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Kathryn Hahn
Hahn holding a microphone
Hahn in 2016
Born
Kathryn Marie Hahn

(1973-07-23) July 23, 1973 (age 51)
Education Northwestern University (BA)
Yale University (MFA)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • Comedian
Years active 1981–present
Spouse(s)
Ethan Sandler
(m. 2002)
Children 2

Kathryn Marie Hahn (born July 23, 1973) is an American actress and comedian. She began her career on television, starring as grief counselor Lily Lebowski in the NBC crime drama series Crossing Jordan (2001–2007). Hahn gained prominence appearing as a supporting actress in a number of comedy films, including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Step Brothers (2008), The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009), Our Idiot Brother (2011), We're the Millers and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (both 2013), and Glass Onion (2022).

As a lead actress in film, Hahn starred in Joey Soloway's comedy-drama Afternoon Delight (2013), the comedy film Bad Moms (2016), and its 2017 sequel, and the Tamara Jenkins drama Private Life (2018). For the latter, she received critical acclaim and a Gotham Award nomination for Best Actress. She has appeared in various dramatic films, including Revolutionary Road (2008), This Is Where I Leave You (2014), Tomorrowland (2015), The Visit (2015), and Captain Fantastic (2016), for which she received her first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. She voiced Ericka Van Helsing in the two subsequent films of the Hotel Transylvania franchise (2018–2022) and Doctor Octopus in the Academy Award winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018).

In television, Hahn was featured in a recurring guest role on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation (2012–2015), for which she received a Critics' Choice nomination for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series, she had a recurring role as a rabbi in the Amazon Prime Video comedy-drama series Transparent (2014–2019), for which she received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Hahn also starred in the Amazon Prime Video comedy series I Love Dick (2016–2017), the HBO comedy miniseries Mrs. Fletcher (2019), the HBO drama miniseries I Know This Much Is True (2020), and the Apple TV+ limited series The Shrink Next Door (2021). Since 2020, Hahn has voiced the role of Paige Hunter in the Apple TV+ animated musical comedy series Central Park.

She portrayed Agatha Harkness in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) miniseries WandaVision (2021) and Agatha All Along (2024), and Clare in Hulu series Tiny Beautiful Things (2023) for which she received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie respectively.

Early life

Kathryn Marie Hahn was born in Westchester, Illinois, the daughter of Karen (née Bunker) and Bill Hahn.

She grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and was raised Catholic, attending St. Ann's Catholic school in Cleveland Heights and Beaumont School. Hahn attended Northwestern University, where she obtained a BA in theater. Afterward, she earned her MFA in drama from Yale University. Hahn was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Northwestern University, on June 9th, 2024, where she delivered the commencement speech at graduation.

Career

1999–2012: Early work

Hahn's first appearance on any television program was Hickory Hideout, a local puppet show for children for then-NBC owned-and-operated station WKYC in Cleveland. (By the time of its cancellation, Hickory Hideout was airing across all of NBC's O&O stations.) While attending a festival, she was introduced to creator/producer Tim Kring. Hahn impressed Kring so favorably that he created the character of Lily Lebowski in Crossing Jordan specifically for her. The series aired from 2001 to 2007. Hahn has said of meeting Kring, "NBC and Tim Kring took a huge leap of faith in casting me. To be worked into a show that was in production and on the schedule is an amazing stroke of luck." On October 21, 2008, TV Guide reported that Hahn had signed a talent holding deal with Fox.

In 2003, Hahn appeared in a supporting role alongside Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in the romantic comedy film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. The following year she appeared in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy with Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd, Around the Bend, and Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie. She later had more supporting roles in films, including the 2005 romantic comedy-drama A Lot like Love starring Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet; The Holiday (2006) with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet; the science fiction adventure drama The Last Mimzy (2007) alongside Rainn Wilson; Step Brothers (2008) starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly; Revolutionary Road (2008) starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet; The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009), How Do You Know (2010) with Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd, and Jack Nicholson, Our Idiot Brother (2011) with Paul Rudd, and Wanderlust (2012) with Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston.

