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{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Short description|American comedian}}
{{Infobox comedian
| image = Carol Leifer headshot.jpg
| name = Carol Leifer
| caption = Leifer in 2009
| birth_name =
| birth_date = <!-- Valid citation required if adding EXACT DATE OF BIRTH for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) -->{{birth based on age as of date|40|1997|9|7}}
| birth_place = [[East Williston, New York]], U.S.
| alma_mater = [[Queens College]]
| medium = {{hlist|Stand-up comedy|television|film|writing}}
| subject = {{hlist|[[LGBTQ]]|[[Jewish culture]]|[[feminism|women's issues]]|everyday life|parenting}}
| genre = [[Observational comedy]]
|years_active = 1977–present
| influences =
| influenced =
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Ritch Shydner]]|1981|1987|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Lori Wolf|2015}}
}}
| children = 1
| signature =
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
'''Carol Leifer''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|iː|f|ər}} {{respell|LEE|fər}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/nls/about/organization/standards-guidelines/ijkl/#l|title=Say How? A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures|publisher=[[Library of Congress]]|access-date=December 12, 2015}}</ref> born <!-- Valid citation required if adding EXACT DATE OF BIRTH for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) -->{{birth based on age as of date|40|1997|9|7|noage=yes}})<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyman |first=Rick |date=1997-09-07 |title=Touching Moments with Leifer? Get Real! |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/07/tv/touching-moments-with-leifer-get-real.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |quote=...said Ms. Leifer, who is 40. |access-date=2025-05-02}}</ref> is an American comedian, writer and producer whose career as a [[stand-up comedian]] started in the 1970s when she was in college. She has written many television scripts including ''[[The Larry Sanders Show]]'', ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' and ''[[Seinfeld]]''.<ref name="JWMSW">{{cite web |last=Cantor |first=Danielle |date=Spring 2009 |title=Successful Woman: Carol Leifer |url=http://www.jwmag.org/site/c.fhLOK0PGLsF/b.5033921/k.7793/Carol_Leifer.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330110311/http://www.jwmag.org/site/c.fhLOK0PGLsF/b.5033921/k.7793/Carol_Leifer.htm |archivedate=March 30, 2009 |magazine=[[Jewish Woman (magazine)|Jewish Woman]]}}</ref>
She has received four [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy]] nominations for ''The Larry Sanders Show'', ''Seinfeld'', the [[82nd Academy Awards]] and the [[84th Academy Awards]]. Leifer's inner-monologue driven, observational style is often autobiographical, encompassing subjects about her [[Jewish]] ancestry and upbringing, [[coming out]], [[same-sex marriage]], relationships, having been married previously to a man and now married to a woman, and parenting.<ref name="JWMSW"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oprah.com/own-podcasts/women-leaving-men-for-other-women_1|title=Women Leaving Men for Other Women|work=[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]|date=March 25, 2009}}</ref><ref name="the haunted smile">[https://books.google.com/books?id=AsQU3X5iP68C The Haunted Smile: The Story of Jewish Comedians in America] by Lawrence J. Epstein; PublicAffairs, 2002; {{ISBN|1-58648-162-2}}, {{ISBN|978-1-58648-162-9}}.</ref>
==Early life==
Leifer was born and raised in [[East Williston, New York]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Leifer |first=Carol |date=2014-06-16 |title=I am comedian & writer Carol Leifer. I've written for shows from Seinfeld to Modern Family to SNL. Ask me anything! |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/28b12f/i_am_comedian_writer_carol_leifer_ive_written_for/ci96hy2/ |website=[[Reddit]] |quote=East Williston is where [I] was born and grew up... |access-date=2025-05-02}}</ref> As a child, she would frequently put on performances for her family and friends in her family's basement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rapp|first=Linda|date=2015|title=Leifer, Carol (1956-)|url=http://www.glbtqarchive.com/arts/leifer_carol_A.pdf|access-date=May 8, 2021|website=GLBTQ Archives}}</ref> Leifer recalls her family being a significant part of her fondest memories, including her father's well-known jokes amongst family and friends, as well as her brother taking her to see [[The Beatles]] in concert at [[Shea Stadium]]. She frequently credits her father as the reason she became a comic.<ref name=":1">{{citation |last=Leifer |first=Carol |title=When you lie about your age, the terrorists win |date=2010 |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/664247692 |access-date=May 8, 2021 |publisher=Phoenix Audio |isbn=978-1-4416-7026-7 |oclc=664247692}}</ref>
