Dorthea Lauren Allegra Lapkus (born September 6, 1985) is an American actress and comedian, known for portraying Susan Fischer in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2014, 2019) and Jess in the HBO comedy-drama series Crashing (2017–2019). She has also appeared in the television series Are You There, Chelsea? (2012), Hot in Cleveland (2012), Clipped (2015), The Big Bang Theory (2018–2019), and Good Girls (2020–2021) and in the films Jurassic World (2015),[1] The Unicorn (2018), and The Wrong Missy (2020). She played the voice role of Lotta in the animated comedy series Harvey Girls Forever! (2018–2020).

Lauren Lapkus
Lapkus in May 2016
Born
Dorthea Lauren Allegra Lapkus

(1985-09-06) September 6, 1985 (age 39)
EducationEvanston Township High School
Alma materDePaul University
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian
Years active2005–present
Spouses
Chris Alvarado
(m. 2014; div. 2016)
(m. 2018)
Children2
Websitelaurenlapkus.com

Lapkus has appeared on various podcasts, including Comedy Bang! Bang!, improv4humans, and her own podcasts With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus, Laptime with Lauren Lapkus,[2][3] Threedom,[4] Raised by TV,[5] and Newcomers.[6]

Early life

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Dorthea Lauren Allegra Lapkus[7] was born on September 6, 1985[8] in Evanston, Illinois.[9] At an early age she filmed sketches with her older brother and later at Evanston Township High School[10] she participated in the annual student revue and variety show YAMO.[10]

During her senior year of high school, she began taking improv classes at the iO Theater.[10] She attended DePaul University graduating in 2008 with a degree in English, while she continued performing improv most nights.[10] Lapkus credits watching many television sitcoms and Saturday Night Live while young for inspiring her to become a comedian.[11]

Upon graduation, she moved to New York City where she became involved with Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.[10] After living in New York City for 15 months,[10] she relocated to Los Angeles in 2010.[1]

Career

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After almost a year in Los Angeles, Lapkus began landing roles in a number of commercials, including Snickers and Jack in the Box[10] as well as a sketch on Jimmy Kimmel Live![10] From these successes, she got herself representation and during pilot season landed a supporting role in the short-lived Are You There, Chelsea?.[10]

After self-taping her audition, Lapkus was cast as correctional officer Susan Fischer on the first and second seasons of the Netflix series Orange is the New Black.[12] 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, in which each week her guest is the host of their own podcast, and she appears as a character on their show. Her guests have included Paul F. Tompkins, Betsy Sodaro, Andy Daly, Nick Kroll, and Scott Aukerman.[13] She has said that she "never expected to get into podcasts at all" and to her it is funny she has one.[10]

In mid-2014, Lapkus was cast in Jurassic World, which she filmed in both Hawaii and New Orleans.[10] Many of her scenes with Jake Johnson were improvised.[10] 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.[14]

Between 2017 and 2019 Lapkus appeared in the HBO series Crashing in the reoccurring role of Jess, the main character's ex-wife.[15]

In 2020, Lapkus launched a weekly podcast Newcomers with co-host Nicole Byer on the Headgum podcast network, in which the two friends watch film franchises for the first time and provide commentary on them. On the podcast, Lapkus and Byer have covered the Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Tyler Perry, Fast & Furious, Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Batman franchises. Past guests have included John Gemberling, Demi Adejuyigbe, Paul F. Tompkins, and Betsy Sodaro.

Lapkus performs improv regularly. She is a cast member of UCB's flagship show Asssscat[16] and improv group Wild Horses.[17]

Personal life

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Lapkus married actor and improviser Chris Alvarado on May 3, 2014.[18] She announced their separation on February 14, 2016, and they divorced later that year.[19][20]

Lapkus married actor Mike Castle on October 5, 2018.[20] On May 18, 2021, Lapkus announced that she and her husband were expecting a baby girl in the summer.[21] She gave birth to a daughter named Holly in 2021. On December 8, 2023, Lapkus revealed she was expecting another baby girl and announced on May 5th that she had given birth to a second daughter, Gigi.[22]