In 2008, she made her Broadway theatre debut in the revival of the comedy Boeing-Boeing starring opposite Mark Rylance. She starred as Gloria, an American fiancée and airline stewardess. In 2009, she was cast as Eddy in a proposed American remake of the British TV series Absolutely Fabulous. A pilot was filmed but it wasn't picked up to series.

On television, Hahn starred alongside Hank Azaria in the short-lived NBC comedy series Free Agents, a 2011 remake of the British series of the same name. She had recurring roles on HBO shows Hung and Girls. From 2012 to 2015, she received praise for her recurring role on the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation as Jennifer Barkley, the campaign manager of Leslie Knope's (Amy Poehler) opponent Bobby Newport (Paul Rudd). (She had previously co-starred with Rudd in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, How Do You Know, Our Idiot Brother, and Wanderlust.)

She received a 2012 Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for her performance in Parks and Recreation.

2013–2017: Film and television breakthrough

This Is Where I Leave You 35 (15261638966)
Hahn at the premiere of This Is Where I Leave You in 2014

In 2013, Hahn played her first leading role, in the comedy-drama film Afternoon Delight, which was written and directed by Joey Soloway. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. For her role, she was nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor. Later that year, Hahn appeared opposite Jennifer Aniston (her co-star in Wanderlust) in the box-office hit We're the Millers, and co-starred alongside Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. In 2014 she starred in the comedy film Bad Words alongside Jason Bateman, and the ensemble comedy-drama film This Is Where I Leave You alongside Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, and Jane Fonda.

In 2014, Hahn was cast as Rabbi Raquel Fein in the Amazon Studios critically acclaimed dark comedy-drama Transparent, whose creator, Joey Soloway, had directed her in Afternoon Delight. She received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2017) as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination along with the cast.

In 2015, Hahn starred alongside Steve Coogan in the Showtime comedy-drama Happyish, but the show was canceled after a single season. That year Hahn co-starred alongside George Clooney and Hugh Laurie in the science-fiction adventure film Tomorrowland, and starred in the box-office horror hit The Visit. She also starred in Peter Bogdanovich's She's Funny That Way alongside Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston.

In 2016, Hahn appeared alongside Viggo Mortensen in the drama film Captain Fantastic, and starred alongside Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, and Jada Pinkett Smith in the comedy film Bad Moms. IndieWire's Kate Erbland gave the film a B−, noting that it "boasts some good jokes but Hahn's revelatory performance is the big draw." The film went on to earn more than $183.9 million with a budget of $20 million. She next appeared in the Amazon comedy series I Love Dick, based on the novel by the same name by Chris Kraus and directed by Joey Soloway. It premiered on August 19, 2016.

Following the financial success from Bad Moms, STX Entertainment greenlit a sequel titled A Bad Moms Christmas. The sequel was released in November 2017 and earned more than $130 million with a budget of $28 million.

2018–present: Focus on television

Kathryn Hahn at the 2022 TIFF Premiere of Glass Onion- A Knives Out Mystery (52357925887)
Hahn at the premiere of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in 2022

In 2018, Hahn starred in the drama film Private Life, directed by Tamara Jenkins. She received critical acclaim for her performance. She also began appearing in television commercials for Chrysler.

The same year, Hahn had voice roles in two animated films from Sony Pictures Animation. First, Hahn provided the voice of character Ericka Van Helsing in the comedy Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. Second, Hahn had a voice role in the film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, as Dr. Olivia "Liv" Octavius / Doctor Octopus.

In 2019, Hahn starred in and produced the HBO comedy miniseries Mrs. Fletcher. Hahn's performance as protagonist Eve Fletcher received critical praise.

