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Catherine Reitman
Catherine Reitman
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Catherine Marcelle Reitman ( /ˈrtmən/; born April 28, 1981)[1] is a Canadian-American actress, producer, and writer. She is the creator, executive producer, writer, and star of the Netflix/CBC Television sitcom Workin' Moms (2017−2023).[2]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Reitman was born in Los Angeles, California,[1] the daughter of French-Canadian actress Geneviève Robert and Slovak-born Canadian film director Ivan Reitman. Her father was from a Jewish family and her mother converted to Judaism.[3] She attended the Cate School and majored in acting at the University of Southern California. She is the sister of Caroline Reitman and director Jason Reitman.

Career

[edit]

In January 2011, Reitman launched Breakin' It Down with Catherine Reitman, a film review web show on YouTube,[4] which ended in July 2013. She occasionally filled in for Kevin Smith as a guest co-host with Ralph Garman on their podcast, Hollywood Babble-On.

Reitman starred in the television series The Real Wedding Crashers, based on the hit movie Wedding Crashers. She appeared in the films Beethoven's 2nd (1993), Knocked Up (2007), I Love You, Man (2009) and Friends with Benefits (2011). She has also had roles on the series Hollywood Residential, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, How I Met Your Mother, Weeds, and Blackish. In 2022, she appeared in the revival of the sketch comedy series The Kids in the Hall.[5]

In 2016, Reitman formed Wolf & Rabbit Entertainment ULC. with her husband Philip Sternberg to produce the half-hour, single-camera comedy Workin' Moms for CBC and Netflix. She is the creator, executive producer, writer and star of the series, starring alongside Sternberg. In addition, Reitman has directed several episodes in each of the series' seasons. Workin' Moms received five Canadian Screen Award nominations in 2017, including Best Actress, Comedy, for Reitman, and Best Series, Comedy.[2]

Personal life

[edit]

She is married to actor and producer Philip Sternberg, and they have two children.[6]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Twins Granger Granddaughter
1989 Ghostbusters II Girl with Puppy
1990 Kindergarten Cop 3rd Grader
1993 Dave Girl at Durenberger
1993 Beethoven's 2nd Janie
1996 Space Jam Nerdluck BUPKUS (voice)
1997 Father's Day Victoria
2003 Crushed Sarah Short film
2005 Thank You for Smoking Reporter #1
2006 Soup of the Day Monique
2006 My Super Ex-Girlfriend TV News Reporter
2007 Knocked Up Alison's Friend
2009 I Love You, Man Zooey's Friend
2009 Jesus People: The Movie Shauna Mebane
2009 Post Grad Jessica Bard
2010 Crazy/Sexy/Awkward Liza Direct-to-video
2010 How to Make Love to a Woman Vani
2010 Frank Advice Short film
2010 The D-Monster Claire Feinstein Short film
2011 Friends with Benefits Female Co-Worker
2011 Let Go Unbearable Industry Poser
2012 The Kitchen Pam
2015 Slow Learners Julia
2016 Babble-On Begins: The Director's Cut Reporter (voice) Short film

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Catherine Reitman is a Canadian-American actress, writer, producer, and director best known for creating, executive producing, writing, and starring in the CBC/ series (2017–2023), which explores the challenges faced by working mothers. Born Catherine Marcelle Reitman on April 28, 1981, in , , she is the daughter of acclaimed film director Ivan Reitman—known for (1984)—and actress Geneviève Robert. She grew up in a creative family environment, with her older brother also becoming a prominent director, and attended the before majoring in acting at the . Reitman trained in improvisation at Theatre in , honing her comedic skills early in her career. Reitman's acting career began in childhood with a small role in her father's film Twins (1988), followed by appearances in projects like Judd Apatow's Knocked Up (2007) and I Love You, Man (2009), as well as television guest spots on How I Met Your Mother, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Black-ish. She transitioned into producing and writing with the web series Breakin' It Down (2011) and later co-founded Wolf + Rabbit Entertainment with her husband, Philip Sternberg, whom she married in 2009; the couple has two sons, Jackson and Liam. Her work on Workin' Moms earned her multiple Gracie Awards, including for Outstanding Showrunner in Comedy (2025 and 2021) and Outstanding Female Actor (2020), along with several Canadian Screen Award nominations for acting, writing, and directing. Reitman has also directed episodes of Workin' Moms and Black-ish, and delivered a TEDxToronto talk in 2017 on motherhood and identity that has garnered over one million views.

