'Mean Girls,' '30 Rock' and Sarah Palinĭespite gaining a more glamorous persona in recent years, Fey still retains her legendary work ethic, deadpan humor and grounded personality, qualities that helped catapult her comedy projects to unprecedented levels of success. After several years at the show, Fey became the first female head writer in SNL history.ĭuring the show's 25th season, Fey transformed her image and earned the co-host spot on 'Weekend Update' with Jimmy Fallon, where she wrote many of the segments' most popular biting jokes. When SNL producer Lorne Michaels read Fey's sketch ideas, she was offered a job as a writer.

In 1995, SNL writers came to Second City looking for new talent and were encouraged by Fey's aptitude. She joined the comedy training ground Second City, a renowned program where many Saturday Night Live performers got their start. READ MORE: 10 Things You May Not Know About Tina Fey 'Saturday Night Live'Īfter graduating from college in 1992, Fey moved to Chicago to pursue a career in comedy. This self-proclaimed super nerd went on to study drama at the University of Virginia.

In lieu of dating, Fey would have friends over to play party games like Celebrity. Growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Fey recalls a dorky adolescence filled with unplucked eyebrows and perms. But Fey did not allow this incident to define or hinder her.

Jeanne worked in a brokerage firm and Donald Fey wrote grants for the University of Pennsylvania.Īt the age of five, a stranger approached her in her front yard and slashed her face with a knife, leaving her with a scar she still carries today. Tina Fey was born Elizabeth Stamatina Fey on May 18, 1970, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, to parents Donald and Zenobia 'Jeanne' Fey. Fey went on to pen the hit movie Mean Girls (which later became a successful musical), before thriving as the star of the popular sitcom 30 Rock and co-creating the Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She broke through in 1995 on Saturday Night Live as a writer, later becoming the sketch comedy show's head writer and its 'Weekend Update' co-host. Tina Fey is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer.

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