Kathy Najimy

Kathy Najimy is an actor, director, writer, producer, and activist known for her memorable performances in over 25 films and over 100 television projects. She is best known for her roles in films such as "Soapdish," "Sister Act" and its sequel, "Hocus Pocus" and its sequel, "Hope Floats," "The Wedding Planner," "WALL-E," "The Guilt Trip," "Dumplin'," "Music," and "Single All the Way."

On television, Najimy is known for her portrayal of Olive Massery on the NBC sitcom "Veronica's Closet" and for voicing Peggy Hill on the animated series "King of the Hill," a role for which she received several awards. She has also provided voice work for animated films and TV shows, including "The Jungle Book: Mowgli’s Story," "Cats Don't Dance," "Tinkerbell," "BoJack Horseman," "Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure," "American Dad!," and "The Rocketeer."

In the theater, Najimy starred as legendary Mae West in the hit Broadway play "Dirty Blonde," and in various Broadway productions, including "Vagina Monologues," "White Rabbit Red Rabbit," and "Nassim." She co-wrote and performed in the feminist play "The Kathy and Mo Show" with Mo Gaffney. She also created and produced the off-Broadway play "Gloria: A Life," which was about the life of activist Gloria Steinem.

Awarded Ms. Magazine Woman of the Year in 2004, Najimy has been actively involved in various causes and campaigns. She frequently speaks on issues of equal rights, safety, and self-esteem for women and girls, LGBTQ rights, AIDS awareness, domestic violence, body image, and civil rights. She has spoken at the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood, and PFLAG, and was a surrogate speaker for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. In 2014, Najimy received PETA's Compassionate Action Award for her work on animal welfare issues. She contributed to the book "The Choices We Made," which includes testimonials from women who believe in abortion rights.

Najimy is currently working on a documentary about the 53% of white women who voted for Donald Trump in 2016. She has also appeared on game shows and donated winnings to charities, including winning $50,000 for The Feminist Majority Foundation's Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan on The Weakest Link and the $100,000 prize in the season 6 tournament of Celebrity Poker Showdown, which she donated to V-Day, an organization that helps stop violence against women and girls.