Catie Lazarus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catie Lazarus
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Lazarus in 2015
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Catherine Simone Avnet Lazarus
April 26, 1976 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Died | December 13, 2020 (aged 44) New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Wesleyan University |
| Occupation | Writer, talk show host |
| Relatives | Simon Lazarus (great-great-great-grandfather) Charles Avnet (great-grandfather) Jon Avnet (uncle) Hadley Freeman (cousin) |
Catherine "Catie" Simone Avnet Lazarus (born April 26, 1976 – died December 13, 2020) was an American writer, comedian, and talk show host. She was known for her clever humor and unique interview style. Catie was even called "Best Comedy Writer" at the ECNY Awards. People also named her one of New York's "Top 100 New Yorkers."
Catie Lazarus is most famous for creating and hosting Employee of the Month. This was a monthly comedy show and podcast where she interviewed famous people about their jobs. The show was filmed live in New York City and was loved by many.
Contents
Early Life
Catie Lazarus was born in Washington, D.C.. She later went to college at Wesleyan University.
Becoming a Comedian
Catie was studying for a special degree when something exciting happened. She got an unplanned lesson in improv comedy from the famous comedian Tina Fey. This happened at a conference in Washington, D.C. Just three months later, Catie performed her first stand-up comedy show. She won a contest there! After that, she won another comedy contest at the Laugh Factory.
Catie also performed storytelling at popular shows like The Moth and Risk!. She even created a puppet show called "The on Time Show with Petunia Van De Twirp." This show gave a peek into her funny and creative mind.
Hosting and Interviewing
Catie was also a talented talk show host. She interviewed many people and led discussions for groups like Women in Film and the Tribeca Film Festival. In 2004, she started "Stand for Peace." This was a comedy show that raised money for Seeds of Peace, an organization that helps young people from conflict areas.
She also hosted other comedy shows. One was called "The Chosen One" at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Another was "Fresh Meat" at Comix, which featured new and different comedians.
Employee of the Month
In 2010, Catie started her most famous show, Employee of the Month. This show was praised for having "extremely notable" guests. People also loved Catie's "decidedly unorthodox" (meaning unusual) interview style. In 2012, the show became a popular podcast.
Catie hosted live tapings of the show in New York and Los Angeles. She interviewed many interesting people. These included comedians, musicians, journalists, and social activists. Some famous guests were Gloria Steinem, Rosie Perez, Martha Plimpton, and Lewis Black.
A very special moment happened on her show in 2015. Jon Stewart, who hosted The Daily Show, chose Catie's show to make his first public comments about leaving The Daily Show. Many other stars from The Daily Show also appeared as guests on Employee of the Month.
Family and Legacy
Catie Lazarus came from a very interesting family. Her ancestors, the Lazarus family, built one of America's first big department store chains. They even convinced President Franklin D. Roosevelt to change the date of Thanksgiving! Her great-great-great-grandfather, Simon Lazarus, was a leader of the F. & R. Lazarus store. This store was known for having the first escalator and price tags.
Catie's uncle, Jon Avnet, is a movie producer. Her father, Simon Lazarus III, was an adviser to President Jimmy Carter. Her brother, Ned Lazarus, helped start the Co-Existence Center for Seeds of Peace.
Catie Lazarus passed away on December 13, 2020, at the age of 44. She died from breast cancer at her home in Brooklyn. She is remembered for her humor, her unique interviews, and her contributions to comedy.
