Phyllis Smith
| Phyllis Smith | |
|---|---|
 Smith at the Dan in Real Life premiere in 2007 | |
| Born |
July 10, 1951 Lemay, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2005–present |
Phyllis Smith (born July 10, 1951) is an American actress. She is best known for playing Phyllis Lapin-Vance on The Office.
Early life
Smith was born in Lemay, Missouri. 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. She says that there was "no stripping, but I did wear feathers".[2] She was forced to quit dancing after suffering a knee injury. She later worked in Hollywood, California as an actress and in casting.
Career
Smith 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. She 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". In June 2008, Smith appeared with the cast of The Office on Celebrity Family Feud. In 2011, she played a supporting role in the film Bad Teacher.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The 40-Year Old Virgin | Andy's Mother | Uncredited |
| 2006 | I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With | Marsha | |
| 2011 | Butter | Nancy | |
| 2011 | Bad Teacher | Lynn | |
| 2011 | Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked | Flight Attendant | |
| 2015 | Inside Out | Sadness |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Arrested Development | Carla | Episode: "The Immaculate Election" |
| 2005–2013 | The Office | Phyllis Lapin-Vance | 187 episodes Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2007–2008) Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2009–2013) |
| 2006 | The Office: The Accountants | Phyllis | Episode: "Phyllis" |
| 2008 | The Office: The Outburst | Phyllis Lapin | Episode: "The Explanation" |
| 2013 | Trophy Wife | Mrs. Patty Steinberg | 3 episodes |
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
- Phyllis Smith at the Internet Movie Database
- Phyllis Smith at TV.com
- Deadspin profile
- Cast Bio on NBC web site
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