Nora Kirkpatrick (born December 6, 1984) is an American actress, director, writer and musician.[1]

Nora Kirkpatrick
Born
Occupation(s)Writer, Director, Musician
Years active2005–present
Director Nora Kirkpatrick on set in 2020

Early life

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Kirkpatrick grew up in rural Iowa.[2] She graduated from La Quinta High School.[3] She graduated with a BA in theater from UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.[4][2]

Career

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Kirkpatrick was a founding member and accordion player for the Grammy Award winning and platinum record selling band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. After seven years touring on the road she turned her focus to writing and directing, selling series to CBS, Hulu and Comedy Central among others.[5]

In 2020, Kirkpatrick became a writer on two Amazon series: Daisy Jones & the Six, produced by Reese Witherspoon, and Rodeo Queens starring Dakota Johnson.[6] In 2019, Nora created, wrote and directed a 15- episode interactive television show for EKO and FunnyOrDie. This series, The Coop, co-starred Tony Hale, Bobby Moynihan, Bridget Everett and Margaret Cho.[7] She directed episode #712 of The Goldbergs for ABC and was the first woman ever to direct a campaign for Bud Light. Nora helmed three commercials for the brand, shot during covid in 2020.[8]

In 2018, Nora created, wrote and directed Door No. 1, a live-action VR comedy series, starring Snoop Dogg and Ravi Patel, for Hulu. [9] In a 2017 Forbes article, Kirkpatrick mentions virtual reality's ability to cause "spatial un-comfortability," and her aim to make the viewer the lead character of the story.[10] In 2017, Nora sold her TV show Assisted Living to CBS, which was executive produced by Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum.[11]

In 2016, Nora co-wrote and directed a five-part VR comedy series, Virtually Mike and Nora, with SNL alum Mike O'Brien, which is currently airing on Hulu. That same year, Nora sold her TV show, Best Seller, to Comedy Central. It was produced by Gloria Sanchez Productions and Olivia Wilde and co-written by SNL alum Dennis McNicholas.[12]

Her short films have played at film festivals all over the world garnering awards including Best Female Director at the Prague International Film Festival (2020) and the Grand Jury Prize at the San Diego Film Festival, Sioux City Film Festival and the Femme Filmmakers Festival. [13] [14] She won a Davey Grant for her screenplay Long Time Listener, First Time Caller, and the Best Screenplay award from both Shore Scripts and Hollyshorts for Best Seller.

As an actor, she is probably best known for her role as Katherine, the stern president of Panhellenic, on the ABC Family TV series Greek, or for her recurring role on the ninth season of The Office as Esther Bruegger, a neighboring farmer's daughter who becomes Dwight's girlfriend. Kirkpatrick starred in the 2015 film Pink Grapefruit, which won the SXSW Grand Jury Award. She has played many other roles in film and TV, including Men at Work, Jennifer Falls, Don't Trust the B, and Chasing Life. She was one of the leads of the popular mockumentary web series Dorm Life, in which she played Courtney Cloverlock.

Music

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Kirkpatrick played the accordion in the band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. She is a founding member and together they won a Grammy in 2013.[15][16] She left the band after seven years in 2014 to focus on her directing career.[3]

Personal life

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Kirkpatrick was married to filmmaker Bryn Mooser from 2016 to 2022.[17]

Filmography

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Directing & Writing

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Virtually Mike and Nora (HULU) Co-Director/Co-Creator 5 episodes
2018 Door No. 1 (HULU) Director/Co-Writer "Ten Year" (season 1: episode 1)
2018 Best Seller (Comedy Central) Director/Creator/Writer "Pilot"
2019 Long Time Listener, First Time Caller Director/Writer Film
2019 The Coop Director/Creator/Co-Writer 15 episodes
2020 Bud Light Seltzer Campaign Director "Memories" "Celebration" "Resemblance"
2020 The Goldbergs (ABC) Director "Game Night" (season 7: episode 12)
2022 Rodeo Queens (Amazon) Writer Episode 106
2023 Daisy Jones & the Six (Amazon) Writer Episode 103

