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Jenna Fischer

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Jenna Fischer
Fischer in May 2008
Born
Regina Marie Fischer

(1974-03-07) March 7, 1974 (age 50)
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S
OccupationActress
Years active1998–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 2000; div. 2008)​

Lee Kirk
​
(m. 2010)​
Children2

Regina Marie "Jenna" Fischer (born March 7, 1974)[1] is an American actress. She is known for her Emmy-nominated[2] portrayal of Pam Beesly on the NBC situation comedy The Office. She has also appeared in films such as Blades of Glory (2007), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), The Promotion (2008), and Hall Pass (2011).

Early life

Fischer was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Her mother, Anne (née Miller), is a history teacher; and her father, James E. "Jim" Fischer, is a plastics engineer.[3][better source needed] She has one younger sister, Emily, a third grade teacher.[4] She first performed at the age of six, when she participated in an acting workshop taught by her mother at Henry School in St. Louis, a workshop also attended by actor Sean Gunn, with whom she grew up.[5]

Fischer attended Pierremont Elementary School in Manchester, Missouri, and Nerinx Hall High School, a private all-girls Catholic school, in Webster Groves, Missouri.[3][better source needed] She holds a Bachelor of Arts in theatre, as well as a minor in journalism, from Truman State University, where she originally enrolled as a pre-law history major.[6]

Career

Career development

Fischer first began her career working in professional theatre. While attending college in Missouri, she performed with a touring Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre group[7] and, upon her move to Los Angeles, began performing Commedia dell'arte with the Zoo District Theatre. Her performance in the company's musical adaptation of the film Nosferatu led to her first agent.[8] She struggled to break into film and television, telling NPR that her first paying film job was a "sex education video for [psychiatric] patients upon their release from UCLA Medical Center".[9] In a Myspace blog written specifically to advise actors beginning their own career,[10] she explained that it took three years before landing her first televised speaking role, a part on Spin City.[10]

She continued to spend the next few years of her career appearing in bit parts in small indie films, such as Employee of the Month, Lucky 13, and The Specials, as well as guest spots on the television shows Six Feet Under, That '70s Show, Cold Case, Miss Match, Strong Medicine, Undeclared, What I Like About You, and Off Centre.

Fischer appeared in friend Peter Alton's 2002 short subject film Les Superficiales. Fischer met Alton at the Zoo District Theatre group, and he later co-wrote and narrated her self-produced film, Lollilove.[11] In 2003, she held a starring role in The Girl's Guide to Summer, a 2003 Instant Films short (a competition similar to the nationally held 48 Hour Film Project, only based in Los Angeles) directed by Instant Film's co-founder (and camera operator) Charles Papert.[12]

Fischer in March 2009, at the Inside the Office panel discussion at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

Lollilove

While her film career was slowly taking off, Fischer took matters into her own hands, writing, directing and starring in her own mockumentary, LolliLove, her only directing credit. The film co-starred her then-husband James Gunn, as well as friends Linda Cardellini, Judy Greer, Lloyd Kaufman and Jason Segel. She began participating in The Artist's Way, a self-led creativity seminar in book form. "From doing that book I got this idea... When we started it, it wasn’t even supposed to be a real movie. It was just going to be an improv project for James and I to amuse ourselves with."[13] Utilizing a camera she gave Gunn as a wedding present, she filmed preliminary improvisational interviews with her friends in the faux documentary format that would later bring her fame on The Office. "I really feel it was divine intervention that I chose to work in this medium for a year," she said in an interview. "It was the best practice I could have ever gotten for the possibility of being on the show."[14]

Lollilove premiered at the St. Louis International Film Festival, the hometown of Fischer and Gunn, in November 2004, and was also shown at the TromaDance Film Festival. For her role in the film, Fischer was awarded a Screen Actors Guild Emerging Actor Award.[15] Despite the film's contribution to her career, she admitted to a St. Louis arts and entertainment magazine[16] that the experience dissuaded her from any future directing:

The directing was exhausting and the writing was painful. It was very difficult to direct and star in a movie. We also had a very small crew so I did a lot of things a normal director doesn’t have to do, like make the props and serve lunch. I was simultaneously getting into character, going over my lines, set dressing the next shot, coaching an actor, and brainstorming with my DP [cinematographer]. I’m good at multitasking, but that was too much for me. I couldn’t enjoy any one part the way I would have liked. I think I’ll stick to acting.

The Office and feature films

In 2005, after a succession of mostly improvised auditions similar to her Lollilove experience, Fischer landed the role of Pam Beesly on what would become the NBC hit, The Office, based on the original BBC series. Before her initial audition, casting director Allison Jones advised Fischer, "Dare to bore me."[17] Fischer herself spent several years working as a receptionist and administrative assistant in Los Angeles offices, much like her television counterpart, while struggling to achieve success, and thus felt she was well-suited to the role.[3][better source needed] "I'm so attached to Pam's journey," she told NPR in 2009. "I just love playing this character so, so much."[17] She received a Primetime Emmy Award[18] nomination in 2007.

