Cheri Oteri (; born September 19, 1962) is an American actress and comedian. A Primetime Emmy Award nominee, she is best known for her tenure as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2000 and for her role as Gail Hailstorm in the Scary Movie film series.
Early life Oteri was born on September 19, 1962, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Patricia (née Breen) and Gaetano Thomas Oteri. She is of Italian ancestry.
Career Saturday Night Live (1995–2000) After moving to Los Angeles at age 25, Oteri worked at A&M Records for four years and eventually joined famed comedy troupe The Groundlings. In 1995, producers of Saturday Night Live (SNL) attended a performance with the intention of auditioning fellow Groundlings member Chris Kattan. Oteri performed a monologue during one of Kattan's costume changes, which led to her own invitation to audition for SNL, along with Kattan and fellow Groundling Will Ferrell. She was hired as a performer in September 1995 as part of an almost-entirely new cast, which was brought in after the show's disastrous 1994–1995 season.
Celebrities that Oteri impersonated included Alanis Morissette, Barbara Walters, Cyndi Lauper, Mariah Carey, Marla Maples, Debbie Reynolds, Jennifer Lopez, Ross Perot, Jennifer Tilly, Paula Jones, Tori Spelling, Melanie C, Robin Byrd, Jessica Simpson, Fran Drescher, Marisa Tomei, Katie Couric and Gloria Stuart.
Original characters Arianna, a member of The Spartan Cheerleaders (with Will Ferrell) Rita DelVecchio, a grouchy Philadelphia woman who is mean to the neighborhood children, patterned after Oteri's tough-talking grandmother. Cass Van Rye, the dim-witted co-host of the "Morning Latte" talk show (with Will Ferrell) Mickey "The Dyke", a butch public-access television cable TV host (with Mark McKinney) Nadeen, a testy employee whose catchphrase constantly orders everyone to "Simmer down now!" Althea McMahonaman, an absurdly hyper child who is an awful passenger and disturbs public servants Collette Reardon, a prescription pill addict Joy Lipton, Erotic Attic boutique owner Adele, a vulgar and highly sexual office worker whose attempts at sexual innuendos disgust rather than attract her colleagues Laura Zimmerman, one half of the Zimmermans, who suddenly break into rough and sexual behavior before returning to casual conversation as if nothing happened (with Chris Kattan)
2001–present Oteri has appeared in supporting roles in the films Liar Liar, Inspector Gadget, Scary Movie, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, and Southland Tales; and voiced characters in The Ant Bully and Shrek the Third.
She starred in two TV pilots that did not make it to air: Loomis and With You in Spirit; and made guest appearances in the series Just Shoot Me!, Strangers with Candy, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. In 2009, Oteri became a regular voice cast in the Fox animated comedy series, Sit Down, Shut Up. She voices Helen Klench, the unappreciated librarian who often gets mistaken for objects, such as brooms or toilet brushes. The series premiered on April 19, 2009 and moved to Comedy Central in May 2010.
Oteri played a tooth fairy on Imagination Movers, a regular on the Playhouse Disney block. She starred in the AMC web series Liza Life Coach in 2010. Oteri appeared in the pilot episode of Glory Daze, which premiered on TBS on November 16, 2010. She hosted AXS TV's Gotham Comedy Live on May 26, 2016, in New York City.
Oteri is an occasional guest on Jeff Lewis' talk radio show on Radio Andy, the Andy Cohen channel on SiriusXM. She also appeared as a guest judge on Season 34, episode 9 of Beat Bobby Flay entitled, Cheri Takes the Cake.
