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'{{Infobox person | name = Ellie Kemper | image = Ellie Kemper at the 38th People's Choice Award (cropped).jpg | caption = Kemper at the [[38th People's Choice Award]] in January 2012 | alt = Kemper smiling | birth_name = Elizabeth Claire Kemper | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|05|2}} | birth_place = [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], [[Missouri]], U.S. | residence = [[Manhattan]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S. | education = [[Princeton University]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])}}<br>[[Worcester College, Oxford]] | occupation = Actress, comedian | years_active = 2006–present | spouse = {{marriage|[[Michael Koman]]|July 7, 2012}} | children = 2 | relatives = [[Carrie Kemper]] {{Small|(sister)}}<br />[[William Thornton Kemper Sr.]] {{Small|(great-great-grandfather)}} }} '''Elizabeth Claire Kemper''' (born May 2, 1980<ref name=tvg>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ellie-kemper/298647/ |title=Ellie Kemper |publisher=[[TV Guide|TVGuide.com]] |accessdate=April 14, 2016 |archivedate=March 14, 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314120946/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ellie-kemper/298647/ |url-status=live}}</ref><!--TV Guide cite also verifies full name Elizabeth Claire Kemper-->) is an American actress and comedian. She played the receptionist [[Erin Hannon]] in the NBC comedy series ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]'' (2009–2013) and later the starring role in the [[Netflix]] comedy series ''[[Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt]]'' (2015–2019), for which she has received two nominations for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series]]. Kemper also appeared in the films ''[[Bridesmaids (2011 film)|Bridesmaids]]'' (2011) and ''[[21 Jump Street (film)|21 Jump Street]]'' (2012). In 2018 she published her first book, ''[[My Squirrel Days]]''. ==Early life== Kemper was born in [[Kansas City, Missouri]],<ref name=tvg /> the second of four children of Dorothy Ann "Dotty" (Jannarone) and David Woods Kemper, a son of one of the wealthiest families in Missouri.<ref name="SLPD1213"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/09/07/archives/bridal-for-dorothy-a-jannarone.html |work=The New York Times |title=Bridal for Dorothy A. Jannarone |date=September 7, 1975}}</ref> Her father was the chairman and [[chief executive officer|CEO]] of what is today [[Commerce Bancshares]], a [[bank holding company]] founded by the Kemper family. She is the granddaughter of Mildred Lane Kemper, namesake of the [[Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum]] at [[Washington University in St.&nbsp;Louis]], and great-great-granddaughter of banker, insurance man, and railroad magnate [[William Thornton Kemper Sr.]] She is the older sister of television writer [[Carrie Kemper]]. Kemper is of Italian (from her maternal grandfather), English, French and German ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fIcJu9wLCY|title=Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson|last=|first=|date=January 26, 2011|work=[[YouTube]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|accessdate=December 12, 2018}}</ref> Kemper was raised<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/12/ellie-kemper-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt|work=Vanity Fair|title=Profile: Ellie Kemper, Star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt|author=Steinfeld, Curtis|date=December 10, 2014|accessdate=April 20, 2017}}</ref> and remains<ref>{{cite web |last=O'Hare |first=Kate |url=http://blog.familytheater.org/ellie-kemper-of-the-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-talks-being-catholic-with-stephen-colbert/ |title=Ellie Kemper of 'The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' Talks Being Catholic With Stephen Colbert |work=[[Family Theater Productions]] |date=July 12, 2016 |accessdate=January 3, 2016}}</ref> a practicing [[Catholic Church in the United States|Roman Catholic]]. Her family moved to [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] when Kemper was five years old. She attended Conway Elementary School in the affluent suburb of [[Ladue, Missouri|Ladue]] and high school at [[John Burroughs School]], where she developed an interest in theater and improvisational comedy. One of her teachers was actor [[Jon Hamm]], with whom she appeared in a school play.