ACTOR · BORN 1957
Kathy Najimy
- Born
- 6 February 1957, San Diego, California, USA
- Known for
- WALL·E (2008), King of the Hill (1997), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
28 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Kathy Najimy (born 6 February 1957) is an actor best known for WALL·E, King of the Hill and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.
28 Interesting Facts About Kathy Najimy
Interesting Facts (8)
- #001
In 1981, early in her acting career, Kathy Najimy appeared on the popular American game show Family Feud with her family. Their strong performance as a team earned them the $10,000 grand prize.
- #002
In 2003, Kathy Najimy won the Celebrity Poker Showdown, a poker tournament featuring celebrities. The victory showcased not only her talent in acting and comedy but also her strategic thinking and competitive spirit. Her success in the competition is remembered as an entertaining reflection of her versatile personality.
- #003
When Kathy Najimy appeared on The $25,000 Pyramid, one of the iconic game shows of the 1980s, she drew attention by winning a Commodore 64, a popular home computer of the era. She did not win any cash prize on the show, making it both a fun memory and an early encounter with technology for her. Given that home computers were only just becoming widespread at the time, the prize was a particularly valuable acquisition for her.
- #004
Kathy Najimy contributed to the book "Remember Me When I'm Gone," compiled by Larry King. The book was an unusual project in which celebrities wrote the epitaphs they wanted on their own tombstones. Najimy's inclusion in the book showed her ability to express her thoughts on death and life in a humorous and heartfelt way. Her participation revealed her openness to artistic forms of expression and her creativity.
- #005
At a screening marking the 20th anniversary of Hocus Pocus, Kathy Najimy admitted that she believes in white magic. This candid confession laid bare her connection to her witch character in the film and her interest in the supernatural. Najimy's statement was met by fans with both surprise and sympathy, and was seen as a reflection of her witty and outspoken personality.
- #006
Kathy Najimy took first place with a superior performance on the game show Gameshow Marathon. The competition was a format in which classic game shows were revived, and Najimy stood out there with both her knowledge and her quick thinking.
- #007
In 1986, Kathy Najimy appeared on The New $25,000 Pyramid, and her celebrity partners that week were Constance McCashin of Knots Landing and LeVar Burton. Unfortunately, she lost both games and never reached the Winners Circle. The episode was rebroadcast on October 5, 2017; the original air date is unknown. This experience remains an example of her bad luck on game shows.
- #008
Kathy Najimy formed a close friendship with her Sister Act co-star Wendy Makkena. The friendship grew into a strong bond that began on set and lasted for years. The two have often shared memories and experiences from the period when they worked together, showing how valuable this friendship is. This close relationship is an example of the lasting friendships she has built in her professional life.
Behind the Scenes (1)
- #009
Through her unforgettable character in the 1992 film Sister Act, Kathy Najimy appeared in the music video for Lady Soul's "If My Sister's In Trouble." The video was a project that carried the film's popularity into the music world and reinforced the character's cultural impact. Najimy's experience in front of the camera revealed the side of her that builds a bridge between cinema and music.
Characters & Cast (10)
- #010
In a statement she made at the 20th anniversary screening of 'Hocus Pocus,' she admitted that she believes in white magic. This candid confession laid bare her connection to her witch character in the film and her interest in supernatural subjects. Najimy's statement was met by her fans with both surprise and sympathy; it was seen as a reflection of her witty and outspoken personality.
- #011
Spoiler: In the King of the Hill episode 'Are you there God? It's me, Margaret Hill,' the character Peggy Hill, whom she voices, disguises herself as a nun in order to find a teaching job at a Catholic school. Learning of this, Hank references the 1992 film Sister Act by saying, 'At least when Whoopi Goldberg did it, she was running from gangsters.' The fact that Najimy also played a nun in the same film adds another layer to this witty dialogue and amusingly emphasizes her connection to her film career.
- #012
She took first place with her outstanding performance on the game show Gameshow Marathon. This competition was a format in which classic game shows were revived, and Najimy stood out there with both her knowledge and her quick thinking.
- #013
She played the character 'Olive Massery' in the comedy series Veronica's Closet. The character's surname, Massery, is in fact the maiden name of Najimy's mother; this shows her devotion to her family and her respect for her personal history.