== Career ==
[[File:Carol Leifer 1995 Emmy Awards (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Leifer at the 1995 [[Emmy Awards]]]]
=== Rise to fame and early career ===
While studying for a theater degree at Harpur College (now [[Binghamton University]]), Leifer accompanied her then boyfriend [[Paul Reiser]] to a [[comedy club]] to see him perform at the [[open mic]] night at [[Catch a Rising Star (comedy clubs)|Catch A Rising Star]].<ref name="the haunted smile"/><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Leifer |first=Carol |title=How to succeed in business without really crying |date=2014 |publisher=Quirk Books |isbn=978-1-59474-682-6 |oclc=869310552}}</ref> In 1977, she began performing [[stand-up comedy]] and transferred to [[Queens College, City University of New York|Queens College]] to be closer to the club scene. Later she tried performing at New York's [[Comic Strip Live|Comic Strip]] and was introduced by emcee [[Jerry Seinfeld]].<ref name="the haunted smile"/>
=== Stand-up comedy ===
Leifer's stand-up comedy career has been well received. Early in her career, a critic from ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote a review on one of Leifer's sets, saying, "She still has much to absorb in operating in the comedic area, but, with further experience, has a good chance at the brass ring."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jose|date=April 10, 1985|title=New Acts: Carol Leifer|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The comedians with experience and skill, she became a successful comic.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last1=Reed|first1=Susan|last2=Carswell|first2=Sue|title=Tense and Nervous? If Carol Leifer's Stand-Up Comedy Doesn't Loosen Your Laugh Track, Her Giggle Will|url=https://people.com/archive/tense-and-nervous-if-carol-leifers-stand-up-comedy-doesnt-loosen-your-laugh-track-her-giggle-will-vol-30-no-22/|access-date=May 9, 2021|website=PEOPLE.com|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060201/https://people.com/archive/tense-and-nervous-if-carol-leifers-stand-up-comedy-doesnt-loosen-your-laugh-track-her-giggle-will-vol-30-no-22/|archive-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref>
She has gotten tremendous, positive feedback over the years and is known for her infectious laugh, witty [[observational comedy]], and clean-cut humor.<ref name=":3"/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Jim|date=June 4, 1987|title=Good, Clean Comedy from Carol Leifer|work=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref> Leifer credits mentor and lifelong friend, [[David Letterman]], with her rise to fame, having performed stand-up comedy on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'' 25 times. Leifer also appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'', ''[[Dr. Katz]]'', ''[[Politically Incorrect]]'', ''[[Hollywood Squares]]'', ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'' and ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]''. Her stand-up experience also includes opening for [[Jerry Seinfeld]] and [[Frank Sinatra]].
Leifer has also performed and released several stand-up specials. Her stand-up specials, listed chronologically, are:
* ''The [[8th Annual Young Comedians Show]]'' (1983)<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2004|title=Carol Leifer|url=https://www.dead-frog.com/comedians/comic/carol-leifer|access-date=May 9, 2021|website=Dead Frog}}</ref>
* ''[[Rodney Dangerfield]]: Nothin' Goes Right'' (1987)<ref name=":4"/>
* ''Carol Doesn't Leifer Anymore'' (1988)<ref name=":4"/>
* ''Carol Leifer Comedy Cruise'' (1989)<ref name=":4"/>
* ''Carol Leifer: Really Big Shoo!'' (1990)<ref name=":4"/>
* ''[[Caroline's Comedy Hour]]'' (1990)<ref name=":4"/>
* ''London Underground'' (1991)<ref name=":4"/>
* ''[[Comedy Central]] Presents Carol Leifer'' (2003)<ref name=":4"/>
* ''[[More Funny Women of a Certain Age]]'' (2020)<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Carol Leifer - Film credits {{!}} Acting|url=https://www.filmsomniac.com/people/1004827/carol-leifer|access-date=May 10, 2021|website=Filmsomniac.com|language=en|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511004710/https://www.filmsomniac.com/people/1004827/carol-leifer|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Writing ===
Leifer's writing career spans several well-known shows, including ''[[Seinfeld]], [[Saturday Night Live]],'' ''[[It's Like, You Know...]]'' and ''[[The Larry Sanders Show]]''. She has written for the [[Academy Awards]] for most of the 21st century, as well as the [[69th Tony Awards|69th Annual Tony Awards]].
