Cheri Oteri

In May 2008 Cheri's 69-year-old father, Gaetano Thomas Oteri, was murdered by his room mate and song-writing partner, who stabbed him to death.

Cheri has always fantasized about becoming a singer.

Cheri's character Rita Delvechio, from SNL is based on her grandmother.

Cheri appeared in a television commercial for WOW! potato chips in 1998.

Cheri's modern day favorite comedians are: Jan Hooks, Tracey Ullman, and Nora Dunn.

Cheri's role in the movie Scary Movie is a take-off on Courtney Cox's character in Scream.

Cheri's favorite character to play on SNL, is the pill addicted Colette reardon.

Cheri's favorite SNL actors from the 70's are Bill Murray and Gilda Radner.

Cheri picked up an Emmy nomination in 1999, when she reprised her guest appearance role as a wacky receptionist on the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me.

Cheri has worked as a writer, actor, bartender, receptionist at a production company, and a singer.

Cheri was asked to play a character on Aaron Sorkin's new SNL-like television show, Studio 60 on the Studio Strip. She turned it down, because the role was too close to home.

Cheri went out to dinner the night before her big SNL audition, with Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan. She got food poisoning, and threw up all night, showing up at the audition white as a sheet, with broken blood vessels in her eyes.

Cheri was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in November of 1997.

Cheri appeared uncredited in Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery, in 1997 as a flight attendant.

Cheri's personal hero is her friend Mike Sweeney. He died of lymphoma, but before he got sick, he lived his life to the fullest, just the way it was meant to be.

Cheri and Will Ferrell made up their cheerleader skit in an improv practice session one night. She started to do a "stomp" on the wooden floor, Will joined on in, and the crazy "Spartan Cheerleader" duo was born. The "Spartans" are such a hit with the guest hosts, that several have asked to be written into their sketches. Jim Carrey, and Teri Hatcher are two that have joined the fun.

Cheri formed a third of the so-called "SNL female power trio", along with fellow castmates Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon. They are credited with pulling SNL out of a slump in 1996.

Cheri's father is her biggest fan--he sent her a bouquet of flowers before every SNL show that she did.

Cheri not only shudders at all height references (she is 5 foot 1) but refuses to disclose her age, saying she loves being able to play characters ranging from little girls to old women.

Cheri was discovered by SNL boss Lorne Michaels while performing with 'The Groundlings Comedy Troupe', the starting place of many other SNL stars.

Cheri plays the voice of Sleeping Beauty in the 2007 release of Shrek The Third.

Cheri played the mayor in the 1999 movie Inspector Gadget alongside Matthew Broderick.

Cheri's favorite comedian is Gilda Radner, who also was on Saturday Night Live, and played the Barbara Walters character as well.

Cheri's best known Saturday Night Live characters are: Arianna the wanna-be cheerleader, Barbara Walters, Judge Judy, and Althea, a hyperactive seven year old.

Cheri went to Arch Bishop High School, an all girl campus in Philadelphia.

Cheri grew up in the Philadelphia suburb of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.

Cheri worked as a Co-ordinator in the Promotion Department of A & M Records from 1990 to 1994.

SNL put a DVD out in tribute of Cheri's work on SNL titled SNL: The Best of Cheri Oteri.

Presented at the 2000 GLAAD Media Awards to honor films and TV shows that accurately portray gay and lesbian people.