Kate Flannery Biography: Husband, Age, Net Worth, The Office, Movies & TV Shows, Height

Kate Flannery is an American actress, comedian, and singer, best known for her role as Meredith Palmer on the NBC sitcom The Office.

Her vibrant stage presence, improvisational skills, and musical talents have made her a versatile figure in television, theater, and music.

Profile

• Full Name: Katherine Patricia Flannery
• Stage Name: Kate Flannery, Lady Puff (for Mono Puff band)
• Born: June 10, 1964
• Age: 61 years old
• Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American Actress, Comedian, Singer, Improviser
• Height: 5 feet 4
• Parents: Thomas A. Flannery (father), and Joan Donnelly (mother)
• Siblings: Six siblings, including a twin sister (name undisclosed, social worker)
• Spouse: Chris Haston (since 2006)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $2 million to $7 million

Early Life and Education

Katherine Patricia Flannery was born on June 10, 1964, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Thomas A. Flannery, a bar owner (Flannery’s Tavern), and Joan Donnelly.

Raised in the suburb of Ardmore in a large Irish-American family, she is one of seven siblings, including a twin sister who is three minutes older and works as a social worker. Growing up, Flannery and her siblings helped at their father’s bar, cleaning and tending to customers, which fostered her sense of community and humor.

She attended Saints Colman-John Neumann School and later Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania. Flannery studied for two years at Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia before transferring to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts. Her early exposure to theater and improvisation laid the foundation for her comedic career.

Career

Flannery began her career in theater, joining The Second City’s National Touring Company and becoming an original member of Chicago’s Annoyance Theatre, where she performed in over 15 shows, including The Miss Vagina Pageant and The Real Live Brady Bunch. In 2001, she co-created the cult comedy lounge act The Lampshades with Scot Robinson, performing at Hollywood venues and comedy festivals like the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, where it won LA Weekly’s Best Saturday Comedy Show of the Year.

Her television breakthrough came in 2005 as Meredith Palmer, the alcoholic, outspoken accountant in The Office (2005–2013), appearing in nearly all 187 episodes. She made guest appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm (2005), The Bernie Mac Show (2004), Boomtown (2003), and Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2004), and Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2016).

Flannery voiced Barb Miller in Steven Universe (2015–2018), Carol in OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes (2017–2019), and characters in Summer Camp Island (2019–2020). She appeared in films like Cooties (2014), Fishbowl California (2018), Tenured (2015), and Slow Learners (2015).

Since 2013, she has toured as Jane Lynch‘s sidekick in the cabaret show See Jane Sing, performing in over 30 cities, including the Kennedy Center and Joe’s Pub.

Flannery competed on Dancing with the Stars (season 28, 2019), partnered with Pasha Pashkov, finishing seventh, and joined its 2020 live tour (cut short by COVID-19). She played Nora in Young Sheldon (2019), Crossing Guard Sandy in American Housewife (2016), and competed as “Starfish” in The Masked Singer (season 11, 2024).

As a singer, she performed with Mono Puff under the stage name Lady Puff, contributing to their 1998 album It’s Fun to Steal, and sang on Jane Lynch‘s 2016 album A Swingin’ Little Christmas. Flannery was also the musical director of the Los Angeles Drama Club, teaching Shakespeare to children.

Awards and Nominations

• Screen Actors Guild Awards:
• 2007: Won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for The Office.
• 2008: Won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for The Office.
• Nominated five additional times (2009–2013) for The Office ensemble.
• Behind the Voice Actors Awards (2018):
• Nominated for Best Female Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Guest Role for Steven Universe.
• Nominated for Best Vocal Ensemble in a New Television Series for OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes.
• Gold Derby Award:
• 2007: Won Ensemble of the Year for The Office.
• TV Land Awards:
• 2008: Won Future Classic Award for The Office. Note: Awards reflect The Office‘s ensemble achievements, with Flannery as a key contributor.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @therealkateflannery
• Twitter Handle: @KateFlannery
• Facebook Handle: Kate Flannery

Personal Life

Kate Flannery, resides in Los Angeles, California, and has been in a long-term relationship with Chris Haston, an NBC stills photographer, since 2006, whom she met on the set of The Office.

Despite rumors of marriage and a 2016 divorce, Flannery and Haston have not confirmed marrying, and their relationship appears ongoing, as evidenced by her 2017 birthday post calling him her “true love” (@KateFlannery, June 27, 2017). They have no children.

Flannery is of Irish-American descent and a practicing sober person, openly discussing her journey to sobriety despite her character Meredith‘s alcoholism. She is passionate about animal rights, supporting organizations like PETA, and has taught Shakespeare to children through the Los Angeles Drama Club.

A close friend of Jane Lynch, she has toured with her since 2013. Flannery enjoys sharing humorous anecdotes on social media, and fans on X praise her The Office role and recent appearances, like The Masked Singer. No major controversies are associated with her, though the Uncle Stan Kickstarter by Leslie David Baker (her The Office co-star) sparked minor fan debate.

Filmography

• Can’t Stop Dancing (1999) – Tonia
• Trick (1999) – Ridiculous Writer
• Cooties (2014) – Charman
• Tenured (2015) – Barbara Morgan
• Slow Learners (2015) – Principal Miller
• Fishbowl California (2018) – Susan
• Plan B (2022) – Sister Mary
• TV (Selected):
• The Bernie Mac Show (2004) – Sister Mary Emma
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (2005) – Cop #2
• The Office (2005–2013) – Meredith Palmer
• Wizards of Waverly Place (2010) – Elaine Finkle
• American Housewife (2016) – Crossing Guard Sandy (recurring)
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2016) – Mean Marge
• New Girl (2016) – Mary Ellen
• Another Period (2015) – Anne Sullivan
• Steven Universe (2015–2018) – Barb Miller (voice)
• OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes (2017–2019) – Carol (voice)
• Young Sheldon (2019) – Nora
• Dancing with the Stars (2019) – Contestant (7th place)
• The Masked Singer (2024) – Starfish (contestant)

Discography

• With Mono Puff (as Lady Puff):
• It’s Fun to Steal (1998, album) – Vocals
• With Jane Lynch:
• A Swingin’ Little Christmas (2016, album) – Vocals

Net Worth

Kate Flannery‘s net worth is estimated at $2 million to $7 million. Her wealth comes from her role in The Office (reportedly $20,000–$50,000 per episode), residuals from syndication, film and TV appearances, voice acting, stage performances, and music projects like A Swingin’ Little Christmas.