{{short description|American actress (born 1964)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Kate Flannery | image = Kate Flannery (30044752398).jpg | caption = Flannery in 2018 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|6|10}} | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | occupation = Actress | alma_mater = University of the Arts | years_active = 1989–present | partner = Chris Haston<br> (2006–present) }} '''Kate Flannery''' (born June 10, 1964)<ref name=tvg>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/kate-flannery/bio/249114/|title=Kate Flannery Biography|magazine=TV Guide|archive-date= March 8, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160308183202/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/kate-flannery/bio/249114/|url-status= dead}}<!--cite is live but birthdate appears only in archived version--></ref> is an American actress. Following her early theatre work, Flannery had her screen breakthrough playing Meredith Palmer on the NBC series ''The Office'', which won her two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She went on to guest star on CBS shows ''Magnum P.I.'' and ''Young Sheldon''. She competed on the 28th season of ''Dancing with the Stars'' and voiced Barb on the animated series ''Steven Universe''.
==Early life== Flannery was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, daughter of Tom and Joan Flannery,<ref name=tvg /> and was raised in the suburb Ardmore, Pennsylvania.<ref name=hobotrashcan /> She studied for two years at Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia and then transferred to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.<ref name=hobotrashcan>{{cite web|url= https://www.hobotrashcan.com/2006/04/04/one-on-one-with-kate-flannery/|title=One on One with Kate Flannery|publisher= HoboTrashCan.com|date=April 4, 2006|access-date=April 23, 2020|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200215152451/https://www.hobotrashcan.com/2006/04/04/one-on-one-with-kate-flannery/| url-status=live}}</ref> She has five sisters and a brother,<ref name=hobotrashcan /> and is three minutes younger than her twin sister, who is a social worker.<ref>Tuesday June 19, 2012 episode of ''The Wendy Williams Show''</ref>
==Career== A former member of The Second City's National Touring Company, Flannery is an original member of Chicago's Annoyance Theatre, where she appeared in over 15 shows including ''The Miss Vagina Pageant'' and ''The Real Live Brady Bunch''.
''The Lampshades'', a cult comedy lounge act consisting of Flannery and veteran improviser Scot Robinson, has been running in Hollywood and in comedy festivals since 2001 and was seen at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado. ''The Lampshades'' was ''New York'' magazine's "LA Pick" for 2006,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Abramovitch|first1=Seth|title=Los Angeles Spring 2006 Travel Guide: Comedy|url=https://nymag.com/travel/spring/2006/losangeles/index2.html|access-date=April 10, 2015|work=New York Magazine|date=2006}}</ref> and was declared "Best Saturday Comedy Show of the Year" by ''LA Weekly''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}}
Flannery appeared as the alcoholic, divorced, single mother Meredith Palmer on the television comedy ''The Office'', following appearances on ''The Bernie Mac Show'', ''Boomtown'', ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'', and ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!''. ''The Office'' earned her and the rest of its cast acclaim, along with several accolades, such as winning two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, with an additional five nominations for the same award. In 2008, Flannery was a talent scout on ''Last Comic Standing'' with her ''Office'' costar Brian Baumgartner, and she appeared with the cast of ''The Office'' on ''Celebrity Family Feud''. thumb|270x270px|Flannery in 2009
In 2010, Flannery played Harper's mom on the Disney Channel's ''Wizards of Waverly Place'' as Elaine Finkle. Flannery also appeared as a judge in a 2009 episode of ''Iron Chef America''.<ref>{{cite episode|title=''Battle: Skirt Steak'', Episode IA0709|series=''Iron Chef America''|series-link=Iron Chef America|airdate=May 31, 2009|season=7|number=15}} </ref> Flannery has been touring with Jane Lynch as her sidekick on stage since 2013 in her show ''See Jane Sing'' with Tim Davis and the Tony Guerrero Quintet, playing the Kennedy Center, Joe's Pub, the Borgata and 30 cities.
