Maya Rudolph | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rudolph in 2012 | |
| Born | (1972-07-27)July 27, 1972 (age 53) Gainesville, Florida, U.S. |
| Education | University of California, Santa Cruz (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Partner | Paul Thomas Anderson (2001–present)[a] |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents |
|
Maya Khabira Rudolph (born July 27, 1972) is an American actress and comedian. In 2000, she became a cast member on theNBC sketch comedy showSaturday Night Live (SNL). During her tenure on the show, she appeared in supporting roles in the films50 First Dates (2004),A Prairie Home Companion (2006), andIdiocracy (2006).
After leavingSNL in 2007, Rudolph appeared in more films, includingGrown Ups (2010),Bridesmaids (2011),Grown Ups 2 (2013),Inherent Vice (2014),Sisters (2015),Life of the Party (2018), andDisenchanted (2022). She also provided voice acting roles in the animated filmsShrek the Third (2007),Turbo (2013),Big Hero 6 (2014),The Angry Birds Movie (2016),The Emoji Movie (2017), andLuca (2021). Rudolph starred in the NBC sitcomUp All Night (2011–2012) and co-hosted the variety showMaya & Marty (2016). In 2022, she began starring in the comedy seriesLoot, also serving as an executive producer.
Rudolph has voiced various characters for the animated sitcomBig Mouth (2017–2025), includingConnie the Hormone Monstress, which won her fourPrimetime Emmy Awards. For her portrayal of politicianKamala Harris onSNL, she won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Rudolph received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for playing a judge in the comedy seriesThe Good Place (2018–2020). In 2024,Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.[2] She is the daughter of late singerMinnie Riperton (1947–1979) and composerRichard Rudolph.
Rudolph was born inGainesville, Florida on July 27, 1972.[3] Her mother,Minnie Riperton, was a singer, and her father,Richard Rudolph, is a composer.[4][5] Her mother was African-American and her father is Jewish. Her paternal grandfather was Sidney Rudolph, a philanthropist who once owned all of theWendy's and Rudy's restaurants inMiami-Dade County, Florida.[6] Her great-grandfather was born inVilnius,Lithuania, changed his surname from "Rudashevsky" to "Rudolph", and was one of the founding members of Congregation Beth Shalom, aConservative Jewish synagogue in theSquirrel Hill neighborhood ofPittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[7] Rudolph's godmother was R&B singerTeena Marie (1956–2010).[8] On an episode ofPBS'sFinding Your Roots, Rudolph discovered that her maternal great-great-great-grandfather was James Grigsby, who was born intoslavery inLincoln County, Kentucky. Grigsby was denied financial compensation and freedom granted by the last will and testament of his owner, John Warren Grigsby, and challenged the owner's grandson in court in the 1830s.[9][10]
Rudolph's parents moved toLos Angeles, California, when their children were very young, and Rudolph grew up primarily in theWestwood neighborhood.[11] Near the end of the song "Lovin' You", Riperton repeats "Maya", as can be heard in her performance onThe Midnight Special.[12] Riperton died ofbreast cancer on July 12, 1979, at the age of 31, two weeks before Maya's seventh birthday.[11] In 1990, Rudolph graduated fromCrossroads School inSanta Monica, California, where she befriended schoolmatesGwyneth Paltrow andJack Black.[13] She attended theUniversity of California, Santa Cruz, living inPorter College. In 1995, she graduated with aBachelor of Arts degree inphotography.[14]
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Rudolph was in theimprov troupethe Groundlings, where she met futureSaturday Night Live cast memberWill Forte. She joined the cast ofSaturday Night Live as a featured player for the final three episodes of the1999–2000 season and stayed until 2007.[11][15][16] She has made several cameo appearances over the years. Since the45th-season premiere, she has occasionally portrayedVice PresidentKamala Harris, a performance acknowledged by Harris.[17] After Harris became thepresumptive 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, Rudolph agreed to portray Harris onSNL through the 2024 election; pre-production on season 3 of her showLoot was postponed to accommodate her role.[18] For her portrayal of Harris, she won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
She has appeared in many other television shows, including theCBSmedical drama seriesCity of Angels andChicago Hope. She had small parts inGattaca (1997),As Good as It Gets (1997),Chuck & Buck (2000),Duets (2000),Duplex (2003), and50 First Dates (2004); she was also a music supervisor forDuets. Her first prominent film role came in 2006 withA Prairie Home Companion. Earlier, she had costarred withLuke Wilson in the 2006Mike Judge sci-fi comedyIdiocracy, although that film was only given a limited release. She also guest-starred as Rapunzel in theDreamWorks animated filmShrek the Third. She guest-starred as Julia inThe Simpsons episode "The Homer of Seville". Rudolph guest-starred as character Athena Scooberman in NBC'sKath & Kim, and starred in the filmAway We Go withThe Office starJohn Krasinski.
