The Life of Actress and Comedian Ellie Kemper
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Ellie Kemper, born Elizabeth Claire Kemper on May 2, 1980, in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American actress, comedian, and writer. She is best known for her roles as Erin Hannon on the NBC series The Office and Kimmy Schmidt in the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, earning critical acclaim and multiple award nominations for her performances.
Ellie's Early Life and Education
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Ellie Kemper was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Dorothy Ann and David Woods Kemper, a prominent banking executive. She is the second of four siblings and has a diverse ancestry, including Italian, German, English, and French roots. Raised in a wealthy family, Kemper moved to St. Louis at the age of five, where she attended Conway Elementary School and later John Burroughs School. At John Burroughs, she developed a passion for theater and improvisational comedy, influenced by her drama teacher, actor Jon Hamm. Kemper graduated from Princeton University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in English, where she was active in the improv comedy troupe Quipfire and the Princeton Triangle Club. She also spent a year studying English literature at Worcester College, Oxford
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The Early Years: Ellie Kemper's Journey Through Improvisational Comedy
en.wikipedia.org
Ellie Kemper's early comedic career was marked by her involvement in various improv and sketch comedy groups, as well as her work in commercials and television appearances. After graduating from Princeton, where she honed her comedic skills with groups like Quipfire! and the Princeton Triangle Club
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, Kemper moved to New York City to pursue her passion for comedy.
In New York, Kemper immersed herself in the improv scene, performing with renowned groups such as the Upright Citizens Brigade and the People's Improv Theatre1
. She appeared in several UCB shows, including "Death and/or Despair" and "The Improvised Mystery"1
. Kemper also wrote and performed in one-woman shows like "Dumb Girls" and "Feeling Sad/Mad with Ellie Kemper"1
. Her talent didn't go unnoticed, as she made regular appearances on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and was named one of Variety magazine's "10 Comics To Watch" in 20091
. Despite auditioning for "Saturday Night Live" in 2008, Kemper wasn't cast but continued to build her career through various comedy projects and writing contributions to publications like The Onion and McSweeney's1
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Ellie's Breakthrough Role in 'The Office'
screenrant.com
Ellie Kemper's breakthrough role came in 2009 when she joined the cast of the NBC sitcom The Office as Erin Hannon, the new receptionist at Dunder Mifflin. Initially intended for just four episodes, her character quickly became a fan favorite due to Kemper's portrayal of Erin's cheerful and quirky personality. The producers were so impressed with her performance that they extended her role, making her a regular cast member by the sixth season
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Kemper's character, Erin, was introduced as a replacement for Pam Beesly, who had moved to a different position within the company. Erin's upbeat and somewhat naive demeanor provided a fresh dynamic to the office environment, contrasting with the more cynical and jaded characters. Critics praised Kemper's "infectious joy and sweetness," with some describing Erin as one of the best new television characters of the 2008–2009 season4
. Her performance was highlighted as a standout, especially in the show's later seasons following Steve Carell's departure4
.
During her time on The Office, Kemper also appeared in webisodes like Subtle Sexuality, where Erin and Kelly Kapoor (played by Mindy Kaling) attempt to start a girl group4
. This role not only solidified Kemper's place in the comedy world but also opened doors for future opportunities in television and film, setting the stage for her subsequent success in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and other projects1
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Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: A Career-Defining Role
screenrant.com
Ellie Kemper's portrayal of Kimmy Schmidt in the Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt marked a pivotal moment in her career. Premiering in 2015, the show follows Kimmy, a woman who escapes from a doomsday cult after 15 years and starts a new life in New York City. Kemper's performance as the eternally optimistic and resilient Kimmy earned widespread acclaim, showcasing her comedic talent and depth as an actress. The series, created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, ran for four seasons and concluded with an interactive special, Kimmy vs. The Reverend, which provided a satisfying closure to Kimmy's journey and highlighted her growth from a naive survivor to an empowered individual
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