Flannery was in the long running New York hit, Nora Ephron's ''Love, Loss, and What I Wore''. She also played Neely O'Hara in the 1996 off-Broadway musical ''Valley of the Dolls'', an adaptation of the 1967 film, at the Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City and Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |date=2 September 1996 |title=Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls |url=https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/jacqueline-susann-s-valley-of-the-dolls-1200447005/ |access-date=7 January 2022 |work=Variety |quote=... an outrageously campy rendering of the trashy 1967 film about dolls and the dolls who take them. Performing a pared-down version of the movie’s actual Helen Deutsch - Dorothy Kingsley screenplay ...}}</ref> Also in Los Angeles, she played the teen prostitute and Blair's sister in ''The Phacts of Life'' at the Renberg Theatre and in the Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner production of ''Three Feet Under'' at The Evidence Room. Jane Lynch's Christmas album ''A Swingin' Little Christmas'' features Kate Flannery, and reached #8 on the ''Billboard'' top 100 charts.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Metz|first1=Nina|title=The six degrees of Kate Flannery: From improv in Chicago to 'The Office' to 'Dancing with the Stars'|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-mov-kate-flannery-profile-1213-20191211-zltyrtne3nfjbnefu7bu5lez54-story.html|access-date=19 July 2020|website=Chicago Tribune|date=December 11, 2019 }}</ref>
Flannery also appeared on ''The Jay Leno Show'' portraying Wendy in a skit at the time of the burger chain's 40th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Archived copy|url=http://www.thejaylenoshow.com/video/clips/wendy/1160950/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214072123/http://www.thejaylenoshow.com/video/clips/wendy/1160950/|archive-date=December 14, 2009|access-date=November 20, 2009}}</ref> She was a contestant on 19 episodes of ''Celebrity Name Game'', two episodes of ''Hollywood Game Night'' with Jane Lynch. Flannery also appeared on ''Don't Forget the Lyrics'' and hosted ''Standup in Stilettos'' for two seasons on the TV Guide network. She is the former musical director of the Los Angeles Drama Club, teaching Shakespeare to children and young adults.
In 2016, she had a recurring role on ABC's ''American Housewife'' as Crossing Guard Sandy,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lowman |first1=Rob |title='American Housewife' doesn't offer anything new |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2016/10/11/american-housewife-doesnt-offer-anything-new/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=19 July 2020}}</ref> played a janitor in an episode of ''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'', appeared on FOX's ''New Girl'' and MTV's ''Mary + Jane'', and in 2017, recurred on Cartoon Network's ''Steven Universe'' as Barbara "Barb" Miller.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Minyvonne |title=Former 'The Office' Star Kate Flannery Talks 'Must See TV: James Burrows' NBC Special, 'Steven Universe' |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/former-office-star-kate-flannery-talks-must-see-tv-james-burrows-nbc-special-steven-2316273 |website=International Business Times |date=February 21, 2016 |access-date=19 July 2020}}</ref> Flannery was a member of the band Mono Puff under the stage name "Lady Puff". She toured with the band and sang on their second album, ''It's Fun to Steal''.
