Amy Poehler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amy Poehler
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Poehler in 2024
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| Born | September 16, 1971 Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Education | Boston College (BA) |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Greg Poehler (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Comedy career | |
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Amy Poehler (born September 16, 1971) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She is famous for her work on the comedy show Saturday Night Live and for starring as Leslie Knope in the sitcom Parks and Recreation. She is also the voice of Joy in the popular Pixar movies Inside Out and Inside Out 2.
Over her career, Poehler has won many awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. In 2011, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 2015, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in comedy.
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Early Life and Education
Amy Poehler was born in Newton, Massachusetts. Her parents, Eileen and William Poehler, were both school teachers. She has a younger brother, Greg Poehler, who is also an actor and producer. Poehler grew up in Burlington, Massachusetts.
When she was ten, she played Dorothy in her school's production of The Wizard of Oz. This experience made her fall in love with performing. In high school, she acted in school plays and was also on the student council and played sports like soccer and softball.
After graduating from high school in 1989, she went to Boston College. There, she joined an improv comedy group called My Mother's Fleabag. Improv, or improvisational theatre, is a type of comedy where performers make up scenes and dialogue on the spot. She graduated in 1993 with a degree in media and communications.
Career Journey
Starting in Comedy
After college, Poehler moved to Chicago to study improv comedy. She took classes at famous theaters like ImprovOlympic and Second City. It was here that she met her longtime friend and comedy partner, Tina Fey.
In 1995, Poehler joined an improv group called the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). A year later, the group moved to New York City. They performed shows and eventually got their own TV series on Comedy Central in 1998. The group also opened the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, a place where they performed and taught improv comedy to new students. The UCB became very important for launching the careers of many comedians.
Joining Saturday Night Live
In 2001, Poehler joined the cast of the famous TV show Saturday Night Live (SNL). SNL is a live show that performs funny skits, or sketches, based on current events and pop culture. Poehler quickly became a star on the show. She was known for playing funny characters like a hyperactive 10-year-old named Kaitlyn. She also did impressions of famous people like Hillary Clinton and Avril Lavigne.
From 2004, she co-hosted the popular Weekend Update segment with Tina Fey. They were the first all-female team to host the segment. After Fey left, Poehler co-hosted with Seth Meyers. She left SNL in 2008 but has returned several times as a guest.
Starring in Parks and Recreation
In 2009, Poehler began starring in the sitcom Parks and Recreation. She played Leslie Knope, a cheerful and hardworking government employee in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Leslie always tried to make her town a better place. The show was praised by critics for its humor and positive message.
Poehler's character created a holiday called "Galentine's Day" on the show, which is celebrated on February 13th as a day for "ladies celebrating ladies." The idea became so popular that many people now celebrate it in real life. For her role as Leslie Knope, Poehler won a Golden Globe Award in 2014. The show ran for seven seasons, ending in 2015.
Movie Star and Voice Actor
Poehler has starred in many movies, often with her friend Tina Fey. They appeared together in films like Mean Girls (2004), Baby Mama (2008), and Sisters (2015). Poehler and Fey also became a popular duo hosting the Golden Globe Awards ceremony four times.
She is also a talented voice actress. She has voiced characters in animated movies like Shrek the Third (2007) and Horton Hears a Who! (2008). Her most famous voice role is Joy, the happy emotion inside a young girl's mind in the Pixar hit Inside Out (2015). The movie was a huge success, and she returned to voice the character in the sequel, Inside Out 2, in 2024.
Behind the Scenes: Producing and Directing
Besides acting, Poehler is also a successful producer and director. A producer helps put a TV show or movie together, from the idea stage to the final product. A director is in charge of the creative vision and guides the actors during filming.
Poehler started her own company, Paper Kite Productions. Through her company, she has produced many TV shows, including Broad City and the Netflix series Russian Doll. She also co-created and co-hosted the crafting competition show Making It with her Parks and Recreation co-star Nick Offerman.
In 2019, she directed her first movie, Wine Country, for Netflix. She later directed the movies Moxie (2021) and the documentary Lucy and Desi (2022), about the famous TV stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
Helping Others and Writing
Poehler is a feminist and uses her fame to support causes she believes in. In 2008, she co-founded Smart Girls at the Party, an online community and web series. The goal of Smart Girls is to help young girls feel confident and be themselves. The project encourages girls to be curious and creative rather than just focusing on their looks.
In 2014, Poehler published her memoir, Yes Please. In the book, she shares stories about her life, career, and what she has learned along the way. The book was a bestseller.
Personal Life
Poehler married Canadian actor Will Arnett in 2003. They worked together on several projects, including the TV show Arrested Development and the movie Blades of Glory. They have two sons, Archie (born in 2008) and Abel (born in 2010). Poehler and Arnett separated in 2012, and their divorce was finalized in 2016. She lives with her children in Los Angeles.
Acting Credits and Awards
Poehler has received many honors for her work in television and film.
- In 2015, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- She won a Golden Globe Award and a Critics' Choice Television Award for her role in Parks and Recreation.
- She and Tina Fey won a Primetime Emmy Award for co-hosting SNL together in 2016.
- In 2011, Time magazine named her one of its "100 most influential people in the world".
See also
In Spanish: Amy Poehler para niños
- Saturday Night Live parodies of Hillary Clinton
