Whatever Happened To Ellie Kemper?

During the 2010s, Ellie Kemper consistently proved herself to be one of the funniest actors on television. In 2009, she joined the cast of “The Office,” playing Erin Hannon, a new receptionist at Dunder Mifflin. As the series progressed, her character became more amusingly dimwitted. Kemper was okay with potentially losing her role on “The Office” because she had an audition with Ed Helms, but destiny had other plans. Erin was initially only meant to appear in a few episodes, but she ended up being included in various storylines and remained a crucial part of the show until its conclusion. This success paved the way for Kemper to star in popular comedies on the big screen, such as “Bridesmaids” and “21 Jump Street.

After “The Office” concluded, Ellie Kemper found herself in the lead role of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” on Netflix. This series proved to be even more eccentric than “The Office”, as Kemper portrayed a woman who breaks free from a cult and endeavors to rejoin society. “Kimmy Schmidt” came to an end in 2019, followed by an interactive movie, “Kimmy vs the Reverend,” released in 2020 to wrap things up. Given her significant achievements across various television shows and films, fans may be curious about what she’s been doing recently. Although you might not have seen her as frequently since her days on “The Office” and “Kimmy Schmidt”, she’s certainly kept herself occupied in the years that followed.

Ellie Kemper’s recent movies have gone straight to streaming

It’s possible that people who are unsure about Ellie Kemper’s recent whereabouts might not have caught her latest projects yet. Despite wrapping up “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” she has been active in acting since then, but her roles have mainly been in lower-profile films. In the new movie “Home Sweet Home Alone,” she portrays Pam McKenzie, a character who, along with her husband Jeff (played by Rob Delaney), attempts to steal a valuable doll from Max Mercer’s home when his family is away. As burglars, they find themselves ensnared in Max’s elaborate traps. In truth, Kemper and Delaney shine in this reboot of the classic film. During one of the stunts for this role, Kemper actually caught fire, but her co-star Delaney quickly put out the flames using his Santa hat. She revealed to ScreenRant that she initially thought it was just part of the act, but it turned out to be real fire and Delaney saved her.

2023 saw Ellie Kemper appear in the Netflix original movie titled “Happiness for Beginners.” This romantic comedy finds Kemper portraying Helen, a woman seeking to rebuild her life after a divorce, who decides to enroll in a survival course on the Appalachian Trail. There, she crosses paths with Jake (Luke Grimes), sparking an impulsive romance. While this film, along with another of Kemper’s recent projects, haven’t quite achieved the cultural impact of “Bridesmaids,” it’s not surprising that they may be unfamiliar to some given their streaming-only release – with “Home Sweet Home Alone” being a Disney+ exclusive. However, Kemper continues to land roles, even if her more recent projects might not receive as much attention as her earlier work.

Kemper has also done a lot of voice acting

One possible reason Ellie Kemper may not have been visible in many recent productions is that she has been busy with voiceover work. For instance, she lent her voice to “The Simpsons” in Season 32’s episode “A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas.” In this episode, Ellie voiced Mary, a character who visits Springfield to oversee a Christmas movie production. Unexpectedly, she found herself embroiled in a romantic plot with none other than Principal Skinner.

In the episode “Where There’s Smoke” of Central Park, Ingrid Witherstrop was voiced by Kemper, and she also had a recurring role in Eureka!, a Disney Junior series that centers around a young girl in prehistoric times who strives to improve the world using her inventions. Kemper provides the voice for Chee, the school librarian, in this series. Notably, these recent voiceover roles are not novel to Kemper as she has been a part of numerous cartoons such as We Bare Bears and Sofia the First. Furthermore, she has lent her voiceover skills to both installments of The Secret Life of Pets, where she portrays Katie, Max and Duke’s human owner, and The Lego Batman Movie, in which she plays Phyllis, a sentient 2×4 brick who serves as the gatekeeper of the Phantom Zone.

She started a family with her writer husband

Following her role in “Bridesmaids,” Ellie Kemper swiftly transitioned into becoming a bride herself when she wed writer Michael Koman in 2012. This union seems to be a divine match for comedy enthusiasts, as Koman has contributed to numerous comedic shows such as “Saturday Night Live,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Important Things with Demetri Martin,” and “Nathan for You.” Notably, Koman assisted in crafting some of the most memorable business plans on “Nathan for You,” including the haunted house that instilled fear of a deadly illness in its patrons.