In 2020, Hahn starred in the HBO drama miniseries I Know This Much Is True, based on the novel of the same name by Wally Lamb opposite Mark Ruffalo. That same year, Hahn began voicing Paige Hunter in the Apple TV+ animated musical comedy series Central Park. Apple Inc. had given a two-season order to Central Park, with each season set to consist of thirteen episodes.

In 2021, Hahn joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe by starring in the Disney+ limited series WandaVision as Agnes, a mysterious "nosy neighbor", later revealed to be Agatha Harkness. Her next miniseries The Shrink Next Door, starring Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell, premiered on Apple TV+ on November 12, 2021. She played Jo Polniaczek in The Facts of Life segment of the third edition of Live in Front of a Studio Audience on December 7, 2021. She also starred in the sequel to the 2019 mystery film Knives Out and will also star in the WandaVision spinoff focused on Harkness, Agatha: House of Harkness. When the series was first reported a month earlier, it was also stated Hahn signed an overall deal with Marvel Studios. The project was retitled Agatha: Coven of Chaos in July 2022, and later to Agatha: Darkhold Diaries in September 2023.

In June 2022, it was announced that she would star in the upcoming Hulu limited series Tiny Beautiful Things based on the bestselling book by Cheryl Strayed. During the Summer of 2022, Hahn was featured in a series of "Back to School" commercials for Amazon.

On April 7, 2023, Hulu released all eight episodes of the critically acclaimed series Tiny Beautiful Things, in which Hahn starred in the lead role of Clare. In June, she was announced to voice Honey in a film titled Fixed.

Personal life

Hahn is married to actor Ethan Sandler, whom she met at Northwestern University. The couple reside in Los Angeles and have two children.

On March 5, 2024, her father William died.

Acting credits

Film

Film work by Kathryn Hahn
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Flushed Woman
2003 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Michelle Rueben
2004 Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! Angelica
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Helen
Around the Bend Sarah
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie Helen
2005 A Lot like Love Michelle
2006 The Holiday Bristol
2007 The Last Mimzy Naomi Schwartz
2008 Step Brothers Alice Huff
Revolutionary Road Milly Campbell
2009 The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard Babs Merrick
2010 How Do You Know Annie
2011 Our Idiot Brother Janet
2012 Wanderlust Karen
The Dictator Pregnant Woman
2013 Afternoon Delight Rachel
We're the Millers Edie Fitzgerald
Dark Around the Stars Judith
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Odessa Mitty
2014 Bad Words Jenny Widgeon
This Is Where I Leave You Annie Altman
2015 She's Funny That Way Delta Simmons
The D Train Stacey
Tomorrowland Ursula Gernsback
Len and Company Isabelle
The Visit Loretta Jamison
The Family Fang Camille Fang
2016 Captain Fantastic Harper Cash
The Do-Over Becca
Bad Moms Carla Dunkler
2017 Flower Laurie Vandross
A Bad Moms Christmas Carla Dunkler
2018 Private Life Rachel Biegler
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation Ericka Van Helsing Voice
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Dr. Olivia "Liv" Octavius / Doctor Octopus Voice
2022 Hotel Transylvania: Transformania Ericka Van Helsing Voice
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Claire Debella
2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Dr. Olivia "Liv" Octavius / Doctor Octopus Voice; archival audio
TBA Fixed Honey Voice; post-production