<ref name="SLPD1213"/> In 1999, Kemper made her [[debutante|debut]] at the [[Veiled Prophet Ball]], where she was named the Veiled Prophet Queen of Love and Beauty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/from-vp-queen-to-the-office-john-burroughs-graduate-joins/article_978bc3fd-852f-5d9e-b114-489bb627d8b2.html|title=From VP queen ...to 'The Office'; John Burroughs graduate joins fellow St. Louisans Jenna Fischer and Phyllis Smith at Dunder Mifflin|date=December 13, 2009|work=stltoday.com}}</ref> Kemper graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 2002 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in English.<ref name="SLPD1213">{{Cite news|last=Pennington|first=Gail|title=From VP queen ...to 'The Office'|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=December 13, 2009|url=http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/article_978bc3fd-852f-5d9e-b114-489bb627d8b2.html|accessdate=December 16, 2010}}</ref> At Princeton, Kemper was a member of the school's improv comedy troupe, Quipfire. She played on the school's 1998 [[NCAA Women's Field Hockey Championship|national championship]] [[field hockey]] team,<ref>{{cite web |title=1999 Preseason Women's Field Hockey Roster|url=http://www.fansonly.com/schools/prin/sports/w-fieldh/mtt/prin-w-fieldh-mtt.html|publisher=FansOnly.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000310143533/http://www.fansonly.com/schools/prin/sports/w-fieldh/mtt/prin-w-fieldh-mtt.html|archivedate=March 10, 2000}}</ref> maintaining she sat on the bench "roughly 97 percent" of the time<ref name="Princeton">{{Cite news|last=Tomlinson|first=Brett|title=Office Addition|work=[[Princeton Alumni Weekly]]|url=http://blogs.princeton.edu/paw/2009/04/office_addition.html|date=April 15, 2009|accessdate=May 23, 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429033423/http://blogs.princeton.edu/paw/2009/04/office_addition.html |archivedate=April 29, 2009}}</ref> before moving on in the following year to focus on theatre.<ref name="SLPD1213"/> She attended [[Worcester College, Oxford]], where she studied towards a graduate degree in English.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bucknell.edu/news-and-media/events-and-calendars/2016/ellie-kemper-star-of-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-and-the-office-to-speak-at-bucknell.html|title=Ellie Kemper, Star of Unbreakable Kimmu Schmidt and The Office, to Speak at Bucknell|website=Bucknell.edu|access-date=January 26, 2017}}</ref> ==Career== {{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 | salign=center | width=195px |align=right | quote = I'm the most comfortable when I'm playing a naturalistic character. I auditioned for ''Saturday Night Live'', and when I was doing the biggest characters, I felt the least comfortable. I'm just more comfortable when it's some version of myself. | source = Ellie Kemper<ref name="ComToWatch" />}} Kemper continued her interest in improvisational comedy while at Princeton. Kemper participated in Quipfire!, Princeton's oldest improv comedy group,<ref>{{cite web |title=About – Quipfire! |url=http://quipfireimprov.com/about/ |publisher=Quipfire |accessdate=May 10, 2016}}</ref> and the [[Princeton Triangle Club]], a touring musical comedy theater troupe.<ref name="SLPD1213" /> She also appeared in a radio spot for [[Dunkin' Donuts]].<ref name="UCB" /> Kemper earned her [[Screen Actors Guild]] card doing commercial advertising of a one-week sale of tents at [[Kmart]].<ref>Moynihan, Rob (January 18, 2016). "How I Got My SAG-AFTRA Card", ''[[TV Guide]]''. p. 12.</ref> The commercial featured her camping with an onscreen husband, and a shot in which a [[tarantula]] crawls across her face.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbH7hsyzT2E</ref> She regularly appeared in comedy sketches on ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'' in the late 2000s, and has made guest appearances on ''[[Important Things with Demetri Martin]]'',<ref name="SLPD1213" /> and [[E!]] Television's ''[[The Gastineau Girls]]'',<ref name="UCB">{{cite web |title=Ellie Kemper |work=[[Upright Citizens Brigade]] |url=http://www.ucbcomedy.com/user/2983 |accessdate=March 14, 2015}}</ref><ref name="KickPeople">{{cite web |title=Biographies |work=How to Kick People: About this Show |url=http://www.howtokickpeople.com/bios.html |accessdate=March 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526170059/http://howtokickpeople.com/bios.html |archive-date=2009-05-26 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref> which has been described as her "breakout role". She has appeared on [[Fuse TV]]'s ''The P.A.'' In October 2008, Kemper appeared on ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' in a PSA for Teen Voter Abstinence.