In 2019, Flannery was announced as one of the celebrities to compete on season 28 of ''Dancing with the Stars''. She was partnered with first-time professional Pasha Pashkov and was eliminated fifth.<ref>{{cite news |title=DWTS: The Office's Kate Flannery Is Eliminated |url=https://people.com/tv/dwts-kate-flannery-eliminated/ |website=People |access-date=19 July 2020 |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105044730/https://people.com/tv/dwts-kate-flannery-eliminated/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She joined the show's live tour in 2020, but it was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |title='Dancing With the Stars: Live! 2020' Cancels Remaining Tour Dates Amid Coronavirus Outbreak |url=https://www.etonline.com/dancing-with-the-stars-live-2020-cancels-remaining-tour-dates-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-143061 |website=ET Online |date=March 31, 2020 |access-date=19 July 2020 |archive-date=July 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713201555/https://www.etonline.com/dancing-with-the-stars-live-2020-cancels-remaining-tour-dates-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-143061 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2022, it was announced that Flannery would star in the comedy film ''Plan B'' alongside Jon Heder, Tom Berenger, and Shannon Elizabeth.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/jamie-lee-jon-heder-topline-comedy-plan-b-1235065213/ | title=Jamie Lee & Jon Heder Topline Comedy 'Plan B' for Joke Zero and Future Proof Films | date=July 16, 2022 | access-date=August 25, 2023 | archive-date=July 16, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716220915/https://deadline.com/2022/07/jamie-lee-jon-heder-topline-comedy-plan-b-1235065213/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2024, Flannery competed in season eleven of ''The Masked Singer'' as "Starfish". She was eliminated on "Queen Night" alongside Charlie Wilson as "Ugly Sweater".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-masked-singer-season-11-episode-7-recap-charlie-wilson-kate-flannery-1235974506/|title='The Masked Singer' Reveals Identities of Ugly Sweater and Starfish: Here Are the Celebrities Under the Costumes|website=Variety|first=Michael|last=Schneider|date=April 17, 2024|access-date=April 18, 2024}}</ref>
In 2025, Flannery appeared on ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' alongside her co-star from The Office, Oscar Nuñez. She and Nuñez went on to win the million-dollar top prize, becoming only the fourth celebrities and the seventeenth overall to do so, splitting $500,000 each for their respective charities, Philabundance and Planned Parenthood.<ref name="OscarKate">{{cite news | url=https://deadline.com/2025/09/the-office-stars-win-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-1236556585/ | title=The Office Stars Win 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' Finale | work=Deadline Hollywood | date=September 25, 2025 | last=Garner | first=Glenn }}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Year !Title !Role !class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan="2" |1999 |''Can't Stop Dancing'' |Tonia | |- |''Trick'' |Ridiculous Writer | |- |2000 |''Amy Stiller's Breast'' |Reporter |Short film |- |2002 |''Life Without Dick'' |Crampy Legs Partygoer | |- |2003 |''Carolina'' |Café Waitress | |- | rowspan="2" |2005 |''{{sortname|The|Heir Apparent|nolink=1}}'' |Heidi |Short film |- |''I'm Not Gay'' |Secretary |Short film |- |2006 |''Danny Roane: First Time Director'' |Marla | |- | rowspan="2" |2007 |''Jesus People'' |Sharon Nyenhuis |Short film |- |''Wild Girls Gone'' |Reading Circle #4 | |- | rowspan="2" |2009 |''Coco Lipshitz: Behind the Laughter'' |Reporter |Short film |- |''You'' |Airline Counter Girl | |- |2010 |''Finger Babies'' |Teacher |Video short |- |2012 |''Love or Whatever'' |Rosemary | |- | rowspan="4" |2014 |''At the Devil's Door'' |Rosemary | |- |''Break Point'' |Commonwealth Rep | |- |''Helicopter Mom'' |Norma | |- |''Cooties'' |Charman | |- | rowspan="3" |2015 |''Emergency Contact'' |Carol |Short film |- |''Dial a Prayer'' |Cora's coworker | |- |''Slow Learners'' |Principal Miller |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amorosi |first=A. D. |date=May 28, 2014 |title=Boldface May 28: A.D. Amorosi rounds up the local gossip |url=https://metrophiladelphia.com/boldface-may-28-a-d-amorosi-rounds-up-the-local-gossip/ |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=Metro