Filmography

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Film

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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[23] 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
For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close Lynn
Happiest Season Mall Security Crystal
The Last Blockbuster Narrator Documentary film
2022 The Curse of Bridge Hollow Mayor Tammy Rice
2023 The Out-Laws Phoebe King
Another Happy Day Joanna Also executive producer[24]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 Carpeted Afterhours Becky Television film
2010 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Various roles 2 episodes
2010–2011 The Parent Project Angie 4 episodes
2011 Video Game Reunion Luigi's Stalker 3 episodes
The Back Room Various 2 episodes
2012 Are You There, Chelsea? Dee Dee 12 episodes
Hot in Cleveland Oscar Episode: "A Box Full of Puppies"
Joe, Joe & Jane Melissa TV pilot
2013–2014,
2019
Orange Is the New Black Susan Fischer 14 episodes
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2013–2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Various roles 5 episodes
2013 You're Whole Ellie Episode: "Lemonade/Fishing/Cupcakes"
2014 House of Lies Benita Spire 3 episodes
The Hotwives of Orlando Bank Rep Episode: "Staycation"
Friends with Better Lives Deena Episode: "The Lost and Hound"
Key & Peele Marion Glass 2 episodes
2014–2016 Drunk History Herself / Normal Woman 3 episodes
2015 Kroll Show Candace Episode: "The In Addition Tos"
Clipped Joy Series regular; 10 episodes
2015–2016 Another Period Penelope 2 episodes
2015–2017 Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero Matilda / additional voices 4 episodes
2016 Netflix Presents: The Characters Various Episode: "Lauren Lapkus"
Bob's Burgers Krissy Davis Voice, episode: "Bye Bye Boo Boo"
Adventure Time Patience St. Pim / Blue Tranch / Ted Voice, 5 episodes
TripTank Clarine Voice, episode: "TripTank 2025"
The Earliest Show Samantha Newman 6 episodes
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
Hell's Kitchen Herself Episode: "Let the Catfights Begin"
2016–2018 Animals. Various voices 7 episodes
2016–2021 American Dad! Various voices 8 episodes
2017 Clarence Lauren / Kim / Square Mom Voice, episode: "Rock Show"
Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ Nadine Episode: "A Divided House"
Ginger Snaps Calista Voice, 10 episodes
The Guest Book Sandy 2 episodes
2017–2019 Crashing Jess 9 episodes
Star vs. the Forces of Evil Higgs Voice, 2 episodes
2018 Life in Pieces Cindy Episode: "Reading Egg Nurse Neighbor"
Lucifer Bree Garland / Abel Episode: "Infernal Guinea Pig"
DIY Jack Voice, television film
Nailed It! Herself Episode: "Jingle Fails"
2018–2019 The Big Bang Theory Denise 8 episodes
2018–2020 Harvey Girls Forever! Lotta Voice, 52 episodes
2018–2021 Big City Greens Val / Rich Lady / Bella Voice, 4 episodes
2018–2023 Craig of the Creek Mackenzie Voice, 7 episodes
2019 Lights Out with David Spade Herself Episode: "Wayne Brady, Tim Dillon, Lauren Lapkus"
2020 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Herself (celebrity contestant) 2 episodes; total winnings: $500,000
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Red Fox Voice, episode: "Sidekick Ahoy"
Corporate Debby Deberson Episode: "Good Job"
The George Lucas Talk Show Herself Episode: "Revenge of Return of the Jedi"
Animaniacs Cupcake / Gabriella Voice, episode: "The Cutening/Close Encounters of the Worst Kind/Equal Time"
2020–2021 Good Girls Phoebe Donnegan 17 episodes
Close Enough Quinn / Kristen Voice, 2 episodes
2020–2024 Star Trek: Lower Decks Jennifer Sh'reyan Voice, 9 episodes
2021–2022 Inside Job Deany Voice, 2 episodes
2023 History of the World, Part II Shakespeare Writer Episode: "I"
A Million Little Things Mallory 2 episodes
Digman! Gasolina Voice, 2 episodes
The $100,000 Pyramid Herself – Celebrity Player Episode: "RuPaul vs Lauren Lapkus and Steve Schirripa vs Loni Love"
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Herself - Contestant Episode: "Lauren Lapkus, Ego Nwodim and Jeff Ross"

Video games

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Year Title Role
2015 Lego Jurassic World Vivian