The duo shares two kids who were born in 2016 and 2019 respectively. During the filming of Season 2, Ellie Kemper was pregnant with her first child. In an interview on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” she revealed that she informed the show’s co-creator Tina Fey about it, leading to a plot where Kemper had a back injury to avoid a roller coaster scene. However, Kemper admitted to Fallon that she isn’t a good liar. She struggled to pretend having a back injury, stating, “I’m an actress, presumably. But when someone asked what was wrong, I couldn’t think of words like ‘I sprained my spine.’

During the production of the “Kimmy vs. the Reverend” special, her second pregnancy occurred, and she openly shared on “Ellen” her feelings of discomfort towards her co-star Daniel Radcliffe, who had to repeatedly kiss a pregnant woman like herself. She described it as: “I felt terrible that he had to do it so many times with this expectant lady.” She further mentioned an instance when he brushed against her baby bump, which she found inappropriate. However, she praised him for his professionalism and kindness. In summary, aside from resuming acting since 2019, she’s also been devoting time to nurturing her children.

Ellie Kemper is now a podcaster

Observing various interviews with Ellie Kemper, it’s evident that her charm is contagious and bubbly. She radiates joy in every appearance, which fits perfectly with her launch of a podcast titled “Born to Love” in 2023. On this show, she and her co-host, Scott Eckert, welcome a celebrity guest nearly every week, delving into their passions. For instance, Ellie’s “Office” colleague Jenna Fischer appeared on an episode discussing favorite Keanu Reeves films, while Randall Park (known for his role as Asian Jim on “The Office”) joined them to share his fondness for the New York City Marathon.

On “The Bobby Bones Show”, Kemper expressed her desire to collaborate with her long-standing friend, Eckert. She found the podcast format particularly appealing since they reside in different cities – Los Angeles and New York respectively. However, it’s not just an opportunity for friendship, but a chance to create something uplifting and joyful. As the world faces many challenges, they wanted this project to serve as a pleasant distraction where guests share stories that bring them happiness.

Additionally present are Justin Long, known for his passion for gardening; Gail Simmons, an ardent fan of time travel novels; Roz Chast, who shares her affection for leftovers; and Samantha Bee, who expresses her endearing fondness for cats.

Kemper is also an author

Ellie Kemper is versatile, excelling not only as an actor and podcaster but also as a writer. In 2018, she published a book titled “My Squirrel Days,” which is a compilation of essays chronicling her upbringing in Missouri and her journey to Hollywood, filled with challenges. Although the book contains sections about her roles on “The Office” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” it primarily focuses on providing a complete picture of Kemper’s life before her career breakthrough by delving into various jobs she held previously.

Readers who admire Kemper’s work are bound to find the book fascinating, filled with intriguing anecdotes. For instance, Kemper discloses that she auditioned for the role of Donna on “Parks and Recreation,” which ultimately went to Retta, and this paved the way for her part in “The Office.” Moreover, she confirms that the original title for “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” was “Tooken,” a playful take on “Taken.” She also shares the advice she received from Steve Carell, Tina Fey, and Ricky Gervais during her early career. In addition, Kemper uses this book as an opportunity to reevaluate past events, as she told St. Louis Magazine: “I thought I was more timid than I actually was when I look back at those episodes in my memory or through old emails, letters, and scrapbooks.

Kemper played a significant role in making the universe of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt feel more authentic by voice acting in the audiobook adaptation of “The Legends of Greemulax,” a book that was penned by Sarah Mlynowski, author of the “Whatever After” series, and published under Kimmy’s name in 2019.

She brought her talents to Broadway

2023 marked Ellie Kemper’s first appearance on Broadway as she stepped into the limited run of “Peter Pan Goes Wrong.” The title hints at a humorous stage production where an amateur drama group endeavors to present J.M. Barrie’s classic story, but is constantly undermined by technical glitches and internal conflicts among cast members, risking the show’s collapse altogether. Kemper temporarily replaced Neil Patrick Harris for shows from June 20th to 25th that year, proving an excellent fit for her role as Francis. In this play-within-a-play, Francis assumes the roles of both the Narrator and pirate Cecco, while also diligently maintaining order behind the scenes.