Philadelphia |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2016 |''4th Man Out'' |Karen |<ref>{{Cite web |last=bent |date=May 26, 2015 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Clip From Andrew Nackman's 'Fourth Man Out' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/exclusive-clip-from-andrew-nackmans-fourth-man-out-215218/ |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2017 |''How to Get Girls'' |Linda Fox | |- | rowspan="2" |2018 |''Fishbowl California'' |Susan |<ref>{{Cite web |last=N'Duka |first=Amanda |date=March 22, 2017 |title=Denise Richards, Mischa Barton Star In 'The Toybox'; Katrina Bowden & Kate Flannery Join 'Fishbowl California' |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/denise-richards-mischa-barton-the-toybox-katrina-bowden-kate-flannery-fishbowl-california-1202048512/ |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''Stuck'' |Ms. Jenkins | |- |2020 |''Golden Arm'' |Randy |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=August 21, 2020 |title='Golden Arm' Sells Global Rights to Utopia (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/markets-festivals/golden-arm-utopia-1234743775/ |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2022 |''The Prank'' |Loretta |<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=August 9, 2021 |title=Rita Moreno To Star In Dark Comedy Feature 'The Prank' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/rita-moreno-to-star-in-dark-comedy-feature-the-prank-1234811697/ |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US |archive-date=August 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809223150/https://deadline.com/2021/08/rita-moreno-to-star-in-dark-comedy-feature-the-prank-1234811697/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role ! class="unsortable" |Notes |- |2001 |''Spyder Games'' |Bunny |Recurring role (5 episodes) |- | rowspan="2" |2002 |''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' |Cop #2 |Episode: "The Corpse-Sniffing Dog" |- |''Saturday Night Live'' |Lucy (voice) |Episode: "Al Gore/Phish" |- |2003 |''Boomtown'' |Tracey |Episode: "Inadmissable" |- | rowspan="2" |2004 |''Crossballs: The Debate Show'' | |Episode: "Plastic Surgery: Nip-pocalypse?" |- |''{{sortname|The|Bernie Mac Show}}'' |Christopher's Mom |Episode: "Stiff Upper Lip" |- |2005–2013 |''{{sortname|The|Office|The Office (U.S. TV series)}}'' |Meredith Palmer |Main role (187 episodes) |- |2006 |''{{sortname|The|Office: The Accountants}}'' |Meredith Palmer |Episode: "Meredith" |- | rowspan="2" |2008 |''{{sortname|The|Office: The Outburst|nolink=1}}'' |Meredith Palmer |Episode: "The Explanation" |- |''Iron Chef America'' |Herself, judge |Episode: "Morimoto vs. Mason" |- | rowspan="3" |2009 |''Rise and Fall of Tuck Johnson'' |Nikki Strokums | |- |''{{sortname|The|Office: Blackmail|nolink=1}}'' |Meredith Palmer | |- |''{{sortname|The|Jay Leno Show}}'' |Wendy, Mrs. Claus |2 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |2010 |''Wizards of Waverly Place'' |Elaine Finkle |Episode: "Wizards vs. Finkles" |- |''{{sortname|The|Office: The 3rd Floor|nolink=1}}'' |Meredith Palmer |2 episodes |- | rowspan="3" |2011 |''{{sortname|The|Soup}}'' |Brenna |Episode: "The Soup Awards" |- |''{{sortname|The|Christmas Pageant|nolink=1}}'' |Beverly Simmons |Television film |- |''{{sortname|The|Life & Times of Tim}}'' |Irene, Jean Gillis (voice) |2 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |2013 |''Jessie'' |Corporal Cookie |Episode: "G.I. Jessie" |- |''Lakewood Plaza Turbo'' |Carol, Gertie (voice) |Pilot for ''OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes''<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Kate Flannery (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Kate-Flannery/ |access-date=May 29, 2025 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2015–2018 |''Steven Universe'' |Barb Miller (voice) |5 episodes<ref name="btva" /> |- |''Another Period'' |Anne Sullivan |2 episodes |- | rowspan="4" |2016 |''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' |"Mean" Marge Bronigan |Episode: "Adrian Pimento" |- |''New Girl'' |Mary Ellen |Episode: "Hubbedy Bubby" |- |''Disengaged'' |Chef |Super Deluxe web series; episode "Food and Wine" |- |''American Housewife'' |Crossing Guard Sandy |2 episodes |- |2017 |''Kevin (Probably) Saves the World'' |Ann Russo |Episode: "How to Be Good" |- |2017–2019 |''OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes'' |Carol (voice) |Main cast<ref name="btva" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2018 |''All Night'' |Principal Saperstein |9 episodes |- |''Liza on Demand'' |Karaoke Woman |Episode: "MoJoe" |- | rowspan="2" |2019 |''Young Sheldon'' |Nurse Nora |Episode: "A Tummy Ache and a Whale of a Metaphor" |- |''Dancing with the Stars'' |Contestant |9 episodes |- |2019–2020 |''Summer Camp Island'' |Georgina (voice) |2 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |2021 |''That Girl Lay Lay'' |Mitzy |Episode: "Lay Lay the Legendary" |- ||''Magnum P.I.'' |Erin |Episode: "Texas Wedge" |- | rowspan="1" |2022 |''PBC'' |Jessica | |- |2023; 2025 |''Kiff'' |Agnes, Kion (voice) |3 episodes<ref name="btva" /> |- |2023 | ''Is It Cake?'' | Herself / Judge | Episode: "S'more Cake Please" |- | rowspan="2" | 2024 | ''Hell's Kitchen'' | Herself | Guest diner; episode: "#HellishHangover" |- | ''The Masked Singer'' | Herself/Starfish | Season 11 contestant |- | rowspan="2" |2025 |''Night Court'' | Marge |Episode: "The Jakeout" |- |''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' | Herself | Contestant |- | rowspan='1' |2026 |''Abbott Elementary'' | Joy Crawford |Episode: "Miami" |- |}
=== Video games === {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role ! class="unsortable" |Notes |- |2018 |''OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes'' |Carol |<ref name="btva" /> |}
==== ''Dancing with the Stars'' performances ==== {| class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2" |Week # ! rowspan="2" |Dance/Song ! colspan="3" |Judges' score ! rowspan="2" |Result |- style="text-align: center; background: #ccc;" | style="width:10%; " |'''Inaba''' | style="width:10%; " |'''Goodman''' | style="width:10%; " |'''Tonioli''' |- style="text-align:center; background: #faf6f6;" |1 |Cha-cha-cha / "She Works Hard for the Money" |5 |5 |5 |No Elimination |- style="text-align:center; background: #faf6f6;" |2 |Foxtrot / "Fly Me to the Moon" |7 |7 |7 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background: #faf6f6;" |3 |Quickstep / "9 to 5" |8 |8 |8 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background: #faf6f6;" |4 |Argentine Tango/ "Hands to Myself" |7 |7<sup>1</sup>/6 |6 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background: #faf6f6;" |5 |Jazz / "A Spoonful of Sugar" |8 |8 |8 |No Elimination |- style="text-align:center; background: #faf6f6;" |6 |Viennese waltz / "I Have Nothing" |9 |9 |9 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background: #faf6f6;" |7 |Rumba /"Wicked Game"<br/>Team Freestyle / "Sweet Dreams" |8<br/>8 |8<br/>8 |8<br/>8 |Bottom Two |- style="text-align:center; background: #faf6f6;" |8 |Jive /""Heat Wave""<br/>Cha-Cha-Cha / "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" |8<br/>Won |8<br/>Dance |8<br/>Off |Eliminated |} {{Clear}}<sup>1</sup> Score given by guest judge Leah Remini.
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" |+List of awards and nominations received by Kate Flannery !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result |- | rowspan="2" |2018 | rowspan="2" |Behind the Voice Actors Awards |Best Female Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Guest Role |''Steven Universe'' |{{nominated}} |- |Best Vocal Ensemble in a New Television Series |''OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes'' |{{nominated}} |- |2006 | rowspan="4" |Gold Derby Awards | rowspan="4" |Ensemble of the Year | rowspan="4" |''The Office'' |{{nominated}} |- |2007 |{{won}} |- |2008 |{{nominated}} |- |2009 |{{nominated}} |- |2007 | rowspan="7" |Screen Actors Guild Awards | rowspan="7" |Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | rowspan="7" |''The Office'' |{{won}} |- |2008 |{{won}} |- |2009 |{{nominated}} |- |2010 |{{nominated}} |- |2011 |{{nominated}} |- |2012 |{{nominated}} |- |2013 |{{nominated}} |- |2008 |TV Land Awards |Future Classic Award |''The Office'' |{{won}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|281212}} * [http://www.thelampshades.com ''The Lampshades''], Flannery's comedy lounge act
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Flannery, Kate}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:20th-century American comedians Category:21st-century American comedians Category:Actresses from Philadelphia Category:American film actresses Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American television actresses Category:American twins Category:American voice actresses Category:American women comedians Category:Comedians from Philadelphia Category:University of the Arts (Philadelphia) alumni