Lauren Lapkus
Dorthea Lauren Allegra Lapkus[1] (born September 6, 1985)[2] is an American actress, voice actress, comedian and impressionist known for portraying Susan Fischer in the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black[3] and Jess in the HBO series Crashing. She has also made appearances on such television shows as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Middle, Hot in Cleveland, The Big Bang Theory, and @midnight and films such as Jurassic World.[4] She has appeared on many podcasts, including Comedy Bang! Bang!, improv4humans, and her own podcasts With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus and Laptime with Lauren Lapkus.[5][6] She was a main cast member on the TBS original sitcom Clipped.[7] She also played the voice of Lotta in Harvey Girls Forever!
Lauren Lapkus | |
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![]() Lapkus in Atlanta, Georgia in May 2016 | |
Born | Dorthea Lauren Allegra Lapkus[1] September 6, 1985 Evanston, Illinois, U.S. |
Alma mater | DePaul University |
Occupation | Actress, voice actress, comedian, impressionist |
Years active | 2005–present |
Spouse(s) | |
Website | laurenlapkus |
Early life
Lapkus was born in Evanston, Illinois, of half Lithuanian and half Greek/Serbian descent.[8] At an early age she filmed sketches with her older brother and later at Evanston Township High School[9] she participated in the annual student revue and variety show YAMO.[9]
During her senior year of high school, she began taking improv classes at the iO Theater.[9] She attended DePaul University graduating in 2008 with a degree in English, while she continued performing improv most nights.[9] Lapkus credits watching many television sitcoms and Saturday Night Live while young for educating her to become a comedian.[10]
Upon graduation, she moved to New York City for a year where she became involved with Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.[9] After living in New York City for 15 months,[9] she relocated to Los Angeles in 2010.[4]
Career
After almost a year in Los Angeles, Lapkus began landing roles in a number of commercials, including Snickers and Jack in the Box[9] as well as a sketch on Jimmy Kimmel Live![9] From these successes, she got herself representation and during pilot season landed a supporting role in the short lived Are You There, Chelsea?.[9]
After self-taping her audition, Lapkus was cast as security guard Susan Fischer on the first and second seasons of the Netflix series Orange is the New Black.[11] In 2015, Lapkus and the cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
In 2014, Lapkus launched her own podcast on the Earwolf network, called With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus. The show's premise is that each week her guest is the host of their own podcast, and she is appearing as a character on their show. Her guests have included Paul F. Tompkins, Betsy Sodaro, Andy Daly, Nick Kroll, and Scott Aukerman.[12] She has said that she "never expected to get into podcasts at all" and to her it is funny she has one.[9]
In mid-2014, Lapkus was cast in Jurassic World, which she filmed in both Hawaii and New Orleans.[9] Many of her scenes with Jake Johnson were improvised.[9] In 2015, she portrayed Joy the receptionist in TBS's Clipped. In 2016, Lapkus wrote and starred in her own 30-minute episode of the sketch show Netflix Presents: The Characters.[13]
Lapkus performs improv regularly. She is a cast member of UCB's flagship show Asssscat.[14]
Personal life
Lapkus married actor and improviser Chris Alvarado on May 3, 2014.[15] She announced their separation on February 14, 2016.[16] Lapkus married actor Mike Castle on October 5, 2018.[17]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Movie Boy | Pamela | |
2011 | Dog DNA | Short film | |
Secrets, Secrets | Short film | ||
Plastic Heart | Lauren | Short film | |
2012 | Dreamworld | Sushi | |
Cleve Dixon: Terrible Detective | Barbara Dietrichson | ||
Manhattan Mixup | Agent Smith | Short film | |
2013 | 3D Printer | Short film | |
Are You Here | Delia Shepard | ||
The To Do List | Girl Heckler | ||
2014 | Bread and Butter | Deirdre Newsome | |
Blended | Tracy the Babysitter | ||
2015 | Jurassic World | Vivian | |
2016 | Opening Night | Alex Bean | |
2017 | Girlfriend's Day | Cardie #2 | |
2018 | The Unicorn[18] | Malory | |
Dog Days | Daisy | ||
Good Girls Get High | Patty | ||
Holmes & Watson | Millie | ||
2019 | Between Two Ferns: The Movie | Carol Hunch | |
2020 | The Wrong Missy | Missy | |
The Last Blockbuster | Narrator | Documentary film | |
