Who Is Emily Lynne Berthold? Her Life, Career, and Relationship with Kate McKinnon

Many people first hear about Emily Lynne Berthold because she is the younger sister of actress and comedian Kate McKinnon. But there is much more to Emily than her famous family. She has built her own career as an actress, writer, comedian, voice artist, and content creator. Over the years, she has worked on several creative projects and has earned respect for her talent and humor.

Emily has also worked closely with Kate on different comedy projects, showing just how strong their sister bond is. From making funny videos as children to creating shows together as adults, the two have shared a love for comedy for most of their lives. Their teamwork has become one of the things fans enjoy most.

Away from work, Emily enjoys a quieter life. She often shares funny moments, pictures of her pets, and updates about her husband, Matt Leary. Her social media gives fans a look at her creative world without sharing every part of her private life.

In this article, you’ll learn about Emily Lynne Berthold’s early life, family, education, acting career, comedy work, marriage, and close relationship with Kate McKinnon. You’ll also discover interesting facts that many people may not know.

Emily Lynne Berthold’s Profile Summary

Who Is Emily Lynne Berthold?

Emily Lynne Berthold is an American actress, comedian, writer, and voice actress. While many people know her because of Kate McKinnon, Emily has created her own place in the entertainment world through acting, comedy, writing, and voice work.

She has appeared in television shows, comedy sketches, animated series, podcasts, and web projects. Along the way, she has worked both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. This has helped her build a career that is creative and varied.

Emily is also known for her fun personality and love of making people laugh. She started with stand-up comedy before moving into acting and voice acting. Today, she creates comedy videos for social media while continuing to work on new entertainment projects.

One reason people enjoy following Emily is that she feels genuine. She shares funny stories, supports her family, and stays connected with fans without trying to be a traditional celebrity. That simple and honest style has helped her build a loyal following.

Emily Lynne Berthold’s Early Life and Family

Emily Lynne Berthold grew up in Sea Cliff, a small village on Long Island in New York. She spent her childhood there with her older sister, Kate McKinnon. Their home was full of creativity, laughter, and imagination from an early age.

Their mother, Laura Campbell, worked as a family support advocate, parent educator, and public speaker. She encouraged both daughters to be creative and express themselves. Laura even made several fun cameo appearances on Saturday Night Live while Kate was a cast member.

Emily’s father, Michael Thomas Berthold, was a respected architect. During his career, he designed many homes, business buildings, and renovation projects across Long Island. Sadly, he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer, in 1999.

Michael passed away in January 2002 after living with the illness for more than two years. Emily was still young when her father died, and the loss deeply affected the family. Even so, both sisters continued following their creative dreams while keeping his memory close.

Growing up, Emily and Kate loved making homemade comedy videos together. Their parents were fans of comedy shows like Saturday Night Live and encouraged the girls to always look at life with a sense of humor. Those early experiences helped shape both of their careers.

The sisters have remained very close throughout their lives. Even after finding success in different ways, they still spend time together, support each other’s work, and often appear at public events side by side.

Emily Lynne Berthold’s Education

After finishing school, Emily attended the State University of New York at Purchase, also called SUNY Purchase. Instead of choosing acting as her main subject, she decided to study film.

Learning about filmmaking gave Emily a better understanding of storytelling, writing, directing, and production. Those skills later helped her work not only as a performer but also as a writer and creative partner on several projects.

Her time at college also allowed her to explore different parts of the entertainment business. Rather than focusing on only one career path, she became interested in acting, voice work, comedy, and creating original content.

That broad background has helped Emily build a flexible career. Whether she is acting on screen, recording voices, writing scripts, or making online comedy videos, her education continues to support her creative work.

Emily Lynne Berthold’s Career in Comedy and Acting

Emily Lynne Berthold began building her career in the middle of the 2010s. She worked on comedy sketches, web series, acting roles, and voice performances. Instead of becoming famous overnight, she slowly gained experience by taking part in many different creative projects.

One of Emily’s earliest passions was stand-up comedy. She performed live shows and quickly became known for her funny storytelling and natural stage presence. Many viewers noticed that her voice sounded very similar to Kate McKinnon’s, and people often commented on the family resemblance.

As her career grew, Emily started acting in television shows while also taking voice acting roles. She discovered that she enjoyed bringing animated characters to life just as much as performing on screen.

Besides acting, Emily also worked as a writer. She helped create comedy projects instead of only appearing in them. This gave her the chance to shape stories, jokes, and characters from the beginning.

Over time, Emily decided to step away from regular stand-up comedy. In 2023, she shared on social media that leaving stand-up had been a healthy choice for her. She explained that she felt happier focusing on creative videos, writing, and projects she truly enjoyed.

Today, Emily continues to mix acting, comedy, writing, and voice work. She also creates funny online skits that let fans enjoy her humor in a more personal and relaxed way.

TV Shows and Voice Acting Roles

Emily Lynne Berthold has appeared in several television shows, web series, animated programs, films, video games, and podcasts. While many of her roles are supporting parts, they show her wide range as both an actress and a voice performer.

Some of her early appearances include PITtv, Above Average Presents, Affordable NYC, Gay Girl Straight Girl, and Friends from College, where she played a bridesmaid. These projects helped her gain experience in comedy acting.

Emily also found success as a voice actress. She voiced several public figures in the animated comedy series Our Cartoon President, including Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, Nancy Pelosi, and Karen Pence. Her ability to perform different voices made her a strong fit for animated comedy.

Her other voice work includes Nature Cat, the hit video game Red Dead Redemption II, where she voiced a member of the Del Lobos gang, and the comedy podcast Heads Will Roll, where she played several different characters alongside Kate McKinnon.