<ref name="Comedy Central">{{cite web |title=Colbert Report |work=Colbert Teen Talk |url=http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/186530/october-01-2008/colbert-teen-talk---voter-abstinence |accessdate=September 9, 2009}}</ref> Kemper has written several [[sketch comedy]] shows<ref name="Dynamic Duo: Scott & Ellie project lots of energy in PIT duo improv show, April 2006 review">{{cite web |title=Ellie Kemper |work=The PIT |url=http://www.jesterjournal.com/ScottEllie2.htm |accessdate=April 15, 2006}}</ref> many of them with her comedy partner Scott Eckert,<ref name="UCB" /> a fellow Princeton grad.<ref name="Princeton" /> Kemper is a contributing writer for the national satirical newspaper ''[[The Onion]]'',<ref name="Contact The Onion">{{cite web |title=Contact The Onion |work=[[The Onion]]}}</ref> and for ''[[McSweeney's]]''.<ref name="UCB" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Kemper |first=Ellie |title=Listen, Kid, The Biggest Thing You've Got Going For You Is Your Rack |work=McSweeney's |date=December 14, 2005 |url=http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2005/12/14kemper.html |accessdate=May 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526024350/http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2005/12/14kemper.html |archivedate=May 26, 2011 |df=mdy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kemper |first=Ellie |title=Following My Creative Writing Teacher's Advice To Write 'Like My Parents Are Dead' |date=October 23, 2006 |url=http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2006/10/23kemper.html |work=McSweeney's |accessdate=November 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225064340/http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2006/10/23kemper.html |archivedate=December 25, 2009 |df=mdy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kemper |first=Ellie |title=Some Relatively Recent College Grads Discuss Their Maids |date=December 13, 2007 |work=McSweeney's |url=http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2007/12/13kemper.html |accessdate=November 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225100412/http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2007/12/13kemper.html |archivedate=December 25, 2009 |df=mdy}}</ref> She is also a contributor to ''[[The Huffington Post]]''.<ref name="Bloggers">{{Cite news |title=Huffington Post Bloggers |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellie-kemper |accessdate=May 5, 2010 |first=Ellie |last=Kemper}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kemper |first=Ellie |title=I'm Not Exactly Afraid of Really Intense Fashion |date=December 2, 2009 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellie-kemper/im-not-exactly-afraid-of_b_374506.html |accessdate=May 5, 2010 |work=The Huffington Post}}</ref> [[File:Ellie Kemper UCB cropped.jpg|thumb|Kemper performing "Feeling Sad/Mad with Ellie Kemper" at the [[Upright Citizens Brigade Theater]] in 2008]] Upon moving to New York City, Kemper participated in the People's Improv Theatre<ref name="Princeton" /> and the city troupe of [[Upright Citizens Brigade]], an improvisational comedy and sketch comedy theater. She has appeared in several shows for the Brigade, including ''Death and/or Despair'', ''Listen Kid'', ''Gang Bang'' and ''The Improvised Mystery''.<ref name="UCB" /> At the UCB, she performed with the house improv teams Mailer Daemon and fwand.<ref name="UCB" /> At the People's Improv Theatre she performs with the house improv team Big Black Car.<ref name="Big Black Car">{{cite web|title=Ellie Kemper |work=The PIT |url=http://www.thepit-nyc.com/performers/ekemper.html |accessdate=September 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906112132/http://thepit-nyc.com/performers/ekemper.html |archivedate=September 6, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> In August 2008, she auditioned for a spot on the NBC sketch comedy show ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', but was not cast.<ref name="ComToWatch">{{Cite news |title=10 Comics to Watch: Ellie Kemper |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=July 17, 2009 |last=Hensley |first=Dennis |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006156.html?categoryid=3183&cs=1 |accessdate=September 6, 2009}}</ref> In July 2009, Kemper was named one of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' magazine's "10 Comics To Watch".