A Childhood Friend Joined 'SNL' and Comedy Called

The Friends’ and No Good Deed’ actress-comedian on her friendship with Jon Lovitz and her film break

- Marc Myers

AT A RIDICULOUSLY young age, I was a studious observer of behavior. Before I could even speak clearly, I sensed that arguments between adults were usually based on miscommunication.

I also had an amazing memory. In nursery school, the best was when the teacher played spoken-word records like “Alice in Wonderland.”

My father would stand me on our fireplace hearth, and I’d recite the entire story.

I grew up in Tarzana, Calif., in the San Fernando Valley. Our 1950s ranch house in a cul-de-sac had a long, spooky driveway darkened by lines of pine trees. My father, Lee, was a doctor.

My mother, Nedra, was a homemaker and worked in my father’s office until I was maybe 4. When I was in high school, she became a travel agent.

I was the third of three kids. My brother, David, is six years older, and my sister, Helene, is eight years older.