Kate McKinnon
Biography
Kate McKinnon is an American actress and comedian born on January 6, 1984, in Sea Cliff, New York, USA. She is known for her work in various television and film projects. As a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, she was nominated for ten Primetime Emmy Awards, winning in 2016 and 2017. McKinnon also starred in the Logo sketch comedy series The Big Gay Sketch Show and voiced lead roles in the PBS Kids animated series Nature Cat and the Netflix animated series The Magic School Bus Rides Again. With a career spanning multiple mediums, McKinnon has established herself as a talented and versatile performer with 74 known credits.
Career overview
Kate McKinnon is an American actress and comedian. She began her career in the entertainment industry by starring in the Logo sketch comedy series The Big Gay Sketch Show from 2007 to 2010. McKinnon's work in this series marked the beginning of her involvement in comedy.
McKinnon's most notable role to date is as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live. She was part of the show's cast from 2012 to 2022. During her tenure on the series, McKinnon became known for her character work and celebrity impressions. Her performances earned her ten Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including a win in 2016 and 2017.
In addition to her work on Saturday Night Live, McKinnon has also lent her voice to several animated series. She voiced lead roles in the PBS Kids animated series Nature Cat and the Netflix animated series The Magic School Bus Rides Again. With a total of 74 acting credits, McKinnon has established herself as a versatile and accomplished actress in the entertainment industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Lorne (2026) as Self
- In the Blink of an Eye (2026) as Coakley
- The Wrong Girls (2026) as Dr. Olsen
- A Minecraft Movie (2025) as Alex (voice) (uncredited)
- The Roses (2025) as Amy
- SNL50: The Homecoming Concert (2025) as Self
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) as Self
- Barbie (2023) as Barbie
- DC League of Super-Pets (2022) as Lulu (voice)
- Joe vs Carole (2022) as Carole Baskin
- Joe vs Carole (2022) Executive Producer
- The Bubble (2022) as Paula the Studio Head
- Celebrity Escape Room (2020) as Self
- Hillary (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- The Magic School Bus Rides Again: The Frizz Connection (2020) as Ms. Fiona Frizzle (voice)
- The Magic School Bus Rides Again: Kids in Space (2020) as Ms. Fiona Frizzle (voice)
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self - Guest
- Today with Jenna & Sheinelle (2019) as Self
- Bombshell (2019) as Jess Carr
- Yesterday (2019) as Debra Hammer
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (2019) as Self
- The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018) as Morgan
- Irreplaceable You (2018) as Glass Half Full Kate
- Family (2018) as Jill
- Detroiters (2017) as Lindsay (voice)
- Rough Night (2017) as Pippa
- Ferdinand (2017) as Lupe (voice)
- Friends from College (2017) as Shawna
- The Magic School Bus Rides Again (2017) as Ms. Frizzle (voice)
- The Angry Birds Movie (2016) as Stella / Eva the Birthday Mom (voice)
- Finding Dory (2016) as Wife Fish (voice)
- Ghostbusters (2016) as Jillian Holtzmann
- Ballerina (2016) as Regine / Mother Superior / Felicie's Mother (US version)
- Masterminds (2016) as Jandice
- Office Christmas Party (2016) as Mary
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self
- Hot Ones (2015) as Self
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Ted 2 (2015) as Kate McKinnon
- Nature Cat (2015) as Squeeks (voice)
- Difficult People (2015) as Abra Cadouglas
- Sisters (2015) as Sam
- The Spoils Before Dying (2015) as Dallas Boudreau
- Giant Sloth (2015) as Nina
- Staten Island Summer (2015) as Mrs. Bandini Jr.
- China, Il The Musical (2015) as Sunshine
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Life Partners (2014) as Trace
- Balls Out (2014) as Vicky
- Hannah Has a Ho-Phase (2013) as Nicky
- Toy Story of Terror! (2013) as PEZ Cat (voice)
- Comedy Bang! Bang! (2012) as Effie Villalopolus
- Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (2012) as Self
- My Best Day (2012) as Heather
- China, IL (2011) as Sunshine (voice)
- Robotomy (2010)
- Robotomy (2010) as Mrs. Crunshine
- Mr. Ross (2010) as Debby
- Concierge: The Series (2010) as Mary
- Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday (2008)
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- The Big Gay Sketch Show (2007)
- The Venture Bros. (2004) as Nikki Fictel / Mrs. Fictel (voice)
- The Venture Bros. (2004) as Nikki Fictel (voice)
- The Venture Bros. (2004) as Thalia / Nikki Fictel / Mrs. Fictel (voice)
- The Venture Bros. (2004) as Warriana / Dot Comm (voice)
- The Venture Bros. (2004) as Redusa (voice)
- The Venture Bros. (2004) as Warriana (voice)
- The Venture Bros. (2004) as Warriana / Alexis Warrington (voice)
- The Venture Bros. (2004) as Eenie-Meanie (voice)
- Family Guy (1999) as Philippa (voice)
- Family Guy (1999) as Farmer's Date (voice)
- Family Guy (1999) as Karen Griffin (Heavy Flo) (voice)
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Simpsons (1989) as Hettie Mae Boggs (voice)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Various Characters
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self / Colleen Rafferty
- The Oscars (1953) as Self - Presenter
- One Attempt Remaining
- Thumb
- The Lunch Witch as Grunhilda