Vanessa Bayer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vanessa Bayer
Vanessa Bayer at a charity event in 2015
Born	(1981-11-14) November 14, 1981 (age 43) Orange, Ohio, U.S.
Education	University of Pennsylvania (BA)
Occupation	Actress comedian
Years active	2002–present

Vanessa Bayer (born November 14, 1981) is a talented American actress and comedian. Many people know her from the popular TV show Saturday Night Live (SNL). She was a cast member on SNL from 2010 to 2017. Her work on the show even earned her an Emmy nomination, which is a big award in television.

Vanessa also helped create and star in the comedy show I Love That for You on Showtime. This show was inspired by her own experiences as a survivor of childhood leukemia. She has also appeared in several movies, including Trainwreck (2015) and Office Christmas Party (2016).

Vanessa Bayer's Early Life and Education

Vanessa Bayer was born on November 14, 1981. She grew up in Moreland Hills, Ohio, near Cleveland. Her parents are Carolyn and Todd Bayer. Vanessa's family is Jewish, and she has shared that her Jewish background influenced her comedy. She has a brother named Jonah, who is a music journalist and a guitarist in a band.

Facing Illness and Finding Humor

When Vanessa was 15, she was diagnosed with a type of cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). While she was battling the illness, she learned how important humor can be. She said that comedy made everything feel okay. It helped her get through a tough time.

School and College Years

Vanessa graduated from Orange High School in 2000. Later, in 2004, she finished college at the University of Pennsylvania. She studied communication and French there.

During her college years, Vanessa gained experience by interning on famous TV shows. She worked on Sesame Street and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. She also performed in a comedy group at her university called Bloomers.

Vanessa Bayer's Comedy Career

Vanessa Bayer has worked on many comedy projects. Around 2012, she started working with her brother Jonah on a web series called Sound Advice. In this show, she plays Janessa Slater, a media coach who helps famous musicians improve their public image.

She was also part of a comedy musical called Jewsical: The Musical. This show made jokes about Jewish life and culture. Vanessa also performed improvisational comedy in Chicago. She trained at famous comedy theaters like ImprovOlympic and The Second City.

Time on Saturday Night Live

Vanessa Bayer joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 2010. She started as a featured player and was promoted to a main cast member in 2012. She was nominated for an American Comedy Award in 2014 for her work on SNL. In 2017, she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nomination. Vanessa left SNL on May 20, 2017, after seven years.

Popular Characters on SNL

Vanessa played many memorable characters on SNL. Some of her recurring characters included:

• Laura Parsons: A child actress who performed adult roles from movies like Forrest Gump.
• Rebecca Stern-Markowicz: A co-host of J-Pop America Fun Time Now, a show celebrating Japanese culture.
• Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy: A kid who appeared on Weekend Update with rehearsed jokes.
• Dawn Lazarus: A meteorologist who struggled to talk about the weather on Weekend Update.
• A housewife in funny Totino's commercials.

Famous People Vanessa Impersonated

Vanessa was also known for her celebrity impressions. She impersonated many well-known figures, such as:

• Dianna Agron
• Diane Keaton
• Hillary Clinton
• Ivanka Trump
• Jennifer Aniston
• Lady Gaga
• Miley Cyrus
• Molly Ringwald
• Rachel Dolezal

After Saturday Night Live

After leaving SNL, Vanessa continued her acting career. In 2019, she had a recurring role on the ABC show Single Parents. She played Mia Cooper, the ex-wife of a character played by her former SNL castmate Taran Killam.

From 2018, she also had a recurring role on the show Will & Grace. She played Amy, a former baker.

Vanessa is the co-creator, co-executive producer, and star of the comedy I Love That for You. This show premiered in 2022. It is based on her real-life experience as a childhood leukemia survivor.

She also appeared in two episodes of What We Do in the Shadows. She played Evie Summers, a vampire who gets energy from people by telling sad, made-up stories.

Vanessa Bayer's Philanthropy Work

When Vanessa was a teenager, the Make-A-Wish Foundation helped her. They granted her wish to send her family on a vacation to Hawaii. Because of this, Vanessa is very involved with the foundation today.

In 2015, she hosted the foundation's Evening of Wishes Dinner. This event helped raise money to grant wishes for children with serious illnesses.

In June 2019, Vanessa published a children's book. It is called How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear?. The book teaches kids how to support their friends who have long-term illnesses.

Vanessa Bayer's Filmography

Film Appearances

Television Appearances