Editing Laraine Newman (section)

==Early life and career==
Newman took her first [[improvisational theatre]] classes when she was 15. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/snl-alumna-laraine-newman-tells-almost-all-in-new-audio-book-1234708679/ |title='SNL' Alumna Laraine Newman Tells (Almost) All In New Audio Book |first=Bruce |last=Haring |date=March 7, 2021 |work=Deadline |access-date=July 2, 2021}}</ref> After finishing high school she auditioned for four acting schools in England including the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], [[London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art]] and [[Bristol Old Vic]]. She was not accepted to any of them, so she went to Paris to study [[mime]] with [[Marcel Marceau]] for a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earwolf.com/episode/snl-reunion//|title=SNL Reunion|website=Earwolf}}</ref>

By the age of 19, Newman returned to the [[United States]], and moved to [[Los Angeles]], where she did a brief stint at a secretarial school. Committed to continue performing, she was a founding member of the pioneering comedy improvisational group [[The Groundlings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/laraine-newman|title=Laraine Newman Biography|access-date=October 27, 2018|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412172112/https://www.biography.com/people/laraine-newman|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the same time, Newman was working for a booking agent who worked with rock bands, typing up contracts.<ref name="chqdaily.com">{{cite web|url=http://chqdaily.com/2018/07/finally-ready-for-prime-time-newman-closes-week-with-laughs/|title=Finally ready for prime time: Newman closes week with laughs|date=July 14, 2018}}</ref>

Newman cites [[Eve Arden]], [[Madeline Kahn]] and [[Richard Pryor]] as her first major influences, saying "They led me into my life of comedy, they led me into understanding 'The Art of Play'."<ref name="chqdaily.com"/>