Leifer started her comedy writing career at ''[[Saturday Night Live]].'' Leifer was hired by Al Franken and [[Jim Downey (comedian)|Jim Downey]] to work as a writer for the popular sketch comedy show. Executive producer, [[Lorne Michaels]] did not hire Leifer directly, and that became clear.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Leifer|first=Carol|date=April 6, 2014|title=My Rocky Time as a Woman Writer on SNL|work=[[The Daily Beast]]}}</ref> Leifer recalls her time at ''SNL'' being a great opportunity to grow and learn as a writer, but the division caused by Michaels' indifference impacted her time working there, as she recalls "it felt like being asked to play on a Beatles album by Ringo."<ref name=":2"/> Leifer was not asked to return to the staff for a second season.
Leifer starred in, created and executive-produced the 1997 WB sitcom ''[[Alright Already (TV series)|Alright Already]]'', which only ran one season. Alright, Already focused on single optometrist Carol Lerner (played by Leifer). Lerner runs her own practice in [[Miami|Miami, Florida]] while dealing with family, friends and romance.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|title=Alright, Already|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118256/|access-date=May 9, 2021|website=[[IMDb]]|date=September 7, 1997}}</ref> The show received mixed reviews, saying it lacked an endearing plot and Leifer "squeezed uncomfortably into an uncomfortable sitcom."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Scott|first=Tony|date=September 8, 1997|title=TV Reviews: Alright, Already|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kelleher|first=Terry|date=October 6, 1997|title=Alright, Already|work=[[People Magazine]]}}</ref>
With [[Mitchell Hurwitz]], Leifer created and was a writer for ''[[The Ellen Show]]'' (2001). The series was negatively received and only ran one season.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Ellen Show|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_ellen_show|language=en|access-date=May 10, 2021}}</ref> Leifer has also written for several television shows, such as ''[[Devious Maids]],'' ''[[Modern Family]]'' and ''[[Rules of Engagement (TV series)|Rules of Engagement]].'' Leifer's writing credits are listed below:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Writing credits
!Year
!Program
!Network
!Notes
!ref
|-
|1985–1986
|''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
|[[NBC]]
|18 episodes
|
|-
|1988
|''Nothin' Goes Right''
|[[HBO]]
| TV Special; Uncredited
|
|-
|1992
|''[[Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue]]''
|[[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]
| TV movie; Also starred as Rusty Berman
|
|-
|1995
|''[[Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist]]''
|[[Comedy Central]]
|Episode: "Office Management"; Additional material
|
|-
|1993–1996
|''[[Seinfeld]]''
|[[NBC]]
|6 episodes<br/>Other credits include coproducer, story editor and executive story editor<br/>Some episodes were co-written with Peter Mehlman and Marjorie Gross
|
|-
|1996
|''The [[48th Primetime Emmy Awards]]''
|[[CBS]]
| Other writers included [[Barry Adelman]], Jon Macks, Kevin Rooney and [[Bruce Vilanch]]
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |1997
|''[[The Larry Sanders Show]]''
|[[HBO]]
|Episode: "The Prank"; co-written with [[Lester Lewis]]
|
|-
|''[[The Naked Truth (TV series)|The Naked Truth]]''
|[[NBC]]
|Episode: "The Birds"
|
|-
|''[[Almost Perfect]]''
|[[CBS]]
|2 episodes: "Gimme Shelter" and "Datings for Ratings"
|
|-
|1997–1998
|''[[Alright Already (TV series)|Alright, Already]]''
|[[The WB]]
|2 episodes: "Again with the Black Box" and "Again with the Billionaire"<br/>Other credits include creator; Also starred as Carol Lerner
|<ref name=":11"/>
|-
|1999
|''[[It's Like, You Know...]]''
