Emily Lynne Berthold is an American actress, writer, voiceover artist, and comedian from Long Island, New York. She grew up in a creative family alongside her older sister, Kate McKinnon.
She is widely known as Kate McKinnon’s younger sister, but Emily has also developed her own entertainment career. Her work includes acting, comedy, voice roles, writing, and creative collaborations.
This article explores Emily Lynne Berthold’s early life, parents, education, entertainment career, marriage to Matt Leary, comedy journey, and close relationship and creative partnership with her sister Kate McKinnon.
Who Is Emily Lynne Berthold?
Emily Lynne Berthold is an actress, comedian, writer, and voiceover artist. She was born and raised in Sea Cliff, Long Island, New York, and later studied film at SUNY Purchase College.
She has appeared in television projects such as Friends from College, Our Cartoon President, and The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show. She has also created comedy content and performed stand-up comedy.
Emily is also recognized for working closely with Kate McKinnon. The sisters have created comedy together for years, including Notary Publix, Heads Will Roll, and other entertainment and publishing projects.
Early Life in Long Island
Emily Lynne Berthold grew up in Sea Cliff on Long Island, New York. She spent her childhood with her older sister, Kate McKinnon, in a family that encouraged creativity, humor, and imagination.
Emily and Kate became interested in comedy and entertainment while they were young. They often made videos together, giving them an early opportunity to experiment with characters, storytelling, and funny ideas.
Their parents also enjoyed comedy and encouraged their daughters to see everyday situations in a humorous way. This creative childhood later became an important foundation for both sisters’ entertainment careers.
Emily Lynne Berthold’s Parents
Emily is the daughter of Laura Campbell and Michael Thomas Berthold. Her mother worked as a family support advocate and public speaker and also appeared on Saturday Night Live during Kate’s years on the show.
Her father, Michael Thomas Berthold, worked as an architect. During his professional career, he designed and renovated many residential and commercial properties across Long Island.
Michael was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in 1999. He died in January 2002, leaving Emily and Kate to continue their lives with their mother.
Education and Interest in Film
Emily developed an interest in film and creative entertainment as she grew older. Her passion eventually led her to SUNY Purchase College in New York, where she studied film.
Studying film gave Emily a stronger understanding of visual storytelling and entertainment production. Her education also matched the creative interests she had developed with Kate during their childhood.
Instead of limiting herself to one profession, Emily explored several areas of entertainment. Her career has included acting, writing, comedy, voiceover work, digital sketches, and collaborative creative projects.
Emily Lynne Berthold’s Acting Career
Emily gradually built an acting resume through television and comedy projects. In 2017, she appeared as a bridesmaid in an episode of Friends from College, which starred Keegan-Michael Key.
She later became involved with Our Cartoon President, an animated political satire series that ran from 2018 to 2020. Emily provided voices for characters including Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump.
In 2020, she appeared in Netflix’s The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show. Emily played characters named Scuzz and Rachel, adding another sketch-comedy project to her growing entertainment career.
Her Career in Comedy
Comedy has been an important part of Emily’s creative life. Like Kate McKinnon, she explored stand-up comedy and developed a performance style influenced by character work, observations, and humorous storytelling.
People who watched Emily’s comedy also noticed similarities between her voice and Kate’s. Their shared vocal qualities added another interesting connection between the two sisters and their creative personalities.
Emily eventually stepped away from performing stand-up regularly. She later focused more heavily on creating comedy sketches and other humorous material that she could share through her social media platforms.
Emily and Kate McKinnon’s Close Bond
Emily and Kate McKinnon have shared a close relationship since childhood. Their connection extends beyond being sisters because creativity and comedy have remained an important part of their lives together.
They started making videos when they were children and continued collaborating as adults. Their shared sense of humor has allowed them to create characters and entertainment projects that reflect their long creative history.
Kate has described Emily as her best friend and an extremely important person in her life. Their relationship has continued through major career achievements, family experiences, and numerous professional collaborations.
Working Together on Notary Publix
One of Emily and Kate’s notable collaborations was the 2015 digital comedy series Notary Publix. The unusual comedy project centered on characters who worked as notaries and turned an ordinary profession into humorous entertainment.
Emily and Kate portrayed sisters Teresa and Gina Fra Diavolo. Their performances allowed them to use the natural chemistry and comedic timing that they had developed after years of creating material together.
