Maria Bamford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Bamford
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Bamford in 2008
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| Born | September 3, 1970 |
| Education | Bates College University of Edinburgh University of Minnesota (BA) |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Scott Marvel Cassidy
(m. 2015) |
| Comedy career | |
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Maria Bamford (born September 3, 1970) is an American actress and stand-up comedian. She is known for her unique style of comedy where she often talks about her own life. She openly discusses topics like her family, her feelings, and mental health in her performances.
Bamford has released many comedy albums and specials. She has also acted in movies like Stuart Little 2 (2002) and Barnyard (2006). She is a talented voice actress and has given her voice to characters in many animated shows. These include Shriek in CatDog, and characters in Adventure Time and BoJack Horseman.
She starred in the Netflix series Lady Dynamite, which is based on her own life experiences. She also voices Tito, the Anxiety Mosquito, in the popular show Big Mouth. In 2023, she wrote a book about her life called Sure, I'll Join Your Cult.
Contents
Early life and education
Maria Bamford grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. Her father, Joel Bamford, was a doctor in the Navy. As a child, she dealt with anxiety and depression. She also had what she called "Unwanted Thoughts Syndrome," which is a type of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).
After high school, Bamford went to Bates College in Maine. She also studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for a year. There, she joined an improv comedy group called The Improverts. She later returned to the United States and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in English. She started performing stand-up comedy in Minneapolis when she was 19 years old.
Career journey
Starting in comedy
Bamford became known for her work in many movies and TV shows, especially as a voice actress. She voiced Shriek DuBois in the Nickelodeon show CatDog and played several characters, including Mrs. Botsford, in the PBS kids' show WordGirl.
Her stand-up comedy is different from many other comedians. Instead of telling simple jokes with a punchline, she often performs short scenes or stories. She is also very good at doing impressions of different people, like her mom.
Gaining popularity
In 2009, Bamford released a comedy album called Unwanted Thoughts Syndrome. Around the same time, she appeared in a series of commercials for Target.
During this period, Bamford was open about her challenges with mental health. She took time off to go to the hospital when she felt overwhelmed, saying it was the right thing to do for her well-being.
In 2012, she filmed a comedy special called The Special Special Special in her own house. The only people in the audience were her parents. In 2013, she started a web series called Ask My Mom, where she played both herself and her mother. She also had a role in the fourth season of the TV show Arrested Development.
Lady Dynamite and recent work
In 2014, Bamford won the American Comedy Award for Best Club Comic. Her career reached a new high in 2016 with the Netflix series Lady Dynamite. She starred in the show, which was based on her own life and experiences with comedy and mental health.
In 2017, she gave a speech to graduating students at the University of Minnesota. During her speech, she gave a $5,000 check to a student in the audience to help pay for their college loans.
In 2023, she released her book, Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere. It became a best seller.
Comedy style
Bamford has a very unique style of comedy that many people admire. She is known for making jokes about her own life, including her family and her experiences with depression and anxiety. Her comedy is often described as surreal, meaning it's dreamlike and unusual.
She uses many different voices to play various characters in her act. A writer for The Atlantic magazine noted that her characters often seem very polite, which comes from her own quiet personality. The famous producer Judd Apatow has called her a "genius" and "the funniest woman in the world."
Personal life
Bamford has spoken openly about being diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). She uses her comedy to talk about these topics in a way that helps people understand them better.
In 2015, she married artist Scott Marvel Cassidy. She has a sister named Sarah Seidelmann. Bamford lives in California and is a big fan of pugs, often owning a senior pug.
Selected works
Here are some of Maria Bamford's well-known roles in movies, TV shows, and web series.
Film
- Stuart Little 2 (2002)
- Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure (2003)
- Barnyard (2006)
- Hell and Back (2015)
Television
- CatDog (1998–2005) as Shriek DuBois
- WordGirl (2007–2015) as Violet / Sally Botsford
- Back at the Barnyard (2007–2011) as Mrs. Beady
- Adventure Time (2010–2018) as various voices
- The Legend of Korra (2012–2014) as Pema
- Arrested Development (2013–2019) as Debrie Bardeaux
- BoJack Horseman (2014–2019) as Kelsey Jannings
- Lady Dynamite (2016–2017) as Maria Bamford
- Big Mouth (2020–present) as Tito the Anxiety Mosquito
- Human Resources (2022–2023) as Tito the Anxiety Mosquito
Web series
- The Maria Bamford Show (2007)
- Bravest Warriors (2012–2018)
- Talking Tom and Friends (2014–2021) as Talking Ginger and Talking Becca
See also
In Spanish: Maria Bamford para niños