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
|Episode: "Twins"
|
|-
|2000
|''[[72nd Academy Awards]]''
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| Co-wrote with [[Bruce Vilanch]], Jonathan Tolins, [[David Steinberg]],<br/>Marc Shaiman, [[Jeff Ross|Jeffrey Ross]], Billy Martin, [[Jon Macks]],<br/>Ed Driscoll, [[Billy Crystal]], Rita Cash and Dave Boone
|
|-
|2002
|''[[74th Academy Awards]]''
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| Co-wrote with [[Bruce Vilanch]], Dave Boone, [[Whoopi Goldberg]], [[Chris Henchy]],<br/>Jon Macks, Chuck Martin, [[Rita Rudner]], [[Wanda Sykes]] and Jonathan Tolins
|
|-
|2001–2002
|''[[The Ellen Show]]''
|[[CBS]]
|5 episodes; Other credits include co-creator.
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2003
|''[[55th Primetime Emmy Awards]]''
|[[CBS]]
|
|
|-
|''[[I'm with Her (TV series)|I'm With Her]]''
|
|Episode: "The Second Date"
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2004
|''[[76th Academy Awards|The 76th Academy Awards]]''
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| Co-wrote with [[Scott Wittman]], Norman Steinberg, [[David Steinberg]], Marc Shaiman,<br/>Billy Martin, Ed Driscoll, Dave Boone, Beth Armogida and Jon Macks
|
|-
|''[[The Soluna Project]]''
|N/A
| Movie; co-written with Jacque Edmonds
|
|-
|2005
|''[[77th Academy Awards|The 77th Academy Awards]]''
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| Listed as "Special Material Writer"
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2007
|''[[79th Academy Awards|The 79th Academy Awards]]''
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| Co-wrote with [[Bruce Vilanch]], Dave Boone, William Coronel and Jon Macks
|
|-
|''[[Rules of Engagement (TV series)|Rules of Engagement]]''
|[[CBS]]
|Episode: "A Visit From Fay"
|
|-
|2010
|''[[82nd Academy Awards|The 82nd Academy Awards]]''
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| Co-wrote with [[Bruce Vilanch]], [[Jeffrey Richman]] and Jon Macks
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2011
|''[[Modern Family]]''
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
|Episode: "[[Two Monkeys and a Panda]]"<br/>co-written with [[Elaine Ko]]
|
|-
|''The [[63rd Primetime Emmy Awards]]''
|[[CBS]]
| Listed as writing "host material"
|
|-
|2012
|''The [[84th Academy Awards]]''
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| Other writers included Dave Boone and Jon Macks
|
|-
|2014
|''[[Devious Maids]]''
|[[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]]
|2 episodes: "You Can't Take it With You" and "Crimes of the Heart"
|
|-
|2015
|''[[69th Tony Awards|69th Annual Tony Awards]]''
|[[CBS]]
| Listed as "Special Material Writer"
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
|''[[Mad TV|MADtv]]''
|[[The CW]]
|8 episodes
|
|-
|''Writer's Block''
|N/A
| Short Film
|
|-
|2017
|''The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special''
|CBS
| TV special; Co-wrote with [[Carol Burnett]], [[Buz Kohan]], Jon Macks and Pasquale Murena
|
|-
|2016–2018
|''[[Better Late Than Never (TV series)|Better Late Than Never]]''
|[[NBC]]
|12 episodes
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2018
|[[Academy Awards|The 90th Academy Awards]]
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| Other writers include Jon Macks
|
|-
|''[[A Little Help with Carol Burnett]]''
|[[Netflix]]
|12 episodes
|
|-
| ''[[Mark Twain Prize for American Humor]]: Julia Louis-Dreyfus''
|[[PBS]]
| Co-wrote with Paul Greenberg, Jon Macks, [[Sara Schaefer]] and [[Jeff Stilson]]
|
|-
|2019
|''[[91st Academy Awards|The 91st Academy Awards]]''
|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| Listed as "Special Material Writer"
