Biography
Who is Kristen Wiig?
Early life and education
Kristen Wiig was born on August 22, 1973, in Canandaigua, United States. Her parents are Laurie Day Johnston and Jon Arne Joseph Wiig. She has an older brother named Erik. When she was three years old, her family moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she attended local schools until the eighth grade.
The family later returned to Rochester, New York. Kristen attended Allendale Columbia School and graduated from Brighton High School. She later attended Roanoke College, community college, and the University of Arizona, where she majored in art and took an acting class that shifted her interests.
How Kristen became famous
Kristen relocated to Los Angeles to pursue acting. She performed with the comedy troupe The Groundlings and the Empty Stage Comedy Theatre. In 2003, she appeared in the television spoof The Joe Schmo Show. Her manager encouraged her to submit an audition tape to Saturday Night Live.
She debuted on Saturday Night Live in November 2005. She became a full cast member during the following season and remained on the show for seven seasons until 2012. During her tenure, she earned four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her supporting work on the series.
Film career and major roles
Alongside her television work, Kristen built a film career with roles in comedies such as Knocked Up and Paul. In 2011, she co-wrote and starred in the comedy film Bridesmaids, which achieved critical and commercial success. The project earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Her later film credits include roles in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Martian, Ghostbusters, and Wonder Woman 1984. She also provided voice work for animated franchises such as Despicable Me and How to Train Your Dragon, as well as films like Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.
Awards and recognition
Throughout her career, Kristen has received numerous nominations for her performances. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her work in Bridesmaids. She also received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her roles in the miniseries The Spoils of Babylon and the comedy-drama series Palm Royale.
In addition to her entertainment accolades, Time named Kristen as one of the one hundred most influential people in the world in both 2012 and 2025.
Birthday and age
Kristen Wiig was born on August 22, 1973, which makes Kristen 53 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Kristen shares the date with 24 other famous people.
Explore more