<ref name="ComToWatch" /> {{Quote box |quoted=true |salign=center | width=195px |align=left | quote = Being on set with them is like being in a dream, except the dream is real and I can reach out and touch them. Except I am trying not to touch them too much, because I was raised right. | source = Ellie Kemper on ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]''<ref name="Princeton" />}} In 2007, she appeared in ''How to Kick People'', a performance combining comedy and literary performances. In March 2008, she wrote and performed in the one-woman show "Dumb Girls" through the [[Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre]].<ref name="KickPeople" /> She also performed in the one-woman show "Feeling Sad/Mad with Ellie Kemper"<ref name="ComToWatch" /> and has appeared in comedy sketches on [[Funny or Die]], the comedy website started by [[Will Ferrell]] and [[Adam McKay]]'s production company, [[Gary Sanchez Productions]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cain |first=Brooke |work=[[The News & Observer]] |title=New receptionist on 'The Office' |date=March 21, 2009 |url=http://blogs.newsobserver.com/category/tags/Ellie-Kemper |accessdate=March 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417061013/http://blogs.newsobserver.com/category/tags/Ellie-Kemper |archivedate=April 17, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> Kemper gained some [[List of Internet phenomena|Internet fame]] in August 2007 for her part in "Blowjob Girl", a humor video on the sketch comedy site [[Derrick Comedy]]. The video, which was circulated on the popular site [[CollegeHumor]], was a two-minute close-up of Kemper offering to perform [[oral sex]] on her boyfriend, but startling him by promising to bite and smash his genitals, which she seems to believe is arousing.<ref>{{cite web |title=I'm Gonna Make it Sooo Dry For You... |work=AmFmPm |date=May 7, 2007 |url=http://www.amfmpm.org/2007/07/blowjobs-blowjob-right.html |accessdate=June 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924031130/http://www.amfmpm.org/2007/07/blowjobs-blowjob-right.html |archive-date=2009-09-24 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref> Kemper said of the video in an April 2010 interview with ''[[The A.V. Club]]'': "I really don't like that video, and I wish that I hadn't done it, even though I know that it's a joke. I hate that it got sort of big, because I don't think that it's that funny and I don't want that to be the epitome of my work. It's just one video in a sea of many, but it has made me conscious of not wanting to do a video like that again."<ref>{{cite web |title=Ellie Kemper Interview |work=The A.V. Club |date=April 20, 2010 |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/ellie-kemper,40258/ |accessdate=May 6, 2010}}</ref> Kemper has also contributed an article to [[CollegeHumor]] entitled "Regarding Our Decision Never to See Me Again".<ref>{{cite web|title=Regarding Our Decision Never to See Me Again |work=[[CollegeHumor]] |date=February 1, 2007 |url=http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1717592 |accessdate=May 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012121854/http://www.collegehumor.com/article%3A1717592 |archivedate=October 12, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> She also had a minor role in the 2009 film ''[[Mystery Team]]''. Kemper starred in a fake [[iPhone]] commercial on ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' in January 2007, six months before the first iPhone was released.<ref name="Conan iPhone">{{Cite news|title=Last Night's Episode |work=NBC Message Boards |url=http://boards.nbc.com/nbc/index.php?showtopic=718874&st=1260 |accessdate=September 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913141427/http://boards.nbc.com/nbc/index.php?showtopic=718874 |archivedate=September 13, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref> Kemper appeared in the [[Sofia Coppola]] comedy-drama ''[[Somewhere (film)|Somewhere]]'' in 2010.<ref name="ComToWatch" /> She appeared in ''[[Bridesmaids (2011 film)|Bridesmaids]]'' in 2011.<ref name="IMDB">{{cite web |title=Ellie Kemper |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2608689/ |accessdate=May 5, 2010}}</ref> On April 3, 2013, it was announced that Kemper would be [[voice acting|voicing]] a character in an episode of the [[animated sitcom]] ''[[American Dad!]