Soon after The Office premiered, Fischer was focused on the show's success; in an April 2005 interview with her alma mater's student newspaper, she said: "Honestly it would be great to get to play Pam for a long, long time .... I don't have real big aspirations to be a movie star. I would love to be on a long-running hit TV show. You end up playing a defining role."[6] As The Office grew into a success, Fischer's film acting career became more established. In 2006, she co-starred in her then-husband's film, Slither, and in 2007, she filmed supporting roles in The Brothers Solomon, with Will Arnett and Will Forte, Blades of Glory, with Will Ferrell, John Heder, Amy Poehler, and Will Arnett, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, alongside John C. Reilly, with whom she co-starred again in 2008's The Promotion, also starring Seann William Scott.

In 2009, Fischer completed filming on the movies Solitary Man, and the indie A Little Help, which opened in the summer of 2010 at the Seattle International Film Festival. Also that summer, she completed filming on the Farrelly Brothers comedy Hall Pass, which was released in February 2011.

Other work

Fischer appeared on Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown in 2006, participating in the show's eighth tournament, shot in New Orleans, Louisiana, and playing for Catholic Charities' Tsunami Relief.

In 2007, Fischer starred in the music video for Willie Wisely's single "Through Any Window", directed by longtime friend John Cabrera; the opportunity arose because she knew Wisely from work he had done on soundtracks for LolliLove and Tromeo and Juliet, one of her husband's films.[19]

In December of the same year, during the Hollywood writer's strike, Fischer appeared at Sacred Fools Theater Company in episode 25 of Darque Magick, a serialized play written and directed by Jenelle Riley.[20]

In July 2009, Fischer played left field for the National League team in the Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game as part of the MLB All-Star Week festivities, held at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, where she grew up.[citation needed]

In March 2010, Fischer returned to the area to co-chair an annual auction for Nerinx Hall High School, her alma mater. At the event, she auctioned off a set visit to The Office and multiple autographed props from the show.[21]

Fischer was named an official spokeswoman for Proactiv Skincare Solutions in 2009[22] and was announced as the voice behind the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Grilled Cheese Academy website[23] in 2010.

Fischer was named as producer of the mid-August through October 2010 run of the critically acclaimed play Sad Happy Sucker, written by her husband Lee Kirk and directed by friend Sean Gunn. The play previously ran as a theatre workshop in February and March 2007.[24]

After finishing The Office, Fischer starred in the Off-Broadway play Reasons to Be Happy, written and directed by Neil LaBute, which ran from May to June 2013.[25]

Personal life

Fischer modeling at The Heart Truth Fashion Show 2008

After Fischer moved to Los Angeles, her childhood friend Sean Gunn helped her get a part in a showcase and then introduced her to his brother, screenwriter James Gunn.[6] That small part in a showcase also led to Fischer getting her first manager.[6] Fischer married James Gunn on October 7, 2000.[26] They announced their separation in September 2007.[27] In a June 2008 interview, Fischer confirmed that she and Gunn had finalized their divorce.[28]

In June, 2009, Fischer's engagement to screenwriter Lee Kirk was announced,[29][30] and they married on July 3, 2010.[31][32] They have two children: a son born in 2011 and a daughter born in 2014.[33][34][35] [36]

Fischer is passionate about animal rescue, and she is involved with the Los Angeles organizations Kitten Rescue and Rescue Rover.[37] Before The Office, she worked for three years doing hands-on rescue work for the organizations.[38] She regularly fosters cats and hosted Kitten Rescue's annual silent auction in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[39]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Channel 493 Rane
1998 Born Champion Wendy Miller
2002 Les superficiales Bitchy French Girl Short film
2003 Doggie Tales, Vol. 1: Lucky's First Sleepover Kelsey Voice
2004 Employee of the Month Whisper
2004 The Women Leslie Short film
2004 LolliLove Jenna Gunn also director/co-writer
2005 The 40-Year-Old Virgin Woman #1 Uncredited
2006 Slither Shelby
2007 Blades of Glory Katie Van Waldenberg
2007 The Brothers Solomon Michelle
2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Darlene Madison
2008 The Promotion Jen Stauber
2009 Solitary Man Susan Porter
2010 A Little Help Laura Pehlke
2011 Hall Pass Maggie
2012 The Giant Mechanical Man Janice
2013 Are You Here Alli
2014 Kiss Me Vera

