Kate Berlant
{{short description|American comedian, actress, and writer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kate Berlant
| image = Kate Berlant - Summary.jpg
| caption = Berlant performing in January 2019
|alt = Kate Berlant holding a microphone onstage
| birth_name = Kate Elizabeth Méndez Berlant
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|07|16}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Comedian
- actress
- writer
}}
| years_active = 2012–present
| relatives = Tony Berlant (father)
| website = {{URL|kateberlant.com}}
}}
Kate Elizabeth Méndez Berlant (born July 16, 1987) is an American comedian, actress, and writer. She is known for her surrealist and absurdist style.
Early life
Kate Elizabeth Méndez Berlant was born in Los Angeles on July 16, 1987,{{Cite web |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kate-berlant/ |publisher=TV Insider |title=Kate Berlant – Actress |language=en-US |date=n.d. |accessdate=2023-07-16}}{{Cite web |url=https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2018168815.html |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=September 29, 2022 |language=en-US |title=Berlant, Kate, 1987-}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no2018168815/ |publisher=WorldCat |language=en |access-date=September 29, 2022 |title=Berlant, Kate 1987-}} the daughter of performer Helen (née Méndez) and artist Tony Berlant.[https://www.avclub.com/kate-berlant-s-the-characters-takes-easy-shots-at-the-a-1798187140 Kate Berlant's The Characters takes easy shots at the art world] AV Club; accessed April 13, 2017. She is of Spanish descent on her mother's side,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/kate-berlant-and-john-earlys-escape-from-comic-realism|title=Kate Berlant and John Early's Escape from Comic Realism|magazine=The New Yorker|date=February 9, 2017|publisher=}}{{cite podcast |host=WikiHole with D'Arcy Carden |title=Pilates (with John Early, Kate Berlant and Claudia O'Doherty) |website= Wondery.com |publisher=Wondery |date=20 May 2024 |time=39:10 |url=https://wondery.com/shows/wikihole-with-darcy-carden/episode/15031-pilates-with-john-early-kate-berlant-and-claudia-odoherty/?tab=episodes }} while her father has Israeli-Jewish and Russian-Jewish ancestry.{{cite web|url=http://jewishjournal.com/culture/lifestyle/home/213921/best-worst-decorating-trends-last-30-years/|title=The best (and worst) decorating trends from the last 30 years — Jewish Journal|first=Jonathan|last=Fong|date=January 27, 2017|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/kate-berlant-tony-berlant/|title=Artist Tony Berlant and Daughter, Comedian Kate Berlant, Get Personal|first=Jennifer|last=Swann|date=September 20, 2018|publisher=LA Magazine}} She received a Bachelor of Arts and then a Master of Arts in performance studies from New York University.[http://www.newsweek.com/2016/02/12/kate-berlants-taboo-shattering-comedy-423076.html KATE BERLANT’S TABOO-SHATTERING COMEDY] Newsweek; accessed March 3, 2018.
Career
Berlant first appeared on television in a 2002 episode of Lizzie McGuire. She has since had roles in various comedy series, as well as films including Sorry to Bother You (2018), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), and Don't Worry Darling (2022).[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/arts/kate-berlants-experimental-comedy.html Keeping It Fake Kate Berlant’s Experimental Comedy], The New York Times; accessed March 3, 2018. She has performed stand-up on The Tonight Show and The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, and starred in two episodes of the Netflix sketch comedy series The Characters in 2016.[https://deadline.com/2016/02/netflix-sketch-comedy-series-the-characters-1201694292/ Netflix Sets New Sketch Comedy Series ‘The Characters’ For March], Deadline; accessed February 11, 2016. She has performed regularly at the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival.[https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/above-and-beyond/the-eugene-mirman-comedy-festival The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival], SXSW, The Just For Laughs Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and The New York Comedy Festival. New Yorker; accessed March 3, 2018. She has also performed at (and collaborated with) arts institutions including MoMA PS1, White Columns, the Getty Center, and the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art.[http://www.thefader.com/2015/01/16/kate-berlant-interview Kate Berlant Is Blurring The Lines Between Art And Entertainment] FADER; accessed March 3, 2018. She won the American version of Taskmaster in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/taskmaster-hosted-by-reggie-watts-premieres-on-comedy-central-next-month.html|website=Vulture |title=Taskmaster Hosted by Reggie Watts Premieres on Comedy Central Next Month |date=March 23, 2018 |access-date=March 12, 2019}} She and John Early created the Vimeo original series 555, which was produced by Abso Lutely Productions.[https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/kate-berlant-and-john-earlys-escape-from-comic-realism KATE BERLANT AND JOHN EARLY’S ESCAPE FROM COMIC REALISM] New Yorker; accessed April 3, 2017.
