Abby McEnany

Abby McEnany
Born1968 (age 55–56)
Medium
  • Television
  • theater
Alma materUniversity of Chicago
Years active1990–present
GenresImprovisational comedy

Abby McEnany (born 1968) is an American writer, comedian, and actress known for the television series Work in Progress.[1][2][3]

Early life

McEnany mostly grew up between the cities of Boston, Providence, and Columbus. McEnany's father was a cardiovascular surgeon, which caused her family to move to San Francisco for his job in 1982. She lived there for four years while she was in high school.[4] McEnany moved to Chicago for college in 1986,[5] where she attended the University of Chicago,[6] graduating in 1992.[4]

Career

McEnany enrolled at Second City in Chicago in the 1990s, where she had Stephen Colbert as a teacher.[7]

McEnany worked for Morningstar, Inc. in Chicago for 10 years, first in customer service and then as a technical writer.[8] She eventually joined Second City's touring company when she was 40,[4][2] and led the ensemble "Judo Intellectuals" at the Chicago's Playground Theater.

Personal life

McEnany used to identify as a lesbian, but now refers to herself as a "queer dyke."[1] She lives with OCD and depression.[2]

McEnany's mother was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in 2002 and died on Labor Day in 2005.

McEnany grew up in the Episcopal Church, but does not consider herself religious.[5]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role
2013 Roomies Sue Fox[9]
2019–2021 Work in Progress Abby
2023 And Just Like That... BD
2024–present Tracker Velma Bruin

References

  1. ^ a b Masters, Jeffrey (December 17, 2019). "Showtime Star Abby McEnany: 'Dykes Can Do Whatever the F--- They Want'". The Advocate. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Nicholson, Rebecca (December 4, 2019). "Abby McEnany: 'When guys dream of lesbians, they're not thinking of me'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Fallon, Kevin (December 8, 2019). "The 45-Year-Old 'Queer Dyke' Whose Life Was Ruined By 'SNL'". Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Allen, Susie (April 13, 2022). "An unconventional sitcom for anyone who feels different—from the mind of a UChicago alum". uchicago news. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Allen, Samantha (December 4, 2019). "Take 5: The 5 Things That Made Abby McEnany, Star of Work in Progress, Who She Is Today". The Advocate. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  6. ^ ""Work In Progress" reviewed by Sean Kugler". June 26, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  7. ^ Metz, Nina (January 16, 2020). "Stephen Colbert gives belated improv notes to former student and 'Work in Progress Star' Abby McEnany". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  8. ^ "Taking 50 years of sketch comedy on the road". Philadelphia Gay News. July 8, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2020.[dead link‍]
  9. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2015). Internet Lesbian and Gay Television Series, 1996-2014. McFarland. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-7864-9805-5. Retrieved January 16, 2020.


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