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Casey Wilson
Wilson at the PaleyFest Fall TV Previews 2014 for Marry Me.
Born
Cathryn Rose Wilson

(1980-10-24) October 24, 1980 (age 44)
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Alma materTisch School of Arts
Stella Adler Studio of Acting
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian, writer
Years active2002–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2014)​
ChildrenMax Red Caspe

Cathryn Rose "Casey" Wilson[1] (born October 24, 1980)[2][3] is an American actress, comedian, and screenwriter, best known for starring as Penny Hartz in the ABC comedy series Happy Endings and currently stars in Hulu's reality TV parody series The Hotwives. Other notable work includes starring in NBC's short-lived sitcom Marry Me, playing a supporting role as Noelle Hawthorne in the 2014 film adaption of Gone Girl, and her 2013 Sundance film Ass Backwards, which she co-wrote and starred in with her creative partner June Diane Raphael. In 2015, Wilson and Danielle Schneider started the Earwolf podcast Bitch Sesh, where they discuss the latest episodes of The Real Housewives.

Wilson made her first major television appearances with a two-season stint as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2008 to 2009.

Early life and background

Casey Wilson was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, along with her younger brother, Fletcher, a medical device engineer.[2][4][5] She graduated from T. C. Williams High School in 1998[6] and studied theater at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, where she was a recipient of NYU's "Excellence in Acting" award when graduating in 2002.[7] She is of Irish and Italian heritage[8] and was raised Baptist.[9]

Wilson's parents worked in politics, she credits her politically opposed parents (her mother was a Democrat, her father a Republican) in shaping her sense of humor, having grown up in a "blue-state/red-state, forever-clashing political household", as she called it in an interview with Washington Flyer.[10] Her father, Paul O. Wilson, is a political strategist and consultant who runs campaigns for Republican party candidates.[11] Her mother, Kathy Wilson (née Higdon), was a women's rights advocate and served as the chairwoman of the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) throughout the 1980s.[5] Under Kathy's leadership, the NWPC endorsed Walter Mondale in the 1984 presidential election.[5] Kathy retired from politics in the late 1980s, switching to a career in early childhood education, she served as the director of childcare and development centers in Alexandria, Virginia since 1991.[5] Kathy died of heart failure at age 54 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware on September 1, 2005. Casey and her family have since continued to run "The Kathy Wilson Foundation", a charitable organization honoring her late mother's work in helping children with special needs.

Wilson's passion for performing began at an early age, stating that her first memorable exposure to theater came when her father took her to New York City to see a production of Cats, inspiring her to create her own plays.[12] When she was nine years old, her father built her a homemade stage in the family's backyard, where she put on plays with other children from the neighborhood. From there, she started taking singing and acting lessons as a teenager. She would also become heavily involved in her high school's theater program, starring in (and occasionally directing) many of the school's plays and musicals, including a production of The Sound of Music, where she played the lead role of Maria.[13]

While studying acting at the Stella Adler School of Dramatic Arts, Wilson had originally set out to be a dramatic actress, but later started to focus on comedy at the suggestion of an acting teacher.[14] After graduating from NYU in 2002, Wilson and her best friend from college, June Diane Raphael, began studying improvisational comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City, where they would eventually run their two-woman sketch show for a number of years. Performing the long-running stage show opened doors for them as writers, after performing the show at the "U.S. Comedy Arts Festival" in 2005, they were hired by New Regency Pictures to write the film Bride Wars and landed a development deal with UPN to create a sitcom pilot.[15]

Wilson has cited among her biggest influences as Catherine O'Hara, Diane Keaton, Madeline Kahn, Lucille Ball, Bette Davis, Molly Shannon, Cheri Oteri, Debra Winger, and Shirley MacLaine.[3][12][16]

Career

Wilson started her comedy career writing and performing with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB) in New York and later in Los Angeles.[7] At UCB, she was a member of the Harold improv teams "Mr. and Mrs. All-Star", "Sentimental Lady", and "Hey, Uncle Gary!".[17] Among her best-known work at UCB, was the long-running two-woman sketch show "Rode Hard and Put Away Wet", written and performed alongside her comedy partner and best friend June Diane Raphael; the stage show ran from 2003 to 2006 in New York and Los Angeles and was an official selection at 2005's US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado.[7] The two women, who had first met in a clowning class during their freshman year at NYU,[18] went on to win the ECNY Award for "Best Comedy Duo" in 2005. Wilson and Raphael's comedic partnership has since branched out into an active writing career in film and television, they co-wrote their first screenplay for the comedy Bride Wars, which they also appeared in with supporting roles,[19] followed by landing a development deal with UPN in 2005 to create a half-hour comedy pilot and in 2007 they worked as writers and story editors on the Americanized version of Creature Comforts on CBS.

