Rachel Dratch gained recognition for her roles as Debbie Downer and Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Saturday Night Live. However, she faced challenges beyond her comedic talent when she chose to keep the identity of her son’s father a secret.
Prior to her time on SNL, Dratch was a member of the mainstage cast in Chicago’s Second City. She joined her long-time friends Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, whom she had worked with at Second City, on the cast of SNL in 1999. While Fey and Poehler achieved fame after SNL, Dratch continued to play smaller roles.
Following her seven-year stint on SNL, Dratch experienced a slowdown in her career. She appeared in recurring roles on TV series such as 30 Rock, alongside Fey and Alec Baldwin, Bob’s Burgers, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. In 2022, she received a Tony nomination for her role in the Broadway production POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.
In interviews, Dratch candidly discussed the challenges she faced in her career after SNL. Despite smaller jobs here and there, she struggled to find steady work. However, her film appearances include starring roles in The Week Of with Adam Sandler and 2019’s Wine Country, where she reunited with her SNL colleagues.
The inspiration for Wine Country came from a real-life trip to California wine country to celebrate Dratch’s 50th birthday. It featured her SNL friends Poehler, Fey, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, and Emily Spivey.
Dratch knew she wanted a family as she approached her 30s but struggled with dating. As she neared 40, she lost hope in finding a husband and having children. However, everything changed when she met her boyfriend, John Wahl, in a bar in late 2009. At 43, she was surprised to learn she was pregnant.
The identity of her son’s father became a media frenzy after Eli’s birth. Dratch kept it a secret from the public, leading to wild rumors. Eventually, Wahl moved to New York City to be closer to Dratch and their son, and they co-parented together.
In her book “Girl Walks into a Bar…: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle,” Dratch shares her story of what she calls her “midlife miracle.” She devotes a significant amount of time to being a hands-on parent and has shifted her career priorities.
Although her journey took unexpected turns, Dratch embraces her suburban mom life and finds fulfillment in her family. She recognizes that her experience differs from those who always pursued the Hollywood path.
Happy birthday to Eli! It seems that he is following in his mother’s footsteps as he frequently appears on her Instagram. We can’t wait to see what he does in the future!
