin Bed". She was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the second time in 2015. She eventually won the very next year, becoming the first actor from SNL to win the award since 1993.

McKinnon began appearing as Hillary Clinton on the series leading up to the 2016 presidential election. The real Clinton appeared alongside her in a sketch during the show's season 41 premiere. McKinnon has said that her impression of Hillary Clinton comes from a place of deep admiration, and that "[she] unequivocally want her to win" the 2016 presidential election. On November 12, 2016, which was the first show after Clinton's loss in the election, she reprised the role to open the show with a solo performance of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, whose death was announced two days before her performance. After the election, McKinnon began to impersonate Kellyanne Conway alongside Alec Baldwin as Trump. On February 11, she debuted her impression of Elizabeth Warren during Weekend Update and Jeff Sessions in the cold open.
BornJanuary 6, 1984
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJanuary 6, 1984
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,0003
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Won 2 Primetime Emmys

Photos293

Kate McKinnon in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Kate McKinnon in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Kate McKinnon in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Kyle MacLachlan and Kate McKinnon in Joe vs. Carole (2022)
Kyle MacLachlan and Kate McKinnon in Joe vs. Carole (2022)
Kyle MacLachlan and Kate McKinnon in Joe vs. Carole (2022)
Kate McKinnon in Joe vs. Carole (2022)
Kate McKinnon in Joe vs. Carole (2022)
Kyle MacLachlan and Kate McKinnon in Joe vs. Carole (2022)
Kate McKinnon and Marlo Kelly in Joe vs. Carole (2022)
Kate McKinnon in Joe vs. Carole (2022)
Kate McKinnon in Joe vs. Carole (2022)

Known for

Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Chris Hemsworth, and Kristen Wiig in Ghostbusters (2016)
Ghostbusters
6.8
  • Jillian Holtzmann
  • 2016
Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, and Margot Robbie in Bombshell (2019)
Bombshell
6.8
  • Jess Carr
  • 2019
Saturday Night Live (1975)
Saturday Night Live
8.0
TV Series
  • Various
  • Hillary Clinton
  • Kellyanne Conway
  • Justin Bieber
  • Angela Merkel
  • Barbara DeDrew
  • Olya Povlatsky
  • Sheila Sovage
  • Jane Lynch
  • Jeff Sessions
  • Ms. Rafferty
  • Tilda Swinton
  • Ann Romney
  • Debette Goldry
  • Ellen DeGeneres
  • Barbara Corcoran
  • Chancellor Angela Merkel
  • Deenie
  • Elizabeth Warren
  • Jodie Foster
  • Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
  • Kathy Daly
  • Keith Urban
  • Kris Jenner
  • Lorde
  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg
  • Shakira
  • Wendy Darling
  • grandma
  • Abby Whelan
  • Albert
  • Angela Lansbury
  • Bea
  • Beard Hunk Woman
  • Belle
  • Betsy DeVos
  • Bev
  • Big Ang
  • Billy Jean King
  • Black Widow
  • Black-Clothed Soldier
  • Blondelia
  • Carly Fiorina
  • Carmela DeAngelis
  • Catwoman
  • Cecilia Gimenez
  • Cecilia Giménez
  • Cherry Grove Lesbian
  • Chrissy Lane
  • Claudette Fontaine
  • Curse-Bringer
  • Customs Agent
  • Dame Maggie Smith
  • Dancer
  • Debbie Wasserman Schultz
  • Diana Nyad
  • Die Antwoord
  • Dr. Anthony Fouci
  • Dutch Plains
  • Dutch Plains as Les Dykawitz
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Edie Falco
  • Eleven
  • Ellen Degeneres
  • Emilia Clarke
  • Felix 900 Presenter
  • Flossie Dickey
  • Game Night Participant
  • Garage
  • Genevieve
  • Ginger Rogers
  • Ginni Thomas
  • Grandma
  • Great Grandma Vogelcheck
  • Greta Van Susteren
  • Helga Handler
  • Hillary Rodham Clinton
  • Hozier
  • Iggy Azalea
  • Ilsa Lund
  • Infinity + 5
  • Janet Huckabee
  • Jen Psaki
  • Jessa Johansson
  • Joanne Pendak
  • Jodi Cork
  • Josh
  • Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg
  • Kaci Hickox
  • Kate
  • Kate Bolduan
  • Kathleen Sebelius
  • Kayleight McEnany
  • Kevin McCallister
  • Kristen Stewart
  • La Touch
  • Linda Tayhoe
  • Lisa Broderick
  • Lisa Something
  • Little Denise
  • Lucille Ball
  • Maggie Greene
  • Maggie Smith
  • Maria von Trapp
  • Marilyn
  • Marina Chapman
  • Martha Raddatz
  • Martha Stewart
  • Mary Barra
  • Melisandre
  • Mika Brzezinski
  • Miss Bolivia
  • Miss Reese
  • Miss Trash New York
  • Mrs. Freda Santini
  • Mrs. Leonie Hemsworth
  • Mrs. Santini
  • Napoleon
  • Nicole Wallace
  • Noelle LeSoup
  • Olya
  • Paramedic
  • Pat Lynhart
  • Penelope Cruz
  • Penny
  • Penélope Cruz
  • Pepé Le Pew
  • Piglet
  • Piper
  • Portia
  • Pregnasty
  • Psychiatrist
  • Reedy
  • Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
  • Reporter
  • Robert Durst
  • Robyn
  • Rosie
  • S.E. Cupp
  • Samantha Scheibe
  • Sen. Lindsey Graham
  • Shannon
  • Shud
  • Student
  • Student Theatre MemberThe Christmas Candle Singer
  • Sturdy Barbie
  • Susan B. Anthony
  • Susan Boyle
  • Susie Tenderfield
  • Tabitha Coffey
  • Tauriel
  • Teacher
  • That Twerp Who Raised the Price of AIDS Medication
  • The Cookies
  • The Singers Four
  • Theresa Caputo
  • Winnie Mayhood
  • goat woman
  • harpist
Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Zoë Kravitz, Jillian Bell, and Ilana Glazer in Rough Night (2017)
Rough Night
5.2
  • Kiwi
  • Pippa
  • 2017

