Ellie Kemper

Ellie Kemper – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Delve into the life of Ellie Kemper, the American actress, comedian, and writer best known for The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Explore her early years, journey in comedy, achievements, quotes, and impact.

Introduction

Ellie Kemper is an American actress, comedian, and writer whose effervescent presence has made her a beloved figure in television and film. With her signature blend of warmth, comedic timing, and vulnerability, she rose to prominence through roles like Erin Hannon on The Office and the title character in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Her narrative is one of humor, resilience, and growth—transforming from a background improviser to a lead in major comedic series, while navigating personal challenges and controversies with grace. Her career continues to resonate in an entertainment landscape that values authenticity and comedic voice.

Early Life and Family

Ellie Kemper was born Elizabeth Claire Kemper on May 2, 1980, in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Commerce Bancshares, a financial institution with long family roots.

Ellie is the second of four children. One of her siblings, Carrie Kemper, works as a television writer.

When Ellie was about five years old, her family moved from Kansas City to St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1999, at age 19, she was presented as a debutante in the Veiled Prophet Ball in St. Louis and was crowned “Queen of Love and Beauty.”

Youth and Education

Ellie’s schooling and early interests laid the groundwork for her comedic and artistic inclinations:

• She attended Conway Elementary School in Ladue (a suburb of St. Louis) and then John Burroughs School for high school.

• At John Burroughs, she became interested in theater and improvisational comedy. Notably, one of her high school teachers was Jon Hamm, with whom she performed in a school production.

• In 2002, she graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Quipfire! and the Princeton Triangle Club, a touring musical-comedy troupe.

• For one year after Princeton, she studied English at Worcester College, Oxford.

• Early in college, she tried her hand at field hockey; though she didn’t see much playing time, she later shifted focus fully to theater and comedy.

Her academic background in literature and her parallel pursuit of comedy and writing created a foundation for combining performance with introspective narrative in her later work.

Career and Achievements

Ellie Kemper’s career trajectory is notable for both its steady climb through comedic work and its expansion across TV, film, writing, and voice acting.

Early Comedy / Sketch Work

After college, Ellie immersed herself in the New York comedy and improv scene:

• She performed with People’s Improv Theater and the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) in New York, participating in sketch shows and improv teams.

• She wrote sketches and contributed to comedic publications like The Onion and McSweeney’s.

• Ellie appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien in comedy sketches, and had guest spots on Important Things with Demetri Martin and others.

• In 2007–2008 she created one-woman shows (e.g. Dumb Girls, Feeling Sad/Mad with Ellie Kemper) and continued doing online sketches (e.g. appearing in video “Blowjob Girl” from the sketch group Derrick Comedy).

These early roles and creative experiments helped her hone her voice, comedic timing, and capacity for combining personal observation with absurd humor.

Breakthrough in Television – The Office

Ellie’s breakthrough came with her casting as Erin Hannon on NBC’s popular sitcom The Office (U.S.).

• Erin first appeared in Season 5 as a temporary replacement for Pam, but the character unexpectedly resonated, and Ellie was elevated to series regular status in Season 6 onward.

• Originally Erin was written to be more sarcastic, but the writers adjusted the character after seeing how Ellie played her—making Erin more upbeat, quirky, and optimistic. Ellie has described Erin as an "exaggerated version" of herself.

• Her performance was well received: critics remarked on the “infectious joy and sweetness” she brought to the show, praising her contributions especially in later seasons.

Ellie remained on The Office through its 2013 finale.

Leading Role – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Beyond

After The Office, Ellie took center stage in her own show:

• From 2015 to 2020, she starred as Kimmy Schmidt in the Netflix comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.

• Her performance earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

• She also received multiple nominations from the Screen Actors Guild, Critics’ Choice, Satellite Awards, and more.

In film and voice work, Ellie has appeared in or lent her voice to many productions:

• Films: Bridesmaids (2011), 21 Jump Street (2012), Sex Tape (2014), Home Sweet Home Alone (2021), Laggies (aka Girls Only), They Came Together, Somewhere, among others.

• Voice Roles / Animation: She has contributed voice roles in The Secret Life of Pets, The Lego Batman Movie, Smurfs: The Lost Village, We Bare Bears, among others.

Beyond acting, Ellie is also an author:

• In 2018, she published her first book, My Squirrel Days, a semi-memoir of essays that blends humor with reflections on life.

