Julia Sweeney

TED Speaker, "Saturday Night Live" Alum and Cancer Survivor, Author of "God Said, Ha!"

Request More Info

Add To My List

Profile Links

Biography

Videos

FAQ

Fee Range

$25,000

Travels From

Los Angeles, California, United States

Julia Sweeney
Biography

Julia Sweeney joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" during the 1990-91 season. She is known for her wide-ranging characters and impersonations, including the sexually ambiguous Pat, singer Ethel Merman and NBC News' Jane Pauley. After four successful seasons, Sweeney chose to leave the show to pursue other opportunities.

A native of Spokane, Washington, Julia Sweeney attended the University of Washington in Seattle, graduating with degrees in European history and economics. She came to Hollywood in the 1980's with aspirations of being a business executive at the studios and started climbing the corporate ladder as an accountant for Columbia Pictures before realizing that acting-- not accounting-- was her true calling.

In 1984, while maintaining her day job, Sweeney joined an improvisational class with the Los Angeles comedy troupe, The Groundlings, and began performing with the group's main cast in 1987.

It was at The Groundlings that she first created and performed the Pat character. In 1990, "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels came to The Groundlings Theatre to see Julia Sweeney perform and hired her as a cast member for the 1990-91 season.

Sweeney and Christine Zander, her co-writer on "Saturday Night Live" and the associate producer of "It's Pat," collaborated on "It's Pat! My Life Exposed." Published in 1992 by Hyperion Books, the book has sold 75,000 copies.

In the summer of 1992, Julia Sweeney starred as Mea Culpa in "Mea's Big Apology," which earned a Best Written Play Award from LA Weekly. Written by Sweeney, Emerson and Hibbert (the "It's Pat" writing team) and directed by Hibbert, the play was originally staged at The Groundlings Theatre in 1988.

Sweeney's feature film roles include an allergic secretary in an animal lab in "Gremlins II," the nosy neighbor in "Honey, I Blew Up The Kid" and the school principal in "Coneheads." She's also appeared in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and Disney's remake of "The Barefoot Executive."

Julia Sweeney's television credits include appearances on the television series "Mad About You," "Baby Boom," and "Murphy's Law."

Julia Sweeney
Featured Videos

Current: TED: Julia Sweeney has "The Talk"

Time 09:26

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to some of the most common questions about booking Julia Sweeney for your event.

How do I book Julia Sweeney for my event?

Booking Julia Sweeney with Premiere Speakers Bureau is a streamlined 4-step process:

Availability Check: Contact us with your event date and budget to verify if your desired speaker is available.
Hold Date: We place a temporary "hold" on the speaker's calendar while you finalize internal approval.
Contracting: We issue a contract outlining the fee, cancellation policy, and event expectations.
Logistics: Once signed, our event management team handles all travel booking, itinerary, and AV requirements.

Why should I partner with Premiere Speakers Bureau rather than contacting speakers directly?

Partnering with Premiere Speakers Bureau provides a comprehensive safety net for your event that direct booking cannot match. You get the same speaker for the same price, but with a dedicated team with over 30 years of event experience handling contracts, logistics, and are prepared for any emergency. We know what it takes to run an excellent event.

What makes Premiere Speakers Bureau unique compared to other agencies?

Premiere Speakers Bureau distinguishes itself by having over 30 years of experience while partnering with more than 35,000 events. PSB has also built a streamlined, fully online process that makes booking a speaker, handling travel and payments extremely easy for anyone looking to plan a speaker led event.

How does Premiere Speakers Bureau's 'Zero Cost Service' model work?

Premiere Speakers Bureau operates on a 'Zero Cost Service' model for event planners. Our services—including research, booking, and logistics—are always free to the client. The speaker covers our commission from their standard honorarium as payment for our role in marketing and managing their engagements.

How are speaker fees structured, and what is typically included?

A speaker's fee typically covers the keynote presentation, a pre-event planning call, and standard customization. Travel expenses are usually billed separately.

What are the standard policies for speaker travel and expenses?

Travel expenses are negotiated during contracting. We generally recommend a flat travel fee for simplicity, though we also offer line-by-line invoicing when preferred. PSB ensures these expenses adhere to professional standards, and our Event Portal allows for easy tracking and invoicing.