|
|-
|2020
|''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''
|[[HBO]]
|Episode: "[[List of Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes|Artificial Fruit]]"
|
|-
|2020–2021
|''[[B Positive]]''
|[[CBS]]
|6 episodes<br/>"Story editor" for 2 episodes: "High Risk Factor" and "Miss Diagnosis"
|
|-
|}
===''Seinfeld''===
Carol Leifer joined the ''[[Seinfeld]]'' writing staff during its fifth season (1993–94), and wrote six episodes for the show between then and its seventh season (1995–96).<ref>{{cite news|last=Lyman|first=Rick|date=September 7, 1997|title=Touching moments with Leifer? Get real!|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/07/tv/touching-moments-with-leifer-get-real.html|access-date=April 29, 2009}}</ref> Alongside being a writer on the show, Leifer was a [[story editor]] for 16 episodes from 1993 to 1994 and an executive story editor for 23 episodes from 1994 to 1995. She has been dubbed "the real Elaine", as the series' character, [[Elaine Benes]], was partially based on her.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Cooper|first=Evan|date=2013|title=I'm a Little Scared of Elaine: Representations of Jewish and Gentile Women on "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm"|journal=Studies in American Humor|volume=27|pages=93–115|doi=10.5325/studamerhumor.27.2013.0093|s2cid=246648111|doi-access=free}}</ref> The episodes Leifer wrote, listed chronologically, are:<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 7, 2014|title=Carol Leifer: Episode by Episode |url=https://www.howardstern.com/show/2014/04/07/mondays-show-rundownshow-2115/|access-date=May 9, 2021|website=Howard Stern|language=en-US}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+''Seinfeld'' Episodes
!Season
!Episode
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" |Season 5
|"[[The Lip Reader]]"
|
|-
|"[[The Hamptons (Seinfeld episode)|The Hamptons]]"
|
* co-written with [[Peter Mehlman]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |Season 6
|"[[The Secretary]]"
|
* co-written with [[Marjorie Gross]]
|-
|"[[The Beard]]"
|
|-
|[[The Understudy (Seinfeld)|The Understudy]]
|
* co-written with [[Marjorie Gross]]
|-
|Season 7
|"[[The Rye]]"
|
|}
Her work on ''[[Seinfeld]]'' garnered her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.<ref name="Emmy Awards">. [https://www.emmys.com/bios/carol-leifer]. Emmy Awards website.</ref> Leifer recalls when looking for writers for the show, [[Larry David]], co-creator of ''Seinfeld'', specifically wanted writers who had never written for [[sitcom]]s before.<ref name=":8">''[[Inside Comedy]].'' Episode no. 33, first broadcast May 19, 2015, by [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]].</ref> Working as a writer for ''Seinfeld'' is one of Leifer's favorite credits because of the incredible experiences it gave her as well as the opportunity to work alongside incredible comedians. Leifer speaks highly of her coworkers while working on the show, remembering Jerry Seinfeld as "the hardest working of all the comedians I came up with."<ref name=":9">{{Cite magazine|last=Sachs|first=Andrea|date=April 30, 2009|title=Q&A: Carol Leifer, Late Bloomer|language=en-US|magazine=Time|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1894980,00.html|access-date=May 9, 2021|issn=0040-781X}}</ref> One of the most important things she learned as a writer from working on ''Seinfeld'' was to "mine your own life for comedy ideas."<ref name=":8"/> Leifer's comedy frequently stems from herself and her family, proving what she learned from working on ''Seinfeld'' has had a lasting impact on her work.
