Stephanie Courtney
Stephanie Courtney | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 8, 1970 Stony Point, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 3, 2015 (aged 45) |
| Cause of death | Undisclosed Causes |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, comedian |
| Years active | 1998–2015 |
| Spouse | Scott Kolanach (2008–2015; widowed) |
Stephanie Courtney (February 8, 1970–April 3, 2015)[1] was an American actress and comedian, best known for playing the advertising character Flo in television and radio commercials for Progressive Insurance,[2] and noted for her recurring roles on several television series, including the voices of Renee the Receptionist and Joy Peters on the Adult Swim comedy Tom Goes to the Mayor (2004–2006); Marge on the AMC drama Mad Men (2007); and Diane on the ABC comedy Cavemen (2007). She also appeared in the season 2 premiere of Men of a Certain Age. Courtney is a member of The Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy theater in Los Angeles, California.
Early life and education
Courtney was born in Stony Point, New York, the youngest of three children[3] of a high school history teacher father and a singer mother.[1] In 1992 she graduated from Binghamton University, where she had played Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible. By then, she said, "I was never tortured over whether I wanted to become an actor. There was never another option in my mind."[4] After graduation, she moved to New York City, where her roommate was future author and columnist Megan Daum.[1] While working as evening secretary for Smith Barney chairman Robert S. Greenhill, Courtney studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse.[1]
She moved to Los Angeles, where she roomed with her sister, actress Jennifer Courtney. The two wrote and performed the sketch "Those Courtney Girls" in Los Angeles and at the Aspen Comedy Festival.[1] She joined the training program of the improvisational and sketch comedy group The Groundlings, and in 2004 became a member of its 30-person main company.[3] There she met its theater's lighting director, Scott Kolanach,[5] whom she married in 2008.[1]
During her early time in Los Angeles she worked odd jobs including catering, to support herself.[3]
Career
Courtney broke into television commercials with a Bud Light beer ad on a Super Bowl. She went on to appear in commercials for Skittles, SC Johnson Glade products, General Mills, and the Wienerschnitzel restaurant chain.[1] She began her role as Flo, a quirky, chipper sales clerk in an abstract insurance retail store.
She has appeared in such films as The Brothers Solomon, Blades of Glory, The Heartbreak Kid, Melvin Goes to Dinner, and Fred: The Movie.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Sweet Bird of You | Kate | Short film |
| 2003 | Melvin Goes to Dinner | Alex | |
| 2005 | Broadcast 23 | Mrs. Morgan | Short film |
| 2006 | For Your Consideration | Boom operator | |
| 2006 | Re-Animated | Team member Donna | Television film |
| 2007 | Blades of Glory | Reporter at sign ups | |
| 2007 | The Brothers Solomon | Sara | |
| 2007 | The Heartbreak Kid | Gayla | |
| 2009 | Coco Lipshitz: Behind the Laughter | Karen Balsac | Short film |
| 2009 | Christmas Eve: Alaska | Melissa | Short film |
| 2010 | Fred: The Movie | Kevin's mom | |
| 2011 | Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred | Kevin's mom |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Mr. Show with Bob and David | Waitress | Episode: "Eat Rotten Fruit from a Shitty Tree" |
| 2000 | Tenacious D | Various | Episode: "The Fan" |
| 2001 | Angel | Gwen (Files and Records) | Episode: "Dad" |
| 2002 | Everybody Loves Raymond | Woman | Episode: "Cookies" |
| 2003 | The Man Show | Various | Episode: "The New Guys" |
| 2003 | Sketch Pad | Various | Episode: "Roller" |
| 2004 | Significant Others | Pam | Episode: "A School, Not Cool & a Fool" |
| 2004 | Faking the Video | Fake producer | Main cast; 7 episodes |
| 2004 | Without a Trace | Lynette Shaw | Episode: "American Goddess" |
| 2004–2006 | Tom Goes to the Mayor | Various voices | Main cast; 27 episodes |
| 2005 | ER | Charlotte | Episode: "Just as I Am" |
| 2005 | The Comeback | Carolina | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Courting Alex | Ticket agent | Episode: "Birthday" |
| 2006 | Lovespring International | Woman on tape | Episode: "A Rear Window" |
| 2007 | Celebrity Deathmatch | Tina Fey | Voice; episode: "The Banter Bloodbath" |
| 2007 | Mad Men | Marge | 5 episodes |
| 2007–2008 | Cavemen | Diane | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Demons casting director | Episode: "Robin" |
| 2008 | Kath & Kim | Ruth | Episode: "Money" |
| 2009 | United States of Tara | Beth | Episode: "Aftermath" |
| 2010 | The Jay Leno Show | Leno family member | Episode 75 |
| 2010 | Sons of Tucson | Denise | Episode: "The Break-In" |
| 2010 | House | Claire | Episode: "Selfish" |
| 2010 | Men of a Certain Age | Stephanie | Episode: "If I Could, I Surely Would" |
| 2011 | The Looney Tunes Show | Emma Webster (young Granny) | Episode: "Eligible Bachelors" |
| 2012 | Fred: The Show | Kevin's mom | Main cast; 4 episodes |
| 2012 | Phineas and Ferb | Additional voices | Episode: "What'd I Miss?" |
| 2014 | 2 Broke Girls | Eleanor | Episode: "And the Wedding Cake Cake Cake" |
| 2014 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Blanche | Episode: "Fred Armisen Wears Black Jeans & Glasses" |
| 2014 | You're the Worst | Bookstore Manager | Episodes: "Insouciance," "Equally Dead Inside" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Derek and Simon: The Show | Glenda | Episode: "Troubled Times: Part 2 – Murder & Deception" |
| 2008 | Face to Bush | Mary McQueegle | |
| 2008–2009 | Back on Topps | Debbie Topps |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Celebrity Deathmatch | Mischa Barton | Voice |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Russell, Mallory (February 27, 2012). "Meet Progressive's Flo: Standup Comic Stephanie Courtney". Business Insider. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ Elliott, Stuart (2010-01-17). "Until Flo Ebbs, Progressive Will Capitalize on Her Popularity". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ a b c Hiltbrand, David (April 8, 2010). "Actress-comedian Stephanie Courtney finds her niche with insurance commercials". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ Paknejad, Tina (Summer 2009). "Newly Famous Pitchwoman". Binghamton University Magazine. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010.
- ^ Parsley, Aaron (September 2, 2009). "5 Things to Know About TV's Progressive Insurance Lady". People. Retrieved May 21, 2013.