• She has narrated audiobooks including A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo and The Legends of Greemulax (a tie-in with Kimmy Schmidt).

In 2023, she made her Broadway debut in Peter Pan Goes Wrong, playing the role of Francis in a limited engagement.

Historical Milestones & Context

Ellie Kemper’s career reflects a few significant moments in the evolution of comedy and television:

• Her rise through the improv and sketch comedy circuits (UCB, PIT) aligns with the trajectory of many contemporary comedic actors who blend writing, performance, and personal voice.

• Joining The Office gave her wide exposure at a time when network sitcoms were still flagship cultural products.

• Her transition to streaming-era success with Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt placed her at the heart of how comedy evolved with Netflix’s original programming model.

• Her foray into authorship echoes a trend among actor-comedians blurring lines between performance, personal essay, and public persona.

In societal terms, her public apology and reflection about the Veiled Prophet Ball controversy in 2021 is a moment of accountability in celebrity culture—recognizing past actions through a contemporary lens and engaging with issues of systemic privilege.

Legacy and Influence

Though still active in her career, Ellie has established a legacy in several dimensions:

• She transformed a supporting character (Erin Hannon) into one of The Office’s emotional anchors, illustrating how an actor’s interpretation can reshape a role.

• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has become a cult favorite of modern comedy, with Ellie’s portrayal of the eternally optimistic Kimmy becoming an icon of resilience and absurdism.

• She bridges multiple creative worlds—acting, comedy, writing—and demonstrates that public figures can evolve without being typecast.

• Her willingness to reflect on mistakes publicly, and to use her platform to discuss larger issues, adds a dimension of integrity to her celebrity presence.

• She continues to influence upcoming comedians and actors who wish to mix humor with heart and maintain longevity through adaptability.

Personality and Talents

Ellie is widely known for her warmth, earnestness, and a kind of radiant awkwardness turned strength. Her style often blends the sweet with the unexpected. Her ability to play characters who are wide-eyed yet strong, naive yet wise, is part of her signature.

As a performer, her talents include:

• Improv and sketch comedy: years of practice in UCB and PIT gave her agility in comedic spontaneity.

• Physical comedy: she often uses expressive gestures, timing, and playful vulnerability.

• Voice acting and versatility: from animation to live action, she shifts registers comfortably.

• Writing & personal voice: her essays and contributions to comedy writing show she thinks about humor and life reflectively.

Interviews suggest she values connection, kindness, and growth—even as she navigates fame and public scrutiny.

Famous Quotes of Ellie Kemper

Ellie Kemper does not have an extensive, widely circulated repository of quotes, but here are several remarks attributed to her, from interviews and her writing, that reflect her inner lens:

“I feel happiest when I'm making people laugh, when I'm reminding myself that absurdity is okay, that life doesn’t require perfection.”

“I’m always a work in progress. I used to wish I had the 'perfect' self, but now I like that it's messy, because that’s where the stories live.”

On vulnerability: “If you can be more yourself—warts and all—you become less afraid of being seen.”

From My Squirrel Days: a theme she revisits is forgiveness—of self, of others, and the idea that mistakes are part of being human.

Reflecting on the Veiled Prophet Ball controversy: “Ignorance is no excuse”—in her apology, acknowledging that she should have educated herself before participating.

These quotes capture the intersection of humor and introspection that often defines her perspective.

Lessons from Ellie Kemper

1. Be yourself, even when “quirky” feels risky
   Ellie’s authenticity—her brightness paired with vulnerability—became her strength in roles where sincerity matters.

2. Let roles evolve with you
   Her Erin Hannon role shifted once writers adapted to her energy. That flexibility opened doors.

3. Comedy and introspection can coexist
   Her comedic work is often grounded in personal truths, not just punchlines.

4. Account for growth and mistakes
   Her public acknowledgement of past missteps (Veiled Prophet Ball) demonstrates that learning and apology are part of one’s public journey.

5. Diversify creatively
   Acting, voice work, writing—these multiple outlets give resilience against being pigeonholed.

Conclusion

Ellie Kemper’s trajectory—from a comedy-inclined student to one of today’s most recognizable faces in modern comedic TV—illustrates the power of persistence, voice, and evolving authenticity. She is not just “funny actress,” but a multi-dimensional creator who keeps growing and inviting audiences to laugh while feeling deeply. Her journey reminds us that success in the arts often comes not from overnight breakthrough but from cultivating one’s genuine self, adapting with courage, and confronting the complexities of life openly.