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Kathryn Hahn joined the cast of NBC’s hit drama “Crossing Jordan” in its freshman season as Lily Lebowski, a receptionist and “in-take girl” for the state coroner’s office. She is also known to work overtime at raising a pulse in Dr. Garret Macy (Miguel Ferrer)—her much older, angst-ridden boss whom she believes is a kindred spirit. “She’s very soulful and, at the same time, has a lot to learn about life, so there’s a vulnerability there,” says Hahn.

Born in Westchester, Illinois, Hahn grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where her family still lives. Her natural talent for acting was acknowledged at an early age when she won a leading role in a locally produced syndicated children’s television show, “Hickory Hideout.” Though her initial professional credit was in television, her abiding passion was the stage. She appeared in numerous local theater productions before entering Chicago’s Northwestern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in theater.

After moving to New York City to build her theater resume, Hahn applied, and was accepted into, the prestigious Yale School of Drama. While working toward her post-graduate degree, Hahn spent her summers performing with the Williamstown Theatre Festival, where she appeared in the world premiere production of David Rabe’s “Corners,” “Hamlet,” “The Blue Demon,” “Chaucer in Rome” and “Time/Piece,” as well as in a production of “Hedda Gabler” that later went to Broadway.

It was in a production at Williamstown that Hahn was spotted by NBC Casting Vice President Steven O’Neill and was eventually signed to a holding deal with the network. The plan was for her to test for various pilot series for the 2002-03 season, but when “Crossing Jordan” creator and executive producer Tim Kring conceived the character of Lily, Hahn was flown in to read for the part.

Within a few short months of graduation, and a week after auditioning for the series, Hahn was packing for Los Angeles. “NBC and Tim Kring took a huge leap of faith in casting me,” she admits. “To be worked into a show that was in production and on the schedule is an amazing stroke of luck.”

Since moving to Los Angeles, Hahn has returned to the stage at the Huntington Theater in Boston, where she had appeared in an acclaimed production of “Dead End” before beginning her final year of graduate school. During her 2002 summer hiatus from “Crossing Jordan,” she performed in the Huntington production of the Jon Robin Baitz play, “Ten Unknowns.”

On the big screen, Hahn currently appears in “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!” starring with Topher Grace, Josh Duhamel and Kate Bosworth, and will be seen in the upcoming “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” alongside Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate. Additionally, she was recently seen in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” starring Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson and Michael Michele.
(courtesy of NBC)
When not working, Hahn enjoys painting and practicing yoga. Her birthday is July 23. A native of Cleveland, OH, actress Kathryn Hahn received her first taste of show business in the late '80s, when the then-teenager scored a live-action role opposite several puppets on the locally produced children's program Hickory Hideout. Hahn formally studied acting at the Yale School of Drama, and just prior to her final year of 2000-2001 (in mid-summer stock), the performer caught the attention of an NBC casting recruiter, who tapped her for a regular role on the prime-time drama Crossing Jordan; she played amiable grief counselor Lily Lebowski for the full run of the series (2001-2007).



Meanwhile, film roles began pouring in right and left, beginning with visible turns as Kate Hudson's health editor roommate in the hit romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), and as a barmaid with more than a passing crush on Topher Grace in Robert Luketic's gentle romantic comedy Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004). Hahn subsequently commenced a long series of assignments for Hollywood's highest-profiled directors and producers, including bit parts in the Judd Apatow-Adam McKay farce Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) and Nancy Meyers' romantic comedy The Holiday (2006), and a small supporting role in the Robert Shaye-directed fantasy The Last Mimzy (2007).



After her Crossing Jordan role ended with the series' cancellation in 2007, Hahn was able to work more freely in other venues, which became apparent with her output in 2008. She took on another cinematic supporting turn in the Will Ferrell-John C. Reilly comedy Step Brothers and starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the period suburban drama Revolutionary Road. That same year, Hahn made her Broadway debut in the Tony award-winning play +Boeing-Boeing. Throughout her various assignments, Hahn drew high praise for her comedic ability, which netted occasional comparisons to Carol Burnett. Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

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