Sarah Silverman Biography

SARAH SILVERMAN

Date of Birth: December 1, 1970

Sarah Kate Silverman was born the youngest of five siblings to a Jewish family in New Hampshire, New Jersey. Although her parents divorced when she was six, her father, Donald, accommodated the needs of his children by moving into a house just down the road from the family home. This became extremely important as Sarah grew into her teen years. She says her depression came to her as a rapid change, metaphorically describing the movement as a cloud covering the sun. She was ultimately paralyzed by the mental disorder. Her family became her ultimate support system; and decided to place her in a smaller school in order to dilute her fears.

In 1988, Sarah graduated from the Derryfield School in Manchester. Though she commenced, she did not complete her studies at New York University. Her very first stand-up comedy show was at the age of 17 and by 1992, she had every intention of making comedy her career. Fortunately for her, Sarah landed a coveted position working at SNL (Saturday Night Live) during the 1993-94 season. She was a writer and featured player, though she was fired after only one season. Sarah reflects upon her time at SNL and admits she was not ready for the demands of the show. Though her ego was bruised, Sarah later made a parody of her stint on an episode of The Larry Sanders Show in 1996 and stuck around for a few episodes later that season. Sarah was also fortunate to land the leading role in the sketch comedy Mr. Show from 1995-97. After that, she went on to guest star on a number of shows, including Seinfeld, VIP and a brief debut in 2007 on Late Show with David Letterman.

Because of Sarah's sharp looks and quick tongue, she was cast in supporting roles in films such as There's Something About Mary, School of Rock and Rent; playing a blend of both comedic and serious characters. In 2005, she released a concert film—Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic—based on her one-woman show of the same name.

Sarah launched The Sarah Silverman Program in 2007. The sitcom centered on herself and her sister Laura, as well as their mutual friends. The hilarious sitcom was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2008, but after three successful seasons, Comedy Central canceled the sitcom. She received a second Emmy nomination in 2008, as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Monk.

Sarah is perhaps best known for her crude remarks and uncanny tendency to mock celebrities. She has also landed in hot water for a few racial slurs. In 2008, she banged out YouTube sensation “I’m F**king Matt Damon,” in which she and Matt Damon mocked her having an affair on her boyfriend at the time, Jimmy Kimmel. The special video appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Music and Lyrics." Not to be outsdone by his girlfriend, Kimmel responded a month later with "I’m F**king Ben Affleck" starring actor Ben Affleck. Although the videos were a great success (Sarah won an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for her song), Sarah and Kimmel broke up later that year.

In 2011 Sarah starred alongside Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen in the film Take this Waltz. The film also featured a full-frontal nude scene with Sarah. Although she reported that she had to gain weight for the role, Sarah later stated that those comments were made in an attempt to add self-deprecating humor to the situation. The following year, she voiced Vanellope von Schweetz in Wreck-It Ralph (2012). She reprised the role six years later in the sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018).

She then teamed up with funnyman Seth MacFarlane to portray the innocent prostitute Ruth in A Million Ways to Die in the West(2014). Also in 2014, she won her second Emmy Award, this time for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles (2013). In 2015, she received critical praise for her role as a drug-addicted, self-destructive New Jersey housewife in I Smile Back (2015), including an award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress at the Oldenburg Film Festival. In 2016, she appeared in the comedy Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping alongside Andy Samberg. She played a role in the thriller The Book of Henry (2017), opposite Naomi Watts and Jacob Tremblay, and appeared with Emma Stone in Battle of the Sexes (2017).

Since dating Kimmel, she tried to move on with Family Guy creator Alec Sulkin, but the relationship lasted only a few months. From 2011 to 2013, she dated comedian Kyle Dunnigan. She began dating actor Michael Sheen in 2014, but they split in 2018.

Filmography:

Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
Battle of the Sexes (2017)
The Book of Henry (2017)
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
Ashby (2015)
I Smile Back (2015)
Gravy (2014)
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
The Muppets (2011)
Take this Waltz (2011)
Peep World (2010)
Saint John of Las Vegas (2009)
School for Scoundrels (2006)
I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006)
Rent (2005)
Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic (2005)
Hair High (2004)
School of Rock (2003)
Run Ronnie Run (2002)
Evolution (2001)
Heartbreakers (2001)
Say It Isn’t So (2001)
Black Days (2001)
The Way of the Gun (2000)
Screwed (2000)
What Planet are You From? (2000)
The Bachelor (1999)
There's Something About Mary (1998)
Bulworth (1998)
Overnight Delivery (1998)
Who’s the Caboose? (1997)