kids encyclopedia robot

Jenny Slate facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Jenny Slate
Jenny Slate Obvious Child Premiere 2014 (cropped).jpg
Slate at the 2014 Obvious Child premiere
Born (1982-03-25) March 25, 1982 (age 42)
Education Columbia University (BA)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • writer
Years active 2005–present
Spouse(s)
Dean Fleischer Camp
(m. 2012; div. 2016)
Ben Shattuck
(m. 2021)
Children 1

Jenny Slate (born March 25, 1982) is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and writer. Following early acting and stand-up roles on television, Slate gained recognition for her live variety shows in New York City and for co-creating, writing, and producing the children's short film and book series Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2010–present). She became more widely known as a cast member on the 35th season of the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live between 2009 and 2010, followed by subsequent roles in the comedic series Bob's Burgers (2012–present), Parks and Recreation (2013–2015), House of Lies (2013–2015), and Kroll Show (2013–2015).

Slate's breakout role came with her leading performance in the coming-of-age comedy-drama film Obvious Child (2014), for which she won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in a Comedy and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and Gotham Independent Film Award. She lent voice performances to the animated films The Lorax (2012), Zootopia (2016), The Secret Life of Pets film franchise (2016–2019), The Lego Batman Movie, and Despicable Me 3 (both 2017), and she ventured into dramatic roles with her supporting performance as Bonnie in Gifted (2017). She also appeared in the critically acclaimed science-fiction film Everything Everywhere All at Once, winning the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Starting in 2017, Slate, who is Jewish, appeared on the animated Netflix series Big Mouth as the biracial Black–Jewish character Missy Foreman-Greenwald. She exited the role in 2020 because she felt it should be played by a Black actress; Slate has continued to voice other various characters on the show.

Early life and education

Slate was born on March 25, 1982, in Milton, Massachusetts, to Ron Slate, a businessman and poet who worked as vice president of global communications for the EMC Corporation and later as CEO of a biotech startup, and Nancy (née Gilson), a housewife who also made pottery. She is the middle child of three, with an older sister, Abigail, and younger sister, Stacey. She and her family are Jewish. One of her grandmothers was born in Cuba and was raised in France. After graduating from Milton Academy as the valedictorian, Slate attended Columbia University as a literature major, where she helped form the improv group Fruit Paunch, starred in the Varsity Show and met Gabe Liedman, who would become her comedy partner. Slate graduated from Columbia in 2004.

Career

She and Gabe Liedman formed the comedy duo Gabe & Jenny. Their stand-up shows with Max Silvestri, "Big Terrific," were named best new variety show of 2008 by Time Out New York. In 2015, Slate, Liedman, and Silvestri ended the show, citing their busy schedules, though they have since occasionally performed together.

Slate first met Liedman in 2000 while attending Columbia University. They describe their relationship as a "nonsexual romance"; Slate says, "I like to think of us as kind of like [Seinfeld characters] Elaine Benes and George Costanza, but we like each other." Throughout 2008 and 2009, Slate regularly performed her one-woman show Jenny Slate: Dead Millionaire at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCBT) in New York City.

Jenny Slate and Gabe Liedman in 2007
Slate with comedy partner Gabe Liedman in 2007

Slate was a regular commentator on many VH1 "talking head" commentary programs. In early 2009, she had made several appearances on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon recurring sketch "7th Floor West", where she played an NBC page also named Jenny, who was later promoted to Fallon's assistant. She had a recurring role in Bored to Death. Slate's guest appearances on television programs include Bob's Burgers, Girls, The Whitest Kids U' Know, Important Things with Demetri Martin and Raising Hope.

Slate joined the cast of Saturday Night Live for the 2009–10 season. ..... In various sketches, she impersonated Hoda Kotb, Lady Gaga, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Olsen, and Olympia Snowe. She was best known for Tina-Tina Cheneuse, an infomercial pitchwoman who advertises personalized doorbells, car horns, and alarm clocks. Slate's contract was not renewed for another season. Despite rumors to the contrary, Slate has insisted that her SNL termination was not due to cursing but rather simply because "I didn't click."

