Wendi Anne McLendon-Covey (born October 10, 1969) is an American actress, writer, producer and comedian.
McLendon-Covey began her career in the improvisational Comedy Central series Reno 911!, starring as Deputy Clementine Johnson from 2003â€"2008. She also had the lead role in the Lifetime short-lived comedy Lovespring International (2006). From 2010 to 2013 she had a recurring role on CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement.
After her a breakout performance in the 2011 comedy film Bridesmaids, McLendon-Covey has appeared in a number of films, including What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012), The Single Moms Club (2014), Blended (2014), and Think Like a Man Too (2014). In 2013 she began starring as Beverly Goldberg, a family matriarch, in the ABC comedy series The Goldbergs, for which she was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014.
Early life
McLendon-Covey was born in Bellflower, California, the daughter of Carolyn (née Lewis), an accountant, and David Robert McLendon, a former delivery driver for Coca Cola. She has Scottish and English ancestry. She graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies and Creative Writing. She received her Screen Actors Guild card while promoting NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me!.
Career
2001â€"2010
McLendon-Covey is well known for her ability as an improvisational actress. She was a member of The Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles from 2002 to 2009. While a member of the Groundlings, McLendon-Covey was a classmate of comedians Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, with whom she would later star in the film Bridesmaids.
From 2003 to 2008, McLendon-Covey starred as Deputy Clementine Johnson on the Comedy Central television series Reno 911!, and resulted in a 2007 film. She also starred in the Lifetime comedy show Lovespring International in 2006 and has provided commentary for E!, TV Guide Channel, and VH1. In 2007 she starred in the comedy film Reno 911!: Miami, based on Comedy Central's Reno 911!, and also appeared in Bewitched (2005), and Over Her Dead Body (2008). She produced, wrote and starred in the 2007 independent comedy film Cook-Off!. McLendon-Covey also guest-starred on television series such as The Office, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Cougar Town.
2011â€"present
In 2011, McLendon-Covey starred in the financially successful and critically lauded comedy film Bridesmaids with Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy and Ellie Kemper. Beginning in July that same year, she began starring in national TV ads for a new campaign by Hillshire Farm. From 2010 to 2013, she had a recurring role on the CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement. She also had guest-starring roles in Fox's short-lived sitcom I Hate My Teenage Daughter, TV Land' Hot in Cleveland, and ABC's Modern Family.
McLendon-Covey appeared in the 2012 romantic comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting, directed by Kirk Jones, as well had cameo in Steven Soderbergh's movie Magic Mike. She will have roles in the Christmas comedy movie A White Trash Christmas about a white-trash mom visited by three ghosts intent on showing her a path to a brighter future, and in the comedy-drama film Claire's Cambodia directed by Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning Stacy Sherman about three estranged sisters dealing with the death of their father. She also starred in the 2012 comedy pilot Waffle Hut.
In February 2012, McLendon-Covey was cast in the HBO comedy pilot The Viagra Diaries, created by Sex and the City creator and executive producer Darren Star, but when Hawn exited the pilot, McLendon-Covey also left the show. After she received five offers, she won the female lead role on ABC's comedy pilot Only Fools And Horses. She also played one of the leads in Tyler Perry's film The Single Moms Club (2014). Also in 2014, she stars in A Friggin' Christmas Miracle as Robin Williams' character's daughter, Blended, as Drew Barrymore's character's best friend, and Think Like a Man Too.
In January 2013, McLendon-Covey was cast in the lead role of the ABC comedy series The Goldbergs, created by Adam F. Goldberg. McLendon-Covey's portrayal of the character received critical praise, and she was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014. Later in 2014, McLendon-Covey was cast opposite Sally Field in the comedy-drama film Hello, My Name Is Doris.
In 2015, McLendon-Covey was cast as host on the ABC reality comedy series, Repeat After Me produced by Ellen DeGeneres.
Personal life
McLendon-Covey has been married to Greg Covey since 1996. They live in Long Beach, California.
Filmography
Film
Television
References
External links
- Wendi McLendon-Covey at the Internet Movie Database
- Wendi McLendon-Covey on Twitter
- Wendi McLendon-Covey at AllMovie
- Wendi McLendon-Covey at TVGuide.com