Born in
Chicago, Wisniewski was given the nickname "Pudgy" by her father when she was an infant. She credited her father, a
milkman with a dry sense of humor, as her inspiration for taking up comedy. Her family was of
German and
Polish heritage. She graduated from
Steinmetz College Prep before dropping out of
Wilbur Wright College to attend
beauty school and become a
hairdresser. After developing an allergy to
hair care products, Wisniewski left hairdressing to become a waitress. At
Toffenetti's Chicago restaurant, she began telling jokes, earning her a following amongst local dignitaries including
Richard M. Daley,
Joel Daly and
Harry Volkman. ==Career==