Janeane Garofalo is a household name in the world of stand-up comedy. She was inspired by ‘Late Night with David Letterman’ for her drollness and acquired an interest in humor at a young age. She entered a comedy contest after graduating from high school and worked a variety of odd jobs before entering the entertainment industry. Her youth, like that of many comedians/ennes, was one of’struggles,’ and she had to work from pole to pole to make ends meet, as every narrative goes. Her dark, unconventional, and politically ‘correct’ humor has made her stand out from the crowd, and she has received a lot of positive feedback for it. She’s turned into a cult character, airing her grievances on live television shows and expressing her views on topics ranging from cuisine to relationships to scandalous office affairs. She did a brief spell as an actress, appearing in ‘Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion’ and ‘Mystery Men’, in addition to her comedic career. She is a fixture on the local comedy scene in New York City.
Childhood and Adolescence
Joan and Carmine Garofalo raised Janeane Garofalo in Newton, New Jersey. She was raised as a devout Catholic and is of Irish and Italian ancestry. She grew up in a variety of places as a result of her father’s career, including Ontario, New Jersey, and Texas.
Garofalo studied history at Providence College, where she developed an interest in comedy shows. Her passion in humor stems largely from her viewing of ‘Late Nights with David Letterman.’ She got the title of ‘Funniest Person in Rhode Island’ after entering a local comedy contest.
She decided to pursue stand-up comedy after graduating from college in the hopes of one day appearing on David Letterman’s show. She struggled to make ends meet because her family was poor, so she worked a variety of jobs, from bike messenger to waitress to temp secretary.
Career of Janeane Garofalo
She began her stand-up comedy career in the late 1980s, during the pre-grunge era, when thick spectacles, ragged hair, and tattoo sleeves were all the rage. She took advantage of the’moment,’ realizing that she could gain more attention if she mocked popular culture and mocked her own appearance.
She became a fixture in the comedy scene in Los Angeles and New York City in the early 1990s, after gaining a cult following. Her big break occurred in 1990, when she met Ben Stiller on the street and appeared on the ‘Ben Stiller Show,’ which aired on Fox in 1992.
She made her cinematic debut in 1994 with the role of ‘Vickie,’ Winona Ryder’s best friend, in ‘Reality Bites.’ In 1996, she appeared in the critically acclaimed film ‘The Truth About Cats and Dogs.’
Her acting abilities were quickly recognized, and she was cast as ‘Paula’ on HBO’s ‘The Larry Sanders Show,’ for which she received two Emmy Award nominations in 1996 and 1997.
She starred in a number of guest star appearances on episodes such as ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Mad About You,’ ‘Newsradio,’ and ‘TV Nation’ between 2000 and 2003.
In 2004, she and Sam Seder co-hosted a show on Air America Radio called “The Majority Report.”
She played Louise Thornton in the hit television series ‘The West Wing’ in 2005. She contributed her voice to the animated character ‘Bearded Clam’ for Comedy Central’s ‘Freak Show’ the following year.
She voiced the character of ‘Colette’ in the Pixar/Disney animated film ‘Ratatouille’ in 2007. She also appeared in the films ‘The Guitar’ and ‘Labor Pains,’ both of which were released in 2008.
In 2009, she was cast in the Fox Network series ’24’ as ‘Janis Gold.’ The following year, she performed a three-hour stand-up special at Seattle’s Moore’s Theater, titled ‘If You Will,’ which broadcast on Epix in June 2010. In September 2010, the same show was released on DVD.
She is a well-known political activist who has spoken out on a number of subjects related to the ‘Code Pink’ anti-war march and the 2003 Iraq War, in addition to her parallel careers as a stand-up comedian and actor. She has appeared on a number of news outlets, including Fox News and CNN, to discuss her ideas with celebrities such as Billy O’Reilly and Brian Kilmeade.
Major Projects of Janeane Garofalo
In 1992, she joined ‘The Larry Sanders Show,’ where she played ‘Paula,’ a much-loved character. This is her most important work since it refined her gruff and funny style and earned her critical praise and two Emmy Award nominations in 1996 and 1997.
Personal History and Legacy
In 1991, she married Robert Cohen in Las Vegas. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 2012.
She stated on stage at a stand-up act that she was asexual and that it was ‘bad for her lover.’ She also declares herself to be a devout atheist.
Due to back issues, she also had breast reduction surgery.
Janeane Garofalo Net Worth
Trivia
This stand-up comedian is just five feet tall and must frequently perform atop a box during her live stand-up shows.