Alex Borstein
A versatile voice and performer who evolved from behind-the-scenes comedy writer to an Emmy-winning force as both an animated matriarch and a brash 1950s agent.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actress·Birthday: February 15·Generation X
Biography
Alex Borstein’s career is a masterclass in creative evolution, moving from the writer’s room to the spotlight on her own formidable terms. A graduate of the Groundlings improv troupe, she first made her mark as a writer and performer on 'MADtv,' where her sharp wit and character work shone. Her voice became a staple of American animation when she originated the role of the sardonic, martini-loving Lois Griffin on 'Family Guy,' a character she helped shape from the show's inception. For years, she was a celebrated but somewhat unseen talent. That changed dramatically with 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' where her portrayal of Susie Myerson, the gruff, brilliant manager with a heart of crumpled velvet, revealed her full dramatic and comedic power. Winning Emmys for the role, Borstein commanded the screen with a gritty, authentic presence that stood in stark contrast to her animated work. She embodies the idea that talent can’t be confined to one medium, thriving as a voice, a writer, and a live-action scene-stealer.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Alex was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as Susie Myerson on 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.'
- Has provided the voice of Lois Griffin on the long-running animated series 'Family Guy' since 1999.
- Earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for 'Family Guy.'
- Was a writer and featured player on the sketch comedy series 'MADtv' in the late 1990s.
Did You Know?
She was the original voice of Miss Swan on 'MADtv' before the character was performed on screen by another actor.
Borstein is married to actor and writer Jackson Douglas, who played Jackson Belleville on 'Gilmore Girls.'
She briefly worked as a designer for the clothing brand 'No Fear' early in her career.
Her acceptance speech for her first 'Maisel' Emmy included a political statement delivered in Yiddish.
“You know what’s better than a compliment? A contract.”
