Catherine Keener is an American actress born on March 23, 1959 in Miami, Florida. She is of Irish and Lebanese descent. She has a sister, Elizabeth, who is also an actress. She studied at the Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Hialeah, Florida, and Monsignor Edward Pace High School. She later attended Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. While in college, she starred in her first theatrical production, “Uncommon Women and Others.”

After finishing college in 1983, Catherine Keener moved from Norton and lived in New York. She first worked as an assistant to casting agent Gail Eisenstadt. She followed Eisenstadt in Los Angeles and continued to work for the latter as an assistant, but soon after she began to try her luck in acting thanks to her boss’s encouragement.

Catherine Keener made her film debut in the movie “About Last Night” in 1986. Although it was a small part, she was soon cast in the movie “Survival Quest,” where she met her future husband, Dermot Mulroney. “Survival Quest” was released in 1989.

After working in the big screen, Catherine Keener soon became a regular face on television, and had a guest role in the TV series “Seinfeld.” She later returned to film by starring in the movie “Johnny Suede.” The film starred then unknown actor Brad Pitt. Soon after, she starred in films “Living in Oblivion” and “Walking and Talking,” where she earned nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards.

In 2000, Catherine Keener starred in the films “Being John Malkovich,” “Lovely and Amazing,” “S1mOne,” and “Full Frontal.” She also starred opposite Edward Norton in the off-Broadway revival of “Burn This.”

Catherine Keener’s most recent film credits include “The Interpreter,” “The Ballad of Jack and Rose,” and “The 40-Year Old Virgin.” She also starred in films “Into the Wild,” “An American Crime” and “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.”

Catherine Keener was married to actor Dermot Mulroney from 1990 to 2005. Together they have a son, Clyde, born in 1999.