- published: 04 Jul 2014
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Janeane Garofalo (/dʒəˈniːn ɡəˈrɒfəloʊ/; born September 28, 1964) is an American film actress, stand-up comedian, liberal political activist, and writer.
Garofalo began her career as a stand-up comedian and became a cast member on the Ben Stiller Show, The Larry Sanders Show, and Saturday Night Live, then appeared in more than 50 movies, with leading or major roles in The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Wet Hot American Summer, The Matchmaker, Reality Bites, Steal This Movie!, Clay Pigeons, Sweethearts, Mystery Men, and The Independent, among numerous others. She stars with Bradley Cooper and Paul Rudd in a 2015 Netflix eight-episode prequel to Wet Hot American Summer featuring most of the cast playing their original roles from the 2001 movie.
Garofalo is an outspoken progressive activist. From March 2004 to July 2006, she hosted Air America Radio's The Majority Report with Sam Seder.
Garofalo was born in Newton, New Jersey, the daughter of Joan and Carmine Garofalo. Her mother was a secretary in the petrochemical industry and died of cancer when Janeane was 24. Her father is a former executive at Exxon. Garofalo was raised as a conservative Catholic and is of Italian and Irish descent. She grew up in various places, including Ontario, California; Madison, New Jersey; and Katy, Texas. Garofalo is quoted as having disliked life in Texas because of the heat, humidity, and the emphasis on prettiness and sports in high school.