Happiest Season | Mall Security Crystal |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Carpeted Afterhours | Becky | Television film |
2010 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Various | 2 episodes |
2010–11 | The Parent Project | Angie | 4 episodes |
2011 | Video Game Reunion | Luigi's Stalker | 3 episodes |
2011 | The Back Room | Various | 2 episodes |
2012 | Are You There, Chelsea? | Dee Dee | 12 episodes |
2012 | Hot in Cleveland | Oscar | Episode: "A Box Full of Puppies" |
2013 | Joe, Joe & Jane | Melissa | TV pilot |
2013–14, 2019 | Orange Is the New Black | Susan Fischer | 14 episodes Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series |
2013–16 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Various | 5 episodes |
2013 | You're Whole | Ellie | Episode: "Lemonade/Fishing/Cupcakes" |
2014 | House of Lies | Benita Spire | 3 episodes |
2014–16 | Drunk History | Herself / Normal Woman | 3 episodes |
2014 | The Hotwives of Orlando | Bank Rep | Episode: "Staycation" |
2014 | Friends with Better Lives | Deena | Episode: "The Lost and Hound" |
2014 | Key & Peele | Marion Glass | 2 episodes |
2015 | Kroll Show | Candace | Episode: "The In Addition Tos" |
2015 | Clipped | Joy | Series regular; 10 episodes |
2015–16 | Another Period | Penelope | 2 episodes |
2015–17 | Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | Matilda / additional voices | 4 episodes |
2016–18 | Animals. | Various voices | 7 episodes |
2016 | Netflix Presents: The Characters | Various | Episode: "Lauren Lapkus" |
2016 | Bob's Burgers | Krissy Davis / Mrs. Davis (voice) | Episode: "Bye Bye Boo Boo" |
2016–20 | American Dad! | Various voices | 7 episodes |
2016–17 | Adventure Time | Patience St. Pim / Blue Tranch / Ted (voice) | 5 episodes |
2016 | TripTank | Clarine (voice) | Episode: "TripTank 2025" |
2016 | The Earliest Show | Samantha Newman | 6 episodes Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series |
2016 | Hell's Kitchen | Herself | Episode: "Let the Catfights Begin" |
2017–19 | Crashing | Jess | 9 episodes |
2017 | Clarence | Lauren / Kim / Square Mom (voice) | Episode: "Rock Show" |
2017 | Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ | Nadine | Episode: "A Divided House" |
2017 | Ginger Snaps | Calista (voice) | 10 episodes |
2017 | The Guest Book | Sandy | 2 episodes |
2017-19 | Star vs. the Forces of Evil | Higgs (voice) | 2 episodes |
2018 | Life in Pieces | Cindy | Episode: "Reading Egg Nurse Neighbor" |
2018 | Lucifer | Bree Garland / Abel | Episode: "Infernal Guinea Pig" |
2018–20 | Craig of the Creek | Mackenzie (voice) | 4 episodes |
2018–19 | The Big Bang Theory | Denise | 8 episodes |
2018 | DIY | Jack (voice) | Television film |
2018–20 | Harvey Girls Forever! | Lotta (voice) | 52 episodes |
2018–20 | Big City Greens | Val / Rich Lady / Bella (voice) | 3 episodes |
2018 | Nailed It! | Herself | Episode: "Jingle Fails" |
2019 | Lights Out with David Spade | Herself | Episode: "Wayne Brady, Tim Dillon, Lauren Lapkus" |
2020 | Good Girls | Phoebe Donnegan | 4 episodes |
2020 | Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? | Herself (celebrity contestant) | 2 episodes; total winnings: $500,000 |
2020 | Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Red Fox (voice) | Episode: "Sidekick Ahoy" |
2020 | Close Enough | Quinn (voice) | Episode: "So Long Boys/Clap Like This" |
2020 | Corporate | Debby Deberson | Episode: "Good Job" |
2020 | Star Trek: Lower Decks | Jen (voice) | Episode: "No Small Parts" |
2020 | Animaniacs | Cupcake and Gabriella (voice) | Episode: "The Cutening/Close Encounters of the Worst Kind/Equal Time" |
2020 | The George Lucas Talk Show | Herself | Episode: "Revenge of Return of the Jedi" |
Video games
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2015 | Lego Jurassic World | Vivian |
Podcasts
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
2012–2020 | improv4humans | Various | •40 episodes |
2012–2020 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Various | •52 episodes |
2013 | The Reality Show Show | Herself | •Episode 39: "There Is Ninjas" |
2013, 2014 | Totally Laime | Herself | •Episode 160: "Let's All Pee" •Episode 242: "One Hundred Percent!" |
2014 | Pop My Culture | Herself | •Episode 154: "Lauren Lapkus and Chris Alvarado" |
2014 | Professor Blastoff | Herself | •Episode 175: "Reality TV" |
2014, 2017 | Who Charted? | Herself | •2 episodes |
2014–2017 | Hollywood Handbook | Herself | •3 episodes |
2014–present | With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus | Various (guest) | •150 episodes |