In 2025, Oteri began a recurring role on the NBC sitcom Happy's Place as Monica, the health inspector. In 2026, she reprised her role as Gail Hailstorm in the revived Scary Movie sequel.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1997Liar LiarJaneAustin Powers: International Man of MysteryFlight AttendantUncredited1998Small SoldiersGlobotech Telephone OperatorUncredited1999Inspector GadgetMayor Wilson2000Love & SexMaryLured InnocenceMollyScary MovieGail Hailstorm2003Sol GoodeBernadette BestDumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met LloydMs. Heller2004Surviving EdenMaria Villanova2005SmileLinda2006Southland TalesZora CharmichaelsParkClaireThe Ant BullyDoreen Nickle (voice)2007Shrek the ThirdSleeping Beauty / Actress (voices)2008SurveillanceMomPrivate Valentine: Blonde & DangerousPrivate Jeter2011And They're OffDee2012Bad ParentsMelissa2013Grown Ups 2Penny2014Wishin' and Hopin'Sister Dymphna2017F the PromChristine Datner2019BenjaminClariceDrama DramaMiss Macy2022Out of OfficeJanetTV movieGive or TakePatty King2024Big City Greens the Movie: SpacecationGwendolyn Zapp (voice)TV movie2025Dog ManMayor (voice)2026Scary MovieGail Hailstorm
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1995–2000Saturday Night LiveVariousMain cast1997–1999Just Shoot Me!Cindy2 episodesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series1998HerculesPrincess Lavina (voice)Episode: "Hercules and the Jilt Trip"2000Strangers with CandyHillaryEpisode: "The Last Temptation of Blank"2001Ally McBealMelissaEpisode: "Cloudy Skies, Chance of Parade"2002Curb Your EnthusiasmMartineEpisode: "The Nanny from Hell"2003With You in SpiritMontanaTV movie2005Stephen's LifePrincipal AinsleyTV movie2008Boston LegalMartha HeadlyEpisode: "Kill, Baby, Kill"2008–2010The Life & Times of TimBlobsnark2 episodes2008–2012Easy to AssembleGigi4 episodes2009Sit Down, Shut UpHelen Klench / Parrot (voices)13 episodes2010Imagination MoversGladysEpisode: "Tooth Fairy"Glory DazeJoel's MotherEpisode: "Pilot"Glenn Martin, DDSKristyEpisode: "Camp"2012Dan Vs.Honey O'Houlihan (voice)Episode: "The Cat Burglar"The New NormalCarla2 episodesRuPaul's Drag Race All StarsGuest Judge1 episode2013JessieMrs. FalkenbergEpisode: "Teacher's Pest"Christmas in ConwayGayle MatthewsTV movie2014Hot in ClevelandDr. DebEpisode: "Bad George Clooney"2014–2016The 7DGingersnaps (voice)2 episodes2015Comedy Bang! Bang!Madeline FerrariEpisode: "Weird Al Yankovic Wears a Different Hawaiian Shirt"Miles from TomorrowlandDibblex (voice)Episode: "Unexpected Ally/Skyrise"The HOAMontana MoloneTV movieNot Safe for WorkMisty Ridgeport2016Bad InternetThe RachelEpisode: "Which of the 'Friends' Are You?"Home: Adventures with Tip & OhPauline Pappernacky2 episodesScream QueensSheila BaumgartnerEpisode: "Handidates"Those Who Can'tCathy Goodman7 episodes2016–2017The Fairly OddParentsConnie Carmichael (voice)5 episodes2017–2023Puppy Dog PalsEsther / Mouse (voices)62 episodes2017Bunsen Is a BeastMiss Flapp (voice)11 episodes20189JKLPattyEpisode: "Stalker Status"AnimalsNurse Deb (voice)Episode: "Dogs. (2)"2019Crazy Ex-GirlfriendConnieEpisode: "I'm Finding My Bliss"New Year's Eve LiveBarbara Walters 2019–2025Big City GreensGwendolyn Zapp (voice)6 episodes2020The Boss Baby: Back in BusinessMulti-Multi-Task CEO Baby (voice)Episode: "Halloween"2021Scooby-Doo, Where Are You Now!Lazlo the Mechanic2021–2022Inside JobDupli-Kate (voice)2022Mayans_M.C.PiperEpisode: "Death of the Virgin"2024The Great NorthSherry2025Mid-Century ModernDenise Buckley And Just Like That...Sydney CherkovHaha, You ClownsBrianne (voice)Episode: "Call to the Battalion" 2025–presentHappy's PlaceMonica4 episodes 2026The Bad Guys: The SeriesBeverly (voice)Episode: "I, Webs"
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