Kathy Griffin (Actor)

Kathy Griffin attends the Badgley Mischka Spring 2007 Fashion show (Photo: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

About Kathy Griffin

A vivacious redhead with a caustic wit, Kathy Griffin was, at first, best know for portraying Vickie Groener Rubenstein on the NBC sitcom “Suddenly Susan” (1996-2000) for four seasons. A self-proclaimed D-list celebrity stand-up comic, Griffin demanded attention for her acerbic observations and notorious celebrity bashing – something few comics did at the time – let alone making it the core of their act. After appearing in her own one-hour HBO comedy special, “A Hot Cup of Talk” (1998) and hosting shows like NBC’s “Average Joe” (2003-05) and “The Billboard Music Awards” (FOX, 1990- ), Griffin signed on to star in her own reality series for Bravo, “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (2005- ) – a show which firmly established her as a fan favorite.

Born Kathleen Griffin on Nov. 4, 1961 in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, IL, to John and Maggie Griffin, the future funny girl grew up the youngest of five children. Griffin attended Oak Park High School as a teenager; upon her graduation in 1977, her parents moved to California to retire. Following her family west, Griffin moved to Los Angeles and began to study acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. With her natural flair for comedy, Griffin joined the improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings in 1988. Performing with the troupe for seven years, Griffin began to develop her unique style of humor.

Griffin made her feature film debut in the 1991 sci-fi movie “The Unborn” and went on to appear on a number of television series, including “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (NBC, 1990-96), “Dream On” (HBO, 1990-96), “ER” (NBC, 1994- ) and “Mad About You” (NBC, 1992-99). Pursuing stand-up comedy as well, Griffin headlined her own HBO “Half Hour Comedy Special” in 1995 and was cast as a regular on the short-lived FOX variety show, “Saturday Night Special” in 1996. Though “Special” was cancelled after only a few weeks, Griffin was soon cast as Vickie Groener Rubenstein on the NBC sitcom “Suddenly Susan” (1996-2000), a role that helped boost her career. Set in the office of a hip San Francisco magazine, Griffin portrayed Brooke Shield’s sardonic lifestyle-columnist co-worker on “Susan” for four seasons until the series wrapped in 2000.

Landing her first hour-long stand-up comedy special, Griffin filmed “A Hot Cup of Talk” for HBO in 1998. A multi-faceted performer, she provided the voice for characters on the animated series “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist” (Comedy Central, 1995-99), “Dilbert” (UPN, 1999-2000) and “The Simpsons” (FOX, 1989- ). Griffin also served as co-host for the “Billboard Music Awards” (FOX, 1990- ) for three consecutive years starting in 1998. In 2000, Griffin guest-starred in an episode of FOX’s popular sci-fi series “The X-Files” and made a cameo in controversial rapper Eminem’s video for the single “The Real Slim Shady”. A recognizable TV personality and comedienne who was popping up seemingly everywhere at that time, Griffin went on to host the NBC reality series “Average Joe” (2003-2005) in 2003 and also appeared as a contestant in the reality series, “Celebrity Mole: Hawaii” (ABC, 2001-2004).

Known best for her no-holds-barred critique of Hollywood’s A-listers – an uncommon practice for someone who worked alongside these same stars on programs and at events – Griffin bravely released the comedy DVD “Kathy Griffin: Allegedly” in 2004. Her stand-up routine, “The D-List”, an audience favorite, went on to air as a special on Bravo the same year. Establishing a report with the cable network, Griffin went on to tape the comedy specials “Kathy Griffin Is... Not Nicole Kidman” (Bravo, 2005) and “Kathy Griffin: Strong Black Woman” (Bravo, 2006).

Taking her “ballsy” shtick to the red carpet, Griffin hosted E!’s “Live from the Red Carpet: The 2005 Golden Globe Awards” after the departure of fellow celeb-basher, Joan Rivers. Conducting a running gag during the telecast that child actress and “War of the Worlds” (2005) star Dakota Fanning had gone into rehab, Griffin upset the film’s executives and director Steven Spielberg. Though E! issued a formal apology, Griffin did not, and was later replaced on the red carpet by warm and fuzzy “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest. Taking the controversy in stride and with great pride, Griffin went on to star in her own reality series for Bravo, “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (2005- ). Based on her popular stand-up routine, the unscripted series followed Griffin as she dealt with the drama of being a D-list celebrity – including behind the scenes interactions with her “main gays” and her devoted husband, Matt Moline. The press took notice when in the summer of 2006, Griffin announced plans for divorce, due to Moline allegedly stealing money from her bank accounts.

Notes

"I don't care how big you are, you will not trample on my or anyone else's First Amendment rights. That makes me furious. That's when I will turn into a strong black woman on your ass." -- Griffin on being bullied in Hollywood, to W, February 2006.