Rachael Harris

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Rachael Harris
Rachael Harris 2 by David Shankbone.jpg
Harris in April 2007
Born Rachael Elaine Harris
(1968-01-12) January 12, 1968 (age 45)
Worthington, Ohio, U.S.
Other names Rachel Harris
Occupation Actress/Comedienne
Years active 1992–present
Spouse(s) Adam Paul (2003–2008)

Rachael Elaine Harris (born January 12, 1968) is an American actress and comedian.

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Early life[edit]

Harris was born in Worthington, Ohio. She graduated from Worthington High School. She went on to graduate from Otterbein College, in 1989,[1] majoring in theatre.

Career[edit]

Harris performed with the Los Angeles, California, improvisational comedy troupe the Groundlings, and taught for a time with the Groundlings school.[2] She debuted on television in a 1993 episode of SeaQuest DSV.

After an appearance on Star Trek: Voyager in 1997, Harris went on to a recurring role in The WB's Sister, Sister. Other television credits include a stint as a correspondent for The Daily Show's 2002–2003 season, as well as roles on The Sarah Silverman Program, Reno 911!, The West Wing, The Good Guys, Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Monk, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and, in November 2008, Desperate Housewives.

Harris played the supporting role of Kevyn Shecket, Kirstie Alley's personal makeup artist, on the Showtime series Fat Actress in 2005. She played Cooper in the ABC sitcom Notes from the Underbelly.

Her film credits include roles in Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, Kicking & Screaming, and Daddy Day Care. In the 2009 comedy The Hangover she plays Melissa, girlfriend to Ed Helms's character Stu. She previously co-starred with Helms on The Daily Show.[3] She played Greg's mother in the film Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010), and reprised the role in the two sequels.

Harris hosted Smoking Gun TV in 2004, and has made multiple appearances on such VH1 documentaries as I Love the '80s, I Love the '90s, and Best Week Ever.

Off-Broadway Harris has performed in Love, Loss, and What I Wore.[4]

Harris' TV commercial work includes ads for Dinty Moore,[2] Avis,[2] Expedia,[2] Quaker Oats, T-Mobile, Geico, and a Super Bowl commercial for the 2010 Census.[5] She is the voice of turtle Karolyn Slowsky in the Comcast Slowskys television commercials.[6]

Harris signed on to ABC's Cougar Town, TVGuide.com confirmed. She plays Shanna, a woman that the network describes as being the "nemesis" of Jules.[7] Also on ABC, she made a guest appearance in the Modern Family episode "Caught in the Act" as a restaurateur.

Harris stars in the indie comedy/drama film Natural Selection which was well received at its 2011 South by Southwest debut, winning both jury and audience awards for best narrative feature, in addition to best screenplay, best editing, and best score/music.[8] Harris received the breakthrough performance award for her role as Linda.

Filmography[edit]

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1992 Treehouse Trolls Forest of Fun and Wonder Mama
1995 Cellblock Sisters: Banished Behind Bars Young May
1996 The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson Fornaio Waitress #2
1998 The Week That Girl Died Honey
2001 The Gristle Mrs. Alden
2002 Showtime Teacher
Stuart Little 2 Additional Voices
The New Brad Kelly
2003 A Mighty Wind Steinbloom's Assistant
2005 Kicking & Screaming Ann Hogan
2007 Matters of Life and Dating Carla
2009 The Hangover Melissa
2010 Diary of a Wimpy Kid Susan Heffley
2011 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Natural Selection Linda Nominated - Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead
2012 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days Susan Heffley
Wreck-It Ralph Deanna Voice
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1993 SeaQuest DSV Rose 1 episode "Treasures of the Tonga Trench"
1997 Star Trek: Voyager Martis 1 episode "Before and After"
2002 Friends Julie 1 episode "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby"
2002-2003 The Daily Show Herself
2005 Fat Actress Kevyn Shecket Main cast
Monk Alice Westergren 1 episode "Mr. Monk and the Secret Santa"
2006 Reno 911 Debbie Dangle 3 episodes
2007 The New Adventures Of Old Christine Claire 1 episode "My Big Fat Sober Wedding"
2007 Notes from the Underbelly Cooper Main cast
2008 Desperate Housewives Sandra Birch 1 episode "City on Fire"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Megan "Two and a Half Deaths"
Pushing Daisies Georgeann Heaps "Circus, Circus"
Hollywood Residential Rachael  
2010 My Boys Marcia
Childrens Hospital Mrs. Throman 1 episode "You Know No One Can Hear You, Right?"
The Good Guys Mrs. Savage 1 episode "Dan on the Run"
2011 Modern Family Amelia 1 episode "Caught in the Act"
Archer Rona Thorne 1 episode "Movie Star"
$h*! My Dad Says Soledad Cho 1 episode "Corn Star"
2012 New Girl Tanya Lamontagne 3 episodes
Suits Sheila Sazs 3 episodes
The Burn with Jeff Ross Herself 1 episode
Happy Endings Suzanne 1 episode "Sabado Free-Gante"

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Rachael Harris Biography". Tvguide.com. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
  2. ^ a b c d Alper, Aaron. "Rachael Harris Sounds Off", Tampa Bay Times, March 2005, via AaronAlper.com
  3. ^ "lonokenews.net – Archives". Lonokedemocrat.com. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
  4. ^ Harris, Malcolm (2010-07-20). "Now Playing: "Love, Loss and What I Wore"". One Dress Project. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  5. ^ "Census 2010 – Ed Begley Jr. | Free Video Clips". SPIKE. 2010-02-07. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
  6. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006713/otherworks
  7. ^ Mickey O'Connor. "Rachael Harris Signs On to Cougar Town". TVGuide.com. 
  8. ^ "SXSW Film Award Categories". Retrieved March 30, 2011. 

External links[edit]