Laura Kightlinger attended Emerson College. While there she began to perform stand-up around Boston and was part of a campus sketch comedy group called “This is Pathetic.” She graduated the school in 1986.

In 1992, she hosted “Stand-Up Stand-Up” for the fledgling cable network Comedy Central.

Her stand-up attracted interest in her as a writer and performer, first in 1994 for “Saturday Night Live.” The season was consider one of the low points in the sketch comedy show’s history. Kightlinger was miserable with what she described as a sexist atmosphere. After a move to Los Angeles, Kightlinger worked as a writer for the sitcom “Roseanne” until 1997.

In 1999, she wrote a book entitled “Quick Shots of False Hope”, which contains seventeen autobiographical essays about her life being raised by her single mother and the dark humiliations of her adolescence.

For eight seasons, Kightlinger worked as a writer and consulting producer for the sitcom “Will & Grace”, as well as a recurring role as a fertility clinic nurse named Shelia.

Performing stand-up stayed a part of Kightlinger’s life, often in Los Angeles venues like Largo. In 2003, Kightlinger performed in her first Comedy Central Presents special.

In 2006, Kightlinger created a sitcom for IFC entitled “The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman.” A critical success, it is currently in its second season.