Kathy Kinney

Kathy Kinney is an American actress and comedian. After appearing as Prudence Godard on the CBS sitcom Newhart (1989–1990), she achieved fame with her portrayal of Mimi Bobeck on ABC's The Drew Carey Show (1995–2004). Her film credits include Parting Glances, Scrooged (1988), Three Fugitives (1989), Stanley & Iris, Arachnophobia (both 1990), This Boy's Life (1993) and Picking Up the Pieces (2000).

Early life, family and education Kinney was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Her father died when she was 15 years old. In 1976, she moved to New York City, where she found work as a secretary at WCBS-TV. when she interviewed for a cosmetics job at Winfred-Louder. When she was turned down due to her garish makeup, Mimi raised a fuss and threatened to sue. Positive public reaction prompted the Mimi storyline to continue

Kinney and Carey have performed many times since working together on his sitcom. Kinney appeared in the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, hosted by Carey and also on ABC. They appeared in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (another series on ABC), contemporaneous with The Drew Carey Shows second season). In 2006, she visited Iraq with Carey and his Improv All-Star Team, a series of USO performances for American troops; as a result, she appears in the documentary film Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie. On March 24, 2009, Kinney appeared in character as Mimi in the beginning of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. (Ferguson was a co-star on The Drew Carey Show, playing Mimi and Carey's boss, Mr. Wick.) After nearly two years in development, the site launched in beta on November 10, 2008.

She guest starred on the animated TV series The Penguins of Madagascar as Rhonda the walrus, Marlene's disgusting roommate, in the 2009 episode "Roomies". Rhonda made a second appearance in the episode "The Hoboken Surprise" in 2011. She also guest-starred on The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

In March 2010, Kinney co-authored the book Queen of Your Own Life: The Grown-up Woman's Guide to Claiming Happiness and Getting the Life You Deserve with Cindy Ratzlaff, published by Harlequin.

Filmography Film

Television Television Year Title Role Notes1988 Inherit the Wind Woman at Depot TV movie Promised a Miracle Cindy Wilson TV movie 1989–1990 Newhart Prudence Godard 9 episodes 1990 Grand Marge Season 2 episode 8: "Lady Luck"1991 Tagteam Instructor TV movie Dream On Nora Season 2 episode 9: "Play Melville for Me"1992 Cruel Doubt Skeptical Neighbor Mini-series The Larry Sanders Show Dog Trainer Season 1 episode 1: "What Have You Done for Me Lately?" Step by Step The Proctor Season 2 episode 1: "S.A.T. Blues"1993 Seinfeld Bystander Season 4 episode 22: "The Handicap Spot" Fallen Angels Mrs. Sullivan Season 1 episode 3: "The Quiet Room" 1994 Bakersfield P.D. Mrs. Blaisher Episode 17: "Last One Into the Water"1995 Full House Mrs. Bedrosian Season 8 episode 14: "Super Bowl Fun Day" Boy Meets World Rifkin Season 2 episode 16: "Danger Boy" Grace Under Fire Nurse Season 2 episode 18: "Emmet Bypass" Runway One Proprietor of Motel TV movie 1995–2004 The Drew Carey Show Mimi Bobeck / Mimi Bobeck Carey Main role - 233 episodes 1996 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Katie Banks Season 4 episode 9: "Ghosts" 1997 Coach Mimi Bobeck Season 9 episode 15: "Viva Las Ratings"1998 General Hospital Waitress Episode: April 2, 1998 The Brian Benben Show The Facilitator Episode 3: "Brian's Got Back, Part 1" Whose Line Is It Anyway? Herself Season 1 episode 6: September 9, 1998 Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place Mimi Bobeck Season 2 episode 6: "Two Guys, a Girl and a Psycho Halloween" 1998 ABC TGIF Mimi Bobeck 2 episodes - Previews of upcoming episodes of The Drew Carey Show1999 Chicken Soup for the Soul Episode: "The Seed Jar" The Hughleys Mimi Bobeck Carey Season 2 episode 1: "Young Guns" 1999–2000 The Norm Show Mimi Bobeck Carey / Betty Also known as Norm Show 2 episodes 1999–2001 Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot Jenny the Monkey Also known as The Big Guy and Rusty Credited as Kathryn Kinney Voice 26 episodes 1999–2003 Hollywood Squares Herself / Mimi - Panelist 25 episodes2001 Pepper Ann Mama Destructo (voice) 2 episodes Drew Carey's Improv All-Stars Herself Nikki Vegas Woman Season 1 episode 12: "Let It Ride" Rock & Roll Back to School Special Mimi Bobeck (Money) Carey TV special2002 Pyramid Herself / Celebrity Contestant 1 episode 3-South Voice Episode 2: "Stomach Pump" What's New, Scooby-Doo? Sheriff Ellen Perkins Voice Season 1 episode 14: "Scooby-Doo Christmas"2003 Fillmore! O'Farrell's Mom Voice Season 1 episode 13: "A Forgotten Yesterday" CatDog Brat Voice Season 3 episode 8: "Harasslin' Match/Dog the Not-So-Mighty" 2004 Green Screen Show Herself Episode #1.2 2007 My Name Is Earl Officer Bowman 3 episodes 2009–2010 The Price Is Right Mimi Bobeck 2 episodes 2009–2011 The Penguins of Madagascar Rhonda 2 episodes 2009–2013 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Bunny / Butcher Shop Lady 33 episodes2011 Working Class Dot Episode 5: "Lunch Lady" Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza Herself / Performer 19 episodes Love Bites Karen Episode 5: "Stand and Deliver" Segment: "Not to Speak" 2016 Baby Daddy Judy Season 5 episode 15: "Unholy Matrimony" 2019 American Housewife Lunch Lady Season 4 episode 3: "Bigger Kids, Bigger Problems" 2020 Stumptown Franny Lewis Episode 12: "Dirty Dexy Money"