The producers, through Playbill, made an announcement welcoming Ellie to the show and expressed their delight that she has prior experience playing resilient characters. They believe this ability will benefit her in the role of ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong.’ Overjoyed by her Broadway debut, Kemper shared a photo on Instagram from backstage with the caption: “This is an ordinary snapshot of a Broadway actress preparing for her first rehearsal in her dressing room – it’s just another day on Broadway for me!

Kemper came under fire for past links to a racist organization

Although Ellie Kemper is known for her cheerful demeanor and playing charming roles, her career hasn’t been free from controversy. In 2021, Kemper was embroiled in a heated discussion when people discovered that she had been crowned the Queen of the St. Louis Veiled Prophet Ball in 1999 at the age of 19. The Veiled Prophet organization has roots steeped in racism and sexism, dating back to 1878. Not only was a Queen chosen, but the ball also included a Veiled Prophet character, an anonymous man dressed in clothing similar to those worn by members of the Ku Klux Klan. A St. Louis law firm, Kennedy Hunt, confirmed this. Moreover, it wasn’t until 1979 that Black men were allowed into the VP organization.

The organization remains linked to white supremacist and patriarchal beliefs, leading to criticism when Kemper participated in their annual beauty pageant, a tradition since its inception. On Instagram, Kemper swiftly distanced herself from the group by issuing a detailed apology and clarification: “The century-old organization that hosted the debutante ball had an undeniably racist, sexist, and elitist background. I was unaware of this history at the time, but lack of knowledge doesn’t justify my actions. At my age, I should have researched before associating myself.” This incident is likely to be one of many regrettable actions by actors that fans will recall for a long time.

Ellie Kemper is very into fitness

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve come to appreciate Ellie Kemper for her diverse interests – from acting and writing to podcasting. But what truly fascinates me is her dedication to fitness. In 2022, she raised the bar even higher by conquering the New York City marathon! She shared her achievement on Instagram and talked about it during a “Today” show appearance. During the race, I remember texting my sister saying, “This is the worst day of my life.” But boy, was I wrong! By the time I crossed that finish line, I couldn’t help but exclaim, “That was the best day of my life! I did it, somehow, I finished!

It appears she’s been passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise since the beginning, finding vitality from physical activities. However, as she has aged, she’s become more mindful of balance in her routines. In a heartfelt conversation with The Cut, she shared: “As I transition into my mature years, I pay greater heed to the concept of balance. Previously, it was about pushing myself constantly and trying to squeeze every last ounce out of life. Now, I’m more comfortable with not always giving it my all.” This thoughtful strategy seems beneficial at any age, contributing significantly to Kemper’s ongoing vitality in her 40s.

Is producing next for Ellie Kemper?

2023 saw news break that Ellie Kemper would both star in and produce a new comedy series, provisionally named “Drop Off.” This is an American adaptation of the BAFTA-nominated British sitcom “Motherland,” which became extremely popular after its 2017 debut. Across the ocean, it garnered glowing reviews, with a staggering 83% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season. According to Variety, ABC has placed an order for a pilot episode of “Drop Off.” The synopsis reads: “Julia (Ellie Kemper), struggling to juggle her job and motherhood, sets out to find her support network. With the assistance of new acquaintances Calvin and Liz, Julia uncovers that she might occasionally manage to strike a balance between work and parenthood.

Following the announcement of the American remake, additional casting news began to emerge. Judy Greer, known for her role in “Jurassic World,” was chosen to play Amanda, a mother who appears to have her life well-organized compared to Julia (played by Kemper). According to The Wrap, Amanda is skilled at delivering compliments that are actually disguised insults. Karan Soni, recognized for his work in “Safety Not Guaranteed,” and Michaela Conlin, famous for her role in “Bones,” were also cast as Calvin and Liz respectively.

2023 saw all the news about the pilot of which there’s been no update since then regarding filming or additional episodes. It may have stalled indefinitely, disappointing fans of Kemper, but such projects often require time to gather momentum. Despite this uncertainty, Kemper continues to juggle her roles as a performer and mother while exploring other creative ventures. Her next major project might be just around the bend.

2025-03-03 22:31