=== Acting and appearances ===
Leifer appeared as a contestant on the third season of ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. season 9)|Celebrity Apprentice]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/celebrity_apprentice_cast_revealed_blQSVcPH8a85WAoL0Rnw3H|title='Celebrity Apprentice 3' cast revealed|last=Starr|first=Michael|date=October 17, 2009|work=[[New York Post]]|access-date=October 17, 2009|___location=[[New York City|New York]], USA}}</ref> Leifer chose [[North Shore Animal League]] as her charity because of her and her wife's work for animal advocacy.<ref name="NewYorkTimes">Diamond, Jamie (December 11, 2015). [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/fashion/weddings/carol-leifer-seinfeld-lori-wolfe.html "Carol Leifer Proves You Don't Have to Be Unhappy to Be Funny"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> She was the first to be eliminated, on the premiere episode, which aired on March 14, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gardiola |first=Christal |date=March 15, 2010 |title=Carol Leifer Fired by Trump |url=http://www.shalomlife.com/culture/8144/carol-leifer-fired-by-trump/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716050735/http://www.shalomlife.com/culture/8144/carol-leifer-fired-by-trump/ |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |publisher=Shalom Life}}</ref>
She has also hosted for all four seasons of [[A&E (TV network)|A&E]]'s ''[[Caroline's Comedy Hour]]'', as well as guest appearances on ''[[Talk Soup]]'' and [[Later (talk show)|''Later'']].<ref>{{Cite web|last=admin|title=Writer / Comedian / Producer Carol Leifer {{!}} Film School Radio hosted by Mike Kaspar|date=December 5, 2014 |url=https://filmschoolradio.com/friday-december-5-2014-writer-comedian-producer-carol-leifer/|access-date=May 10, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> She was also a guest on ''[[Inside Comedy]]'' where she was interviewed by [[David Steinberg]].<ref name=":8"/>
Leifer wrote and starred in the 1992 [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] TV film ''[[Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue]]'', a [[mockumentary]] about fictional aged comedian Rusty Berman (played by Leifer), told through interviews and flashbacks. The film had a similar concept to the film ''[[Mr. Saturday Night]]'', which had come out several months earlier.<ref>{{Citation|title=Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue (1992)|url=https://letterboxd.com/film/carol-leifer-gaudy-bawdy-blue/details/|language=en|access-date=May 9, 2021}}</ref> She was also part of ''[[Superman's 50th Anniversary|Superman's 50th Anniversary: A Celebration of the Man of Steel]]'' as Beth Lewis, [[Lois Lane]]'s best friend.<ref name=":5"/>
Leifer has also had minor acting and voice-over roles in movies such as ''[[Bee Movie]]'', ''[[Rules of Engagement (TV series)|Rules of Engagement]]'', ''[[Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist]]'', ''[[Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful]]'' and ''[[Desperately Seeking Susan]].''<ref name=":5"/>
===Books===
Carol Leifer has written two books. Her first book of humorous essays, entitled ''When You Lie About Your Age, The Terrorists Win'', was released on March 10, 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shapiro|first=Gregg|date=January 28, 2009|title=Leifer = laughter: an interview with out comedian Carol Leifer|newspaper=Chicago Free Press|url=http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/108|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401152820/http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/108|archive-date=April 1, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Donahue|first1=Dick|last2=Martinez|first2=Juan|date=January 26, 2009|title=Spring 2009 Hardcovers: Biography & Memoir|newspaper=Publishers Weekly|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6631721.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090130073917/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6631721.html|archive-date=January 30, 2009}}</ref> Leifer discusses her early life and family, the daunting idea of getting older, outlooks on life, and the moment she discovered she might be gay and how her life changed for the better.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 19, 2009|title=Carol Leifer On Life, Comedy And Finding Love At 40|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105586861|access-date=February 24, 2021|website=NPR}}</ref> Her second book, ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying'' was published in 2014. Considered a "part memoir, part guide to life",<ref name=":2"/> Leifer tells the public her journey as a comic and entertainer. She gives tips and guides for working in the entertainment industry. Leifer also talks about her personal work experiences, such as her time writing for ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', working with [[Jerry Seinfeld]], and her career as a stand-up comic<ref name=":2"/>
== Accolades ==
* [[Frank Sinatra]] praised Leifer as "one funny broad!" and "I wish my mother had been that funny—I wouldn't have had to work so hard."<ref name="JWMSW"/>