Wilson (left) and June Diane Raphael (right) with Ass Backwards director Chris Nelson at the 2013 Outfest film festival.

As a film actress, Wilson made her debut as an acting student in the final scene of the 2006 Christopher Guest film, For Your Consideration. She has since appeared in such films as Julie & Julia, C.O.G., The Breakup Girl, The Guilt Trip, Killers, The Brothers Solomon, Freak Dance, The Great Buck Howard, as well as in the Bob Odenkirk-directed short film Derek & Simon: A Bee and a Cigarette. She co-starred in the David Fincher thriller Gone Girl (2014) and will appear in the upcoming comedy The Meddler starring Susan Sarandon. Wilson is a frequent contributor to the popular humor website Funny or Die, writing and starring in many viral videos for the site, including a series of political parodies where she plays Callista Gingrich.

Wilson continues to collaborate with writing partner June Diane Raphael on scripts for film and television, they have worked on numerous script rewrites for films in development, such as projects with Anna Faris and America Ferrera attached to star.[20] As writer-performers, Wilson and Raphael also continue to generate material for themselves. They wrote and starred together in the comedy Ass Backwards, which also co-stars Alicia Silverstone, Jon Cryer, Vincent D'Onofrio, Paul Scheer, and Bob Odenkirk. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2013.[21] Wilson and Raphael are currently writing a second film to star in together, produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's company Gary Sanchez Productions.[22]

Wilson also remains active as a theater and stage actress. In 2010, she joined the rotating cast of the Off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore (written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron) at Manhattan's Westside Theatre.[23] She also contributed short stories to the 2010 book Worst Laid Plans, based on the long-running stage show, in which she co-starred in. Wilson and June Diane Raphael created their newest comedic stage show The Realest Real Housewives, which they star in alongside Jessica St. Clair, Melissa Rauch, Danielle Schneider and Morgan Walsh. The show began running at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in 2011.[24]

From April 2011 to May 2013, Wilson starred as Penny Hartz in the ABC ensemble comedy series Happy Endings alongside Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Adam Pally and Damon Wayans, Jr. A breakout role for Wilson, she was nominated twice for "Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series" at the Critics' Choice Television Awards for her work on season two and three of Happy Endings. Wilson again collaborated with her husband David Caspe (they met working together on Happy Endings, which Caspe created) on the NBC sitcom Marry Me, which aired for one season from 2014 to 2015. The series starred Wilson and Ken Marino as an engaged couple, the premise was loosely based on Wilson and Caspe's relationship. She also starred for two seasons on the Hulu original series The Hotwives. The series is a parody of the reality television franchise The Real Housewives on Bravo. With season one (The Hotwives of Orlando) focused on Orlando, and season two taking place in Las Vegas (The Hotwives of Las Vegas), both seasons featured the same cast playing different roles in each season.

Wilson's other television credits include guest appearances on shows such as Bored to Death, How I Met Your Mother, Drunk History, Kroll Show, Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Birthday Boys, The Middle, The Millers, The League, and Human Giant, as well as voiceover roles in the animated comedy programs Aqua Teen Hunger Force, American Dad!, Glenn Martin, DDS, and The Life & Times of Tim. In 2015, she co-starred in the Amazon pilot One Mississippi starring Tig Notaro.

Podcasting

On December 2, 2015, Wilson and Danielle Schneider began hosting the Earwolf podcast Bitch Sesh, where they and a guest discuss the previous night's episode of The Real Housewives. Guests include Paul Scheer and June Diane Raphael. Scheer announced the show on his podcast How Did This Get Made? and released a special preview episode, describing it as an unofficial spin-off to his show, with a focus on discussing reality television instead of movies.

Saturday Night Live

Casey Wilson on New Year's 2008.