She later appeared in The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show, playing several comedy characters such as Scuzz, Rachel, Bridget, Karen, Dani, and Top Knot Sis. These roles showed her talent for switching between different personalities and comedy styles.

Emily has also continued creating original work outside traditional television. By combining acting, writing, voice work, and online comedy, she has built a career that keeps growing while staying true to her own style.

Emily Lynne Berthold Bond with Kate McKinnon

One of the most special parts of Emily Lynne Berthold’s story is her close relationship with her older sister, Kate McKinnon. The sisters have shared a strong bond since childhood. They grew up laughing together, making funny home videos, and thinking of creative ideas that would later shape their careers.

Their parents encouraged both girls to enjoy comedy and storytelling. Instead of simply watching funny shows, Emily and Kate often made their own skits at home. Those early moments helped them become comfortable performing and creating together.

Their first major public project together was Notary Publix, a comedy web series released in 2015. Emily and Kate co-wrote the series and starred as sisters Gina and Teresa Fra Diavolo. Actress Aidy Bryant appeared as their funny rival, making the series even more entertaining.

The sisters worked together again on the Audible comedy series Heads Will Roll. Kate voiced the self-centered Queen Mortuana, while Emily played JoJo, the queen’s cheerful raven helper. Emily also voiced several other characters and helped write parts of the series.

Their teamwork continued in 2024 when Kate released her children’s book series, including Secrets of the Purple Pearl. Emily helped record the audiobook, showing that they enjoy working together in many different ways.

Kate has often spoken warmly about Emily. During a 2025 interview while talking about her book, Kate called Emily her “best friend” and said, “She’s my everything.” That simple statement shows just how close the sisters remain today.

Emily Lynne Berthold’s Husband and Personal Life

Emily Lynne Berthold has also found happiness in her personal life. She is married to Matt Leary, an illustrator, designer, former comedian, and creative business owner. He also co-owns Jampson Films, a visual production company based in Brooklyn, New York.

Emily and Matt dated for several years before getting engaged in August 2024. Their proposal was a happy family event, and Kate McKinnon was there to celebrate with them. Emily later shared photos online along with a heartfelt message about their relationship.

In her engagement post, Emily wrote that Matt had accepted every part of her and supported her through difficult times. She shared that she never expected to get married and thanked him for helping her become a happier and stronger person.

The couple married in early September 2025. They later shared wedding photos and videos with family, friends, and fans. Their relationship is built on humor, creativity, and support, which fits well with both of their artistic careers.

Emily is also a big animal lover. She often posts pictures of her pets on social media. One of her cats is named Ruth, and she has also shared stories about caring for pets with health problems, including heart disease and asthma. She has also welcomed a puppy into her family.

Although Emily works in entertainment, she keeps many parts of her private life away from public attention. She prefers spending time with loved ones, creating new projects, and enjoying simple moments instead of constantly being in the spotlight.

Emily Lynne Berthold on Social Media

Emily stays active on social media, especially Instagram. Her page gives fans a look at her everyday life, creative work, pets, family, and comedy videos. Her posts often feel natural and funny instead of carefully staged.

She also has a YouTube channel where she has shared comedy clips and short videos. Some of those videos even feature Kate McKinnon. While she does not upload very often, the channel gives viewers another chance to enjoy her sense of humor.

Many of Emily’s online posts show her playful side. She enjoys sharing jokes, funny captions, old family photos, and moments with Matt Leary. Fans also enjoy seeing behind-the-scenes pictures from her creative work.

Emily regularly celebrates Kate’s achievements on social media. She has posted childhood pictures of the two sisters, funny memories from growing up together, and photos from award shows and television appearances.

Her social media also shows her love of horror movies, art, and creative storytelling. These hobbies give fans a better understanding of who she is beyond her acting career.

Interesting Facts About Emily Lynne Berthold

• Loves watching and talking about horror movies.
• Started her career as a stand-up comedian.
• Many fans say her voice sounds very similar to Kate McKinnon’s.
• Works as an actress, writer, comedian, and voice artist.
• Creates funny comedy videos for social media.
• Has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter and creator.
• Frequently works on creative projects with her sister, Kate McKinnon.
• Has appeared in TV shows, web series, podcasts, audiobooks, and video games.
• Often attends award shows and public events with Kate.
• Prefers focusing on creative work instead of chasing fame.

Bottom Line

Emily Lynne Berthold may first catch people’s attention because she is Kate McKinnon’s sister, but her own career tells an interesting story. She has worked as an actress, writer, voice artist, comedian, and creator while building a path that reflects her own talent and personality.

Her work across television, animation, podcasts, web series, and audiobooks shows how many different skills she has developed. She has also stepped behind the scenes as a writer and creative partner, proving she enjoys every part of the storytelling process.

Just as important is her close relationship with her family. Her lifelong bond with Kate McKinnon, her happy marriage to Matt Leary, and her love for animals all help paint a picture of someone who values creativity, kindness, and meaningful connections.

(FAQs)

Is Emily Lynne Berthold married?

Yes. Emily married illustrator and designer Matt Leary in September 2025 after becoming engaged in August 2024.

What does Emily Lynne Berthold do?

Emily works as an actress, voice actress, comedy writer, content creator, and former stand-up comedian. She has appeared in television shows, animated series, podcasts, and web productions.

What TV shows has Emily Lynne Berthold appeared in?

She has appeared in projects such as Friends from College, The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show, Our Cartoon President, Nature Cat, PITtv, Above Average Presents, and several other comedy productions.

Does Emily Lynne Berthold work with Kate McKinnon?

Yes. The sisters have worked together on Notary Publix, Heads Will Roll, audiobook recordings, comedy videos, and several creative projects over the years.

How old is Emily Lynne Berthold?

Emily celebrates her birthday on November 18. However, her exact birth year has not been officially confirmed, so her age has not been publicly verified.

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