Beth Jean Riesgraf (born August 24, 1978)[1] is an American actress and television director. She is known for her portrayal of Parker on the TNT television series Leverage (2008–2012) and the revival Leverage: Redemption (2021–present), which streams on IMDb TV/Freevee.
Beth Riesgraf | |
|---|---|
 Riesgraf at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | Beth Jean Riesgraf August 24, 1978 Belle Plaine, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Partner | Jason Lee (2001–2007) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life and education
editOriginally from Belle Plaine, Minnesota, Riesgraf graduated from Cimarron-Memorial High School in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1996.[2][3][4][5]
Career
editRiesgraf appeared with then-fiancé Jason Lee as the character Natalie Duckworth on the show My Name Is Earl in 2005 and 2007, and in Tim Hill's film Alvin and the Chipmunks as a mother in the supermarket in 2007. In 2008, she played the bride in the official music video for "Cath..." by Death Cab for Cutie.
From 2008 to 2012, she played the main role of Parker in the TNT series Leverage.[6] In 2015, Riesgraf starred in the USA Network series Complications, which follows a morally conflicted doctor's life;[7] the show lasted for one season. In September 2019, she was cast in a starring role in the Paramount Network drama series 68 Whiskey.[8]
Personal life
editRiesgraf was in a relationship with actor Jason Lee from 2001 to 2007 and the two were engaged to be married. With Lee, she had a son born in September 2003.[9]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Scorcher | Krissy | |
| 2003 | I Love Your Work | Swoosh Photographer | |
| 2007 | Alvin and the Chipmunks | Mother in Store | |
| 2009 | Nobody | Edie | |
| 2015 | Intruders | Anna Rook | |
| 2017 | In Search of Fellini | Sylvia | |
| 2019 | I Hate Kids | Schyler |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Spin City | Waitress | Episode: "Trainstopping" |
| 2001 | Undressed | Loretta | Main role (season 4) |
| 2005 | How I Met Your Mother | Works with Carlos Girl | Episode: "Purple Giraffe" |
| 2005 | The Stereo Sound Agency | Various | Television film |
| 2005, 2007 | My Name Is Earl | Natalie Duckworth | Episodes: "Faked My Own Death," "Our 'Cops' Is On!" |
| 2007 | Insatiable | N/A | Unsold television pilot |
| 2007 | Big Shots | James' Date | Episode: "The Good, the Bad, and the Really Ugly" |
| 2007 | Without a Trace | Kelly Schmidt | Episode: "Run" |
| 2008–2012 | Leverage | Parker | Main role, 77 episodes |
| 2011 | NCIS | Maxine / Max Destructo | Episode: "Kill Screen" |
| 2012–2013, 2017, 2020 | Criminal Minds | Dr. Maeve Donovan | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
| 2013 | The Mentalist | Kira Tinsley | Episode: "The Red Tattoo" |
| 2013 | The Surgeon General | Dr. Page Wyatt | Television film |
| 2014 | Killer Women | Jennifer Jennings | Episode: "Some Men Need Killing" |
| 2014 | Perception | Ashley Marcel | Episode: "Cobra" |
| 2014 | Caper | Alexia | Web series |
| 2015 | Complications | Samantha Ellison | Main role |
| 2015 | The Librarians | Lady of the Lake | Episodes: "And the Cost of Education," "And the Final Curtain" |
| 2018 | SEAL Team | Cindy | Episode: "Getaway Day" |
| 2019 | Stranger Things | Unnamed Woman | Episodes: "Chapter Six: E Pluribus Unum," "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt" |
| 2019 | Lovestruck | Isabelle | Television film |
| 2020 | Legends of Tomorrow | Kathy Meyers | Episode: "Slay Anything" |
| 2020 | 68 Whiskey | Major Sonia Holloway | Main role[8] |
| 2021-present | Leverage: Redemption | Parker | Main role, also director |
Director
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–present | Leverage: Redemption | Episodes: "The Bucket Job," "The Great Train Job," "The Tournament Job", "The Turkish Prisoner Job" |
Accolades
edit| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Leverage | Nominated | [10] |
| 2012 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Leverage | Nominated | [11] |
| 2013 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Leverage | Nominated | [12] |
| 2022 | Saturn Awards | Best Actress in a Streaming Television Series | Leverage: Redemption | Nominated | [13] |
References
edit- ^ "Almanac". Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. August 24, 2023. p. A12. ProQuest 2856626410.
Actor-comedian Dave Chappelle is 50. Actor James D'Arcy is 50. Actor Carmine Giovinazzo (jee-oh-vihn-AH'-zoh) is 50. Actor Alex O'Loughlin is 47. Actor Beth Riesgraf is 45. Actor Chad Michael Murray is 42. Singer Mika is 40. Actor Blake Berris is 39. Actor Rupert Grint ("Harry Potter" films) is 35.
See also:- "This day in history: Today's birthdays". The Boston Globe. August 24, 2010. p. G15. ProQuest 746503091.
Actor-comedian Dave Chappelle is 37. Actor Carmine Giovinazzo is 37. Actress Beth Riesgraf is 32. Actor Chad Michael Murray is 29. Christian rock musician Jeffrey Gilbert is 27. Singer Mika is 27. Actor Rupert Grint is 22.
- "This day in history: Today's birthdays". The Boston Globe. August 24, 2010. p. G15. ProQuest 746503091.
- ^ "'Leverage' actress Riesgraf steals show". Las Vegas Review-Journal. July 12, 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ Lawrence, Christopher (June 16, 2015). "Cimarron grad Riesgraf talks about new TV show 'Complications'". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ "Beth Riesgraf talks about 'Leverage,' filming in Portland, and her 'adrenaline junkie' character". The Oregonian. August 18, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ Stern, Julian (October 22, 2011). "An Interview With Beth Riesgraf". Maxim. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ "TNT Orders 13 Episodes of Leverage". ComingSoon.net. February 13, 2008. Archived from the original on September 25, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
- ^ Ng, Philiana (November 22, 2013). "'Leverage's' Beth Riesgraf Joins USA's Matt Nix Pilot". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (September 24, 2019). "'68 Whiskey': Derek Theler, Beth Riesgraf & Lamont Thompson Among Six Cast In Paramount Network Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ Grossberg, Josh (October 10, 2003). "Jason Lee Plays Papa". E! Online. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- ^ "2011 Saturn Award Nominations". Collider. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ "2012 Saturn Award Nominations". Collider. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ "2013 Saturn Award Nominations". Dread Central. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (August 12, 2022). "Saturn Awards Nominations: 'The Batman', 'Nightmare Alley', 'Spider-Man', 'Better Call Saul' Top List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 22, 2022.