After auditioning in late 2007, Wilson was hired in January 2008 to join the cast of Saturday Night Live, succeeding departing cast member Maya Rudolph. However, due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, she did not make her first appearance as a cast member until the show returned in February 2008; she was the first new addition to the cast in over two years, and was also the first SNL cast member to have been born in the 1980s. Wilson's most memorable work on SNL included celebrity impressions of, among others, Rachael Ray, Elizabeth Dole, Elizabeth Taylor, Katy Perry, and Jennifer Aniston, as well as original characters such as Dusty Velvet, "the paralyzed stripper"; and Toni Ward, co-host of "The Cougar Den". After spending two seasons on SNL, Wilson was let go from the show before the start of the 2009–2010 season. When asked how she felt about her SNL departure in an October 2009 interview, Wilson said: "My mindset is good. I did it for a year and a half. I don't think it will ultimately define my career. And it wasn't the best fit for me."[25]

Notable characters on SNL

  • Dusty Velvet, a strip club dancer who was left paralyzed from the neck down following a freak Tilt-A-Whirl accident, and refuses to let it stop her from performing her act. She is only able to perform her "erotic moves" with the assistance of Donnie (played by Ashton Kutcher) the strip club manager.
  • Nora Maharelle, part of the singing sisterly quartet The Maharelle Sisters who are regularly featured on The Lawrence Welk Show. Their otherwise flawless performances are always ruined by the fourth sister, Dooneese (played by Kristen Wiig), because of her off-key singing and freakish appearance.
  • Toni Ward, one of the cougars who co-hosts The Cougar Den. She is distinguished by her deep voice and offbeat methods for pursuing younger men. For example, she says that for Valentine's Day, "I'm going to suck down some Jello shooters and wander around USC's campus wearing a T-shirt that says, 'I'll pay you and this won't get messy'".

Personal life

Wilson married comedy writer David Caspe on May 25, 2014 in Ojai, California in a traditional Jewish wedding service.[26] The ceremony was officiated by Wilson's brother Fletcher, who became a Universal Life minister for the event.[27] Wilson and Caspe originally met in early 2010 when she auditioned for his ABC series Happy Endings and started dating a year later in July 2011.[27] They got engaged over Labor Day weekend in September 2013.[28] Their son, Max Red Caspe, was born in May 2015.[29]

Wilson shares her family's interest in politics. She was a supporter of Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential election and volunteered to work on Clinton's campaign. She went on the road with the Clintons in the Midwest, speaking at and introducing Hillary and Bill Clinton at campaign rallies in Iowa and Indiana.[6]

Wilson and her family maintain the charitable Kathy Wilson Foundation, established in 2005, which focuses on children with special needs. Her father Paul Wilson serves as president, with Casey and her brother Fletcher serving as vice presidents.[30] The foundation also gives out donations and grants to local area preschools and childcare centers in Virginia every year.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2005 ECNY Award Best Comedy Duo (with June Diane Raphael) Rode Hard and Put Away Wet Won
2012 Critics' Choice Television Award Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Happy Endings Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice TV Award for TV Female Scene Stealer Happy Endings Nominated
2013 Critics' Choice Television Award Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Happy Endings Nominated

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Virgin Girlfriend
2006 Derek & Simon: A Bee and a Cigarette Anna Short film
2006 For Your Consideration Young Actress
2007 The Brothers Solomon Fertility Clinic Worker
2007 The Definition of Sex Abby Short film
2008 The Great Buck Howard Charity
2009 Bride Wars Stacy also Screenwriter
2009 Julie & Julia Regina
2010 Killers Kristen
2011 Freak Dance Rich Lady
2012 The Guilt Trip Amanda
2013 C.O.G. Martha
2013 Ass Backwards Chloe West also Screenwriter, Executive Producer
2014 Jason Nash Is Married Rose
2014 Gone Girl Noelle Hawthorne
2015 The Breakup Girl Kate Lanley
2015 Bad Night Tattoo Artist
2016 Me Him Her TBA
2016 The Meddler TBA

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Ed Student 1 episode
2005 Sports Central Correspondent Comedy Central pilot
2007 Creature Comforts America Writer and Story Editor
Human Giant Young Mom 1 episode
Revenge Sarah FOX sitcom pilot
The Right Now! Show Cast Member FOX sketch show pilot
The Very Funny Show Cast Member TBS sketch comedy web series
2008–09 Saturday Night Live Cast Member 30 episodes (2 seasons)
2008 Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday Various 2 episodes
2009 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Neighbor Lady
("Pie Sniffer" sketch) 		1 episode
2010 Glenn Martin, DDS Various Voices 2 episodes
The Life & Times of Tim Various Voices 2 episodes
2011 Bored to Death Patti Stevenson 1 episode
NTSF:SD:SUV:: Ghost Gabber 1 episode
Retired at 35 Amy Robbins 1 episode
2011–13 Happy Endings Penny Hartz Main role, 57 episodes
Nominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2012)
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for TV Female Scene Stealer (2012)
Nominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2013)
2012 Chelsea Lately Guest Host 1 episode
First Dates with Toby Harris Naomi 1 episode
Happy Endings: Happy Rides Penny Hartz Web Series
2012–13 Comedy Bang! Bang! Various 2 episodes
2013 Burning Love Aunt Pam 4 episodes
How I Met Your Mother Krirsten 1 episode
The Jeselnik Offensive Panelist 1 episode
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Freda 1 episode
Filthy Sexy Teen$ Meg Berg Adult Swim TV special
The Millers Beth 1 episode
2013–14 Drunk History Dolly Parton, Dolley Madison 2 episodes
2014 The Middle Reverend Tammy 1 episode
The Birthday Boys Officer Jill Vickers 1 episode
2014–15 Marry Me Annie Fletcher Main role, 18 episodes
2014–present The Hotwives Tawny St. John (season 1)
Jenfer Beudon (season 2) 		Main role
2015 Kroll Show Genie 1 episode
American Dad! Trish 1 episode
Turbo FAST Ember 1 episode
One Mississippi Brooke TV Pilot
The League Claire 1 episode
2016 Animals. Queen Ant (voice) 1 episode