Early life

Family background

Catherine Reitman was born on April 28, 1981, in , , to parents , a Slovak-born Canadian and producer, and Geneviève Robert, a French-Canadian actress. She has two siblings: an older brother, , who is a , and a younger sister, Caroline Reitman. Reitman grew up in a creative household immersed in the entertainment industry, where discussions about story, character, and plot were commonplace at the family dinner table, shaped by her parents' careers—including her father's direction of notable films like .

Education

Reitman completed her high school education at the , a private boarding school in , graduating in 1999. She continued her studies at the (USC), earning a degree in acting from the . The provided Reitman with foundational training in theater performance, including acting techniques and character development, which equipped her for a career blending drama and comedy.

Career

Early acting roles

Reitman began her acting career as a child, debuting at age seven in an uncredited role as the Granger Granddaughter in the comedy film Twins (1988), directed by her father, . This early entry into the industry was facilitated by her family's deep connections to Hollywood, with her father being a prominent director known for films like . She followed with additional child roles in major productions, including the part of Girl with Puppy in Ghostbusters II (1989), again under her father's direction, where she appeared briefly in a scene involving a spectral entity. In 1993, Reitman portrayed Janie, one of the Newton family children, in the family comedy Beethoven's 2nd. By 1996, at age 15, she contributed voice work as one of the Nerdlucks—alien creatures who transform into the Monstars—in the animated-live action hybrid Space Jam. Transitioning to young adult roles in the early 2000s, Reitman took on smaller parts in both film and television, often in comedic contexts that highlighted her emerging screen presence. Notable among these was her recurring role as Maureen Ponderosa, the eccentric ex-wife of Dennis Reynolds, in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia starting in 2010. She also appeared as a TV news reporter in the satirical film Thank You for Smoking (2006). These opportunities reflected the advantages of her familial ties to the entertainment world, though she navigated the industry as the daughter of a well-established filmmaker. In 2010, she guest-starred as Henrietta, a librarian with an unrequited crush on Ted Mosby, in the episode "Hooked" of How I Met Your Mother.

Web series and television work

In the early 2010s, Catherine Reitman ventured into digital content creation by launching and hosting the web series Breakin' It Down with Catherine Reitman from January 2011 to July 2013. The show featured her conducting interviews with celebrities and offering witty breakdowns of films and pop culture phenomena, amassing over 150 episodes that highlighted her comedic style and media savvy. Reitman continued building her on-screen presence through supporting roles in major comedies, drawing on her foundational acting experience from earlier years. She appeared as Alison's Friend in Judd Apatow's (2007), a role that placed her in the ensemble of the hit film exploring unexpected pregnancy and relationships. In 2011, she played a female co-worker in Friends with Benefits, contributing to the romantic comedy's workplace dynamics alongside stars and . Her television work during this era emphasized recurring and guest spots in popular comedies, where her timing and relatable persona shone. Reitman recurred as Maureen Ponderosa across seven episodes of from 2010 to 2016, embodying a quirky family member in the show's chaotic ensemble. She also portrayed Lucy in multiple episodes of from 2014 to 2016, adding layers to the family-oriented sitcom. Additional appearances included Marcy in Weeds (2012), and Debbie in Benched (2014), roles that underscored her versatility in ensemble-driven humor. Parallel to her acting, Reitman expanded into producing, leveraging her creative input on projects like Breakin' It Down, which she wrote, directed, and produced. In 2013, she took on producing and hosting duties for VH1's Miss U Much, a reality series that reconnected viewers with '90s and early 2000s celebrities, blending with interviews. This period marked her growing involvement in short-form content and pilots, reflecting a shift toward multifaceted roles in production.