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Masters |first=Megan |url=http://tvline.com/2013/04/03/american-dad-cast-ellie-kemper-voice-popular-girl/ |title=''American Dad'' Cast&nbsp;– Ellie Kemper to Voice Popular Girl |publisher=TVLine |date=March 29, 2013 |accessdate=April 4, 2013}}</ref> [[File:Ellie Kemper photo by Josephine Sittenfeld.jpg|thumb|left|Ellie Kemper in 2002]] Kemper auditioned for a role in ''[[Parks and Recreation]]'', an [[NBC]] comedy series started in 2009 by [[Michael Schur]] and [[Greg Daniels]], creator of the series ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]''. She was not cast in the role, but received a call back to audition for a supporting role in ''The Office'' as [[Erin Hannon]], a secretary filling in for the regular secretary [[Pam Beesly]] when she briefly left the job at the end of the [[The Office (US TV series) season 5|fifth season]]. Kemper was cast in the role, and started appearing in the show in April 2009. The character was originally written to be more sarcastic and dry, but the writers changed her to be more perky and optimistic to more closely resemble Kemper herself. Kemper described the character as "an exaggerated version of myself".<ref name="SLPD1213" /> Kemper described herself as a "huge fan" of the show and was thrilled to be on it.<ref name="Princeton" /> Although the character was originally intended for four episodes, the producers were impressed with Kemper and signed her as a regular in the [[The Office (US TV series) season 6|sixth season]].<ref name="SLPD1213" /> [[Jennifer Celotta]], a screenwriter with the series, described Kemper as a "fun addition" to the show.<ref>{{Cite news |title="Company Picnic" Q&A with Jen Celotta |work=OfficeTally |url=http://www.officetally.com/company-picnic-qa-with-jen-celotta |date=May 22, 2009 |accessdate=May 23, 2009}}</ref> Kemper received positive reviews for her role in ''The Office''. Alan Sepinwall, television columnist with ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', praised the "infectious joy and sweetness" she brought to the show.<ref name="SLPD1213" /> Joshua Ostroff of ''[[Eye Weekly]]'' described Erin as one of the best new television characters of the 2008–2009 season and said, "Erin's high-grade adorability, up-for-anything attitude and sheer niceness is unlike anyone else in the office, adding a welcome new wrinkle for next season."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ostroff |first=Joshua |title=Leaders of the New School: Great performances in the margins brought a so-so season to life |date=May 20, 2009 |work=[[Eye Weekly]] |url=http://www.eyeweekly.com/film/tv/article/60934--leaders-of-the-new-school |accessdate=May 23, 2009}}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Andy Shaw of ''TV Fodder'' said she "adds some freshness to the cast"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shaw |first=Andy |title=The Office: "Cafe Disco" |work=TV Fodder |date=May 7, 2009 |url=http://www.tvfodder.com/office/archives/2009/05/cafe_disco.shtml |accessdate=May 8, 2009}}</ref> and Josh McAuliffe of ''[[The Times-Tribune (Scranton)|The Times-Tribune]]'' in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]], Pennsylvania, said he liked Erin's "cheerful, appealingly goofy personality".<ref>{{Cite news |last=McAuliffe |first=Josh |title="Cafe Disco" Recap |work=[[The Times-Tribune (Scranton)|The Times-Tribune]] |location=[[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]], Pennsylvania |date=May 8, 2009 |url=http://community.thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/theoffice/archive/2009/05/08/quot-cafe-disco-quot-recap.aspx |accessdate=May 8, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Many critics have singled her out as a highlight of the show's [[The Office (U.S. season 8)|eighth season]] following [[Steve Carell]]'s departure.<ref name=avclub>{{cite web |last=Myles |first=McNutt |title=Tallahassee |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/tallahassee,69358/ |work=The A.V. Club |date=February 16, 2012 |accessdate=February 17, 2012}}</ref><ref name="nationalpost">{{cite web |last=Hertz |first=Barry |url=http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/10/28/recap-the-office-season-8-episode-5/ |title=The Office, Season 8, Episode 5: Recap |work=[[National Post]] |date=October 28, 2011 |accessdate=October 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130104055904/http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/10/28/recap-the-office-season-8-episode-5/ |archive-date=2013-01-04 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref><ref name="avclubspooked">{{cite