Alex Borstein

Alexandrea Borstein Bio

Alexandrea Borstein (born February 15, 1971) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer best known as Lois Griffin in Family Guy (1999–present), for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award, and Susie Myerson in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–23), which won her two Primetime Emmy Awards. Borstein also had lead roles as various characters on the sketch comedy series MADtv (1997–2009) and as Dawn Forchette in the medical comedy series Getting On (2013–2015). She has appeared in numerous films, including Showtime (2002), Bad Santa (2003), Kicking & Screaming (2005), and The Bad Guys (2022).

Early Life and Background

Borstein was born on February 15, 1971, in Highland Park, Illinois, a city north of Chicago. She was raised in Deerfield, Illinois, before her family moved to Northridge, California, a neighborhood of Los Angeles. She graduated from Chatsworth High School in 1989. Borstein has two older brothers, and her parents, Irv and Judy Borstein, are both mental health professionals. She has stated that she is of Hungarian and Mongolian descent and identifies as Jewish. Her father is from Atlanta, and her maternal grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, immigrated to the United States after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Borstein graduated from San Francisco State University, where she studied rhetoric.

Path to Hollywood

Borstein trained in improvisational comedy at the ACME Comedy Theater, near Hollywood, where she met her writing partner and future husband, Jackson Douglas. Shortly after they began working together on the animated series The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper and Pinky and the Brain, Borstein left her position at an ad agency, where she had written print ads for Barbie, to become a full-time writer. In 1996, while still writing for Casper, she worked on the show Power Rangers Zeo as the voice of Queen Machina, the queen of the Machine Empire. In 1997, Borstein became a cast member on the third season of the sketch comedy show MADtv after being scouted by talent agents. She was best known on MADtv for her character Ms. Swan, owner of the Gorgeous Pretty Beauty Nail Salon.

Alexandrea Borstein Career

Early Career (1993–1998)

Borstein’s career began in the early 1990s, with her notable work on MADtv starting in 1997. She became a fan favorite with her recurring characters and sketches, which showcased her comedic talent. During this time, she also worked on various animated projects, including voicing characters in Power Rangers Zeo. Her work on MADtv helped her gain recognition in the industry, leading to further opportunities.

Breakthrough (1999–2009)

While working on MADtv, Borstein met Seth MacFarlane, who was preparing to launch the animated sitcom Family Guy on Fox. MacFarlane cast Borstein as the voice of Lois Griffin. After the show’s debut in January 1999, Family Guy faced cancellation twice but eventually returned in 2005. Borstein’s role as Lois Griffin became iconic, and she also contributed as a producer and staff writer. In 2000, she was cast as Sookie St. James in the WB drama Gilmore Girls but could not continue due to her MADtv contract. She made recurring appearances on Gilmore Girls throughout the show’s run.

Notable Works and Milestones

Alexandrea Borstein’s signature work includes her role in Family Guy and her portrayal of Susie Myerson in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She received critical acclaim for her performances, winning two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Alexandrea Borstein Award Nominations

Throughout her career, Borstein has received several nominations for her performances, particularly for her work in television comedies.

Alexandrea Borstein Awards Won

Alexandrea Borstein has won multiple awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards for her role in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Alexandrea Borstein Family

Alexandrea Borstein was married to actor and writer Jackson Douglas from 1999 until their divorce in 2017. They have two children together, a son and a daughter.

Personal Life

Borstein met Jackson Douglas while studying improv at the ACME Comedy Theatre. They have maintained a close relationship despite their divorce. Borstein is a carrier of hemophilia and is a longtime advocate for the National Hemophilia Foundation. She practices Jewish traditions and emphasizes the importance of instilling her cultural heritage in her children.