Sarah Sherman (born March 7, 1993),[1][2] also known professionally as Sarah Squirm, is an American comedian, actress, and screenwriter. Sherman is known for using surreal and body horror comedy.[3][4][5][6][7] She became a featured player on the NBCsketch comedy series Saturday Night Live starting with its 47th season in October 2021,[8][9] and was promoted to Repertory Status in October 2023.[10]
Sherman developed an interest in stand-up comedy after she did not make the improv team at Northwestern. After graduating, she decided to stay in Chicago, befriending comedians like Megan Stalter, and had a monthly show called Helltrap Nightmare along with Luke Taylor, David Brown, Wyatt Fair, and Scott Egleston.[16][17]
Sherman began performing under her stage name "Sarah Squirm", which was inspired by a high school nickname. She was also getting booked as a comedian alongside noise musicians as she had friends that ran a record label.[17]
Sherman was asked to audition for the long-running NBC sketch-comedy show Saturday Night Live after doing a stand-up set at the Just for Laughs festival. She had previously been asked to perform some showcases for SNL producers and attempted some character-based work which, according to her, "fucking sucked."[17] She initially auditioned for Saturday Night Live in 2016, as part of a showcase at the iO_Theater in Chicago that also featured Alex Moffat, who would be hired as part of the cast that year.[19] She was subsequently cast as a featured player for its 47th season, alongside fellow newcomers James Austin Johnson and Aristotle Athari.[8][9] Before being hired by SNL, she had trouble finding employment because her gross-out videos turned hiring managers off.[20]
Sherman has been praised by critics for adapting her unusual and surreal comedy style to SNL without losing its impact. Luka Katic of Collider wrote, "Sherman certainly isn't the first unconventional comedian to be featured on SNL (i.e. Tim Robinson, Kyle Mooney, etc.). However, what makes her remarkable is her success in spite of that fact. Where actors like Robinson often felt they had to tone down their material for SNL, Sherman finds inventive alternative ways to channel her deranged sensibilities into the show."[21] Jesse Hassenger of Vulture listed Sherman's "Meatballs" sketch from the Oscar Isaac/Charli XCX episode as one of the best of the season, writing, "In a crowded season, it was especially refreshing to come upon a sketch that feels like such a clear expression of its star's sensibilities."[22]
In 2022, Sherman was credited as a screenwriter for the reality comedy film sequel Jackass Forever.[23]
On September 5, 2024, Sherman began her guest starring role as dialect coach Robin Finch for Lois Cerillo played by Rena Sofer on the daytime soap opera General Hospital.[29]
In 2024, she debuted as a host for the Max game show Human vs Hamster.[30]