Television

Television work by Kathryn Hahn
Year Title Role Notes
1981–1991 Hickory Hideout Herself
2001–2007 Crossing Jordan Lily Lebowski 104 episodes
2006 Four Kings Sharon 2 episodes
2009 Ab Fab Eddy US remake of Absolutely Fabulous. Pilot episode only. Series not picked up.
2010 Hung Claire 3 episodes
2011 Funny or Die Presents Huntress 2 episodes
Traffic Light Kate 2 episodes
Mad Love Linda Clay Episode: "Friends"
Free Agents Helen 8 episodes
2012–2015 Parks and Recreation Jennifer Barkley 11 episodes
2012 Girls Katherine Lavoyt 4 episodes
Newsroom, TheThe Newsroom Carrie Episode: "I'll Try to Fix You"
Childrens Hospital Lamaze Teacher Episode: "Childrens Lawspital"
Robot Chicken Mrs. Marquez / T-shirt Girl #1 Voice, episode: "Hemlock, Gin and Juice"
2013–2015 Kroll Show Mikey's Mom 5 episodes
2013 NTSF:SD:SUV:: Marge Episode: "TGI Murder"
The Greatest Event in Television History Greta Strauss / Sara Rush 2 episodes
2014–2020 Bob's Burgers Jessica Voice, 2 episodes
2014 Chozen Tracy Voice, 8 episodes
American Dad! Luli Voice, episode: "Honey, I'm Homeland"
2014–2019 Transparent Raquel Fein 22 episodes
2015 Happyish Lee Payne 10 episodes
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Wife Episode: "Daily Fantasy Sports"
Comedy Bang! Bang! Herself Episode: "Kathryn Hahn Wears Ripped Jeans and Black Heels"
2016 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Eleanor Horstweil Episode: "Hostage Situation"
2016–2017 I Love Dick Chris Kraus 8 episodes; also executive producer
2018 The Romanoffs Anka Episode: "End of the Line"
Angie Tribeca Susan Episode: "Air Force Two"
2019 Mrs. Fletcher Eve Fletcher 7 episodes; also producer
2020 I Know This Much Is True Dessa Constantine 6 episodes
2020–2022 Central Park Paige Hunter Voice, 26 episodes
2020 Make It Work! Herself Television special
2021 WandaVision Agatha Harkness / "Agnes" 9 episodes
Marvel Studios: Assembled Herself Episode: "Assembled: The Making of WandaVision"
The Shrink Next Door Phyllis Markowitz 8 episodes
Live in Front of a Studio Audience Jo Polniaczek Episode: "Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life"
2023 Tiny Beautiful Things Clare Main role
2024 Agatha All Along Agatha Harkness / "Agnes" Main role; upcoming series

Theater

Theater work by Kathryn Hahn
Year Title Role Venue Notes
2008 Boeing-Boeing Gloria Longacre Theatre April 19 – October 5, 2008

Discography

Music recordings by Kathryn Hahn
Year Title Album
2021 "Agatha All Along" WandaVision: Episode 7 (Original Soundtrack)

Awards and nominations

Award nominations for Kathryn Hahn
Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival Ensemble Cast Revolutionary Road Won
2012 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series Parks and Recreation Nominated
2013 Gotham Awards Breakthrough Actor Afternoon Delight Nominated
2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Transparent Nominated
2017 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Captain Fantastic Nominated
2018 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy I Love Dick Nominated
Gotham Awards Best Actress Private Life Nominated
Women Film Critics Circle Best Comedic Actress Nominated
San Diego International Film Festival Fairbanks Award N/A Won
2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Villain WandaVision Won
Best Fight (shared with Elizabeth Olsen) Won
Dorian Awards Best Supporting TV Performance Won
Best TV Musical Performance Won
Wilde Wit of the Year N/A Nominated
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie WandaVision Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nominated
People's Choice Awards Female TV Star of 2021 Nominated
2022 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Television Series Nominated
Miami International Film Festival Ensemble Award Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Won
New York Film Critics Online Awards Best Ensemble Cast Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards Best Acting Ensemble Won
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards Best Ensemble Runner-up
2023 Capri Hollywood International Film Festival Awards Best Ensemble Cast Won
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Ensemble Nominated
Austin Film Critics Association Awards Best Ensemble Nominated
Georgia Film Critics Association Best Ensemble Won
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Acting Ensemble Won
Satellite Awards Best Ensemble – Motion Picture Won
Houston Film Critics Society Awards Best Ensemble Cast Nominated
Hollywood Critics Association Awards Best Cast Ensemble Nominated
African-American Film Critics Association Awards Best Ensemble Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Tiny Beautiful Things Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Nominated

See also

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