Jenny Slate, born on March 25, 1982, in Massachusetts, is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and writer. Her career spans various mediums, including television, film, and voice acting. Slate gained prominence for her diverse roles and unique comedic style, earning critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.
Early Life and Education
Jenny Slate was raised in a Jewish family, born to Ron Slate, a businessman and poet, and Nancy Slate, a housewife and potter. She attended Milton Academy, graduating as valedictorian, before pursuing a literature major at Columbia University. During her time at Columbia, Slate co-founded the improv group Fruit Paunch and starred in the Varsity Show.
Career Highlights
Slate’s career took off with her live variety shows in New York City and the creation of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, a children’s short film and book series. She rose to prominence as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and gained further recognition for her roles in series like Bob’s Burgers, Parks and Recreation, and Kroll Show.
Her breakout role came with the film “Obvious Child” in 2014, where she received critical acclaim and won the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in a Comedy. Slate has showcased her versatility by lending her voice to animated films such as “Zootopia” and “The Secret Life of Pets” franchise.
Personal Life
Slate’s personal life has also been in the spotlight. She was married to filmmaker Dean Fleischer-Camp before their separation in 2016. Slate later married art curator Ben Shattuck in 2021, with whom she shares a daughter.
Filmography
Here’s a comprehensive list of Jenny Slate’s notable works in both film and television:
| Year | Film/TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Marcel the Shell with Shoes On | Marcel (voice) |
| 2011 | Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked | Zoe |
| 2012 | The Lorax | Mrs. Wiggins (voice) |
| 2013 | Bitch | Molly Horner (Short film) |
| 2014 | Obvious Child | Donna Stern |
| 2016 | Zootopia | Dawn Bellwether (voice) |
| 2016 | The Secret Life of Pets | Gidget (voice) |
| 2017 | The Lego Batman Movie | Harley Quinn (voice) |
| 2017 | Gifted | Bonnie |
| 2019 | The Sunlit Night | Frances |
| 2020 | On the Rocks | Vanessa |
| 2022 | Everything Everywhere All at Once | Debbie the Dog Mom |
| 2024 | It Ends with Us | Allysa (†) |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2009-2010 | Saturday Night Live | Various |
| 2012-present | Bob’s Burgers | Tammy Larsen (voice) |
| 2013-2015 | Parks and Recreation | Mona-Lisa Saperstein |
| 2017-present | Big Mouth | Missy Foreman-Greenwald (2017–2020), various characters (voice) |
| 2018-2022 | Muppet Babies | Miss Nanny (voice) |
| 2021-present | The Great North | Judy Tobin (voice) |
| 2023 | Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake | Huntress (voice) |
Conclusion
People still love watching Jenny Slate because she’s really funny, can play different kinds of roles, and acts with a lot of emotion. She’s done a lot of different kinds of acting in movies and TV shows, so everyone knows who she is and thinks she’s great at what she does.