Now that she's become such a familiar face of hit comedy films and sitcoms, it's hard to believe that California native Wendi McLendon-Covey once worked ordinary jobs and attended weekend improvisational classes to get her start. Her immense rise as a noted actress and comedian is an inspiring story, one that speaks of a highly motivated woman full of determination to achieve her dreams.
After graduating from community college with a B.A. in liberal studies and creative writing, Wendi roughed it out working at a Ramada Hotel near Disneyland. During this time, the now thriving actress attended part-time classes for non-actors at The Groundlings, an improv group in Los Angeles. While there, she became friends with other students like Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Kaitlin Olsen.
Coming up the hard way has made for one talented and gritty actress, and she's since gone on to forge a successful career for herself; starring in many well-known sitcoms and comedy films. In celebration of her uplifting story, here's a look at Wendi McLendon-Covey's best performances over the years.
10 Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
In one of her most recent roles, Wendi McLendon-Covey played Kathy Quinn, the mother of the two main protagonists in the popular children's comedy-horror Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. Based on the globally popular children's book series by noted novelist R.L. Stine, the film was a commercial success as it raked in close to $100 million at the box office against a $35 million budget.
McLendon-Covey's presence in the film gave it some added comedic stature as she was praised by the film's director, Andy Sandel, for her professionalism and calming influence on set.
9 Think Like a Man Too
Another hit comedy film, Think Like a Man Too was the sequel to the 2012 film, Think Like a Man. The ensemble cast featured some great comedy stars like Kevin Hart and Regina Hall, making for the kind of typically entertaining and sometimes raunchy romantic comedy that Wendi McLendon-Covey is known for.
The film was a huge commercial success and added McLendon-Covey to the talented cast from the first film. In a film that was more her raunchy and hilarious style, the actress proved to be a great addition to it and certainly added to its appeal.
8 Big City Greens
In 2012, McLendon-Covey showed one of her best acting skills as she took on voice roles in animated shows for the first time. This would prove to be one of the best features of her acting repertoire as she went on to do other voice roles for iconic animated shows like The Looney Tunes Show.
By 2018, the talented actress had a recurring voice role for the popular and acclaimed animated Disney show, Big City Greens, where she voices the character Nancy. The show's sometimes racy themes are epitomized by the character who is an ex-biker and an ex-con, with Mclendon-Covey's comedic range shining through the character.
7 Paint
In one of her most recent film roles, McLendon-Covey starred among an ensemble cast that included Owen Wilson in the comedy, Paint. The film has been generally well-received, and, despite masquerading as a quirky comedy, often delivers on more complex themes with some great narratives weaved into its plot.
Here's a little of what Michael Walsh of The Nerdist had to say about it.
"ts ability to combine broad humor with quiet quirkiness and a tremendous cast makes for a funny, entertaining film. But what makes it truly worthy of your time is its intimate story about regret, how we each think about success and failure, and what defines “real” art."
6 The Single Moms Club
Written and directed by the highly acclaimed actor and entertainment entrepreneur Tyler Perry, The Single Moms Club was a comedy-drama typical of Perry's highly thematic films. Wendi McLendon-Covey plays one of the five single moms in the film who take matters into their own hands when their kids get into trouble at school.
Although a critical and commercial disappointment, the film was a great rendition of the absorbing tropes that fans have come to associate with Tyler Perry films. Wendi was great in it alongside the talents of other great actresses like Nia Long and Amy Smart.
5 Rules of Engagement
In another great sitcom to come out of CBS, Rules of Engagement ran for five seasons, earning three Primetime Emmy Award nominations in that time. In 2011, it was picked up for syndication and has been nominated for and won a host of other awards.
The show was also one of the early indications of Wendi McLendon-Covey's propensity and talent for great sitcom acting. She played the role of Liz in the show and had a recurring role in it between 2010 and 2013.
4 Blush
In a rare dramatic role, McLendon-Covey showed that she was just as adept at these kinds of roles too when she acted in the 2019 film, Blush. It premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and told the lurid tale of a woman who struggles with obsessive-compulsive mental health issues.
McLendon-Covey starred in the main role and the film has received generally good ratings and reviews. Another of her turns in a dramatic role came in 2017 when she played the main character's secretary in the Liam Neeson political film, Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House.
3 Bridesmaids
In one of her most memorable and acclaimed roles, McLendon-Covey played Rita in the hit comedy Bridesmaids. The film was hilarious, but also critically acclaimed for its wit, fearless female-led raunchiness, and great tonal shifts. McLendon-Covey co-starred alongside her Groundlings classmates Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, and her greatest achievement in the film was that neither of these modern comedic titans overshadowed her for hilarity in the film.
Here's a snippet of the legendary Roger Ebert's review of the film that showed why it was a triumphant one for female-led comedies.
"It definitively proves that women are the equal of men in vulgarity, sexual frankness, lust, vulnerability, overdrinking and insecurity. And it moves into areas not available to men, for example the scene when they're all trying on dresses at a bridal shop and the lunch they've just shared suddenly reappears, if you get my drift."
2 Reno 911!
One of the most memorable and early breakout roles for Wendi McLendon-Covey began way back in 2003 when she became a series regular on the hit Comedy Central series Reno 911!. The show was a whacky parody of Cops and follows the adventures of a fictional and ridiculously funny police department.
Wendi plays the buxom and provocative Deputy Clementine Johnson, an officer with the department whose racy antics on the show provide many of its most memorable moments. The show proved so popular that it led to three films being made: Reno 911! Miami in 2007, Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon in 2021, and Reno 911! It's a Wonderful Heist in 2022.
1 The Goldbergs
In what has probably been her most well-known role to date, Wendi McLendon-Covey has been playing the matriarch of the family from the hit sitcom The Goldbergs since 2013. The show has proven hugely popular and went into syndication in 2017. Taking place in an alternate version of the 1980s, The Goldbergs is seen through the eyes of the family's kids.
Wendi has played the lead role in the show since its inception and the show's popularity has continued unabated for a decade. After 10 seasons, and what was ABC's longest-running scripted comedy series, the show will finally conclude in May of this year. Nevertheless, the show has proven for years why Wendi McLendon-Covey has risen to become one of the most respected and well-liked comedic actresses of this generation.
With new films and recent voice roles still in post-production, the now 53-year-old actress seems set to continue growing her already amazing career.