Workin' Moms and production

Workin' Moms is a Canadian comedy-drama series created by Catherine Reitman, which premiered on on January 10, 2017, and was also distributed internationally on . The show ran for seven seasons, concluding in 2023 after 83 episodes, and drew from Reitman's personal experiences as a new mother navigating postpartum challenges and returning to work shortly after giving birth. Reitman developed the series through her production company, + Rabbit Entertainment, which she co-founded with her husband Philip Sternberg in 2016; Sternberg served as co-creator, , and director on multiple episodes, while also portraying Kate's husband, Nathan Foster. The series centers on a group of women in dealing with the realities of motherhood, including Kate Foster (played by Reitman), a high-powered executive struggling to balance her demanding career with family life. Reitman took on multifaceted roles in the production, serving as creator, co-writer, , and star, while directing several episodes, including the season two premiere "2005" and the season finale to emphasize themes of enduring friendships. Her directorial work often highlighted character backstories and emotional arcs, contributing to the show's blend of humor and raw honesty. The narrative explores core themes such as the tensions of motherhood and career ambitions, the complexities of female friendships, , , and societal expectations of women, often through unfiltered, raunchy that resonated with audiences seeking authentic portrayals of these struggles. The series had a significant impact on Canadian by centering women's voices and experiences, helping to elevate female-led projects in a male-dominated industry and inspiring discussions on work-life balance. Reitman's leadership as marked a pivotal step in her career, transitioning her from acting to a prominent creative force. In recognition of its debut season, received five nominations at the 6th in 2018, including Best Series and Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a for Reitman. The show garnered further acclaim, including two International Emmy Award nominations for Best Series and a Gracie Award for Reitman in 2020 for Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a .

Recent projects

Following the conclusion of Workin' Moms in 2023, Reitman has shifted focus toward writing and producing opportunities that leverage her experience as a . In February 2024, ordered a presentation and script for the multi-camera comedy Meet the Kumars, an adaptation of the series , with Reitman co-writing alongside her husband Philip Sternberg and executive producing through their company Wolf + Rabbit. On November 5, 2025, Reitman was announced as the writer for a " comedy" feature developed by , based on a story the company acquired and refined into this format; production is slated to begin imminently, representing her return to scripted work after years emphasizing . Reitman has also taken on roles in new projects, including the lead role of Bustamonte in the 2025 Give It Up, which follows a struggling navigating career setbacks amid the rise of viral child stars. Beyond scripted work, Reitman has appeared as a guest on podcasts in 2024 and 2025, including episodes of We're Here to Help in October 2024 and October 2025, where she discussed creative processes and industry advice. This trajectory underscores her growing emphasis on multifaceted creative roles, expanding from on-screen performance to behind-the-scenes leadership in development.

Personal life

Marriage

Catherine Reitman married Philip Sternberg, a director, , and , in September 2008 in . The couple met through mutual friends in the entertainment industry when Reitman stopped by Sternberg's office to pick up a for a friend following a nearby audition, sparking an immediate connection that led to their relationship after reconnecting at an event a few months later. Sternberg has built a career in television production and direction, notably as co-creator, , and director of several episodes of the series Workin' Moms, in which he also stars as Reitman's on-screen husband, Nathan Foster. Reitman and Sternberg have collaborated professionally beyond the show, co-founding the Wolf + Entertainment in 2016 to develop and produce content, including Workin' Moms. Their joint efforts on the series have strengthened their creative partnership, blending personal and professional dynamics seamlessly. As of November 2025, Reitman and Sternberg have been married for 17 years, with no public reports of separation or divorce.