In August 2010, she co-wrote and voiced the animated short film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, which garnered viral success. This led to Marcel the Shell with Shoes on, Two. Slate also wrote a "Marcel"-themed children's book that was released on November 1, 2011. Her first major film role was as Zoe in Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked; more films followed in 2012, including the voice of Ted's mother in The Lorax.

Her first appearance in Parks and Recreation was in the 2013 episode "Bailout", in which she portrayed Mona-Lisa Saperstein. Following her success on the NBC show, Slate released and starred in a 12-episode mini-series on YouTube called Catherine, celebrating late 1980s and early 1990s soap-opera aesthetics.

..... Slate went on to win the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy, Best Breakout Performance at the Newport Beach Film Festival, the Virtuosos Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and Best Comedic Actress at the Women Film Critics Circle Awards for her performance in the film.

Slate co-starred with Judy Greer and Nat Faxon in the first season of the FX series Married. She left the series as a series regular in season two, but still appeared in a few episodes. Sarah Burns took her place in the series.

Slate appeared as Liz B. in the recurring "PubLIZity" sketches in Kroll Show, as well as many other recurring and one-off characters, performing in some capacity in almost every episode until the series ended in 2015. In 2016, Slate voiced Dawn Bellwether in the Disney animated comedy-adventure film Zootopia and Gidget in the animated feature The Secret Life of Pets.

Slate and her father co-wrote a book titled About the House about their time living in Slate's childhood home in Milton, Massachusetts, which was published in December 2016.

In 2017, Slate starred in the film Gifted as Bonnie Stevenson, the teacher of a 7-year-old mathematical genius.

In October 2019, Slate released a stand-up comedy special on Netflix, titled Stage Fright.

Slate published her book titled Little Weirds, about her struggles with and thoughts about life and relationships, in 2019.

From 2017 until 2019, Slate voiced the biracial character Missy Foreman-Greenwald on the animated Netflix series Big Mouth. Slate exited the role on June 24, 2020, writing on Instagram that "At the start of the show, I reasoned with myself that it was permissible for me to play Missy because her mom is Jewish and White — as am I. But Missy is also Black and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people."

In 2022, she appeared in the critically acclaimed science fiction film Everything Everywhere All at Once as Big Nose. Her character's original name was changed to Debbie the Dog Mom for the film's digital release due to its association with Jewish stereotypes. For her performance, she won, along with the rest of the cast, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Personal life

Slate lived in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, before moving with filmmaker Dean Fleischer Camp to Los Angeles in the early 2010s. In September 2012, Slate married Fleischer-Camp. They collaborated on the Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, on both the books, the short films, and later the 2021 feature film. The pair announced their separation in May 2016. She dated actor Chris Evans for a brief period.

In September 2019, Slate announced her engagement to art curator and author Ben Shattuck, owner of Davolls General Store. On December 10, 2020, Slate revealed on Late Night with Seth Meyers that she was expecting her first child with Shattuck. On February 3, 2021, Slate announced that she had given birth to a daughter. Shattuck and Slate married in their living room on New Year's Eve 2021, their fourth attempt at a wedding after the first three were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Filmography