References

  1. ^ "Raphael Interviews Wilson". Funny or Die. May 29, 2008. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b "Casey Wilson: Penny on ABC's 'Happy Endings'". ABC Medianet. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2012. Birthdate: October 24 {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; August 5, 2011 suggested (help)
  3. ^ a b Dean, David (December 9, 2010). "Casey Wilson Is Your Dream Girl, You Just Might Not Know It Yet". I just turned 30.... {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: liveweb (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "The JV Club #61: Casey Wilson « Nerdist". Nerdist.com. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  5. ^ a b c d Holley, Joe (September 7, 2005). "Kathy Wilson Dies; Led Women's Political Caucus". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b Ann, Mary (2011-04-10). "Alexandria's Casey Wilson Continues to Give Back - Old Town Alexandria, VA Patch". Oldtownalexandria.patch.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  7. ^ a b c "Casey Wilson". Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Casey Wilson on the "You Made It Weird" podcast". Nerdist.com. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  9. ^ "Casey Wilson: Happy Endings - The Treatment on KCRW 89.9 FM | Internet Public Radio Station Streaming Live Independent Music & NPR News Online from Los Angeles, CA". Kcrw.com. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  10. ^ [1] Archived 2013-01-19 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Chelsea Lately: Casey Wilson". YouTube. December 5, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2012. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: liveweb (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b "June Raphael & Casey Wilson, Rode Hard and Put Away Wet". Actorslife. Retrieved August 27, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "A Comedian and a Candidate Share a Big 'Saturday Night'". Washington Post. February 25, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "T.C.'s Casey Wilson making her mark writing, producing, performing". Connection Newspapers. October 22, 2003. Retrieved June 14, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Casey Wilson brings sketch comedy show to Alexandria to honor her late mother". Connection Newspapers. April 27, 2006. Retrieved June 14, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Celebrity Scoop: Casey Wilson". Zap2it. December 14, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Exclusive Interview: Casey Wilson, Newest 'SNL' Cast Member". Gawker.com. 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  18. ^ Farley, Christopher John (September 23, 2011). "Casey Wilson on Why 'Happy Endings' Almost Didn't Have One". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ Fleming, Michael (November 12, 2006). ""Bride" nears the altar". Variety. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 2008-09-04. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Rising Star: Casey Wilson". Access Hollywood. May 22, 2008. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Sragow, Michael (June 3, 2010). "Casey Wilson on the Fast Laugh Track". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 19, 2012. {{cite news}}: |archive-url= is malformed: liveweb (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ Yamato, Jen (2013-11-18). "Gary Sanchez Springs For June Diane Raphael & Casey Wilson Feature Pitch". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  23. ^ "Love, Loss, and What I Wore announces new rotating cast members". Newyorktheatreguide.com. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  24. ^ "The Realest Real Housewives at UCB: A Celebration of the Best Show Ever". LA Weekly. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  25. ^ "Casey Wilson Talks Up North County Super Show". Independent.com. 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  26. ^ McRady, Rachel (May 26, 2014). "Casey Wilson Married! Happy Endings Star Wed David Caspe in Intimate California Wedding". Us Weekly. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  27. ^ a b Mallozzi, Vincent (May 24, 2014). "Their Life Is a Laugh Riot". New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  28. ^ Webber, Stephanie (September 21, 2013). "Casey Wilson Engaged to David Caspe, Creator of Happy Endings". Us Weekly. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  29. ^ Marquina, Sierra (May 21, 2015). "Casey Wilson Gives Birth to First Child". Us Weekly. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  30. ^ "Kathy Wilson Foundation official website". Kathywilsonfoundation.org. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
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