2015 | The Hooray Show with Horatio | Herself | •Episode 2: "Cereal" |
2015 | Gilmore Guys | Herself | •Episode 60: "Lorelai Out of Water" |
2015 | Never Not Funny | Herself | •Episode 1615: "Lauren Lapkus" |
2015 | The Nerdist Podcast | Herself | •Episode 692: "Lauren Lapkus" |
2015 | Thrilling Adventure Hour | Various | •5 episodes |
2015 | Box Angeles | Herself | •Episode 88: "Lauren Lapkus" |
2015 | The Dead Authors Podcast | Beatrix Potter | •Addendum vi: Beatrix Potter |
2015 | Psychic Pshow with Lauren Lapkus | Host | •4 episodes |
2015–present | Wild Horses: The Perspective | Co-host | •15 episodes |
2015 | Sklarbro Country | Herself | •Episode 267: "Hump The Gun" |
2015–2018 | SPONTANEANATION with Paul F. Tompkins | Herself | •4 episodes |
2015, 2016 | Will You Accept This Rose? | Herself | •2 episodes |
2016 | You Made It Weird | Herself | •Episode 297: "Lauren Lapkus" |
2016 | If I Were You | Herself | •Episode 209: "Friend Group (w/ Lauren Lapkus!)" |
2016 | The Longest Shortest Time | Herself | •Episode 78: "Lauren Lapkus Answers Kids' Unanswerable Questions" |
2016, 2017 | Doughboys | Herself | •2 episodes |
2016 | WTF with Marc Maron | Herself | •Episode 732: "Lauren Lapkus" |
2016 | I Was There Too | Herself | •Episode 45: "Jurassic World with Lauren Lapkus" |
2017 | How Did This Get Made? | Herself | •Episode 159: "Sleepwalkers" |
2017 | Big Grande's Teacher's Lounge | Ms. Smuckers | •Episode 9: "Great Grief with Home Economics Teacher Ms. Smuckers" |
2017, 2019 | Bitch Sesh | Herself | •2 episodes |
2017 | High and Mighty | Herself | •Episode 101: "Raised by TV" |
2017 | Get Up On This | Herself | •Episode 306: "Lauren Lapkus" |
2017–2019 | Raised by TV | Co-host | •71 episodes |
2018–2020 | Throwing Shade | Herself | •3 episodes |
2018 | The Andy Daly Podcast Pilot Project | Various | •2 episodes |
2018–present | Threedom | Co-host | •53 episodes |
2018 | Womp It Up! | Traci Reardon | •2 episodes |
2018 | Hello from the Magic Tavern | Crystal the Genie | •Season 2, Episode 63: "Genie" |
2018 | Mother May I Sleep With Podcast | Herself | •Season 3, Episode 12: "Wicked Moms Club" |
2020 | Newcomers | Co-host | •16 episodes |
2020 | Laptime with Lauren Lapkus | Herself/various | •48 episodes |
2020 | Mission to Zyxx | Maxie Wiggs | •Episode 415: "Dear Maxie" |
References
- Laime, Elizabeth (September 19, 2014). "242 - Lauren Lapkus!". Totally Laime (Podcast). Earwolf. Event occurs at 20:53. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- Staff (September 6, 2016). "Today In History: September 6". Associated Press. Retrieved March 15, 2017 – via The Gazette (Janesville, Wisconsin).
Today's Birthdays: ... Actress Lauren Lapkus is 31.
- VanDerWerff, Emily (July 16, 2013). "Orange Is The New Black - The Complete First Season". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- Madrid, Monique (April 12, 2013). "Lauren Lapkus Is One Crazy, Talented Woman". Serial Optimist Magazine. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- Ryan, Kyle (June 15, 2015). "Lauren Lapkus on podcasts, Jurassic World, and landing another TV series". The A.V. Club.
- "LAPTIME with Lauren Lapkus". www.stitcher.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- Goldberg, Lesley (May 7, 2014). "TBS Orders 'Buzzy's,' 'Your Family or Mine,' Rashida Jones Comedies to Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- "Lauren Lapkus on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- "BA #088: Lauren Lapkus". the Box Angeles podcast. July 19, 2015.
- Lapkus, Lauren, "I sleep so well here," Chicagoly Magazine, summer 2016, pp. 16-19, p. 17.
- "Podcast Pick of the Week: With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus".
- Ryan, Kyle (June 15, 2015). "Lauren Lapkus on podcasts, Jurrasic World and Landing another TV Series". The A.V. Club.
- "Netflix Orders Innovative Sketch Series 'The Characters' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- "Asssscat". UCB Theatre.
- "Orange is the New Black star Lauren Lapkus's Chicago Wedding". Salvatore's. August 1, 2014. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
- "OITNB Star Lauren Lapkus Valentines Day Separation Message". TMZ. February 14, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- "Orange Is the New Black Actress Lauren Lapkus Marries Mike Castle — Inside Her 'Romantic' and 'Intimate' Wedding Day". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- McNary, Dave (July 17, 2017). "Nick Rutherford, Lauren Lapkus to Star in Relationship Comedy 'The Unicorn' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 4, 2017.