Kathy Najimy is an American actress and activist. She is best known for her roles in the films Soapdish (1991), Sister Act (1992), Hocus Pocus (1993), Hope Floats (1998), The Wedding Planner (2001), and Rat Race (2001), as well as her portrayal of Olive Massery on the NBC sitcom Veronica’s Closet (1997–2000) and for voicing Peggy Hill on the animated television series King of the Hill (1997–2010).
Samia (née Massery; 1928-2015) and Fred Najimy, an American postal worker, gave birth to their daughter, Kathy Najimy, on February 6, 1957, in San Diego, California. Her mother was of Lebanese descent, while her father was an American postal worker.
In 1946, her mother made the journey over the ocean from Lebanon to the United States.
Her upbringing was Maronite Catholic, and she received her education at Crawford High School. At the age of 14, her father passed away. She attended San Diego State University and received her degree there in 1995.
The Kathy and Mo Show, a feminist comedy play written by Najimy and Mo Gaffney, made its debut in 1986 and went on to have three successful runs in New York City. The show also spawned two HBO specials, titled Parallel Lives and The Dark Side.
Kathy Najimy Awards And Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
| 1994 | Nominee Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actress Hocus Pocus (1993) |
American Comedy Awards, USA
| 1994 | Nominee American Comedy Award | Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) |
| 1993 | Winner American Comedy Award | Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Sister Act (1992) |
Annie Awards
| 2001 | Winner Annie | Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Television Production King of the Hill (1997) – As the voice of “Peggy Hill”. For episode “Luanne, Virgin 2.02”. |
| 1998 | Nominee Annie | Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Television Production King of the Hill (1997) For playing “Peggy Hill”. |
CableACE Awards
| 1995 | Winner CableACE | Performance in a Comedy Special The Kathy & Mo Show: The Dark Side (1995) Shared with:Mo Gaffney |
| Comedy Special The Kathy & Mo Show: The Dark Side (1995) Shared with:Mo Gaffney (co-executive producer/writer) Paula Mazur (producer) Dean Parisot (director) | ||
| 1993 | Winner CableACE | Performance in a Comedy Special The Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives (1991) Shared with:Mo Gaffney |
| Nominee CableACE | Writing an Entertainment Special The Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives (1991) Shared with:Mo Gaffney |
MTV Movie + TV Awards
| 1993 | Nominee MTV Movie Award | Best Breakthrough Performance Sister Act (1992) |
Online Film & Television Association
| 2005 | Nominee OFTA Television Award | Best Voice-Over Performance King of the Hill (1997) |
| 2004 | Nominee OFTA Television Award | Best Voice-Over Performance King of the Hill (1997) |
| 2001 | Winner OFTA Television Award | Best Voice-Over Performance King of the Hill (1997) |
| 1998 | Winner OFTA Television Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Series Veronica’s Closet (1997) |
| Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Veronica’s Closet (1997) Tied with Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Seinfeld (1989) | ||
| Nominee OFTA Television Award | Best Voice-Over Performance King of the Hill (1997) For playing “Peggy Hill”. |
Viewers for Quality Television Awards
| 1996 | Nominee Q Award | Best Recurring Player Chicago Hope (1994) |
