Anyone who has watched Bridesmaids or The Good Place knows the specific brand of warm chaos Maya Rudolph brings to a scene. But her filmography stretches far beyond those headline roles, touching dozens of movies and TV shows across three decades.

Movies credited: 30+ · TV shows credited: 20+ · Years active: 1997–present · Primetime Emmy Awards: 1 · SNL tenure: 2000–2007

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth is not publicly verified
  • Specific future projects beyond 2024 remain unannounced
  • Streaming availability details for some older titles are patchy
3Timeline signal
  • 1997: First TV appearance (The Jenny McCarthy Show) (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
  • 2000: Joins SNL (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
  • 2011: Breakout film in Bridesmaids (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher))
  • 2020: Wins Emmy for Big Mouth (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
4What’s next

Seven key details summarize her background and career trajectory. All data sourced from Wikipedia (open encyclopedia).

Label Value
Full Name Maya Khabira Rudolph
Birth Date July 27, 1972
Birth Place Gainesville, Florida, USA
Occupation Actress, comedian, singer
Years Active 1997–present
Spouse/Partner Paul Thomas Anderson (2001–present)
Children 4

The implication: Rudolph built a career with remarkable stability — living in the same home, partnered with the same director — while juggling an ever-expanding list of comedic roles.

What Are Maya Rudolph’s Most Famous Movies and TV Shows?

Breakout film roles

  • Bridesmaids (2011) – Lillian Donovan. Her role as the bride anchored an ensemble widely celebrated for its cultural impact (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher)).
  • Away We Go (2009) – Verona De Tessant. A dramatic lead role opposite John Krasinski (Britannica Facts (reference database)).
  • Idiocracy (2006) – Rita. A cult-favorite sci-fi comedy (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
  • MacGruber (2010) – Casey Fitzpatrick. A niche action-comedy that gained a second life on streaming (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
  • The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021) – Linda Mitchell. A celebrated animated feature (Movie Insider (film database)).

Notable TV series appearances

  • Saturday Night Live (2000–2007, recurring later). A 7-season run that produced iconic impressions (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher)).
  • The Good Place (2018–2020). Played Judge Gen, a pivotal figure in the series’ final seasons (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher)).
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2014–2015). Appeared as U.S. Marshal Karen Peralta (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
  • Up All Night (2011–2012). Starred as Ava alongside Christina Applegate (Biography.com (celebrity reference)).
  • Loot (2022–present). Leads the Apple TV+ series as a newly divorced billionaire (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher)).

Voice acting credits

  • Big Mouth (2017–present). Voices Connie the Hormone Monstress, a role that earned her a 2020 Emmy (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher)).
  • Shrek the Third (2007). Voiced Rapunzel (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023). Voiced a supporting character (Movie Insider (film database)).
  • Big Hero 6: The Series (2017–2020). Recurring voice role (Britannica Facts (reference database)).
Bottom line: Maya Rudolph’s career is best understood as a strategic migration from ensemble sketch comedy to independent creative control. Fans of live-action comedy should start with Bridesmaids and The Good Place. Viewers who prefer voice work should dive into Big Mouth.
Why this matters

Rudolph’s trajectory from SNL to film shows a deliberate pivot toward creative control: she now produces and stars in her own projects rather than waiting for supporting offers.

What TV Shows Has Maya Rudolph Starred In?

Saturday Night Live (2000–2007)

  • Seasons as a regular cast member: 7
  • Notable impressions: Prince, Beyoncé, Donatella Versace
  • Earned multiple Emmy nominations (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher))

Rudolph joined SNL in 2000 and became known for her musical impressions and original characters. She returned for guest appearances after departing the regular cast in 2007.

The Good Place (2018–2020)

  • Role: Judge Gen
  • Appeared in Seasons 3 and 4
  • The character arbitrates the fate of the main characters (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher))

Rudolph brought a calm, comic authority to the role of Judge Gen, a cosmic figure who oversees the afterlife’s legal disputes. Her arc culminated in the series finale.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2014–2015)

  • Role: U.S. Marshal Karen Peralta
  • Recurring role in Season 2
  • Character is Jake Peralta’s estranged mother (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))

Her appearances on Brooklyn Nine-Nine provided a rare look at Rudolph in a maternal role, albeit a slightly awkward and imposing one.

Other guest appearances

  • 30 Rock, Documentary Now!, We Need Help
  • Hosted SNL’s Weekend Update Summer Edition
  • Voice roles in Big Hero 6: The Series and Bless the Harts (Britannica Facts (reference database))
The upshot

Television gave Rudolph the consistent platform live-action films did not. Her TV characters are often written to match her distinct energy — authoritative, warm, and slightly absurd.

The pattern: Rudolph’s television roles have consistently allowed her to showcase a mix of authority and absurdity that few other performers can match.

Who Are Maya Rudolph’s Parents and Husband?

Mother: Minnie Riperton

  • Profession: Singer
  • Known for hit “Lovin’ You”
  • Died of breast cancer in 1979 when Rudolph was 7 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))

Rudolph’s mother, Minnie Riperton, was a celebrated singer known for her five-octave vocal range. Her song “Lovin’ You” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. Riperton passed away from breast cancer at age 31, leaving behind a legacy that deeply influenced Rudolph’s artistic path.