* In 1998, Leifer was named by ''[[The New York Times]]'' as "the only comic among six 'fast-rising artists...to watch' this season"<ref name=":3"/>
* Leifer was nominated for the second annual [[American Comedy Awards]] as "Funniest Female Comedy Club Stand-Up Comic."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ervolino|first=Bill|date=May 20, 1988|title=Laughing Matters|work=[[Back Stage]]}}</ref>
[[File:Linda Hamilton Jane Lynch and Carol Leifer WILLFILM.jpg|thumb|(Left to right) [[Linda Hamilton]], [[Jane Lynch]] and Carol Leifer with their 2016 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival awards. Leifer and Lynch won for their short film ''Writer's Block'' and Hamilton won for ''Shoot me Nicely.''<ref>{{Cite press release|last=Willfilm|title=Willfilm Announces Winners of 7th Annual Williamsburg Independent Film Festival Awards|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/willfilm-announces-winners-of-7th-annual-williamsburg-independent-film-festival-awards-300367632.html|access-date=May 10, 2021|website=prnewswire.com|language=en}}</ref>]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Awards and Nominations
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Work
!Result
|-
|1996
| rowspan="4" |[[Primetime Emmy Award]]s<ref name="Emmy Awards"/>
|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series|Outstanding Comedy Series]]
|''[[Seinfeld]]''
|{{Nom}}
|-
|1997
|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series|Outstanding Comedy Series]]
|''[[The Larry Sanders Show]]''
|{{Nom}}
|-
|2010
|Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special
|[[82nd Academy Awards]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|2012
|Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
|[[84th Academy Awards]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |1994
| rowspan="2" |[[CableACE Award]]s
|Best Comedy Special
|Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Best Performance in a Comedy Special
|Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue
|{{Nom}}
|-
|2018
|Legionnaires of Laughter Legacy Awards
|Best Children's Comedy Writer
|A Little Help With Carol Burnett
|{{Nom}}
|-
|2012
|Online Film & Television Association
|Best Writing in a Comedy Series
|''[[Modern Family]]''
|{{Nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
| rowspan="2" |Williamsburg Independent Film Festival, US
|Best Screenplay
| rowspan="2" |''Writer's Block''
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Narrative Short Film
|{{Won}}
|-
|2015
|[[Women's Image Network Awards]]
|Outstanding Show Produced by a Woman
|[[Devious Maids]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|2021
| rowspan="5" |[[Writers Guild of America Awards]]
|Best Comedy Series
|''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''
|{{Nom}}
|-
|2019
|Best Comedy/Variety Specials
|[[90th Academy Awards]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|2016
|Best Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) Specials
|[[69th Tony Awards]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|2012
|Best Comedy Series
|''[[Modern Family]]''
|{{Won}}
|-
|1995
|Best Episodic Comedy
|''[[Seinfeld]]''
|{{Nom}}
|}
==Personal life==
In 1981, Leifer married comic [[Ritch Shydner]], whose [[gentile]] status troubled Leifer's father.<ref name="NewYorkTimes"/> They divorced in 1987 and have remained friends.<ref name="JWMSW"/> Leifer also briefly dated [[Jerry Seinfeld]] before working with him on ''[[Seinfeld]].'' [[Elaine Benes]] is inspired by her. Leifer and Seinfeld dated less than a year and have remained close friends, with Leifer having only positive things to say about him.<ref name=":9"/>
Though she had relationships with men and had been married to a man in the past, Carol Leifer identifies as a [[lesbian]]. After her divorce from [[Ritch Shydner]], Leifer wanted to explore her sexuality. At age 40, Leifer met her current wife, Lori Wolf, and realized she was gay, not "just looking for a fling" as she originally intended.<ref name=":9"/> When coming out, Leifer's family and friends were very supportive, especially her parents. She recalls her father being happy that Lori Wolf was Jewish.<ref name=":1"/>
When Leifer came out, her comedy and material changed to fit her life, often making jokes about coming out so late in her life and humor based on her and Wolf's relationship. Leifer has faced some negative reception due to her sexuality. After receiving a homophobic letter, Leifer recalls feeling "I thought I was prepared for something like that, but even 13 years in, it's still a kick in the face."<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|date=May 12, 2009|title=Carol Leifer on the LAM|url=http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/books/2009/05/12/carol-leifer-lam|access-date=May 9, 2021|website=advocate.com|language=en}}</ref>
In 1996, Leifer met Lori Wolf, a real estate executive, when they shared a table at a [[Project Angel Food]] charity dinner in Los Angeles.<ref name=":1"/> Leifer was immediately interested and later contacted Wolf through the host of their table, though Wolf initially rebuffed Leifer's overtures because Wolf was in a relationship at the time. Wolf contacted Leifer weeks later, after she had ended her relationship, and began one with Leifer.