In 2010, she appeared inGrown Ups starringAdam Sandler, where she played the wife ofChris Rock's character, and returned for the 2013 sequel,Grown Ups 2. In 2011, she appeared inBridesmaids withSaturday Night Live colleagueKristen Wiig, and in 2013 she played a supporting role inThe Way, Way Back as the girlfriend ofSam Rockwell's character. From 2011 to 2012, she co-starred in the NBC sitcomUp All Night, withChristina Applegate andWill Arnett. In 2013, she voiced Burn in theDreamWorks Animation filmTurbo. Rudolph's self-titledvariety show television pilot aired on May 19, 2014,[19] but the show did not go beyond that. Also in 2014, she voiced Precious in the animated filmThe Nut Job, as well as in the 2017 sequelThe Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature, and voiced Aunt Cass in theDisney animated filmBig Hero 6. She also starred inPaul Thomas Anderson's 2014 crime comedy-dramaInherent Vice,[20] and the 2015 comedySisters, where she reunited with former colleaguesTina Fey andAmy Poehler.[21]
It was later announced that she would star in an NBC variety seriesMaya & Marty withMartin Short,[22] which debuted on May 31, 2016. Her next series,Forever, premiered on September 14, 2018, onAmazon Video.[23] As a voice actress, she voiced Matilda inThe Angry Birds Movie (2016) andThe Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019), voiced Smiler in the animatedThe Emoji Movie (2017), and had various roles in theNetflix animated seriesBig Mouth, premiering in 2017.
In 2018, she performed in advertisements forRuby Tuesday andSeventh Generation. Also in 2018, she played Christine, the best friend ofMelissa McCarthy's character, in the 2018 comedy filmLife of the Party.[24] From 2018 to 2020, Rudolph played a judge in the comedy seriesThe Good Place, and received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her role. In 2019 she appeared as the mother inThe Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. In 2021 she voiced Linda Mitchell, mother of two, in Sony Pictures'The Mitchells vs. the Machines, and Daniela Paguro in thePixar filmLuca.[25] In July 2022 she appeared as the star ofLoot, an Apple TV+ series. In 2022, Rudolph portrayed Malvina Monroe, the main antagonist ofDisenchanted, the sequel to the 2007 Disney filmEnchanted.[26]
Rudolph has a production company called Animal Pictures withNatasha Lyonne which has producedRussian Doll,Poker Face,Loot, andThe Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy.[27] As of October 3, 2023, Rudolph reportedly separated amicably from Animal Pictures to produce independently.[28]
In January 2023, it was announced that Rudolph would be the spokesperson forM&M's after ownerMars Incorporated supposedly pulled its "Spokescandies" in light of criticism for its depictions of gender,[29] though a few days later Mars confirmed that their Spokescandies would return in their Super Bowl commercial.