In June 2022, Berlant and Early released the one-hour sketch comedy special Would It Kill You to Laugh? on Peacock.{{Cite web |last=Parthsarthy |first=Deeksha |title=What time will Would It Kill You to Laugh? air on Peacock? Release date, cast and more details explored |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/what-time-will-would-it-kill-you-laugh-air-peacock-release-date-cast-details-explored |access-date=September 7, 2022 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |date=June 23, 2022 |language=en-us}} It was directed by Andrew DeYoung and co-starred Berlant and Early, who play fictionalized versions of themselves in the future who had previously been on the sitcom He's Gay, She's Half-Jewish and are reunited by Meredith Vieira{{Cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/exclusive-first-look-john-early-kate-berlant-would-it-1848875812 |title=John Early, Kate Berlant ask Would It Kill You To Laugh? in an exclusive look at Peacock's comedy |last=Gajjar |first=Saloni |date=May 4, 2022 |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=en-US |work=The A.V. Club}} after a bitter falling out.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/kate-berlant-john-early-would-it-kill-you-to-laugh-1235304722/ |title=Kate Berlant and John Early Discuss the Origin of 'Would It Kill You to Laugh?' and Their 'Absence of Sexual Tension' |last=Urban |first=Sasha |date=June 28, 2022 |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=en-US |work=Variety}} They use the framing device of the reunion to display short skits with absurdist characters that they liked and built upon over a decade of creating and filming short comedy videos, and structured the special around shorter, digestable segments that would be consistent with the popularity of short-form video,{{Cite web |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/would-it-kill-you-to-laugh-kate-berlant-john-early-influences |work=Thrillist |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=en-US |title=Kate Berlant and John Early Are Inspired by Awkward Reunions and Architectural Digest |last=Zuckerman |first=Esther |date=June 23, 2022}} but aimed to use comedy that would be timeless.{{Cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/would-it-kill-you-to-laugh-kate-berlant-john-early-interview/ |language=en-US |access-date=September 26, 2022 |date=June 22, 2022 |last=Hullender |first=Tatiana |publisher=Screen Rant |title=Kate Berlant & John Early Interview: Would It Kill You To Laugh?
}} Some of the sketches had been planned for years, but were not filmed until Berlant and Early secured the budget for them. Would It Kill You to Laugh? was backed by both Peacock and A24.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/john-early-kate-berlant-would-it-kill-you-to-laugh-interview |title=There's Something Funny About John Early and Kate Berlant |last=Hess |first=Liam |work=Vogue |date=July 6, 2022 |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=en-US}}
Paste positively compared Would It Kill You to Laugh? to Bo Burnham's special Inside for the way that both use identity in comedy to cause audience reflection,{{Cite web |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=en-US |work=Paste |last=Cohn |first=Michelle |date=August 24, 2022 |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/millennial-anxiety-inside-would-it-kill-you-to-lau/ |title=How Would It Kill You To Laugh? and Inside Create a Full Picture of Millennial Anxiety}} and praised its "no-holds-barred surrealism".{{Cite web |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=en-US |work=Paste |last=Martin |first=Clare |date=June 30, 2022 |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/would-it-kill-you-to-laugh-review/ |title=Kate Berlant and John Early Create Surreal, Uncomfortable Comedy on Would It Kill You to Laugh?}} Vulture praised the work as a "thoughtful and striking about partnerships and, in particular, about male–female relationships" and considered it "darker and more alarming" than Berlant and Early's previous collaborations.{{Cite web |first=Kathryn |last=VanArendonk |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=en-US |work=Vulture |date=June 27, 2022 |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/06/john-early-kate-berlant-would-it-kill-you-comedy-review.html |title=Welcome Back to John Early and Kate Berlant's Absurd Duet}} Decider recommended that audiences view it for the pair's ability to mine the "rich comedic tradition for overconfident characters who find themselves in way over their heads but cannot seem to get themselves out of the situation without making things worse".{{Cite web |url=https://decider.com/2022/06/24/would-it-kill-you-to-laugh-kate-berlant-john-early-peacock-review/ |last=McCarthy |first=Sean L. |publisher=Decider |date=June 24, 2022 |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=en-US |title=Stream It Or Skip It: 'Would It Kill You To Laugh? Starring Kate Berlant & John Early' On Peacock, These Characters Were Made For Each Other}} The special was nominated for Best Comedy Special at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards.
