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Ellie Kemper facts for kids

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Ellie Kemper
Ellie Kemper photo by Josephine Sittenfeld.jpg
Kemper in 2002
Born
Elizabeth Claire Kemper

(1980-05-02) May 2, 1980 (age 45)
Education Princeton University (BA)
Worcester College, Oxford
Occupation
  • Actress
  • writer
Years active 1999–present
Spouse(s)
Michael Koman
(m. 2012)
Children 2
Relatives
  • Carrie Kemper (sister)
  • William Thornton Kemper Sr. (great-great-grandfather)

Ellie Kemper (born May 2, 1980) is an American actress. She is famous for playing Erin Hannon in the TV show The Office. She also starred as Kimmy Schmidt in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Ellie has been in movies like Bridesmaids and Home Sweet Home Alone. In 2018, she wrote her first book, My Squirrel Days. She has been nominated for many awards, including the Emmy Awards, for her acting.

Early Life and Education

Ellie Kemper was born on May 2, 1980, in Kansas City, Missouri. She is the second of four children. Her parents are Dorothy Ann and David Woods Kemper. Her family later moved to St. Louis when she was five years old. Ellie has an older sister named Carrie Kemper, who is a TV writer.

School Days

Ellie went to Conway Elementary School and then John Burroughs School for high school. There, she became very interested in theater and comedy. One of her teachers was the actor Jon Hamm. She even performed in a school play with him!

College Life

Ellie went to Princeton University and graduated in 2002. She earned a degree in English. At Princeton, Ellie was part of an improv comedy group called Quipfire. This group was known for its funny pranks. She also played on Princeton's field hockey team for a year. She later studied English literature at Worcester College, Oxford for a year.

Acting Career

Ellie Kemper started her acting career with comedy. She often appeared in funny sketches on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. She also made guest appearances on other TV shows. Ellie got her first acting card by doing a TV commercial for a sale at Kmart.

She has also written many comedy shows. Some of these she wrote with her friend Scott Eckert. Ellie has also written for funny newspapers like The Onion and McSweeney's.

Breaking into TV Shows

Ellie tried out for a role in the TV show Parks and Recreation. She didn't get that part, but she got a call back for another show. This was for a supporting role in The Office. She was cast as Erin Hannon, a friendly secretary. She started appearing on the show in April 2009.

The writers of The Office changed Erin's character to be more like Ellie. They made Erin more cheerful and positive. Many people loved Ellie's role as Erin. Critics said she brought "infectious joy and sweetness" to the show.

Starring in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

After The Office, Ellie starred in the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She played the main character, Kimmy Schmidt. Kimmy is a former cult member who moves to New York City. She wants to start a new life. Ellie's acting in this show was highly praised. She received many nominations for awards, including the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Emmy Award.

Other Fun Projects

In 2015, Ellie was a temporary co-host on the TV show Today. In 2019, she was a guest judge on America's Got Talent. She even pressed the Golden Buzzer for a dance group called Light Balance Kids!

Ellie has also done voice work for audiobooks. She recorded the audiobook for A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo. She also recorded a book that was supposedly written by her character Kimmy Schmidt. In 2023, Ellie made her debut on Broadway in the play Peter Pan Goes Wrong.

Personal Life

Ellie Kemper married comedy writer Michael Koman on July 7, 2012. They have two sons. Their first son was born in August 2016, and their second in September 2019. Ellie has shared that her husband agreed to raise their children in the Roman Catholic faith.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Mystery Team Jamie
Cayman Went Girl in Bar
2010 Get Him to the Greek Pinnacle Executive
Somewhere Claire
2011 Bridesmaids Becca
2012 21 Jump Street Ms. Griggs
Rich Girl Problems Lucretia Short film
2013 Identity Thief Flo Uncredited
2014 Laggies Allison
Sex Tape Tess
They Came Together Karen
The Nobodies Julie Short film
2016 The Secret Life of Pets Katie Voice
2017 The Lego Batman Movie Phyllis
Smurfs: The Lost Village Smurf Blossom
2019 The Secret Life of Pets 2 Katie
2020 We Bare Bears: The Movie Produce Lucy
The Stand In Jenna Jones
2021 Home Sweet Home Alone Pam McKenzie
2023 Happiness for Beginners Helen

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 ...: American Style Cindy
2007 Redeeming Rainbow Shelly Television film
2007–2008 Mister Glasses Kitty 5 episodes
2009–2010 Important Things with Demetri Martin Allison / Felicia 2 episodes
2009–2013 The Office 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"
Robot Chicken Bella Swan / Tracy / Female Passenger Voice, episode: "Crushed by a Steamroller on My 53rd Birthday"
2012–2013 The Mindy Project Heather 3 episodes
2013 Brenda Forever Brenda Miller Unaired TV pilot
2013–2014 Hollywood Game Night Herself 2 episodes
2013–2018 Sofia the First Crackle Voice; 10 episodes
2014 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Herself (fill-in host) Episode: "11.96"
American Dad! Jenna Voice, episode: "Introducing the Naughty Stewardesses"
Comedy Bang! Bang! Herself Episode: "Ellie Kemper Wears a Purple Ruffled Sleeveless Top & Lavender Flats"
TripTank Homeless Lady, Hula Girl Voice, 2 episodes
2015 The Today Show Herself (co-anchor, Today's Take) Morning news program (June 29, 2015 – July 17, 2015)
WordGirl Rose Franklin Voice, episode: "News Girl"
... History Nellie Bly Episode: "Journalism"
2015–2018 We Bare Bears Produce Lucy Voice, 4 episodes
2015–2020 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Kimmy Schmidt Main role (52 episodes)
2016 Animals. Princess Voice, episode: "Dogs."
All Hail King Julien Karen Voice, episode: "Revenge of the Prom"
2017 Julie's Greenroom Herself 2 episodes
2018 The Who Was? Show Herself (narrator for Amelia) Episode: "Isaac Newton & Amelia Earhart"
2019 At Home with Amy Sedaris Herself Episode: "Anniversary"
Live in Front of a Studio Audience Gloria Stivic Episode: "Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons"
America's Got Talent Herself (Guest Judge) Season 14
You're Not a Monster Elsa Brenner Voice, 3 episodes
2020 The Simpsons Mary Voice, episode: "A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas"
2022 Central Park Ingrid Witherstrop Voice, episode: "Where There's Smoke"
Inside Amy Schumer Noelle Christensen Episode: "Gratitude"
2022–2023 Eureka Chee Voice, 4 episodes
The Great American Baking Show Herself (host) 7 episodes

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See also

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