Kathy Najimy
Kathy Ann Najimy (/nəˈdʒɪmi/ nə-JIM-ee; Arabic: كاثي أن نجيمي; born February 6, 1957)[1] is an American actress and activist. She was first nationally known for her feminist play The Kathy and Mo Show, which she wrote and performed with Mo Gaffney. On film, she is best known for her roles in Soapdish (1991), Sister Act (1992) and its sequel (1993), Hocus Pocus (1993) and its sequel (2022), Hope Floats (1998), The Wedding Planner (2001), Rat Race (2001), WALL-E (2008), Step Up 3D (2010), The Guilt Trip (2012), Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas (2013), A Christmas Melody (2015), Dumplin' (2018), Music (2021), and Single All the Way (2021). On television, she is best known for her portrayal of Olive Massery on the NBC sitcom Veronica's Closet (1997–2000) and for voicing Peggy Hill on the animated television series King of the Hill (1997–2010).
Kathy Najimy
- Actress
- activist
1981–present
Early life[edit]
Najimy was born on February 6, 1957, in San Diego, California, the daughter of Lebanese-American parents Samia (née Massery; 1928–2015)[2] and Fred Najimy, a postal worker. Her mother immigrated from Lebanon to the United States in 1946.[3] She was raised Maronite Catholic[4] and attended Crawford High School. Her father died when she was 14.[5] She is a 1995 graduate of San Diego State University.[6]
Personal life[edit]
In August 1998, Najimy married actor and singer Dan Finnerty of The Dan Band.[44][45] Gloria Steinem officiated the ceremony.[44] Najimy and Finnerty have one daughter, musician Samia.[46]