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Undeclared Betty Episode: "Sick in the Head"
2002 Off Centre Melanie Episode: "The Backup"
2002 What I Like About You Kim Episode: "Copy That"
2003 Strong Medicine Camille Freemont Episode: "Maternal Mirrors"
2003 Miss Match Connie Episode: "Kate in Ex-tasy"
2004 Cold Case Dottie (1943) Episode: "Factory Girls"
2005 That '70s Show Stacy Wanamaker Episode: "Don't Lie to Me"
2005 Six Feet Under Sharon Kinney 2 episodes
2005–2013 The Office Pam Beesly 187 episodes
2012 Dan Vs. Amber (voice) Episode: "Dan Vs. Anger Management"
2014 Comedy Bang! Bang! Herself Episode: "Jenna Fischer Wears a Floral Blouse & Black Heels"
2015 Newsreaders Kelly Spears Episode: "The FMK Killer; Newsreaders: Behind the Scenes"
2015 You, Me and the Apocalypse Rhonda MacNeil Also associate producer
2016 The Mysteries of Laura Jennifer Lambert Season 2, 2 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2004 St. Louis International Film Festival Screen Actors Guild Emerging Actor Award[citation needed] LolliLove Won
2005 TromaDance Film Festival Independent Soul Award (as director)[citation needed] Won
2007 Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series The Office Nominated
2007 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
2008 Won
2009 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV: Comedy Actress Nominated
2009 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated
2010 Nominated
2010 St. Louis International Film Festival Outstanding Achievement in Film — Won[40]
2011 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series The Office Nominated

References

  1. ^ Brady, James (November 21, 2007). "In Step With...Jenna Fischer". Parade Magazine. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
  2. ^ Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Comedy Series List of Primetime Emmy Award Nominees
  3. ^ a b c "Fischer's biography". IMDb.com. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  4. ^ "Georgia L. Stosberg Fischer Obituary: View Georgia Fischer's Obituary by St. Louis Post-Dispatch". Legacy.com. March 8, 2008. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  5. ^ St. Louisan Jenna Fischer is more than ready for "The Office", Post-Dispatch Television Critic, Thursday, March 24, 2005
  6. ^ a b c d "Alumna works in "The Office" on NBC". Truman State University Index. April 7, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  7. ^ [1] Archived 2010-06-09 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Myspace". Blogs.myspace.com. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  9. ^ "Jenna Fischer, Keeping It Real at 'The Office'". NPR. June 3, 2008. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Myspace". Blogs.myspace.com. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  11. ^ A March 15, 2006 article by Jenelle Riley in Entertainment News Wire
  12. ^ Brown, August. "Entertainment - entertainment, movies, tv, music, celebrity, Hollywood - latimes.com - latimes.com". Calendarlive.com. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  13. ^ "JAMES GUNN & JENNA FISCHER – tastes like chicken". Tlchicken.com. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  14. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20121021005630/http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4720482-1.html. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ [2] Archived 2008-12-18 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "The LolliLove Interview: Jenna Fischer". Playbackstl.com. December 16, 2005. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  17. ^ a b "Jenna Fischer, Keeping It Real at 'The Office'". NPR. June 3, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  18. ^ "Jenna Fischer | Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Emmys.com. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  19. ^ [3] Archived 2008-12-20 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "SERIAL KILLERS - Darque Magick". Sacred Fools. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  21. ^ "Nerinx - AuctioNerinx". Nerinxalumnae.org. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  22. ^ [4] Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ "Jenna Fischer narrates Grilled Cheese Academy". OfficeTally. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  24. ^ "Jenna Fischer and husband Lee Kirk revive play 'Sad Happy Sucker'". scpr.org. September 10, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  25. ^ Brantley, Ben (June 11, 2013). "'Reasons to Be Happy,' by Neil LaBute - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  26. ^ "The Office Cast Biographies - Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly". Nbc.com. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  27. ^ "Office actress Fischer, husband separate". Reuters. September 5, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  28. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20130102000814/http://cdn1.libsyn.com/prestonandsteve/PnS060408.mp3?nvb=20080620003833&nva=20080621003833&t=09837dbc7f4be7eda733b. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2008. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Wang, Cynthia (January 14, 2013). "The Office Star Jenna Fischer Is Engaged - Engagements, Jenna Fischer". People.com. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  30. ^ "Jenna Fischer engaged!". OfficeTally. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  31. ^ "Jenna Fischer Weds Lee Kirk". National Ledger. July 5, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  32. ^ "Jenna Fischer marries; newlywed Megan Fox returns home". USA Today. July 5, 2010.
  33. ^ http://celebritybabies.people.com/2014/06/13/jenna-fischer-welcomes-daughter-harper-marie/
  34. ^ "Baby News: Jenna Fischer Gives Birth". Entertainment Tonight. October 3, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Christie D'Zurilla (October 3, 2011). "Jenna Fischer of 'The Office' has a new baby son". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 15, 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ http://www.eonline.com/news/551198/jenna-fischer-and-husband-welcome-a-baby-girl-see-her-adorable-photo?cmpid=eonline-twitter&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=twitterfeed&utm_campaign=twitterfeed_topstories&dlvrit=48939
  37. ^ Harrington, Maureen. Jenna Fischer: 'A Little' Crazy About Cats, People, September 12, 2008.
  38. ^ "a 2008 Myspace blog entry by Fischer". Blogs.myspace.com. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  39. ^ "Jenna Fischer Hosts Fur Ball". Looktothestars.org. September 16, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  40. ^ "SLIFF 2010 Review: A LITTLE HELP". WeAreMovieGeeks. November 20, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
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