Maya Khabira Rudolph (born July 27, 1972) is an American actress and comedienne, known as a former cast member on NBC's Saturday Night Live, and the daughter of late soul singer Minnie Riperton. R&B singer Teena Marie is Rudolph's "godparent."

Maya Rudolph was born in Gainesville, Florida, the daughter of Soul singer Minnie Riperton (a.k.a. Andrea Davis, a pseudonym) and composer, songwriter and producer Richard Rudolph. Her father is Jewish and her mother African American. Maya Rudolph was in the studio with her mother on the day Riperton recorded, "Lovin' You," which Rudolph's parents had written as a lullaby for her. The listener can hear her mother sing, "Maya, Maya, Maya," to her daughter near the end of the track. Riperton died at age 31 from cancer, short of her daughter's seventh birthday. The death of Rudolph's mother at a young age and growing up multiracial had an effect, according to a July 2001 Rosie magazine article: "My mom was black and my dad is Jewish, and I lost my mom when I was seven. That made me feel really different from other kids."

Growing up, Rudolph attended St. Augustine by the Sea School, where she met childhood friend, actress Gwyneth Paltrow. The Paltrows and the Rudolphs became family friends. Rudolph attended high school in Santa Monica, California, and continued her education at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she graduated in 1995 with a B.A. in photography from Porter College.