web |last=McNutt |first=Myles |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/spooked,63910/ |title=Spooked |work=The A.V. Club |date=October 27, 2011 |accessdate=October 29, 2011}}</ref><ref name="avclubxmas">{{cite web |last=McNutt |first=Myles |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/christmas-wishes,66272/ |title=Christmas Wishes |work=The A.V. Club |date=December 8, 2011 |accessdate=December 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Mader |first=Jill |title=The Office&nbsp;– Episode 8–12 Review&nbsp;– "A Party to Remember" |url=http://insidepulse.com/2012/01/20/the-office-episode-8-12-review-a-party-to-remember/ |publisher=InsidePulse |accessdate=February 17, 2012}}</ref><ref name="newyork">{{cite web |last=Tedder |first=Michael |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2012/02/office-recap-season-8-episode-14.html |title=The Office Recap: Florida Facts |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |date=February 10, 2012 |accessdate=February 10, 2012}}</ref> In October 2009, Kemper appeared in ''[[Subtle Sexuality]]'', a set of three ''The Office'' webisodes about efforts by Erin and [[Kelly Kapoor]] ([[Mindy Kaling]]) to start a [[girl group]].<ref name="SLPD1213" /> She stars in the [[Netflix]] original comedy series ''[[Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt]]'' as the fish-out-of-water [[Kimmy Schmidt|title character]]. She plays a former abductee and forced cult-member who wants to shed the victim pity of her small hometown and moves to New York.<ref>Michael Martin, [http://www.out.com/television/2015/3/03/tituss-burgess "Why Tituss Burgess Makes Tina Fey Laugh"], ''Out'', March 4, 2015.</ref> Her performance on the show has been widely acclaimed, and she received multiple nominations for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series|Screen Actors Guild Award]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/05/allison-williams-face-calms-ellie-kempers-baby.html|title=Allison Williams's Face Is the Only Thing That Calms Ellie Kemper's Baby|last=McHenry|first=Jackson|work=Vulture|access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref> and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series]]. In the summer of 2015, Kemper served as a temporary co-host of ''[[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]]'' alongside [[Al Roker]], [[Natalie Morales (journalist)|Natalie Morales]], [[Tamron Hall]], and [[Willie Geist]].<ref>Will Lerner, [https://www.yahoo.com/tv/today-has-a-lot-of-hosts-matt-lauer-savannah-122435491680.html "'Today' Announces Ellie Kemper as New Co-Host"], Yahoo TV, June 25, 2015.</ref> In 2018, Kemper recorded for the audiobook ''[[A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo]]''.<ref name="Bundo AV Club">{{cite news |last=Perkins |first=Dennis |date=March 19, 2018 |title=John Oliver hijacks homophobe Mike Pence's bunny book with a better one in A Day In The Life Of Marlon Bundo |url=https://www.avclub.com/john-oliver-hijacks-homophobe-mike-pences-bunny-book-wi-1823879129 |work=AV Club |location= |access-date=March 19, 2018 }}</ref> In 2018, she also published her first book, entitled ''My Squirrel Days''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/ellie-kemper-book-review-my-squirrel-days-1202983066/|title= Ellie Kemper's Irreverent New Book Tracks Her Missteps and Misadventures in Hollywood|last=Chan |first= Tim|date= 20 October 2018|website=variety.com |publisher=Variety Magazine |access-date=2 November 2018 |quote=}}</ref> In 2019, she appeared as a guest judge on season 14 of America's Got Talent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://talentrecap.com/watch-agt-sneak-peek-ellie-kemper/|title=Watch This INSANE 'AGT' Hand Balancing Act Sneak Peek! — Guest Judge Ellie Kemper|date=2019-07-26|website=Talent Recap|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-28}}</ref> ==Personal life== In 2012, Kemper became engaged to boyfriend [[Michael Koman]], a writer whose credits include ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' and ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/the-office-star-ellie-kemper-is-engaged-2011812 |title=The Office Star Ellie Kemper Is Engaged! |author=Zach Johnson |date=December 8, 2011 |work=[[Us Weekly]] |accessdate=May 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/offices-ellie-kemper-announces-engagement-271945 |title=The actress' fiance, Michael Koman, is a former "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Colbert Report" writer. |author=Lauren Schutte |date=December 9, 2011 |accessdate=May 22, 2012 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> The couple married on July 7, 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20610212,00.html |title=Ellie Kemper Is Married! |author=Alison Schwartz |work=People |date=July 7, 2012 |accessdate=July 8, 2012}}</ref> Kemper has a son who was born in August 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last=Respers |first=Lisa |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/02/entertainment/ellie-kemper-baby/ |title='Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' star Ellie Kemper gives birth |website=CNN.com |date=August 2, 2016 |accessdate=January 25, 2017}}</ref> On ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'', Kemper stated that her Jewish husband had agreed to raise their children [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://blog.familytheater.org/ellie-kemper-of-the-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-talks-being-catholic-with-stephen-colbert/|title=Ellie Kemper of 'The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' Talks Being Catholic With Stephen Colbert|work=Faith & Family Media Blog|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref> On May 17, 2019, she revealed on ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'' that she is pregnant with her second child.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Ryan Seacrest, Celeste Barber, Musical Guest Slipknot |series=Jimmy Kimmel Live! |date=17 May 2019 |url=https://abc.go.com/shows/jimmy-kimmel-live/episode-guide/2019-05/17-jimmy-kimmel-live-517 |network=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] |season=17 |number=68 |last=Kimmel |first=Jimmy (host)}}</ref> ==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan="2"| 2009 | ''[[Mystery Team]]'' | Jamie | |- | ''Cayman Went'' | Girl in Bar | |- | rowspan="2"| 2010 | ''[[Get Him to the Greek]]'' | Pinnacle Executive | |- | ''[[Somewhere (film)|Somewhere]]'' | Claire | |- | 2011 | ''[[Bridesmaids (2011 film)|Bridesmaids]]'' | Becca | |- | rowspan="2"| 2012 | ''[[21 Jump Street (film)|21 Jump Street]]'' | Ms. Griggs | |- | ''Rich Girl Problems'' | Lucretia | Short film |- | 2013 | ''[[Identity Thief]]'' | Flo | Uncredited{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} |- | rowspan="4"| 2014 | ''[[Laggies]]'' | Allison | |- | ''[[Sex Tape (film)|Sex Tape]]'' | Tess | |- | ''[[They Came Together]]'' | Karen | |- | ''The Nobodies'' | Julie | Short film |- | 2016 | ''[[The Secret Life of Pets]]'' | Katie | Voice role |- | rowspan="2"| 2017 | ''[[The Lego Batman Movie]]'' | Phyllis | Voice role |- | ''[[Smurfs: The Lost Village]]'' | Smurf Blossom | Voice role |- | 2019 | ''[[The Secret Life of Pets 2]]'' | Katie | Voice role |- | TBA | ''[[The Stand-In (upcoming film)|The Stand-In]]'' | | ''Post-production'' |} ===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2006 | ''Sexual Intercourse: American Style'' | Cindy | |- | 2007 | ''Redeeming Rainbow'' | Shelly | [[Television film|Movie]] |- | 2007–2008 | ''Mister Glasses'' | Kitty | 5 episodes |- | 2009–2010 | ''[[Important Things with Demetri Martin]]'' | Allison / Felicia | 2 episodes |- | 2009–2013 | ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]'' | [[Kelly Erin Hannon]] | Recurring: season 5, main role: seasons 6–9 (107 episodes) |- | 2010 | ''The Office: The 3rd Floor'' | Erin Hannon | 3 episodes |- | 2012 | ''[[NTSF:SD:SUV::]]'' | Fitzpatrick | Episode: "Whack-a-Mole" |- | 2012 | ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' | Kendra / Female Passenger (voice) | Episode: "Crushed by a Steamroller on My 53rd Birthday" |- | 2012–2013 | ''[[The Mindy Project]]'' | Heather | 3 episodes |- | 2013–2016 | ''[[Sofia the First]]'' | Crackle (voice) | 7 episodes |- | 2013–2014 | ''[[Hollywood Game Night]]'' | Herself | 2 episodes |- | 2013 | ''Brenda Forever'' | Brenda Miller | Movie |- | 2014 | ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'' | Herself (fill-in host) | Episode: "11.96" |- | 2014 | ''[[American Dad!]]'' | Jenna (voice) | Episode: "Introducing the Naughty Stewardesses" |- | 2014 | ''[[Comedy Bang! Bang! (TV series)|Comedy Bang! Bang!]]'' | Herself | Episode: "Ellie Kemper Wears a Purple Ruffled Sleeveless Top & Lavender Flats" |- | 2015–2019 | ''[[Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt]]'' | [[Kimmy Schmidt]] | Main role (51 episodes) |- | 2015 | ''[[The Today Show]]'' | Herself (co-anchor, ''Today's Take'') | Morning news program (June 29, 2015&nbsp;– July 17, 2015) |- | 