Podcasts

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Year Title Role Notes
2012–2023 improv4humans Various 42 episodes
2012–2023 Comedy Bang! Bang! 54 episodes
2013 The Reality Show Show Herself Episode 39: "There Is Ninjas"
2013, 2014 Totally Laime Episode 160: "Let's All Pee"
Episode 242: "One Hundred Percent!"
2014 Pop My Culture Episode 154: "Lauren Lapkus and Chris Alvarado"
Professor Blastoff Episode 175: "Reality TV"
2014, 2017 Who Charted? 2 episodes
2014–2020 Hollywood Handbook 4 episodes
2014–2019 With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus Various (guest) 150 episodes
2015 The Hooray Show with Horatio Herself Episode 2: "Cereal"
Gilmore Guys Episode 60: "Lorelai Out of Water"
Never Not Funny Episode 1615: "Lauren Lapkus"
The Nerdist Podcast Episode 692: "Lauren Lapkus"
Thrilling Adventure Hour 5 episodes
Box Angeles Episode 88: "Lauren Lapkus"
The Dead Authors Podcast Beatrix Potter Addendum vi: Beatrix Potter
Psychic Pshow with Lauren Lapkus Host 4 episodes
Sklarbro Country Herself Episode 267: "Hump The Gun"
2015–2018 SPONTANEANATION with Paul F. Tompkins 4 episodes
2015–2019 Wild Horses: The Perspective Co-host 22 episodes
2015–2021 Will You Accept This Rose? Herself 16 episodes
2016 You Made It Weird Episode 297: "Lauren Lapkus"
If I Were You Episode 209: "Friend Group (w/ Lauren Lapkus!)"
The Longest Shortest Time Episode 78: "Lauren Lapkus Answers Kids' Unanswerable Questions"
WTF with Marc Maron Episode 732: "Lauren Lapkus"
I Was There Too Episode 45: "Jurassic World with Lauren Lapkus"
2016–2023 Doughboys 4 episodes
2017 How Did This Get Made? Episode 159: "Sleepwalkers"
Big Grande's Teacher's Lounge Ms. Smuckers Episode 9: "Great Grief with Home Economics Teacher Ms. Smuckers"
High and Mighty Herself Episode 101: "Raised by TV"
Get Up On This Episode 306: "Lauren Lapkus"
2017, 2019 Bitch Sesh 2 episodes
2017–2019 Raised by TV Co-host 71 episodes
2018 The Andy Daly Podcast Pilot Project Various 2 episodes
Womp It Up! Traci Reardon 2 episodes
Hello from the Magic Tavern Crystal the Genie Season 2, Episode 63: "Genie"
Mother May I Sleep With Podcast Herself Season 3, Episode 12: "Wicked Moms Club"
2018–2020 Throwing Shade Herself 3 episodes
2018–present Threedom Co-host 173 episodes
2020 Laptime with Lauren Lapkus Herself/various 48 episodes
Mission to Zyxx Maxie Wiggs Episode 415: "Dear Maxie"
Talk Chef Guest Star Season 1, Episode 8: "Lauren Lapkus"[25]
2020–present Newcomers Co-host 54 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b Madrid, Monique (April 12, 2013). "Lauren Lapkus Is One Crazy, Talented Woman". Serial Optimist Magazine. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  2. ^ Ryan, Kyle (June 15, 2015). "Lauren Lapkus on podcasts, Jurassic World, and landing another TV series". The A.V. Club.
  3. ^ "LAPTIME with Lauren Lapkus". Stitcher.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  4. ^ "Listen to Threedom". Stitcher Premium. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  5. ^ "Actor: Lauren Lapkus". laurenlapkus. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "Newcomers: Tyler Perry, with Lauren Lapkus and Nicole Byer". Headgum. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Today In History: September 6". The Gazette. Janesville, Wisconsin. Associated Press. September 6, 2016. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017. Today's Birthdays: ... Actress Lauren Lapkus is 31.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "Lauren Lapkus Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "BA #088: Lauren Lapkus". The Box Angeles podcast. July 19, 2015.
  11. ^ Lapkus, Lauren, "I sleep so well here," Chicagoly Magazine, summer 2016, pp. 16–19, p. 17.
  12. ^ Bogert, Jamie (December 11, 2014). "Podcast Pick of the Week: With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus". Bust.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015.
  13. ^ Ryan, Kyle (June 15, 2015). "Lauren Lapkus on podcasts, Jurassic World and Landing another TV Series". The A.V. Club.
  14. ^ "Netflix Orders Innovative Sketch Series 'The Characters' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  15. ^ Pedersen, Erik (November 17, 2016). "HBO Sets Premiere Dates For 'Girls,' 'Last Week Tonight' & New Comedy 'Crashing'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  16. ^ "Asssscat". UCB Theatre. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  17. ^ "Wild Horses Show". Twitter. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "OITNB Star Lauren Lapkus Valentines Day Separation Message". TMZ. February 14, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Orange Is the New Black Actress Lauren Lapkus Marries Mike Castle — Inside Her 'Romantic' and 'Intimate' Wedding Day". People.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  21. ^ @laurenlapkus (May 18, 2021). "We are expecting a baby girl this summer. I am over the moon. So grateful and happy. 💘🥲💗 #rainbowbaby 🌈" (Tweet). Retrieved May 18, 2021 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Lapkus, Lauren (December 8, 2023). "laurenlapkus".
  23. ^ McNary, Dave (July 17, 2017). "Nick Rutherford, Lauren Lapkus to Star in Relationship Comedy 'The Unicorn' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  24. ^ Celebretainment, By. "Lauren Lapkus to star in comedy Another Happy Day". The Mercury. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  25. ^ "Talk Chef – S01E08 – Lauren Lapkus". YouTube.
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