Phyllis Smith
Phyllis Smith | |
|---|---|
 Smith at the Dan in Real Life premiere in October 2007 | |
| Born | July 10, 1951 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1992–present |
Phyllis Smith (born July 10, 1951) is an American film and television actress who is best known for playing Phyllis Lapin-Vance on The Office.
Life and career
Smith was born in Lemay, Missouri, outside St. Louis. She graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 1972 with a degree in elementary education.[1] In the 1970s and 1980s, she worked as a dancer, a cheerleader for the old St. Louis Cardinals football team, and a burlesque performer ("No stripping, but I did wear feathers," says Smith).[2] She was forced to quit dancing after suffering a knee injury. Smith later worked in Hollywood as an actress and in casting; she was working as a casting associate on The Office when she was offered the role of Phyllis, a character created specifically for her — a soft-spoken saleswoman who tends to disagree with the pompous office manager Michael Scott. Smith received Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2006 and 2007 for her performance in The Office, in the category "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series".
On June 24, 2008, Smith appeared with the cast of The Office on Celebrity Family Feud.
In 2011, Smith played a major role in the movie, "Bad Teacher," with Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake and Jason Segel.
Filmography
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (3D) (2011) as Stewardess
- Bad Teacher (2011) as Lynn
- Butter (2011) as Nancy
- The Office: The Outburst (TV series) (2008) as Phyllis
- I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006) as OA Lady - Marsha
- The Office: The Accountants (TV series) (2006) as Phyllis
- The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) as Andy's Mother
- Arrested Development (TV series) (2005) as Carla
- The Office (TV series) (2005-present) as Phyllis Lapin-Vance
References
- ^ Tracy, Linda (Fall 2008). "It's never just another day at the office for UM-St. Louis alumna Phyllis Smith". UM St. Louis. St. Louis, MO: University of Missouri-St. Louis: 14–15. OCLC 19214058.
- ^ Grose, Jessica (June 23, 2011). "Questions for Phyllis Smith". Slate.
External links
- 1951 births
- Actors from Missouri
- American dancers
- American film actors
- American television actors
- Living people
- National Football League cheerleaders
- Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- People from St. Louis County, Missouri
- University of Missouri alumni
- University of Missouri–St. Louis alumni