Cinnamon in the Wind, Berlant's largely improvisedLate Night with Seth Meyers, September 15, 2022 debut stand-up special,{{Cite web |language=en-US |access-date=September 26, 2022 |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/fx-comedy-specials-kate-berlant-byron-bowers-hulu-1235371142/ |title=FX Announces Comedy Specials From Kate Berlant, Byron Bowers to Premiere on Hulu |last=Bell |first=BreAnna |date=September 13, 2022 |work=Variety}} was recorded in March 2019 at the Upright Citizens Brigade for FX.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/09/kate-berlant-plays-the-fool.html |last=Feidelson |first=Lizzie |title=Kate Berlant Plays the Fool |date=September 23, 2022 |language=en-US |website=Vulture |access-date=September 29, 2022}} It was directed by Burnham,{{Cite web |url=https://decider.com/2022/09/20/kate-berlant-cinnamon-in-the-wind-fx-hulu-review/ |last=McCarthy |first=Sean L. |publisher=Decider |date=September 22, 2022 |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=en-US |title=Stream It Or Skip It: 'Kate Berlant: Cinnamon in the Wind' On FX On Hulu, Reflecting The Inherently False Moments Of Performative Comedy}} who first suggested that Berlant film a special after going to see one of her performances.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/theater/kate-berlant-comedy.html |title=Kate Berlant Can't Hide Any Longer |last=Zinoman |first=Jason |date=August 23, 2022 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times}} For reasons that were never explained,{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/kate-berlants-broken-mirror |magazine=The New Yorker |date=September 28, 2022 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |language=en-US |last=Schwartz |first=Alexandra |title=Kate Berlant's Broken Mirror}} the special remained unreleased for over three years until debuting on Hulu in September 2022, coincidentally while Berlant's next one-woman show Kate (also directed by Burnham) was still running in New York City.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/07/bo-burnham-kate-berlant-one-woman-show.html |title=Bo Burnham Will Direct Kate Berlant's One-Woman Show, Kate |first=Rebecca |last=Alter |date=July 14, 2022 |access-date=September 26, 2022 |language=en-US |publisher=Vulture}} A Decider review praised Cinnamon in the Wind and pointed out the meta-textual element of the comedy. The New Yorker similarly praised Berlant's comedy for "breaking down the typical relationship between performer, ego, and audience". Kate finished its run at the Pasadena Playhouse on February 11, 2024, with a filmed special of the same name expected to be released in the future.{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Chris |date=2024-01-23 |title=All the Stars Who Attended Kate Berlant's One-Woman Show Opening Night at Pasadena Playhouse |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/kate-berlant-one-woman-show-pasadena-playhouse-1235804228/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
In November 2020, Berlant and fellow comedian Jacqueline Novak launched Poog, a comedic wellness podcast under iHeartRadio's Big Money Players network. The show satirized the wellness industry as the duo explored "various products and practices, consulting experts and questioning their own pursuits of health and happiness". Poog amassed a cult following and aired more than 200 episodes before concluding on October 15, 2024, with a final episode titled Goodbye Poog, marking the end of their contract with iHeartRadio.{{Cite web |title=Poog is dead, long live Poog |url=https://www.avclub.com/kate-berlant-poog-podcast-jacqueline-novak-ending |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=AV Club |language=en-US}} Subsequently, on October 22, 2024, Berlant and Novak debuted a new independently produced and self-titled podcast, Berlant & Novak. This venture continues their comedic exploration of wellness themes, offering subscribers access to video episodes and bonus content.{{Cite web |title=Berlant & Novak |url=https://berlantnovak.supercast.com/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Supercast}}
Personal life
