Karen Kilgariff

Karen Kilgariff (born May 11, 1970, in Petaluma, California) is an American writer, comedian, singer, author, actress, television producer, and podcast host. She began her career as a stand-up comedian in the early 1990s and later became a television actress, most notably as a cast member on Mr. Show. She has written for many comedy television shows, including being the head writer on The Rosie Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Pete Holmes Show.

Since 2016, she has co-hosted the true crime comedy podcast My Favorite Murder along with Georgia Hardstark. In 2018, she and Hardstark co-founded the podcast network Exactly Right. Along with Hardstark, Kilgariff wrote the non-fiction book Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered, which was released on May 28, 2019.

Early life Karen Kilgariff grew up outside Petaluma, California with her mother Patricia (née Knight), who died in 2016, her father Jim, and her older sister Laura. Both of Karen's parents worked; her father was a San Francisco firefighter and her mother was a head psychiatric nurse at the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. She attended St. Vincent de Paul High School in Petaluma.

Career Stand-up and acting Karen Kilgariff started out as a stand-up comedian in Sacramento in the 1990s. She went on to land comedy roles on television, including being a cast member on seasons 3 and 4 of Mr. Show. She would later appear in the 2015 reboot, W/ Bob & David, as well. She played the role of Jean Pettengill for five episodes of The Book Group in 2003.

In 2015, Kilgariff teamed up with Drennon Davis to record a live album of comedy songs titled I Don't Care, I Like It.

Writing career In 2003, Kilgariff was hired by Ellen DeGeneres to help write for her comedy special, Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now. Kilgariff later toured with DeGeneres as her opening act. Kilgariff was then named head writer for the day time talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which launched in September 2003. She occasionally appeared on screen in sketches and other segments. She was also part of a comic duo (with Mary Lynn Rajskub) called Girls Guitar Club.

Kilgariff served as the head writer for The Rosie Show, which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network. She later served as the head writer for The Pete Holmes Show, which aired on TBS.

She also wrote for and starred in truTV's Talk Show: The Game Show and produced Making History on FOX Broadcasting Company.

Kilgariff wrote four episodes for FX’s comedy-drama Baskets between 2017 and 2019.

Podcast hosting In 2014, Kilgariff started a podcast with comedian Chris Fairbanks called Do You Need A Ride?. The podcast originally took place entirely in a car, where Karen and Chris would speak to their guest while driving around. Citing safety concerns, however, they now occasionally record at the Exactly Right Studios. In 2016, Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark started the true-crime podcast My Favorite Murder, in which they discuss various infamous murders and serial killers. Since its inception, the podcast has garnered a large fan base, In 2025, Kilgariff won the IHeartRadio Best Overall Ensemble award, for her podcast My Favorite Murder.

In January 2026, she began appearing on Netflix on an exclusive video podcasting deal for My Favorite Murder.

Personal life Kilgariff does not drink alcohol, and has been open about her past struggles with abuse of amphetamines and diet pills. In an interview with Marc Maron for his WTF podcast, she said she stopped using drugs and alcohol completely after she began having seizures, fearing her drug use had been the cause. Karen now lives in Studio City, California with her dogs, Frank and Blossom.

Discography In 2014, Kilgariff recorded a musical comedy album Live at the Bootleg.

+Singer / Songwriter Year Album Song 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg I Want to Win 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg Solid 9 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg Password 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg Chelsea Guitars 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg Look at Your Phone 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg Business Situation 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg AOK 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg Gimme Mine 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg Jesus Walks 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg Golly Gee 2014 Karen Kilgariff - Live at the Bootleg Drink My Way Through Christmas