The project also featured Kate McKinnon’s Saturday Night Live colleague Aidy Bryant. She portrayed Erin Oatmeal, a rival character who added another comic element to the unusual world created by the series.
Emily’s Role in Heads Will Roll
Emily later collaborated with Kate on Heads Will Roll, an Audible Original audio comedy. The project provided another opportunity for the sisters to combine voice acting, comedy, and imaginative storytelling.
Kate played Queen Mortuana, a selfish and evil queen at the center of the story. Emily voiced JoJo, the queen’s raven minion, giving her an important supporting role.
The audio project demonstrated Emily’s abilities beyond traditional television acting. Voice performance became another part of her creative career and complemented her experience with animated television and comedy characters.
Secrets of the Purple Pearl Collaboration
Emily also supported Kate’s work on Secrets of the Purple Pearl, released in 2024 as part of The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science book series.
Her involvement included helping Kate record the audiobook. This project continued their pattern of working together across different entertainment formats, moving beyond television and digital comedy into books and audio production.
Kate dedicated the book to Emily. Their relationship also connects closely with the sisterhood explored in the story, reflecting how their personal bond has influenced some of their creative work.
Emily Lynne Berthold’s Husband Matt Leary
Emily Lynne Berthold is married to Matt Leary. Matt works as an illustrator and designer and previously performed comedy, giving the couple several shared interests in creativity, art, and entertainment.
Matt is also a co-owner of Jampson Films, a creative visual production company based in Brooklyn, New York City. Emily has regularly shared moments from their relationship on her social media.
After dating for several years, Emily and Matt became engaged in August 2024. The surprise proposal included Kate McKinnon as well as other family members and friends who celebrated the special moment with them.
Emily and Matt Leary’s Wedding
Emily and Matt moved from engagement to marriage the following year. They exchanged wedding vows in early September 2025 and shared photographs and videos from their wedding celebration.
Emily has spoken warmly about the supportive, artistic, relaxed, and humorous relationship she shares with Matt. Their connection reflects both companionship and the creative interests that are important in their lives.
Alongside moments involving her husband and family, Emily also shares parts of her everyday life online. Her cat Ruth and her puppy have appeared among the personal moments she posts.
Life Beyond Being Kate McKinnon’s Sister
Being Kate McKinnon’s younger sister naturally brought Emily public attention, especially as Kate became widely recognized through Saturday Night Live. However, Emily has developed professional experience separate from her sister’s fame.
Her work covers several creative areas rather than one fixed career path. Acting, voiceover performances, comedy sketches, writing, film education, and collaborative projects have all formed parts of her professional journey.
At the same time, Emily has never separated creativity from her relationship with Kate. Their frequent collaborations show how a close family relationship can also develop naturally into a lasting creative partnership.
Final Thoughts
Emily Lynne Berthold has built a creative life involving acting, comedy, writing, voiceover work, and film. Growing up on Long Island helped develop the humor and imagination she continues to use professionally.
Her career includes Our Cartoon President, The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show, Notary Publix, and Heads Will Roll. She has also continued collaborating with Kate McKinnon on newer creative projects.
Beyond entertainment, Emily shares a close relationship with her family and is married to Matt Leary. Her journey combines family, comedy, creative work, and a strong lifelong bond with her sister.
(FAQs)
Who is Emily Lynne Berthold?
Emily Lynne Berthold is an American actress, comedian, writer, and voiceover artist. She is also widely known as the younger sister of actress and former Saturday Night Live cast member Kate McKinnon.
What does Emily Lynne Berthold do?
Emily works across several areas of entertainment, including acting, comedy, writing, voiceover work, and digital content. Her credits include Our Cartoon President, Friends from College, and The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show.
Is Emily Lynne Berthold married?
Yes. Emily Lynne Berthold is married to illustrator and designer Matt Leary. They became engaged in August 2024 after several years together and exchanged their wedding vows in early September 2025.
How is Emily Lynne Berthold related to Kate McKinnon?
Emily is Kate McKinnon’s younger sister. The two grew up together on Long Island and have remained extremely close. They have also collaborated on several comedy, audio, digital, and publishing projects.
What projects have Emily Berthold and Kate McKinnon worked on together?
Emily and Kate have collaborated on projects including Notary Publix and the Audible comedy Heads Will Roll. Emily also helped Kate record the audiobook for Secrets of the Purple Pearl.
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