Berlant lives in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.{{cite tweet |number=1211824273486041088 |user=kateberlant |title=This is long overdue, but I finally joined @DemSocialists — become a member & support today! As little as $5/ month… |date=December 31, 2019 |bot=TweetCiteBot}} She is in a relationship with MUNA band member Naomi McPherson.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-26 |title='The Bear' Season 3 premiere in L.A. |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/06/26/the-bear-season-3-premiere-hollywood/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="4" | 2012
!scope="row"|Lampshade Susan | Lampshade Susan | Short film |
| scope="row"|The Rock Collection
| Rock Collector | Short film |
| scope="row"|Family Dinner
| Mom | Short film |
| scope="row"|Paris
| Self | Short film |
| rowspan="2" | 2013
!scope="row"|Reunion | | Short film |
| scope="row"|SEX
| Petra | Short film |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
!scope="row"|The Greggs | Shelley | Short film |
| scope="row"|Santa Monica
| | Short film |
| 2015
!scope="row"|Shopping | | Short film |
| rowspan="3"| 2016
!scope="row"|I Love You Both | Ivy | |
| scope="row"|Dean
| Naomi | |
| scope="row"|Buster's Mal Heart
| Phone Sex Operator (voice) | |
| 2017
!scope="row"|The Pianist | Chloe | Short film |
| rowspan="4"| 2018
!scope="row"|Sorry to Bother You | Diana DeBauchery | |
| scope="row"|Little Bitches
| Counselor | |
| scope="row"|Happy Anniversary
| Lindsay | |
| scope="row"|Duck Butter
| Kathy | |
| rowspan="5" | 2019
!scope="row"|How Have You Been? | Self | Short film |
| scope="row"|Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
| Bruin Box Office Girl | |
| scope="row"|After Class
| Jackie Cohn | |
| scope="row"|Rachel
| Rachel | Short Film |
| scope="row"|Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein
| Monica Fulton | |
| 2022
!scope="row"|Don't Worry Darling | Peg | |
| rowspan="2"| 2023
!scope="row"|First Time Female Director | Clara Ann | |
| scope="row"|Dream Scenario
| Mary | |
| rowspan="4" |TBA
!scope="row"|The Dress Up Gang Movie | |Post-production |
| scope="row" |The Saviors
|Cleo | Post-production |
| scope="row"|The Moment
| | Post-production{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/charli-xcxs-the-moment-starts-shooting-in-the-uk-for-a24/5203077.article|title=Charli xcx's 'The Moment' starts shooting in the UK for A24|website=Screen International|first=Ellie|last=Calnan|date=March 18, 2025|access-date=March 18, 2025}} |
| scope="row"|She Keeps Me Young
| |Post-production |
| 2026
!scope="row"|The Breadwinner | |Pre-production{{cite web |date=May 15, 2025 |title=Will Forte, Colin Jost, Kumail Nanjiani Join Nate Bargatze in Comedy ‘The Breadwinner’ (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/will-forte-colin-jost-kumail-nanjiani-nate-bargatze-the-breadwinner-1236218388.article |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 2002
!scope="row"|Lizzie McGuire | Student #2 | Episode: "Best Dressed for Much Less" |
| 2014
!scope="row"|Don't Walk | Smug Local | Episode: "Which Hood?" |
| 2014
!scope="row"|Crazy House | | Television film |
| 2015
!scope="row"|Monica | Denise | Episode: "Episode 2" |
| 2016–2018
!scope="row"|Animals. | Sapphire / Various (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2016–2019
!scope="row"|Those Who Can't | Kate McGill / Zandra | 2 episodes |
| 2016
!scope="row"|Netflix Presents: The Characters | Various | 2 episodes |
| 2016–2020
!scope="row"|BoJack Horseman | Various (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2016–2017
!scope="row"|Clarence | Ms. Julip (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2016
!scope="row"|Transparent | Ronit | Episode: "Oh Holy Night" |
| 2016
!scope="row"|Comedy Bang! Bang! | Karen | Episode: "Kaley Cuoco Wears a Black Blazer and Slip on Sneakers" |
| 2016–2021
!scope="row"|Search Party | Nia / Editor | 6 episodes |
| 2017
!scope="row"|555 | Various | 5 episodes |
| 2017
!scope="row"|Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ | Morningstar | Episode: "Dean's Legacy" |
| 2017
!scope="row"|Danger & Eggs | Rhonda the Relator (voice) | Episode: "Tube of Pain / Broccoli" |
| 2017