Father: Richard Rudolph

  • Profession: Music producer and composer
  • Co-wrote many of Riperton’s songs

Richard Rudolph is a music producer and songwriter. He co-wrote Minnie Riperton’s biggest hits and later worked in music publishing. He raised Maya and her older brother Marc after Riperton’s death (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Husband: Paul Thomas Anderson

  • Partner since 2001
  • Occupation: Filmmaker (director, writer, producer)
  • Known for Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood, Licorice Pizza

Rudolph has been in a committed relationship with director Paul Thomas Anderson since 2001. The couple has four children and resides in Los Angeles. Rudolph has appeared in several of Anderson’s films, including Inherent Vice and Licorice Pizza (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

The trade-off

Maya Rudolph grew up surrounded by creative talent, then built a family with another towering figure in film. Her personal story is a straight line from one artistic household to another.

Where Can You Watch Maya Rudolph Movies and TV Shows?

Netflix titles

  • Bridesmaids
  • The Mitchells vs. The Machines
  • Wine Country (which she also directed)
  • Big Mouth and Human Resources

Netflix holds a significant portion of Rudolph’s filmography, including her directorial debut Wine Country and the animated film The Mitchells vs. The Machines. Her Emmy-winning role in Big Mouth originates on the platform (Netflix (streaming platform)).

Apple TV+

  • Loot (2022–present)

Rudolph currently stars in the Apple TV+ original series Loot, playing a billionaire who re-enters the workforce after a divorce. The show was renewed for a second season (Apple TV+ (streaming service)).

Amazon Prime Video

  • Licorice Pizza
  • Grown Ups (rent/buy)
  • Chuck & Buck

Amazon Prime Video offers many of Rudolph’s film credits for rental or purchase, including Licorice Pizza and Grown Ups (Amazon (digital marketplace)).

Other platforms

  • Disenchanted can be streamed on Disney+
  • The Good Place is available on NBC’s Peacock platform
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine and 30 Rock are on Peacock as well

Disney+ hosts Disenchanted, the sequel to Enchanted, where Rudolph played the antagonist Malvina Monroe. Peacock carries her NBC sitcom arcs (Peacock (streaming platform)).

Bottom line: No single platform owns Rudolph’s full catalog. Viewers hunting for her complete filmography need to toggle between Netflix, Peacock, Apple TV+, and Amazon.

What Awards Has Maya Rudolph Won?

Primetime Emmy Award

  • Award: Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
  • Year: 2020
  • Project: Big Mouth

Rudolph won her first Primetime Emmy Award in 2020 for her voice work on Netflix’s Big Mouth. She had been nominated six prior times for her work on SNL and other projects (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Screen Actors Guild Awards

  • Nomination: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  • Year: 2020
  • Project: The Good Place

Rudolph was nominated alongside the cast of The Good Place for a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2020 (SAG Awards (industry guild)).

Other nominations

  • Multiple Emmy nominations for SNL performances
  • Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination for The Good Place
  • NAACP Image Award recognition

Rudolph has amassed several other nominations across her career, spanning her live-action and voice work (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Bottom line: Despite decades of scene-stealing work, Rudolph has only one solo Emmy to date. The industry has been slower to give her competitive statues than audiences have been to embrace her.

What We Know vs. What We Don’t

Confirmed facts

  • Rudolph’s longtime partner is filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson (Wikipedia)
  • She has four children
  • She was an SNL cast member from 2000 to 2007 (Britannica)
  • She won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2020 (Wikipedia)
  • She has appeared in over 30 films and 20 television shows (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

  • Rudolph’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified
  • Specific future projects beyond 2024 remain unconfirmed
  • Details on streaming availability for older titles can vary by region

What the Record Shows

Rudolph discussed her transition from SNL to film acting in a 2015 interview with NPR (public radio broadcaster), noting that she sought characters rather than star vehicles.

– Maya Rudolph

In a 2019 interview with The New York Times (daily newspaper), Rudolph spoke about the challenge of balancing the absurdity of The Good Place with the cosmic seriousness of her character, Judge Gen.

– Maya Rudolph

Britannica (the encyclopedia publisher) identifies Rudolph’s performances in Bridesmaids and Big Mouth as high points in a career marked by consistent critical acclaim across live-action and voice work.

– Britannica editors

For viewers discovering Rudolph’s work today, the choice is simple: start with Bridesmaids for the essential comedy resume, then follow her to Loot for proof that she is still refining her craft. Rudolph’s career is not a closed book — it is an open library spread across streaming platforms, ready to be checked out.

Related reading: Jane Krakowski Movies and TV Shows: Full Career Guide · Madison Pettis Movies and TV Shows: Full Filmography & Biography

Beyond her filmography, Maya Rudolphs biography and career provides insight into her personal life and career milestones.

Frequently asked questions

What is Maya Rudolph’s real name?

Her full name is Maya Khabira Rudolph.

Is Maya Rudolph related to any celebrities?

Yes. Her mother was the legendary singer Minnie Riperton, known for the hit “Lovin’ You.” Her father is music producer Richard Rudolph.

How many movies has Maya Rudolph appeared in?

According to Wikipedia (open encyclopedia), Rudolph has appeared in over 30 films as of 2024.

What is Maya Rudolph’s highest-grossing movie?

Her highest-grossing film is Bridesmaids (2011).

What is Maya Rudolph’s most recent TV show?

As of 2024, her most recent ongoing TV series is Loot on Apple TV+, which began in 2022.

Does Maya Rudolph voice any characters in animated series?

Yes. Her most famous voice role is Connie the Hormone Monstress in Big Mouth, a role that won her a Primetime Emmy Award in 2020 (Wikipedia). She has also voiced characters in Shrek the Third, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

What is Maya Rudolph’s connection to the band The Lonely Island?

The Lonely Island (Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer) were colleagues on SNL. Rudolph appeared in their film MacGruber and later in Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.