- #014
In 1986, she appeared on The New $25,000 Pyramid, and her celebrity partners that week were Constance McCashin from Knots Landing and LeVar Burton. Unfortunately, she lost both games and never reached the Winners Circle. This episode was rebroadcast on October 5, 2017; the original air date is unknown. This experience remained as an example showing her bad luck on game shows.
- #015
Her surname, Najimy, is pronounced 'NUH-jee-me.' This pronunciation comes from a name from her Lebanese-origin family and may be unusual for English speakers. Najimy has often joked about this, handling the confusion caused by her pronunciation in a humorous way. This detail stands out as part of her cultural identity and her sense of humor.
- #016
Kathy Najimy has been an active advocate for gay and lesbian rights since she was 18. This activism, which began at a young age, shows her sensitivity to issues of social justice and equality. Over the years, her struggle for the rights of the LGBT community has made her known not only as an artist but also as an activist.
- #017
She formed a close friendship with her Sister Act co-star Wendy Makkena. This friendship grew into a strong bond that began on set and lasted for years. The pair often shared memories and experiences from the time they worked together, showing how valuable this friendship was. This close relationship is an example of the lasting friendships she has built in her professional life.
- #018
She has worked as a comedy partner with Mo Gaffney for many years. The pair drew attention for their harmonious performances in the shows and television programs they appeared in together.
- #019
She appeared on camera as a fairy godmother in Rebecca Lynn Howard's music video for 'When My Dreams Come True'. The video was a work that revealed her acting versatility and her openness to projects in different genres.
Easter Eggs & References (1)
- #020
Spoiler: In the King of the Hill episode "Are you there God? It's me, Margaret Hill," the character Peggy Hill, voiced by Kathy Najimy, disguises herself as a nun to find a teaching job at a Catholic school. Upon learning of the situation, Hank makes a reference to the 1992 film Sister Act, saying, "At least when Whoopi Goldberg did it, she was running from gangsters." The fact that Najimy also played a nun in the same film adds another layer to this humorous dialogue and playfully highlights her connection to her film career.
Career & Awards (2)
- #021
Kathy Najimy comes from a Lebanese family. This cultural heritage forms an important part of her identity and worldview, and it shaped her sensitivity to diversity and different cultures in her acting career. Her establishment of a place for herself in Hollywood as an artist of Middle Eastern origin is a success story that demonstrates her determination and talent.
- #022
Kathy Najimy has worked as a comedy partner with Mo Gaffney for many years. The pair drew attention with their harmonious performances in the shows and television programs they appeared in together.
Life & Family (6)
- #023
Kathy Najimy played the character "Olive Massery" in the comedy series Veronica's Closet. The character's surname, Massery, is actually the maiden name of Najimy's mother, showing her devotion to her family and her respect for her personal history.
- #024
Kathy Najimy's surname, Najimy, is pronounced "NUH-jee-me." The pronunciation comes from her Lebanese family, and the name may be unfamiliar to English speakers. Najimy has often joked about the matter, humorously addressing the confusion her pronunciation causes. This detail stands out as part of her cultural identity and her sense of humor.
- #025
Kathy Najimy has been an active advocate for gay and lesbian rights since she was 18. This activism, which began at a young age, shows her sensitivity to issues of social justice and equality. Over the years, her fight for the rights of the LGBT community has led her to be recognized not only as an artist but also as an activist.
- #026
Kathy Najimy is an artist who openly describes herself as a liberal Democrat and is an active advocate for LGBT rights. Najimy, who does not hesitate to express her political views and social stance openly, has won her fans' appreciation for this side of her as well. Her activism has not remained merely rhetorical but has found concrete support through her participation in various campaigns and events.
- #027
Kathy Najimy appeared on camera as a fairy godmother in Rebecca Lynn Howard's music video for "When My Dreams Come True." The role showed her ability to portray a fairy-tale and magical character. The video was a project that revealed her acting flexibility and her openness to projects in different genres.
- #028
Kathy Najimy has a sister named Mona Najimy. Family ties hold an important place in her life, and her relationship with her sister is part of her personal life. This family bond shows her devotion to her roots and her family; however, not much detail about her sister has been made public.
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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