Kat Dennings began her career early, landing a small role on Sex and the City in 2000. Since then, she’s appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including WandaVision, 2 Broke Girls, and Thor. Despite her achievements, it seems she’s been beaten down by life at every possible turn.
1. Dennings’ First Commercial
Before officially moving to Los Angeles as a teen, Kat booked her first commercial gig when she was just 9 years old. But as you’ve probably assumed, this early experience was a real dumpster fire. Dennings was cast in a commercial for Orleans’ low-fat potato chips, but instead of the advertised snack, the producers filled the bag with regular potato chips. Later, Dennings learned that the actual product used a fat substitute called Olean, which is known for causing painful side effects and is banned in some countries. As a result, the commercial never aired, and the Orleans product never hit the market.
2. The “Edgy” Character Typecats
Early on, Dennings was often cast as the “emo” or “edgy” girl, which shaped the bulk of her career. After appearances in shows like Raising Dad and a couple of roles in indie films, her big break came in 2007 with Charlie Bartlett, playing a chill high schooler side-by-side with her future best friend, Anton Yelchin. Dennings continued this trend with Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, identifying with the “not like the other girls” type. In a 2019 interview, she noted her connection to “emo” characters, citing her life experiences. However, with roles in Thor and WandaVision, Kat expanded her range and was finally freed from being typecast.
3. Her Private Photo Got Leaked
Dennings was one of many celebrities affected by a notorious leak of personal photos between 2010 and 2017. Unfortunately, public sentiment largely blamed the victims, including Kat, for taking the photos in the first place, subjecting them to unjustified judgment and even slut-shaming. When Chris Evans was in a similar situation in 2020, fans responded with empathy and support rather than judgment. Dennings commented on this double standard, saying that it would be nice if public respect for women were the same as it was for Evans. And she’s absolutely correct.
4. Losing Close Friend Anton Yelchin
In 2016, one of Dennings’ best friends, Anton Yelchin, died in a tragic accident. Yelchin was only 27 when his SUV rolled down his driveway, pinning him and taking his life. Dennings and Yelchin had shared a close bond, both on-screen and off, since they first met while filming Charlie Bartlett. Their friendship was so deep that even their mothers became friends. After Yelchin’s death, Dennings expressed her grief on social media, describing him as one of her best friends and sharing photos of the good times they spent together.
5. 2 Broke Girls Getting Axed
Dennings’ career peaked with her role as Max Black on 2 Broke Girls, a mostly funny but often cringey sitcom about two waitresses saving up to open a cupcake shop. Dennings’ portrayal of Max quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her classic deadpan delivery. Although the show was popular in its early years, it eventually became a mess and was canceled after six seasons. Some critics speculated that its vulgar, offensive, and overall controversial humor might have been the reason for that.
6. Losing a Pet Is Never Easy
As a loving cat mom, Dennings often shared photos of her kitty Millie. In October 2023, she announced Millie’s passing on Instagram, saying that it broke her heart and that losing her felt like losing a piece of her soul. For anyone who has lost a pet, the pain can be intense, and Dennings was devastated. Following the advice of a friend, she adopted two new kittens, Lentil and Barley, hoping they might help her heal. But sadly, our brains rarely forget. While the new kittens didn’t erase the pain, they did help bring new joy into Kat’s life.
7. The Death of Her Father
As if one death in the family wasn’t enough, Dennings faced another major loss shortly after Millie’s passing – the death of her father. The actress shared a heartfelt tribute to him on Instagram in January 2024, acknowledging what would have been his 95th birthday. Despite this tragedy, Dennings continued with plans to marry her boyfriend of nearly three years, Andrew W.K., a few weeks after her father’s passing. Although she considered postponing, Dennings decided to go ahead, believing that celebrating love was a way to honor her father’s memory.