Prior to joiningSaturday Night Live, Rudolph was abacking singer from 1995 to 1999[30] and briefly a keyboardist in the bandthe Rentals, with whom she toured.[11] She appears in music videos for the songs "Waiting" and "Please Let That Be You". In 2004, she recorded a track with the Rentals frontmanMatt Sharp, including acover ofTegan and Sara's "Not Tonight". She was also the original drummer ofThat Dog before moving to attend college.[31] She performed "Together in Pooping" and "Little Roundworm" withTriumph the Insult Comic Dog (Robert Smigel) on his albumCome Poop With Me. She is in aPrince cover band called Princess with her friendGretchen Lieberum.[32]
Rudolph has been in a committed relationship with filmmakerPaul Thomas Anderson since 2001, although they are not married.[1][33] Nonetheless, they refer to each other as "husband" and "wife" respectively due to the length of their relationship and their children.[34] They live in theSan Fernando Valley with their three daughters and one son, Pearl, Lucille, Minnie Ida, and Jack.[35][36][37][38]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | As Good as It Gets | Policewoman | |
| Gattaca | Delivery Nurse | ||
| 2000 | Chuck & Buck | Jamilla | |
| Duets | Karaoke Hostess | ||
| 2003 | Duplex | Tara | |
| 2004 | Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie | Kanshasha X | |
| 50 First Dates | Stacy | ||
| 2006 | A Prairie Home Companion | Molly | |
| Idiocracy | Rita | ||
| 2007 | Shrek the Third | Rapunzel | Voice only |
| 2009 | Away We Go | Verona De Tessant | |
| 2010 | MacGruber | Casey Fitzpatrick | |
| Grown Ups | Deanne McKenzie | ||
| 2011 | Beastie Boys: Fight for Your Right (Revisited) | Skirt Suit | Short film |
| Bridesmaids | Lillian Donovan | ||
| Zookeeper | Mollie | Voice only | |
| Friends with Kids | Leslie | ||
| 2013 | The Way, Way Back | Caitlyn | |
| Grown Ups 2 | Deanne McKenzie | ||
| Turbo | Burn | Voice only | |
| 2014 | The Nut Job | Precious | |
| Inherent Vice | Petunia Leeway | ||
| Big Hero 6 | Aunt Cass | Voice only[39][40] | |
| 2015 | Strange Magic | Griselda | Voice only |
| Maggie's Plan | Felicia | ||
| A Very Murray Christmas | Lounge Singer | ||
| Sisters | Brinda | ||
| 2016 | Mr. Pig | Eunice | |
| The Angry Birds Movie | Matilda / Poppy (uncredited) | Voices only | |
| Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping | Deborah | ||
| My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea | Verti | ||
| 2017 | CHiPs | Sergeant Gail Hernandez | |
| We Don't Belong Here | Joanne | ||
| The Emoji Movie | Smiler | Voice only | |
| The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature | Precious | ||
| 2018 | Life of the Party | Christine Davenport | |
| Love, Gilda | Herself | Documentary | |
| The Happytime Murders | Bubbles | ||
| 2019 | The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part | Mom | |
| Booksmart | Motivational Voice | ||
| Wine Country | Naomi | ||
| The Angry Birds Movie 2 | Matilda | Voice only | |
| 2020 | The Willoughbys | Nanny | |
| Thirsty | The Mosquit | Short film; Voice only | |
| Hubie Halloween | Mrs. Mary Hennessey | ||
| 2021 | The Mitchells vs. the Machines | Linda Mitchell | Voice only |
| Luca | Daniela Paguro[25] | ||
| Licorice Pizza | Gale | ||
| 2022 | Disenchanted | Malvina Monroe[41] | |
| 2023 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem | Cynthia Utrom[42] | Voice only |
| Good Burger 2 | Herself | ||
| 2024 | IF | Ally | Voice only |
| His Three Daughters | Executive producer[43] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–1997 | Chicago Hope | Nurse Leah Martine | 5 episodes |
| 1997 | The Devil's Child | Holly | Television film |
| 2000 | Action | Phina | Episode: "Dead Man Floating" |
| City of Angels | Nurse Grace Patterson | 15 episodes | |
| 2000–2007 | Saturday Night Live | Various roles | 143 episodes |
| 2006 | Campus Ladies | Professor Theresa Winslow Fabre | Episode: "All Nighter" |
| 2007 | The Simpsons | Julia (voice) | Episode: "Homer of Seville" |
| 2008–2009 | Kath & Kim | Athena Scooberman | 5 episodes |
