Rajskub was born on June 22, 1971 in Detroit, Michigan, to a family of Czech descent. Her father is a pipefitter and her mother is a schoolteacher. She has two older brothers. Rajskub was raised in Trenton, Michigan, and graduated from Trenton High School in 1989. She then attended the University of Michigan, where she studied fine arts.
Rajskub’s first major role was as a waitress in the film Punch-Drunk Love (2002). She has also appeared in films such as Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), and Firewall (2006). On television, Rajskub has had recurring roles on The Larry Sanders Show (1998), Mr. Show with Bob and David (1998), and NewsRadio (1995). She also appeared as a guest star on such shows as Wings (1990), 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996), and NYPD Blue (1993).
In 2001, Rajskub began appearing as Chloe O’Brian on the television series 24. She was a regular cast member for all eight seasons of the show and earned three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for her work on the series.
Since 24 ended, Rajskub has appeared in a number of films and television shows. She had a recurring role on the television series Californication (2007) and has guest-starred on such shows as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005), How I Met Your Mother (2005), and The Good Wife (2009). In 2012, she starred in the web series Burning Love.
Rajskub has also been active as a stand-up comedian. She has performed at comedy clubs across the United States and has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (1993), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992), and Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003).
Rajskub is married to Matthew Rolph and they have one son together.
General Info
Full Name
Mary Lynn Rajskub
Date Of Birth
June 22, 1971
Height
1.68 m
Profession
Screenwriter, Stand-up comedian, Film producer, Voice Actor, Singer
Education
Trenton High School, College for Creative Studies, San Francisco Art Institute
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Matthew Rolph
Children
Valentine Anthony Rolph
Accomplishments
Nominations
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Action, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance
Movies
Punch-Drunk Love, Julie & Julia, Sunshine Cleaning, Safety Not Guaranteed, Sweet Home Alabama, Little Miss Sunshine, The Kings of Summer, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, Mysterious Skin, Dude, Where's My Car?, Man on the Moon, The Anniversary Party, Sex, Death and Bowling, Magnolia, Storytell...
TV Shows
24: Live Another Day, How to Be a Gentleman, 24, The Downer Channel, Mr. Show with Bob and David, The Larry Sanders Show, The Girlfriend Experience, Kelsey Grammer Presents The Sketch Show, Dirty Work
I like America. I think it's pretty cool. I got into acting to avoid politics of any sort so I could remain in a fantasy world.
2
I think that the choice is clear, Oprah Winfrey. You can see a lot of similarities. We're both geniuses, we're both incredibly wealthy, and we've both started schools in Africa (On who would play herself in a movie on her life).
3
I'm not married and I don't think that's going to work out for me. I'm not even bitter, I'm just exhausted. - on marriage and relationships
4
I have to paint at least two times a week, and there's not enough time in the day to do everything. - on art and acting
Facts
#
Fact
1
Though originally hired for only four installments of 24 (2001), her character Chloe ultimately spent six years on the series during which Rajskub married and had her first child.
2
Mary Lynn and her boyfriend, Matthew Rolph, became the parents of a boy, Valentine Anthony Rolph, on July 24, 2008. Val weighed in at 9 lbs. 5 oz.
3
She is thanked in the liner notes of Nina Gordon's 2000 CD "Tonight and the Rest of My Life".