Kate Johansen

 is a fictional mother and illegal casino operator, and one of the main characters featured in the 2017 comedy film The House. She was portrayed by actress Amy Poehler. Kate Johansen is a likeable if somewhat nerdy L.A. housewife, who is married to the equally nerdy Scott Johansen. When the Johansens cannot produce the money required to sent their daughter Alex off to Bucknell University, they decide to open an illegal gambling operation in their friend's house. Kate immediately takes to the lifestyle and begins smoking a lot of pot. She adopts a blow torch as her enforcer trademark.