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 What's Bugging Seth Nora Green
2005 White Nights Sharon
2007 Katrina Tyler TV film
2007 Crashing Barton's Girlfriend
2007 Randal June Short film
2008 Man Stroke Woman Various TV film
2009 Flower Girl Wendy
2010 Long Story Short Georgia Short film
2010 Growth Kristin Daniels
2010 How to Make Love to a Woman Carla
2011 Dreamworld Jules
2011 Happy Place Margaret Short film
2011 Mime Apples Mime Short film
2012 Peter at the End Lucy Short film
2013 Big Sur Alyson
2013 Sexy Evil Genius Abby
2013 All Together Now Kylie
2013 Bayou Tales Diana
2014 Crying Man Brooke
2015 Pink Grapefruit Lead
2015 Los Dr. Ryan
2016 The Babymoon Shanon
2016 Sandy Wexler Sienna
2017 The Attempt Molly
2017 Woman Child Kate Montgomery

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 John from Cincinnati Hotel Bartender Episodes: "His Visit: Day Four", "His Visit: Day Seven"
2008–2009 Dorm Life Courtney Cloverlock 37 episodes
2009–2011 Greek Katherine Parker 19 episodes
2010 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jane Lewis Episode: "Cold Blooded"
2011 Breaking In Patty Boggs Episode: "21.0 Jump Street"
2012–2013 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Chrissy Episodes: "The Wedding", "Monday June..."
2012 Men at Work Nora Episode: "Milo Full of Grace"
2013 The Office Esther Bruegger Recurring role (season 9); 5 episodes
2014 Jennifer Falls Stephanie Series regular
2015 Chasing Life Jaclyn "Model Behavior" (season 1: episode 17)
"First Person" (season 2: episode 11)
2016 Riders Mary "Love and Lust" (season 1: episode 1)
"Life on Mars" (season 1: episode 2 )
"A Trip At A Wedding" (season 1: episode 3)
2018 Door No. 1 Stephanie
2019 The Coop Dr. Diane

References

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  1. ^ Nemiroff, Brianne (2013). "Interview with The Office's Nora Kirkpatrick". Viva Glam Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b Stuart, Gwynedd (2018-05-29). "How an Actress and Accordion Player Became a Comedy Virtual Reality Pioneer". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  3. ^ a b Fessier, Bruce. "Nora Kirkpatrick co-stars in 'Jennifer Falls' on TV Land". Desert Sun. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  4. ^ Jakubczyk, Ashley (2013-08-19). "Circus-esque show follows 'Magnetic Zeros' new album". Daily Bruin. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  5. ^ "CBS Buys 'Assisted Living' Comedy from Nora Kirkpatrick & Gloria Sanchez Prods". 3 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Daisy Jones & the Six (TV Mini Series) - IMDb". IMDb.
  7. ^ "Nora Kirkpatrick & Funny or die Team on Interactive Series 'The Coop' for Eko". 23 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Bud Light".
  9. ^ "Hulu to Stream Virtual Reality News and Comedy Shows from RYOT Studios (EXCLUSIVE)". 21 September 2016.
  10. ^ Coleman, Lauren deLisa. "Sorry Guys, But Women Are Surging Ahead In VR, And The Oscar Nomination Proves It". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  11. ^ "CBS Buys 'Assisted Living' Comedy from Nora Kirkpatrick & Gloria Sanchez Prods". 3 November 2017.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2016-03-31). "Kevin Hart Series, Amy Schumer Projects, Channing Tatum Animated Presentation On Comedy Central's Development Slate". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  13. ^ "About".
  14. ^ "Femme Filmmakers Festival 2020".
  15. ^ "Nora Kirkpatrick: accordion, keys, vocals". Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros band. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  16. ^ Winzelberg, Jessica (October 2, 2013). "Nora Kirkpatrick - Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros". Refinery 29. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  17. ^ Sutton, Samantha (7 December 2016). "Forget the Dress: This Actress Said "I Do" in the Most Glamorous Winter Coat". Popsugar Fashion. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
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