Key
Not yet released Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Marcel (voice) Short film; also writer
2011 Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Two
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Zoe
2012 This Means War Emily
The Lorax Mrs. Wiggins (voice)
2013 ... Molly Horner Short film
2014 Obvious Child Donna Stern
The Longest Week Jocelyn
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Three Marcel (voice) Short film; also writer
2015 Digging for Fire Yoga Couple
2016 Joshy Jodi
Zootopia Dawn Bellwether (voice)
My Blind Brother Rose
The Secret Life of Pets Gidget (voice)
Brain on Fire Margo
2017 Landline Dana Jacobs
The Polka King Marla Lewan
The Lego Batman Movie Harley Quinn (voice)
Gifted Bonnie
Aardvark Emily Milburton
Batman is Just Not That Into You Harley Quinn (voice) Short film
Despicable Me 3 Valerie Da Vinci (voice)
2018 Hotel Artemis Morgan
Venom Dr. Dora Skirth
2019 The Sunlit Night Frances Also producer
The Secret Life of Pets 2 Gidget (voice)
Super Gidget Short film
2020 On the Rocks Vanessa
2021 Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Marcel (voice) Also writer and producer
2022 I Want You Back Emma
Everything Everywhere All at Once Debbie the Dog Mom
The Bob's Burgers Movie Tammy Larsen (voice)
2023 The Ark and the Aardvark Not yet released Mitzi (voice) Post-production
2024 The Electric State Not yet released TBA Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Starved Member of Belt Tighteners Uncredited; Episode: "The Breatharians"
2008 The Whitest Kids U' Know Trevor's Date Episode #2.1
2009 Important Things with Demetri Martin Bride Episode: "Chairs"
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Jenny the Page 8 episodes
Brothers Annette 2 episodes
2009–2010 Saturday Night Live Various 22 episodes
Bored to Death Stella 5 episodes
2011 Ugly Americans Jaclyn (voice) Episode: "Lily and the Beast"
The Electric Company Runner Episode: "Off Target"
2012 Raising Hope Joan Episode: "Throw Maw Maw from the House"
2012, 2016 Girls Tally Schifrin 2 episodes
2012–present Bob's Burgers Tammy Larsen (voice) 54 episodes
2013 Hello Ladies Amelia Gordon 4 episodes
Super Fun Night Helen-Alice Unaired CBS pilot
2013–15 Kroll Show Various 7 episodes
2013–16 House of Lies Sarah Guggenheim 9 episodes
2013–17 Parks and Recreation Mona-Lisa Saperstein 8 episodes
2013–16 ... History Herself 3 episodes
2014 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Bianca Episode: "Undercover"
The Getaway Herself Episode: "Jenny Slate In Barcelona"
2014–15 Married Jess 14 episodes
2015–19 Star vs. the Forces of Evil Pony Head (voice) 25 episodes
2016–18 Adventure Time Huntress Wizard (voice) 3 episodes
2016 David: Story of David Elizabeth Web series
Animals Snake (voice) Episode: "Squirrels. Part I."
Zoolander: Super Model Nani (voice) Television movie
2016–17 Lady Dynamite Karen Grisham 4 episodes
2017 Comrade Detective Jane (voice) 6 episodes
2017–present Big Mouth Missy Foreman-Greenwald (2017–2020), other characters (voice) 47 episodes
2018–2022 Muppet Babies Miss Nanny (voice) 69 episodes
2018 Clarence Pipi / Cookie Mama Cashier / Beatrice (voice) Episode: "Belson Gets a Girlfriend"
2019 The Simpsons Piper Paisley (voice) Episode: "Crystal Blue-Haired Persuasion"
The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience Stacy Television special
Jenny Slate: Stage Fright Herself Stand-up special
2020 Elena of Avalor Cahu (voice) Episode: "Coronation Day"
2021–present The Great North Judy Tobin (voice) Series regular
2021 Q-Force (voice) Episode: "Rogue"
2023 Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake Huntress (voice) Episode: "The Star"

Music videos

Year Title Artist(s) Role
2009 "Threw It On the Ground" The Lonely Island Girlfriend
2019 "Oakland Nights" The Lonely Island (feat. Sia) Stacy

Podcasts

  • Earth Break

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Result
2014 Obvious Child Newport Beach Film Festival Award for Breakout Actress Won
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Award for Virtuoso Award Won
Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Won
Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Comedic Actress Won
Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Performer Nominated
Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor Nominated
Seattle International Film Festival Award for Best Actress Nominated
Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screen Couple (with Jake Lacy) Nominated
2016 Zootopia BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Award - Best Female Vocal Performance in a Feature Film in a Supporting Role Won
BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award - Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film (shared with cast) Nominated
The Secret Life of Pets BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award - Best Female Lead Vocal Performance in a Feature Film Nominated
2017 Star vs. the Forces of Evil BTVA Television Voice Acting Award - Best Female Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Supporting Role Nominated
2018 Despicable Me 3 and The Lego Batman Movie BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award - Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film (shared with cast) Nominated
2020 The Secret Life of Pets 2 Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production Nominated
2023 Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in a Feature Production Won
Everything Everywhere All at Once Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Jenny Slate para niños

kids search engine
Jenny Slate Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.