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Barbie
    • Post-production
  • The Lunch Witch
    • In Development
  • Saturday Night Live Christmas Special
  • DC League of Super-Pets (2022)
    DC League of Super-Pets
    • (voice)
  • Saturday Night Live (1975)
    Saturday Night Live
    • ...
  • David Duchovny, Leslie Mann, Fred Armisen, Pedro Pascal, Keegan-Michael Key, Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen, and Guz Khan in The Bubble (2022)
    The Bubble
  • Kate McKinnon and John Cameron Mitchell in Joe vs. Carole (2022)
    Joe vs. Carole
  • Paul F. Tompkins, Fred Armisen, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Rachel Dratch, Taran Killam, Bobby Lee, Joey Mazzarino, Kate McKinnon, Chris Parnell, David Rudman, Dennis Singletary, Kenan Thompson, Adam Rudman, Cobie Smulders, Bobby Moynihan, Todd Hannert, Jeanne Fishman, Kate Micucci, Tom Blandford, James Monroe Iglehart, Joey Rudman, Chris Knowings, Jack Shulruff, and Richard Traub in Nature Cat (2015)
    Nature Cat
    • (voice)
  • The Magic School Bus Rides Again in the Zone (2020)
    The Magic School Bus Rides Again in the Zone
    • (voice)
  • The Magic School Bus Rides Again: Kids in Space (2020)
    The Magic School Bus Rides Again
  • The Magic School Bus Rides Again: The Frizz Connection (2020)
    The Magic School Bus Rides Again: The Frizz Connection
    • (voice)
  • The Magic School Bus Rides Again: Kids in Space (2020)
    The Magic School Bus Rides Again: Kids in Space
    • (voice)
  • Kate McKinnon and Emily Lynne in Heads Will Roll (2020)
    Heads Will Roll
    • (voice) ...
  • Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, and Margot Robbie in Bombshell (2019)
    Bombshell
  • Himesh Patel and Lily James in Yesterday (2019)
    Yesterday
  • Nature Cat: The Return of Bad Dog Bart (2018)
    Nature Cat: The Return of Bad Dog Bart
  • Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Justin Theroux, and Sam Heughan in The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)
    The Spy Who Dumped Me

Writer

  • Kate McKinnon and Emily Lynne in Heads Will Roll (2020)
    Heads Will Roll
    • (creator)
  • Above Average Presents (2012)
    Above Average Presents
    • (2015)
  • Animated Stories
  • UCB Comedy Originals (2007)
    UCB Comedy Originals

Producer

  • Kate McKinnon and John Cameron Mitchell in Joe vs. Carole (2022)
    Joe vs. Carole
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos56

What to Watch After "Tiger King"
Clip 4:33
What to Watch After "Tiger King"
Kate McKinnon: Movie Moments
Clip 2:25
Kate McKinnon: Movie Moments
Rough Night
Clip 1:28
Rough Night
Masterminds
Clip 6:52
Masterminds
Masterminds
Clip 0:38
Masterminds
Masterminds
Clip 0:54
Masterminds
Do the 'Ghostbusters' Believe in Ghosts?
Interview 1:28
Do the 'Ghostbusters' Believe in Ghosts?
Trailer
Trailer 3:04
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:20
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:25
Official Trailer
Official Teaser Trailer
Trailer 0:38
Official Teaser Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:44
Official Trailer

Personal details

Edit
    • January 6, 1984
    • Sea Cliff, New York, USA
    • (Sibling)
  • Other works
    Music video for Julie Goldman's "Commitment Ceremony". Directed by Goldman and Erin Greenwell, starring Goldman and McKinnon.
  • Publicity listings
    • 5 Articles
    • 7 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Can play the guitar, cello, and piano.
  • Quotes
    [on playing "Vicky" in Balls Out (2014)] She's extraordinarily high- maintenance and spirited in all the wrong ways, but still genuinely confident in what she believes she deserves. I wanted to inject as much sweetness or likability as possible into this insane person. You see some characters like that on reality TV and just hate them. I wanted to see if I could play someone like that and make her not hate-able - to try to understand the humanity inside that behavior.
    • Dimple on right cheek

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