Jessica St. Clair
Age: 47
Birthplace: Westfield, New Jersey, U.S.
Jessica St. Clair (born September 21, 1977) is an American actress and improvisational comedian from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. With frequent collaborator Lennon Parham, she co-created and co-starred in NBC's Best Friends Forever and USA Network's Playing House. She also currently recurs on the Comedy Central series Review.
Life and career
St. Clair was born and raised in Westfield, New Jersey, where she attended Westfield High School. She is a graduate of Middlebury College. She began her comedy career as a regular improviser and sketch performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York and Los Angeles, originally as a member of the improv team "Mother". Her first major television work was as a regular panelist on the VH1 series Best Week Ever, offering comedic insights on pop-culture and the news of the week. She then co-starred in the short-lived ABC sitcom In the Motherhood in 2009.
St. Clair has since gained notice for her frequent guest appearances (often alongside performing partner Lennon Parham) on podcasts such as Comedy Bang! Bang!, where she plays the show's teenage intern Marissa Wompler. In 2015, St. Clair and Parham spun-off their characters in a new Earwolf podcast called WOMP It Up!, with St. Clair as host Marissa Wompler and Parham co-hosting as Marissa's teacher Miss Listler. Frequent guests on the podcast include Brian Huskey as Marissa's stepdad "Seth" and Jason Mantzoukas as Marissa's former flame Eric "Gutterballs" Gutterman. The podcast ran through the summer of 2015, returning after a hiatus on November 16, 2015.
St. Clair and frequent collaborator Lennon Parham created and starred in the NBC comedy series Best Friends Forever, which premiered on April 4, 2012 and aired for one season. St. Clair and Parham created and starred in their second comedy Playing House, which premiered on USA on April 29, 2014 and concluded its second season in fall 2015. A third season was announced in January 2016.
St. Clair has had recurring roles on television programs such as Veep, Weeds, The McCarthys, Marry Me, Worst Week and United States of Tara. She is also part of the recurring cast on the Comedy Central series Review, playing the role of Suzanne, the long-suffering wife of host Forrest MacNeil (played by Andy Daly), currently in its second season. St. Clair's notable work in film includes supporting roles in Bridesmaids, She's Out of My League, Afternoon Delight and Enough Said.
Personal life
St. Clair is married to playwright and poet Dan O'Brien. Their daughter Isobel Kelly O'Brien was born on October 1, 2013.
In 2015, St. Clair said she and Lennon Parham had both learned Transcendental Meditation.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Terrorists | Jennifer Castle | |
2006 | For Your Consideration | Hula Balls Spokeswoman | |
2007 | Trendsetters | Julie Campbell | Short film |
2008 | College Road Trip | Ms. Prince | |
2009 | Stay Cool | Darcy Portola | |
2009 | Condom Killer, TheThe Condom Killer | Connor's Mother | Short film |
2009 | Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard., TheThe Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. | Selleck Customer, Wife | |
2009 | Taking Chances | Reporter | |
2009 | It's Complicated | Wedding Specialist | |
2010 | She's Out of My League | Debbie | |
2010 | Big Dog, TheThe Big Dog | Lena | Short film |
2010 | Red Roof Inn Chronicles, TheThe Red Roof Inn Chronicles | Short film | |
2010 | Life As We Know It | Beth | |
2011 | Bridesmaids | Whitney | |
2012 | Wanderlust | Deena Schuster | |
2012 | The Dictator | Denise | |
2013 | Afternoon Delight | Stephanie | |
2013 | Enough Said | Cynthia | |
2015 | Addicted to Fresno | Kristen |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Colin Quinn Show, TheThe Colin Quinn Show | Various | 3 episodes |
2003-2004 | Smoking Gun TV, TheThe Smoking Gun TV | Correspondent | Series regular |
2004 | Things I Hate About You | Juror | Episode: "Patrick and Renee" |
2005 | Lies and the Wives We Tell Them To | TV pilot | |
2007 | IT Crowd, TheThe IT Crowd | Jen | TV pilot |
2007 | Samantha Who? | Valerie | Episode: "The Wedding" |
2008-2009 | Worst Week | Sarah | 6 episodes |
2009 | United States of Tara | Tiffany St. Claire | 2 episodes |
2009 | In the Motherhood | Emily | Series regular |
2009 | Labor Pains | Pregnancy Class Instructor | TV movie |
2009 | Hank | Peggy | Episode: "Yard Sale" |
2010 | Life & Times of Tim, TheThe Life & Times of Tim | Kelly (voice) Friend (voice) |
2 episodes |
2010 | Notes from the Underbelly | Violet | Episode: "Spinning Out of Control" |
2010 | Sons of Tucson | Marcia Teel | Episode: "Sally Teel" |
2010 | Weeds | Rebekkah | 3 episodes |
2011 | Parks and Recreation | Denise Burkiss | Episode: "Road Trip" |
2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Anna | Episode: "The Divorce" |
2011 | Love Bites | Chloe | 3 episodes |
2011 | How to Be a Gentleman | Pam | Episode: "How to Attend Your Ex-Fiance's Wedding" |
2012 | Best Friends Forever | Jessica Black | Star and co-creator |
2013 | The Office | Casey Dean | Episode: "A.A.R.M." |
2013-2014 | Veep | Dana | 4 episodes |
2014-present | Review | Suzanne MacNeil | 16 episodes |
2014-present | Playing House | Emma Crawford | Star and co-creator |
2014-2015 | The McCarthys | Katrina | 6 episodes |
2014-2015 | Marry Me | Julie | 3 episodes |
2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Miss Polite | Episode: "Mark Duplass Wears a Striped Sweater and Jeans" |
2015 | Key & Peele | Amy | Episode: "Killer Concept Album" |
2015 | Sofia the First | Athena (voice) | Episode: "The Secret Library" |
2016 | Animals. | Kaitlin (voice) | Episode: "Pigeons." |