Rachel Dratch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rachel Dratch
Dratch in 2022
Born	Rachel Susan Dratch (1966-02-22) February 22, 1966 (age 59) Lexington, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education	Dartmouth College (BA)
Occupation	Actress comedian
Years active	1994–present
Children	1

Rachel Susan Dratch (born February 22, 1966) is an American actress and comedian. She is well-known for her funny roles. After college, she moved to Chicago to learn improvisational theatre. This is a type of acting where you make things up on the spot.

Rachel Dratch became famous when she joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL). She was on the show from 1999 to 2006. On SNL, she played many different characters, like Debbie Downer. She sometimes comes back to SNL as a guest, often playing Senator Amy Klobuchar.

She has also been in many TV shows. These include Portlandia, The King of Queens, Monk, and 30 Rock. She played Wanda Jo Oliver on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Rachel Dratch has also acted in movies like Click (2006), I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007), and Wine Country (2019).

In 2012, she wrote a book about her life. It's called Girl Walks into a Bar...: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle.

Early Life and Education

Rachel Dratch was born on February 22, 1966. Her hometown is Lexington, Massachusetts. Her mother, Elaine Ruth, was a transportation director. Her father, Paul Dratch, was a radiologist. Both of her parents were Reform Jews. Rachel went to Hebrew school and had a bat mitzvah. As an adult, she sees her Jewish faith more as a part of her cultural heritage.

Her younger brother, Daniel, is a TV producer and writer. He worked on the show Anger Management. Rachel says she was the "class clown" when she was growing up. She went to William Diamond Middle School and Lexington High School. She liked acting in comedies more than dramas in high school plays.

Rachel Dratch studied at the National Theater Institute. She then went to Dartmouth College and graduated in 1988. She studied drama and psychology. She was also part of an improv comedy group called "Said and Done."

Rachel Dratch's Acting Career

Rachel Dratch was a main actress for four years at The Second City. This is a famous comedy group. She won an award for Best Actress in a Revue for her shows there. She performed with future SNL writers Adam McKay and Tina Fey. She also worked with Scott Adsit from 30 Rock. One of her SNL sketches, "Wicked," started at The Second City.

Besides acting, Rachel Dratch also played the cello on stage. She and Tina Fey had a popular two-woman show called Dratch & Fey. It was called "the funniest thing" in New York by Time Out New York.

Rachel Dratch has been in many movies. Some of these include The Hebrew Hammer, Click, and My Life in Ruins. She also appeared on a Bravo TV show called A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T.: Improv.

She has made many TV appearances. These include Third Watch, The King of Queens, Monk, and Frasier. She was also on Wizards of Waverly Place, 30 Rock, and The Middle. She even appeared in a funny online video with comedian Billy Eichner. It was a spoof of "Empire State of Mind" called "Forest Hills State of Mind."

Rachel Dratch in 2008

Rachel Dratch was first chosen to play Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock. But after test audiences saw the pilot episode, the role was given to Jane Krakowski. Rachel then played many small guest roles in the first season of 30 Rock. She played characters like Barbara Walters, Elizabeth Taylor, and a doctor.

In 2016, Rachel Dratch hosted a show called Rachel Dratch's Late Night Snack on truTV. It was a sketch comedy show. Rachel played a quiet waitress in between the sketches. The show ran for two seasons.

Her Time on Saturday Night Live

Rachel Dratch was on SNL from 1999 to 2006. She played many memorable characters. These included Denise, a teenager from Boston. She also played Sheldon, a junior high boy from "Wake up, Wakefield." Another character was one of the Luvahs, with Will Ferrell. She also played Abe Scheinwald, a Hollywood producer. Her most famous character was probably Debbie Downer. Debbie was a sad woman who made everyone else feel gloomy with her unexpected, depressing comments.

After leaving SNL, she has returned as a guest several times. In December 2011, she appeared on the Christmas show. She also appeared with host Jimmy Fallon in April 2017. In February 2018, she was in a sketch about fans of the New England Patriots.

On September 29, 2018, she played Senator Amy Klobuchar in a sketch. This was about the hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. She continued to play Senator Klobuchar in sketches about the 2020 Democratic Party Presidential primary debates.

Rachel Dratch's Personal Life

In her book, Girl Walks Into a Bar..., Rachel Dratch talks about meeting John Wahl. He works as a consultant in the natural foods industry. They met in a bar in 2009. Six months later, Rachel found out she was pregnant. On August 24, 2010, she gave birth to their son, Eli Benjamin.

In an interview, Rachel said she was surprised to be pregnant at 44. She thought it would be hard to have kids after 40. As of 2019, Rachel and John are not a couple. However, they get along well and live close to each other to raise their son.

Books Written by Rachel Dratch

Rachel Dratch wrote her autobiography, Girl Walks into a Bar...: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle. She also reads the audiobook version of her book.

Rachel Dratch's Film Roles

Rachel Dratch's Television Appearances

Rachel Dratch's Theater Work

Rachel Dratch's Web Series

See also

In Spanish: Rachel Dratch para niños