Children

Catherine Reitman and her husband welcomed their first son, Jackson, in 2013. Their second son, , arrived in 2016. Reitman has openly discussed the difficulties of balancing motherhood with her professional commitments, including returning to work only six weeks after Jackson's birth, which contributed to her experiencing . Five weeks after Liam's arrival, she moved her family from to to start production on Workin' Moms, highlighting the intense demands of early parenthood amid career transitions. In numerous interviews, Reitman has advocated for greater understanding and support for working mothers, drawing from her own postpartum struggles and the pressures of juggling family and career to promote authentic representations of these experiences in media. She has emphasized that true involves acknowledging the "impossibility" of perfect balance and encouraging among parents. In 2024, Reitman revealed that her son Liam had been diagnosed with (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), a rare autoimmune condition, and has since advocated for increased awareness to support other affected families. As of 2025, Reitman continues to protect her children's privacy, limiting public details about their daily lives while using her platform to address universal aspects of rather than personal anecdotes.

Filmography

Television

Reitman's television work spans guest appearances, recurring roles, and lead performances, with additional credits in directing and producing. She made her on-screen television debut in 2003 as an Excited Fan in the episode "My Three Witches". In 2005, she guest-starred as Heidi in (1 episode). Also in 2005, Reitman appeared as Audience Member #2 in (1 episode). Her next role came in 2006 as Mary in Campus Ladies (1 episode). In 2008, she portrayed Abbey in the series Hollywood Residential. That same year, Reitman guest-starred as Penny Peterson in (1 episode). In 2009, she appeared as Maggie in (1 episode). In 2010, Reitman played Henrietta in (1 episode). From 2010 to 2016, she had a recurring role as Maureen Ponderosa in (7 episodes). Reitman recurred as Lucy, a sales representative, in from 2014 to 2016 (8 episodes); she also directed the season 6 episode "Big Meltdown" in 2020. In 2012, she guest-starred as Jordan in Weeds (1 episode). In 2020, Reitman appeared as Kara in #blackAF (1 episode). That year, she also participated in the charity special Home Movie: The Princess Bride, voicing Fezzik and in one segment. In 2022, Reitman guest-starred as Diane in reboot (1 episode). From 2017 to 2023, Reitman starred as Kate Foster in *, appearing in all 83 episodes of the series she created; she also served as , for multiple episodes, and director for five episodes across seasons 4 through 7. Additionally, Reitman co-created and produced the VH1 web series Miss You Much (2011–2012). Reitman is developing Meet the Kumars, a multi-camera adaptation for (ordered 2024; as of November 2025).

Film

Reitman's film career began in childhood, facilitated by her family connections to director , who cast her in several of his projects as a young actress. Her subsequent roles have largely consisted of supporting parts in comedies, often uncredited or minor, spanning feature films and shorts.
YearTitleRoleNotes
1988TwinsGranger GranddaughterFeature film; directed by Ivan Reitman
1989Ghostbusters IIGirl with PuppyFeature film; directed by Ivan Reitman
1990Kindergarten Cop3rd Grade StudentFeature film; directed by Ivan Reitman
1993DaveGirl at Durenberger'sFeature film; directed by Ivan Reitman
1993Beethoven's 2ndJanieFeature film
1996Space JamNerdluck BupkusVoice role in feature film
1997Father's DayVictoriaFeature film (Note: Secondary source for confirmation; primary via IMDb)
2003CrushedSarahShort film
2005Thank You for SmokingReporter #1Feature film
2006My Super Ex-GirlfriendTV Anchor WomanFeature film
2006Soup of the DayMoniqueShort film
2007Knocked UpAlison's FriendFeature film
2009Post GradJessica BardFeature film
2009I Love You, ManJulieFeature film
2009Jesus PeopleShauna MebaneFeature film
2010Crazy/Sexy/AwkwardLizaDirect-to-video
2010How to Make Love to a WomanVaniFeature film
2010Frank AdviceShort film
2010The D-MonsterClaire FeinsteinShort film
2011Let GoUnbearable Industry PoserFeature film
2011Friends with BenefitsFemale Co-WorkerFeature film
2012The KitchenPamFeature film
2015Slow LearnersJuliaFeature film
2016Babble-On Begins: The Director's CutReporterVoice role in short film
In addition to , Reitman has expanded into writing for , scripting the Netflix adaptation of Pamela Druckerman's memoir Bringing Up Bébé, produced by ; filming completed in 2024, release pending as of November 2025.

References

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