Saturday Night Live - Ana Gasteyer's Biography

Ana Gasteyer
(cast member)

Ana Gasteyer returns for her sixth season in the cast of “Saturday Night Live.”

Gasteyer appears in many sketches and portrays such memorable characters as the musical middle school teacher, Bobbi Moughan-Culp (with Will Ferrell as husband Marty); Margaret Jo, co-host of the fictional “Delicious Dish” show on National Public Radio; "Jonette" in the pop group parody "Gemini's Twin" and Cinder Calhoun, a politically correct “Lilith Fair” stand-up comic. Her unforgettable renditions of Martha Stewart and Celine Dion have won acclaim from audiences as well as from Stewart and Dion themselves. Additionally during the extended election of 2000, Gasteyer rendered an unforgettable Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, garnering headlines and logging countless re-plays on newscasts across the nation.

After performing as Cinder Calhoun with Lilith Fair founder Sarah McLachlan on a November 1997 episode of “SNL,” Gasteyer was invited to perform as Cinder at the blockbuster 1998 Lilith Fair music festival. In addition, Gasteyer was invited to perform as Celine Dion with Celine Dion during her 1998 Madison Square Garden concert. She also performed as Martha Stewart on Stewart's 2000 primetime Christmas special.

Gasteyer made her Broadway debut in the summer of 2001 as "Columbia" in the Tony-nominated "Rocky Horror Show." Previously, she appeared in Eve Ensler’s controversial “The Vagina Monologues” opposite Oscar winner Mercedes Ruehl and Brooke Shields.

Gasteyer's film credits include playing John Leguizamo’s wife in “What’s The Worst That Could Happen” with Martin Lawrence and Danny DeVito, “What Women Want” with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt; “Women On Top” with Penelope Cruz and the Nixon-era comedy “Dick.” Television credits include NBC’s “Just Shoot Me,” “Seinfeld,” “Law & Order,” "3rd Rock from the Sun" and “Mad About You,” “Party of Five” and “NYPD Blue.” Additionally, Gasteyer guest hosted "The Rosie O'Donnell show in April, 2001.

Prior to joining “SNL,” Gasteyer was a member of The Groundlings, the Los Angeles-based improv/sketch comedy group where former “SNL” cast members Laraine Newman, Phil Hartman and Jon Lovitz began. Other former Groundlings include fellow “SNL” cast members Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan, and Maya Rudolph.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Gasteyer is a graduate of Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, she studied voice in classical music.

Gasteyer currently lives in New York with her husband, Charlie. Her birthday is May 4.

Biography Courtesy SNL's Official Site