They moved in together in 2005, and, in acclimating herself to Wolf's pets, Leifer became an animal rights activist.<ref name="NewYorkTimes"/> That year, Leifer proposed to Wolf over dinner at the Palm Restaurant in Beverly Hills. They were married in Los Angeles in 2015. In attendance were [[Jane Lynch]], [[Larry David]], [[Bill Maher]], [[Garry Shandling]], [[Henry Winkler]], [[Larry Miller (comedian)|Larry Miller]], [[Jay Leno]] and [[Paul Reiser]].<ref name="NewYorkTimes"/> They have an adopted son.<ref name="Bruno">{{cite news|date=March 11, 2007|title=Bruno Leifer-Wolf|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117960931.html?categoryid=26&cs=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116030140/https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117960931.html?categoryid=26&cs=1 |archive-date=2009-01-16}}</ref>
In 2007 they purchased a $3.2 million, {{convert|5000|ft2|adj=on}} home in the Santa Monica Hills,<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news|last=Ryon|first=Ruth|date=July 30, 2006|title=Stand-up adds a new home, baby to routine|work=The Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-30-re-hotprop30-story.html}}</ref> as part of their preparations to adopt their nine-month-old son, Bruno Leifer-Wolf, who was born in Guatemala in 2006.<ref name="NewYorkTimes"/><ref name="Bruno"/> Leifer was 50 years old at the time, which she felt was the best age for her to have a child, saying "I feel I have a better outlook on life."<ref name=":10"/>
Leifer has become [[vegan]], joking "I recently became vegan because I felt that as a Jewish lesbian, I wasn't part of a small enough minority. So now I'm a Jewish lesbian vegan."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vegetarianstar.com/2009/07/09/carol-leifer-gets-weirder-now-jewish-lesbian-and-vegan/ |title=Carol Leifer Gets Weirder: Now Jewish, Lesbian, AND Vegan |publisher=Vegetarian Star|date=July 9, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1240891200 |title=Carol leifer: a vegan and a lesbian|publisher=The Howard Stern Show|date=April 28, 2009 |access-date=August 27, 2011}}</ref> Leifer has been an advocate for animal rights and made testimonials for [[PETA]] about her decision to become vegan, encouraging others to do the same.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 17, 2010|title=Carol Leifer: Vegetarian Testimonial (Jewish, Lesbian, and Vegan)|url=https://www.peta.org/media/psa/carol-leifer-vegetarian-testimonial-jewish-lesbian-and-vegan/|access-date=May 9, 2021|website=PETA|language=en-US}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leifer, Carol}}
[[Category:Actresses from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:Television producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American women television producers]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:Binghamton University alumni]]
[[Category:American lesbian actresses]]
[[Category:Lesbian Jews]]
[[Category:Jewish American actresses]]
[[Category:Jewish American comedians]]
[[Category:Jewish women comedians]]
[[Category:American women television writers]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:American Ashkenazi Jews]]
[[Category:American lesbian comedians]]
[[Category:Comedians from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
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