!scope="row"|Comrade Detective | Reporter (voice) | Episode: "The Whole World is Watching" |
| 2017
!scope="row"|Tim and Eric Awesome 10 Year Anniversary Version, Great Job? | Linda | Television film |
| 2017–2018
!scope="row"|Ghosted | Linda | 7 episodes |
| 2017
!scope="row"|Easy | Lauren | Episode: "Conjugality" |
| 2018
!scope="row"|Another Period | Reporter | Episode: "Sex Nickelodeon" |
| 2018
!scope="row"|Alone Together | Jess | Episode: "Sleepover" |
| 2018
!scope="row"|Taskmaster US | Self | 8 episodes |
| 2018
!scope="row"|High Maintenance | Reina | Episode: "#goalz" |
| 2018
!scope="row"|Nailed It! | Self | Episode: "Just Do It Yourself!" |
| 2019–2023
!scope="row"|The Other Two | Pitzi Pyle | 2 episodes |
| 2019
!scope="row"|I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson | Owner of Jim Davis' House | Episode: "We Used to Watch This at My Old Work" |
| 2019
!scope="row"|Life in Pieces | Eliza | Episode: "Birth Meddling Jacket Denial" |
| 2019
!scope="row"|Tuca & Bertie | Woman Taking Up Space (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2019
!scope="row"|The Good Place | Esmerelda | Episode: "The Answer"{{cite web|title=The Good Place Finally Gives Us Chidi's Story in a Clever Spin on a Clip Show | website=Gizmodo | author=Elderkin, Beth | date=November 22, 2019 | access-date=November 22, 2019 | url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-good-place-finally-gives-us-chidis-story-in-a-cleve-1839896556 }} |
| 2020
!scope="row"|Our Cartoon President | Lara Trump (voice) | Episode: "Warren vs. Facebook" |
| 2020
!scope="row"|Indebted | Maggie | Episode: "Everybody's Talking About the Shiva" |
| 2020
!scope="row"|The Shivering Truth | Lily Liblin (voice) | Episode: "Nesslessness" |
| 2021
!scope="row"|Close Enough | River Lake (voice) | Episode: "Time Hooch/World's Greatest Teacher" |
| 2021
!scope="row"|Loki | Ren Faire Woman | Episode: "The Variant" |
| 2021
!scope="row"|American Dad! | HG Member (voice) | Episode: "Hot Scoomp" |
| 2021
!scope="row"|Bob's Burgers | Shampooer (voice) | Episode: "Seven-tween Again" |
| 2021–2023
!scope="row"|Summer Camp Island | Striped Horse (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2021
!scope="row"|The Fungies! | Margot Mafungo / Mom (voice) | Episode: "Pascal's BIG Fan" |
| 2022
!scope="row"|Space Force | Sal Jr. (voice) | Episode: "The Hack" |
| 2022
!scope="row"|Life & Beth | Kate | Episode: "Life & Beth" |
| 2022
!scope="row"|A League of Their Own | Shirley Cohen | 8 episodes |
| 2022
!scope="row"|Archer |Unknown Character (voice) |Episode: "Distraction Action" |
| 2022
!scope="row"|Central Park |Unknown Character (voice) |2 episodes |
| 2022
!scope="row"|Would It Kill You to Laugh? | Various | Sketch comedy special |
| 2022
!scope="row"|Cinnamon in the Wind | Herself | Stand-up comedy special |
| 2024
!scope="row"|Family Guy | Customer (voice) | Episode: "Lifeguard Meg" |
| 2024
!scope="row"|Fantasmas | Madame Victory | Episode: "Looking4Twinks2S**k" |
| 2024
!scope="row"|Doctor Odyssey | Agnes Simkin | Episode: "Wellness Week" |
| 2024
!scope="row"|The Simpsons | Stressed Woman (voice) | Episode: "Convenience Airways" |
| 2024
!scope="row"|Laid | Janelle | Episode: "Toby and Lindsey Are Here" |
| 2025
!scope="row"|Very Important People | Barbara | Episode: "Barbara and Bill" |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berlant, Kate}}
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American women writers
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
Category:Actresses from Los Angeles
Category:American film actresses
Category:American people of Spanish descent
Category:American sketch comedians
Category:American stand-up comedians
Category:American television actresses
Category:American voice actresses
Category:American women comedians
Category:American lesbian actresses
Category:American lesbian writers
Category:American LGBTQ comedians
Category:Comedians from Los Angeles
Category:Jewish American actresses
Category:Jewish American artists
Category:Jewish American comedians
Category:Jewish women comedians
Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from California
Category:Upright Citizens Brigade Theater performers