Janeane Garofalo

Actor, Writer, Producer

Birthdate: Sep 28, 1964

Birthplace: Newton, New Jersey, USA

Janeane, the petite woman with the acerbic wit, was born in Newton, New Jersey, in 1964, to Joan, a secretary, and Carmine Garofalo, an Exxon executive. She is of Italian and Irish descent. Janeane had many jobs before breaking into show biz. She worked as a bike messenger, a shoe saleswoman, waitress and temp secretary. Watching David Letterman on TV inspired her to write comedy, and by 1985 she was doing stand up comedy. As such, Janeane has become a cult figure, giving a voice to a generation, venting her frustration at T.V., romance, life in general and anything that ticks her off in particular. Janeane did sketches on The Ben Stiller Show (1992) (an Emmy-winning, but canceled show). She would continue to collaborate with Ben Stiller in future projects. Janeane received 2 Emmy nominations for her work on The Larry Sanders Show (1992), developing her signature character: a smart, cynical woman with a razor wit. She was not happy with her Saturday Night Live (1975) stint in 1994, and was vocal about it (of course). Transferring her persona from TV to the big screen, she moved on to movies, basically playing the character she had defined for herself. In Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) she portrayed a smart, cynical, successful businesswomen with a razor wit, and this time with swear words (in the movie she had developed a brand of cigarettes with fast-burning paper, for the gal on the go; in real life it is alleged she smokes Marlboros). Janeane continues to work in TV and movies, often collaborating with Ben Stiller in a number of movies like Mystery Men (1999), his easygoing style being a counterpoint to her caustic nature.

Known For

Mystery Men
Mystery Men

(1999)

The Truth About Cats & Dogs
The Truth About Cats & Dogs

(1996)

Wet Hot American Summer
Wet Hot American Summer

(2001)

Janeane Garofalo Movies

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Upcoming (1)

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Previous (56)

  • 2026 |

    Stranger Things: Tales from ’85

    asAnna Baxter
  • 2025 |

    Boys Go to Jupiter

    asDr. Dolphin
  • 2025 |

    The Wild

  • 2025 |

    Love Hurts

  • 2024 |
    Boys Go to Jupiter
  • 2022 |
    The Apology
  • 2022 |
    The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks
  • 2021 |

    The God Committee

  • 2020 |
    Asking for It
  • 2019 |
    25 Sets
  • 2019 |
    Come As You Are
  • 2019 |
    Mercy Black
  • 2018 |

    A Bread Factory, Part One/A Bread Factory, Part Two

    asJordan
  • 2018 |

    The Happys

    asLuann
  • 2018 |

    Submission

  • 2017 |
    Speech & Debate
  • 2016 |
    Little Boxes
  • 2015 |
    3rd Street Blackout
  • 2015 |
    Hurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet Hot
  • 2014 |
    A Little Game
  • 2013 |
    Free the Nipple
  • 2013 |
    Satan, Hold My Hand
  • 2013 |
    The Muslims Are Coming!
  • 2012 |
    Bad Parents
  • 2012 |
    General Education
  • 2010 |
    Barbershop Punk
  • 2008 |
    The Guitar
  • 2007 |

    Ratatouille

    asColette
  • 2005 |
    Duane Hopwood
  • 2005 |
    Stay
  • 2004 |
    Jiminy Glick in Lalawood
  • 2003 |
    Ash Tuesday
  • 2003 |
    Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World
  • 2003 |
    Manhood
  • 2002 |
    Big Trouble
  • 2001 |
    The Search for John Gissing
  • 2000 |
    The Independent
  • 2001 |
    Wet Hot American Summer
  • 2001 |

    Wet Hot American Summer

    asBeth
  • 2000 |
    Steal This Movie
  • 2000 |
    The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle
  • 1999 |
    Can't Stop Dancing
  • 1999 |
    The Bumblebee Flies Anyway
  • 1999 |

    Dogma

    asLiz
  • 1998 |
    Dog Park
  • 1999 |
    Mystery Men
  • 1998 |
    Clay Pigeons
  • 1997 |
    The MatchMaker
  • 1997 |
    Cop Land
  • 1997 |
    Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
  • 1995 |
    I Shot a Man in Vegas
  • 1996 |
    The Cable Guy
  • 1996 |
    The Truth About Cats & Dogs
  • 1995 |
    Coldblooded
  • 1995 |
    Bye Bye Love
  • 1994 |
    Reality Bites

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Previous (1)

  • 2018 |

    Like Me

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