2015, 2017 | ''[[We Bare Bears]]'' | Produce Lucy (voice) | 3 episodes |- | 2015 | ''[[Drunk History]]'' | [[Nellie Bly]] | Episode: "Journalism" |- | 2016 | ''[[Animals.]]'' | Princess (voice) | Episode: "Dogs." |- | 2016 | ''[[All Hail King Julien]]'' | Karen (voice) | Episode: "Revenge of the Prom" |- | 2017 | ''[[Julie's Greenroom]]'' | Herself | Episode: "Morning at the Improv" |- |2018 |''[[The Who Was? Show]]'' |Herself (narrator for Amelia) |Episode: "Isaac Newton & Amelia Earhart" |- | 2019 | ''[[Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons]]'' | [[Gloria Stivic]] | [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[television special]] |- |2019 | ''[[America's Got Talent|America’s Got Talent]]'' |Herself (Guest Judge) |[[America's Got Talent (season 14)|Season 14]] |} ==Bibliography== * {{cite book|title=[[My Squirrel Days]] |first=Ellie |last=Kemper |publisher=Scribner |date=2018 |isbn=978-1-5011-6334-0 }} ==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Association ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result |- | rowspan=2 | 2010 | [[Golden Nymph Awards]] | Outstanding Actress – Comedy Series{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} | rowspan=4 | ''The Office'' | {{won}} |- | rowspan=3 | [[Screen Actors Guild]] | rowspan=3 | [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series]] | {{nom}} |- | 2011 | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=8 | 2012 | {{nom}} |- | [[Alliance of Women Film Journalists]] | Best Ensemble Cast{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} | rowspan=7 | ''Bridesmaids'' | {{won}} |- | [[Critics' Choice Movie Awards]] | [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble|Best Acting Ensemble]] | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=2 | [[MTV Movie Awards]] | [[MTV Movie Award for Best Jaw Dropping Moment|Best Jaw Dropping Moment]] | {{won}} |- | [[2012 MTV Movie Awards#Awards|Best Cast]] | {{nom}} |- | [[New York Film Critics Online]] | Best Ensemble{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} | {{won}} |- | Screen Actors Guild | [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association]] | [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble|Best Ensemble]] | {{won}} |- | 2013 | Screen Actors Guild | [[19th Screen Actors Guild Awards#Television|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series]] | ''The Office'' | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=2 | 2015 | [[Webby Awards]] | [[2015 Webby Awards|Best Actress]] | rowspan="5" | ''Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'' | {{won}} |- | Screen Actors Guild | [[21st Screen Actors Guild Awards#Television|Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series]] | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=2 | 2016 | [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] | [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series]] | {{nom}} |- | Screen Actors Guild | [[22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards#Television|Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series]] | {{nom}} |- |2017 | Primetime Emmy Awards | [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series]] | {{nom}} |} ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{Sisterlinks|d=Q72077|b=no|n=no|q=no|wikt=no|v=no|voy=no|species=no|commons=Category:Ellie Kemper|s=no}} * {{IMDb name|2608689}} {{The Onion}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kemper, Ellie}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:21st-century American actresses]] [[Category:Actresses from Kansas City, Missouri]] [[Category:Actresses from St. Louis]] [[Category:American people of Breton descent]] [[Category:American people of English descent]] [[Category:American people of German descent]] [[Category:Actresses of Italian descent]] [[Category:Alumni of Worcester College, Oxford]] [[Category:American comedy writers]] [[Category:American debutantes]] [[Category:American female field hockey players]] [[Category:American film actresses]] [[Category:American Roman Catholics]] [[Category:American television actresses]] [[Category:American voice actresses]] [[Category:American women comedians]] [[Category:Catholics from Missouri]] [[Category:Catholics from New York (state)]] [[Category:Kemper family|Ellie]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Princeton Tigers field hockey players]] [[Category:Princeton University alumni]] [[Category:Upright Citizens Brigade Theater performers]] [[Category:21st-century American comedians]]'