Biography

Maya Rudolph was born in Gainesville, Florida, on July 27th, 1972, to Dick Rudolph, a music producer, and soul singer Minnie Riperton. Her father is Ashkenazi Jewish (from a family from Russia, Germany, and Hungary), while her mother was African-American. In 1973, Maya, her parents, and her older brother, Marc Rudolph, moved to California to further Minnie's music career. Here Minnie recorded "Lovin' You", her most famous single, in which one can hear her sing "Maya, Maya, Maya" at the end of the song; Riperton claimed that this song was used as a lullaby for Maya.

During adolescence, Maya attended St. Augustine by the Sea School, where she met childhood friend, Gwyneth Paltrow. The Paltrows and the Rudolphs became family friends and, in 2000, Dick Rudolph and Maya filled the role of music supervisors on the Bruce Paltrow-directed film Duets (2000), which starred Gwyneth.

In 1990, Maya enrolled at the University of California at Santa Cruz, majoring in photography. It was here that Maya formed the band "Supersauce" with fellow students. After graduation in 1994, Maya left the band and soon joined The Rentals, fronted by Weezer bassist Matt Sharp. Maya was featured on the 1999 release "Seven More Minutes", where she sang backup vocals on "Barcelona" and "My Head is in the Sun". Maya began touring with the group, singing backup and playing Moog synthesizer. When The Rentals disbanded, Maya decided to pursue her dream of a career in comedy, joining the famed troupe "The Groundlings".

On May 6, 2000, Maya joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (1975). and has since become one of that show's most popular performers. Favorite sketches include a dead-on impression of fashion diva Donatella Versace; high school flake "Megan", the host of her own morning talk show, "Wake-up WakeField"; and one of the members of the R&B; parody "Gemini's Twin".

In 2005, Maya gave birth to her first child with director Paul Thomas Anderson; in 2006, she was cast in the film, A Prairie Home Companion (2006), directed by the legendary Robert Altman and based on the NPR show by Garrison Keillor.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: S.M

First impression on Saturday Night Live (1975) was of MTV VJ Ananda Lewis. The episode was when John Goodman hosted and Neil Young was the musical guest.

Childhood friends with Gwyneth Paltrow.

Daughter of Dick Rudolph and Minnie Riperton.

Is a vegetarian.

Formed and sang in the jazz-funk band "Supersauce" while attending the University of California at Santa Cruz. She left the band when she graduated and later joined The Rentals, singing backup vocals on the album "Seven More Minutes". She can be heard on "Barcelona" and "My Head is in the Sun". Rudolph left The Rentals to join "The Groundlings" to pursue a career in comedy, which eventually led her to Saturday Night Live (1975).

Voted #20 on Entertainment Weekly's list of Funniest People in America in April 2004

Was 5 months pregnant with her daughter, Lucille, when she completed filming on Grown Ups (2010).

Her mother, Minnie Riperton, died when Maya was only 6 years old.

Returned to work 3 months after giving birth to her son, Jack, to resume filming Up All Night (2011).

Graduated from the University of California-Santa Barbara with a Bachelor's degree in Photography.

Has been in a relationship with Paul Thomas Anderson since 2001. They have four children together.

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 37, a daughter, Lucille Anderson, on November 6, 2009. Lucille's father is Maya's boyfriend, Paul Thomas Anderson.

Gave birth to her 4th child at age 41, a daughter, Minnie Ida Anderson, on August 1, 2013. Minnie's father is Maya's boyfriend, Paul Thomas Anderson.

Returned to work 7 months after giving birth to her daughter, Minnie, to begin filming The Maya Rudolph Show (2014) (TV).

[on having 3 kids and a career] I thought, 'Just make it work. I had people that I trust telling me that we'll make it work. And here we are, trying to make it work. I think it's all doable.

Donatella Versace gave me pointers - a lot of them. She said she would never wear fake diamonds. I let the costume department know.

My mom was black and my dad is Jewish, and I lost my mom when I was seven ... That made me feel really different from other kids.