Feb 6, 1957

San Diego, California, USA

Kathy Ann Najimy (born February 6, 1957) is an American actress, known as Olive Massery on the television series Veronica's Closet, Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act and the voice of Peggy Hill on the animated television series King of the Hill.<br/><br/>

Najimy's film career began in the early 1990s with a number of off-beat minor roles, but her first major role was in the 1992 comedy Sister Act, in the role of Sister Mary Patrick. She reprised this role in the 1993 in Sister Act 2. She also s... ... (read more...) tarred in Hocus Pocus with Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters. In 1997, she leant her voice to Warner Bros. Family Entertainment as Tilly the Hippo in the little-known film, Cats Don't Dance, alongside actors Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise), Jasmine Guy (A Different World, Dead Like Me), John Rhys-Davies (Indiana Jones, Lord of The Rings) and Don Knotts (The Apple Dumpling Gang, Three's Company). Singer Natalie Cole also leant her voice for the film, as the singing voice for Sawyer the Cat, the character voiced by Jasmine Guy. In 1998, she made a cameo in Bride of Chucky as the maid who discovers Diane and Russ' bodies. In 2001 she co-starred in the hit comedy film Rat Race alongside John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson, Cuba Gooding, Jr., (fellow Sister Act 1 & 2 co-star) Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Lovitz and Seth Green. She Guest Starred in That's So Raven. She has done four movies with Goldberg, (Soapdish, Sister Act 1 and 2 and Rat Race).<br/><br/>

From film, Najimy expanded into television roles, including a dramatic recurring role on Chicago Hope. Najimy was part of the cast of Veronica’s Closet from 1997 to 2000. She co-created and starred in the hit off-broadway show and HBO specials "Kathy & Mo, with friend and actress Mo Gaffney. She garnered rave reviews for her performance as Mae West in the Broadway hit Dirty Blonde. She currently portrays the pushy Dr. Mildred Finch on NUMB3RS.<br/><br/>

In 2005, she was chosen by Ms. Magazine as Woman of the Year.<br/><br/>

Najimy was born in San Diego, California, the daughter of Lebanese immigrant parents Samia (née Massery) and Fred Najimy, a postal worker. She was raised Catholic and attended Crawford High School.<br/><br/>

Najimy, openly bisexual,married comedic actor/singer Dan Finnerty in August 1995; they have one daughter. Najimy is a proud feminist and is also noted as an activist for human rights and gay rights. She uses her celebrity to donate money to charities by appearing on game shows. She appeared as a contestant on a celebrity version of The Weakest Link where she won $50,000 for The Feminist Majority Foundation's Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan. She has appeared three times on Celebrity Poker Showdown and won the season six tournament, donating the $100,000 to V-Day, an organization that help stop violence against women. She was also crowned Grand Champion on CBS's Gameshow Marathon in 2006, donating the $100,000 winnings to Girls Best Friend, a charity that helps empower girls.<br/><br/>

In 1981, before she was famous, she was a contestant on Family Feud, which in a case of deja vu, was used as the finale in Gameshow Marathon. Najimy and her family were winners on both shows. In the 1981 Feud episode they won by 230 points, and in the Marathon version they scored 202 points to give Najimy the win.<br/><br/>

Najimy is also very vocal about issues regarding weight and body imaging among females. In August 2006 Najimy voiced her opinions over a remark made by Heidi Klum on the television series Project Runway after Klum made a comment about body image by criticizing one model's outfit, saying it made her look plus sized.<br/><br/>

Najimy's fame has spawned several impersonators. The most noteworthy of these performers is undoubtedly Jennifer Loeb ("Sissy Loeb" or "Mareball") whose physical appearance, vocal attributes and personality make her an uncanny replica of the real-deal Najimy. Some critics argue that Loeb's performance is remnant merely of the characters which Najimy portrays in movies and not of Najimy herself. However, Loeb's fans contend that she is, as Loeb herself proclaims, a Najimy impersonator.