Biography

Katie Malia (birth name Kathryn Malia Knoernschild) was born in Southern California to parents of Japanese and German descent. Katie's interest and appreciation for the arts began at a very young age; her mother, a former dancer, exposed Katie to the theatre and enrolled her in dance before formal education began.

She was an avid classical pianist and ballet dancer studying with The Boston Ballet and Joffrey Ballet, and her love of the arts and academics soon brought her to New York where she attended Barnard College of Columbia University studying English literature and dance.

Katie has appeared in hundreds of national commercials and worked with acclaimed directors such as Mike Mills, Marc Forster, and Jon Watts to name a few; and as a dancer, she's worked with choreographers like Fatima Robinson, Michael Rooney, Ryan Heffington and danced with Prince, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Pharrell Williams. She has performed at Walt Disney Hall's Redcat Theater and Getty Villa, and also choreographed for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Geffen Contemporary, and Marciano Art Foundation in Los Angeles as well as music videos for John Cale, Julianna Barwick featuring Jonsi from Sigur Ros, and Aloe Blacc.

While continuing a dance and commercial career in both New York and Los Angeles, Katie transitioned to acting and comedy, attending a Shakespeare and Contemporary Arts summer program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. She continues to study, write and perform sketch comedy at Upright Citizens Brigade and The Groundlings and was a writer and performer for the 2016 CBS Diversity Comedy Showcase. She is the creator of the short form scripted comedy series, Almost Asian, featured in The Washington Post, Fast Company, Huffington Post, and Public Radio International's 'The World,' and she was nominated for 'Outstanding Writing' at the 2016 Raindance Film Festival in London. Comedian Margaret Cho is serving as Executive-Producer for its expansion into a half-hour scripted comedy for IFC. As a stand-up comedian, Katie opened for Margaret Cho at the Largo for the Netflix Is A Joke Festival and has performed at Zebulon and the Improv on Melrose.
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Plays classical piano.

Mother is Japanese, Father is German/Irish.

Attended Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City to study Dance and English Literature.

Did a Shakespeare and Contemporary summer study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.

Performer in the 2016 CBS Diversity Comedy Showcase.