Lauren Lapkus

Lauren Lapkus was born on September 6, 1985 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is known for The Wrong Missy (2020), Good Girls (2018) and Orange Is the New Black (2013). She has been married to Mike Castle since October 5, 2018. She was previously married to Chris Alvarado.

Family (2)

Spouse

Mike Castle (5 October 2018 - present)

Chris Alvarado (3 May 2014 - 2016)  (divorced)

Relatives

Julian Lapkus (sibling)

Lapkus, Julian (sibling)
Trivia (15)

Lauren performs improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles.

Graduated from DePaul University in 2008 with a degree in English.

Was on improv teams in Chicago with SNL's Paul Brittain and Vanessa Bayer.

She started taking improv classes at iO Chicago in high school and performed there for a few years.

She was featured in Back Stage's "10 Comics to Watch in 2012".

Stars in the music video for "You're on Fire" by They Might Be Giants.

Her father is of Lithuanian descent. Her mother is of half Greek and half Serbian ancestry.

Lauren has appeared on many podcasts including Comedy Bang! Bang! and Improv4Humans. Lauren has her own podcast on the Earwolf network called "With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus".

Named one of Variety's 10 Comics to Watch in 2016.

Named one of Time Out New York's 10 Comics to Watch in 2015.

Jenji Kohan wrote for Orange is the New Black, a Netflix series in which Lapkus appeared.

Her film credits include roles in Dreamworld and Bread and Butter.

After graduating from DePaul University, she lived in both New York City and Los Angeles.

Lauren Lapkus is a SAG Award winning, Emmy nominated actress, improviser, and writer.

Was the girlfriend of Stuart the comic book store owner on "The Big Bang Theory" and the last permanent girlfriend of the geeky male cast members.

Personal Quotes (15)

I love creating characters that are ridiculous and flawed. To me, the most important thing about comedy is the joy it can bring to the performers and the audience alike. I love making people laugh and not over-thinking things. Some of my favorite moments are when I am doing an improv scene with friends, and I can't stop laughing during it.

I did a number of local children's theater plays growing up, but in 5th grade, I had some good times on stage making people laugh as a troll in "The Hobbit". That solidified my dream to be on Saturday Night Live (1975), which was hugely influential for me growing up.

I love improvising on the spot. I like that pressure.

Improv changed my life in the best way. I gained so much confidence and really learned how to use my sense of humor to do something other than make sarcastic comments to the TV, though that remains one of my best skills. I stayed in Chicago for college mainly to continue doing improv, which was an awesome decision for me.

Every so often, you have to do a show that makes you walk to your car with your head down, wondering what you're doing with your life. It's good for you, as long as you're not feeling that way every night.

Most people have kind of done something that could put them in jail at least for one night.

I had a teacher who recommended I take improv classes in Chicago - I'm from Evanston, Illinois - so I did improv classes at Improv Olympic, and that kind of opened me up.

Comedy is my first love; that's my main goal in life - to keep doing comedy.

I often play characters on TV shows that are more sweet and naive and just kind of puppy-dog eyes, and I don't think I am like that as a person.

My improv definitely shows a different side of myself, which is more true to what my real humor is and what my real personality is, and I think - I guess 'wild' is a good word for it. I'm still sweet! But I won't let anyone walk all over me.

I'm more of a tomboy - I fall into the jeans-and-a-T-shirt style, for sure - but I have a girlie side to me.

I love watching The Real Housewives of New York City (2008). That's my guilty pleasure. But I don't even feel guilty. I can just watch it, zone out, and forget about my problems.

I love L.A. and feel attached to this city, but I don't identify myself as being a part of it.

Doing improv really got me started in my whole career.

I believe that each person can make a difference, but it's so slight that there's basically no point.