Laraine Newman

Laraine Newman began her comedy career as a founding member of The Groundlings and is best known for being an original cast member on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," appearing on the show from its inception in 1975 through 1980. She originated the characters of Sheri the Valley Girl and Connie Conehead, among others.

Newman's post-SNL film career has been in both leading and supporting roles, as well as a voice artist on television and features. In 1986, she starred in "The Canned Film Festival," playing the lead role as Laraine the usherette. Additionally, she made appearances on such programs as "Laverne & Shirley," as Donut Rooter in Devo's "We're All Devo" VHS, "According to Jim," "St. Elsewhere," "Amazing Stories," "Friends," "The Tick," "3rd Rock from the Sun," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Histeria!," "Wayside," "Danny Phantom," "CatDog," "As Told By Ginger," "Rugrats" (in "All Growed Up," an episode which would form the basis of the spinoff "All Grown Up!," for which she also provided voice work), "7th Heaven," "The Flintstones," "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "Metalocalypse."

Most recently she appeared in an episode of "Entourage" and "Brothers & Sisters," provided voice work for "WALL-E," "Battle for Terra," "Ponyo," "Jungle Junction," "Cars," "Up!," "Finding Nemo," "Monsters, Inc.," "Barnyard," "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," "Happily N'Ever After," "Horton Hears a Who!," "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," and "Wreck-It Ralph."

She made a guest voice appearance in "SpongeBob SquarePants" & "Doc McStuffins." She also voices Queen Jipjorrulac, the mother of Mark Chang, in "The Fairly OddParents."

She voiced the Wicked Witch of the West in "Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz," an animated direct-to-DVD midquel/parallel of the classic 1939 film.

Newman also works as a writer and editor. She is a contributing editor for the online magazine One For The Table, and she is an occasional contributor to the Huffington Post. She has contributed articles for the Los Angeles Times, The Believer, and McSweeney's. She wrote the foreword to the book version of the UCB Production "Worst Laid Plans."