Janeane Garofalo

Born: 28th September 1964
Where: Newton, New Jersey

Janeane was inspired to write comedy by watching David Letterman on TV and as a teenager she was already doing stand-up.

In the world of comedy clubs she has become a cult figure, venting her frustration at TV, relationships, and a hundred other annoyances.

She moved from clubs to TV in 1992 when she appeared on the Ben Stiller show, and in the same year Janeane received two Emmy nominations for her work on the Larry Sanders show.

In 1994 she had a stint on Saturday Night Live and then transferred from TV to the big screen, playing the character she had defined for herself - a razor-witted feminist.

Her breakthrough screen role came in 1995 when she shone as Randy Quaid's blind date-from-hell in Bye Bye, Love.

She began to undertake more dramatic fare in 1997, first as a reporter in Touch, then a deputy in Cop Land and finally expanding on her date-from-hell persona in Sweethearts.

Seeming to work constantly, Janeane accepted supporting roles in several high-profile films in 1999 like 200 Cigarettes, The Minus Man (playing a co-worker who unwittingly romances a serial killer) and Kevin Smith's Dogma.

Next came a larger role and yet another appearance with Ben Stiller in the comic book-inspired Mystery Men.