Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler is an American actress, director, producer, author, comedian, and activist, best known for her work on Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation. Born in Newton, Massachusetts on September 16, 1971, Poehler first became interested in comedy through her brother Greg, who was an aspiring stand-up comic. After developing her own skills as a comic and actress, she moved to Chicago in 1993 and started performing with the famed improvisational theater, The Second City.

At The Second City, Poehler met many future SNL cast members and writers, including Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, and Adam McKay. She was inducted into the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2001 and held a successful tenure until 2008. During this time, she created characters such as the inept Kaitlin, the “Bronx Beat” reporters, and the "Really?!" ladies. She also performed a reoccurring spot on Weekend Update as a political correspondent, which brought widespread acclaim and recognition to her career.

Following her success on SNL, Poehler took on several other film and television projects, including starring roles on the sitcom Parks and Recreation and films such as Baby Mama and Mean Girls. Specifically, her portrayal of Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation brought critical acclaim and won her a Golden Globe award and a Primetime Emmy nomination.

In 2014, Poehler wrote her first book, a memoir titled, “Yes Please.” In the book, she explains her beginnings as an improvisational artist, and feelings of anxiety that she had as a young adult, as well as her divorce in 2009. The book offers a unique insight into her struggle of balancing her successful career, motherhood, and personal life and has been praised by critics for its honest writing and topics.

In addition to her own projects, Poehler co-founded the comedy production company, “Pacific Standard,” with frequent collaborator and close friend, Fey. The company has produced numerous films such as Sisters, Baby Mamma, and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Amy Poehler has revolutionized the comedy genre in film and television and has used her celebrity to advocate for women's rights and make a difference in the world. In 2008, she was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations and worked with the organization’s Global Goals Campaign. In 2015, she co-founded the website “Smart Girls at the Party,” which encourages young women to “change the world by being themselves.”

Poehler’s overall humor and wit have impacted both pop culture and the world and she will continually be remembered for her outstanding work both in front of and behind the camera.