| 2009 | The Mighty B! | Cherry (voice) | Episode: "The Dragonflies" |
| 2011–2012 | Up All Night | Ava Alexander | 35 episodes |
| 2012 | Sesame Street | Herself | Episode: "The Very End of X" |
| 2012, 2021, 2024 | Saturday Night Live | Herself (host) | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Hollywood Help | Maya | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Portlandia | Anita | Episode: "Bahama Knights" |
| The Maya Rudolph Show | Herself | Variety special; also producer | |
| Family Guy | JoAnne Shalit (voice) | Episode: "The Book of Joe" | |
| 2014–2015 | The Awesomes | Lady Malocchio (voice) | 9 episodes |
| 2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Herself | Episode: "Maya Rudolph Wears a Black Skirt and Strappy Sandals" |
| The Spoils Before Dying | Fresno Foxglove | 4 episodes | |
| Drunk History | Griselda Blanco | Episode: "Miami" | |
| 2016 | Angie Tribeca | Jackie Wilder | Episode: "Organ Trail" |
| Maya & Marty | Herself / co-host | 6 episodes; also writer and producer | |
| Brothers in Atlanta | Shirley | Television film | |
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine | U.S. Marshal Karen Haas | Episodes: "Coral Palms, Part 1" & "Coral Palms, Part 2" | |
| Documentary Now! | Anita | Episode: "Final Transmission" | |
| The Grinder | Jillian | 4 episodes | |
| 2016, 2018 | Mike Tyson Mysteries | Various Voices | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special | Herself | Variety special |
| Nobodies | Episode: "Mr. First Lady" | ||
| Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Dionne Warwick | Episode: "Kimmy Does a Puzzle!" | |
| Tour de Pharmacy | Lucy Flerng | Television film | |
| The Gong Show | Herself / Judge | Episode: "Megan Fox/Andy Samberg/Maya Rudolph" | |
| 2017–2025 | Big Mouth | Diane Birch /Connie / various voices | 81 episodes |
| 2017–2021 | Big Hero 6: The Series | Aunt Cass (voice) | 31 episodes |
| 2017 | A Christmas Story Live! | Mother Parker | Television film |
| 2018–2020 | The Good Place | Judge Gen | 12 episodes |
| 2018 | Forever | June Hoffman | 8 episodes |
| I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman | Lady Liberty | Episode: "Cory Booker" | |
| 2019 | The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience | Val Gal | Variety special |
| Nailed It! | Herself / Judge | Episode: "A Classic Christmess" | |
| 2019–2021 | Bless the Harts | Betty Hart, Norma (voice) | Series regular |
| 2020 | Mapleworth Murders[44] | Broda Bcbillan | 3 episodes |
| Eater's Guide to the World[45] | Herself / narrator | 7 episodes | |
| Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine | Andrea Steele | Television special | |
| 2021 | A Clüsterfünke Christmas | Shania Gary | Comedy Central film |
| MacGruber | Casey | 2 episodes | |
| 2021–2023 | Baking It | Herself / host | 12 episodes |
| 2022 | Baymax! | Aunt Cass (voice) | 2 episodes;Disney+ miniseries |
| Murderville | Herself | Episode: "Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery" | |
| 2022–2023 | Human Resources | Connie / Bonnie (voice) | 20 episodes |
| 2022–present | Loot | Molly Novak / Wells | Main role; also executive producer |
| 2023 | Digman! | G.A.W.D. (voice) | Episode: "Fear of GAWD" |
| 2024 | Dinner Time Live with David Chang | Herself / guest | Episode: "The Spring Menu" |
| Dream Productions | Jean Dewberry (voice) | 4 episodes | |
| 2024-present | The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy | Dr. Vlam (voice) | Main role; also executive producer |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series | ZO-E3 |
| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Waiting" | The Rentals | ||
| 2005 | "Please Let That Be You" | The Rentals | [46] | |
| 2006 | "Dick in a Box" | The Lonely Island featuringJustin Timberlake | Girlfriend | |
| 2011 | "Make Some Noise" | Beastie Boys | Metal Chick | |
| 2013 | "Hugs" | The Lonely Island featuringPharrell Williams | Drug dealing '80s Oprah | |
| 2020 | "Imagine" | Gal Gadot & Friends | Herself | [47] |
| 2024 | "Sushi Glory Hole" | The Lonely Island | Businesswoman |
Maya, Maya, Maya
