Janeane Garofalo Biography

Fast Facts

• Received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 at the Slamdunk Film Festival
• Won the 2000 Jury Award at the Montréal Comedy Festival for her work in "The Independent․"
• While attending Providence College, she entered a comedy talent search in which she won the title of "Funniest Person in Rhode Island․"
• While struggling as a stand-up comic, she worked as a bike messenger in Boston
• Quote: "I guess I just prefer to see the dark side of things․ The glass is always half-empty․ And cracked․ And I just cut my lip on it․ And chipped a tooth․"
• Quote: "(On young people wanting to be accepted by society) "Taking into account the public's regrettable lack of taste, it is incumbent upon you not to fit in․""
• Well known for her use of deadpan cynicism in her comedy
• Was originally chosen to portray the character Monica Geller on "Friends," but she turned the part down
• Was told that she won the role of Dorothy Boyd in "Jerry Maguire" if she lost weight, but ultimately learned that Renée Zellweger had received the part instead
• The lead character of "Daria" was modeled after her