Kate Flannery is an American actress and comedian best known for playing the hard-drinking, outspoken Meredith Palmer in the hit sitcom The Office, a role that made her one of the most recognisable faces on television and earned her a devoted following. With her impeccable comic timing and her gift for playing characters who are both hilarious and deeply human, she has built a career that spans television, film and reality television, and she has become known as much for her warmth off screen as for her comedy on it.
| Full Name | Kate Flannery |
| Date of Birth | June 10, 1964 |
| Age | 62 years old (as of November 2026) |
| Birthplace | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Profession | Actress, comedian |
| Known For | The Office, Dancing with the Stars |
| Net Worth | Approx. $4 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2025) |
Who Is Kate Flannery?
Kate Flannery is an actress who became a star playing a character who is, in many ways, her opposite. As Meredith Palmer in The Office, she played an employee who is hard-drinking, outspoken and unapologetic, a character who is both hilarious and, underneath it all, deeply human. Flannery’s performance, precise, funny and surprisingly tender, earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the show’s ensemble and made Meredith one of the most quoted characters in television comedy.
After The Office, Flannery appeared in the films Tenured in 2015 and Christmas in the City in 2013, and on television in Wizards of Waverly Place, American Housewife and Young Sheldon. She also competed on the twenty-eighth season of Dancing with the Stars in 2019, dancing with professional partner Pasha Pashkov, and she finished in seventh place.
Early Life & Background
Kate Flannery was born on June 10, 1964, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of a doctor father, and she grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, where she attended Archbishop John Carroll High School. She attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she studied theatre, and then moved to Chicago, where she began acting in theatre and in improv comedy.
After moving to Chicago, Flannery performed with the comedy troupe The Second City, where she appeared in shows with other comedians, and she began appearing in small roles on television, including on the series Malcolm in the Middle and That ’70s Show, and in commercials and in improv comedy. She also worked as a stand-up comedian, performing in clubs around Chicago.
Flannery keeps her personal life private, and she lives in Los Angeles. She is known for her love of comedy and for her work with The Second City, which she credits with helping her develop her comic timing.
Career
Flannery’s breakthrough came with The Office in 2005, in which she played Meredith Palmer for nine seasons, opposite Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute. The show became one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, and Flannery’s performance was praised for its humour and its heart, and for the way she made Meredith’s journey, from a hard-drinking employee to a happily married woman, feel real.
After The Office ended in 2013, Flannery appeared in the films Tenured and Christmas in the City, and on television in Wizards of Waverly Place, American Housewife and Young Sheldon. She also competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2019, and she continues to act in television and film.
Like fellow Office star Jenna Fischer, Flannery is known for a defining role in The Office, and for the warmth and humour she brings to every performance. She continues to act, and she remains one of the most beloved comedy stars in Hollywood.
Facts About Kate Flannery
- Kate Flannery played Meredith Palmer in The Office for nine seasons, from 2005 to 2013.
- She competed on the twenty-eighth season of Dancing with the Stars in 2019, finishing seventh.
- She performed with the comedy troupe The Second City in Chicago.
- She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and studied theatre at the University of the Arts.
- She appeared on television in Wizards of Waverly Place, American Housewife and Young Sheldon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kate Flannery?
Kate Flannery was born on June 10, 1964, which makes her 62 years old as of November 2026.
How tall is Kate Flannery?
Kate Flannery is 5 feet 4 inches tall (1.63 metres).
What is Kate Flannery’s net worth?
Kate Flannery’s net worth is estimated at approximately $4 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth in 2025.
What is Kate Flannery best known for?
Kate Flannery is best known for playing Meredith Palmer in The Office and for competing on Dancing with the Stars.