Stephanie Courtney
Encyclopedia
Stephanie Courtney is an American
actress and comedienne
, best known for playing the advertising character
Flo
in television commercials for Progressive Insurance and is noted for her recurring roles on several television shows, including the voices of Renee the Receptionist and Joy Peters on the Adult Swim
comedy Tom Goes to the Mayor
(2004–2006); Marge on the AMC drama Mad Men
(2007); and Diane on the ABC
comedy Cavemen
(2007). She also appeared in the season 2 premiere of Men of a Certain Age
. Like Lisa Kudrow
and Paul Reubens
, Courtney is a member of The Groundlings
, an improvisational and sketch comedy theater in Los Angeles
, California
.
, where she attended North Rockland High School
. She graduated from Binghamton University
in 1992 with a degree in criminology.
in a series of commercials for Progressive Auto Insurance
(2008–present), Courtney has appeared in ads for Skittles
(2008), Wienerschnitzel
(2005), SC Johnson Glade
products, and General Mills
breakfast cereal.
She has also appeared in such major motion pictures as Blades of Glory
, The Heartbreak Kid
, and in the indie comedy Melvin Goes to Dinner
, for which she and the ensemble cast were awarded the Copper Wing at the 2003 Phoenix Film Festival
.
Courtney was also a member of the improv team Sliced Bread who were competitors on World Cup Comedy, a show similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway?
, on the former PAX Network (now known as the Ion Network).
She has also appeared on an episode of Angel
as "Gwen", in a season 3 episode entitled "Dad", as well as an episode of House in season 7, entitled "Selfish
," as well in the Everybody Loves Raymond
episode entitled "Cookies." She also appears in the film Fred The Movie as Kevin's Mom.
Theatre.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and comedienne
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, best known for playing the advertising character
Advertising character
An advertising character is a fictional character that appears within advertising and marketing materials for a given product or service.-See also:*Moe anthropomorphism*List of American advertising characters...
Flo
Flo (Progressive Insurance)
Flo is a fictional character that appears in commercials for Progressive Insurance. The character was created by the Boston-based agency Arnold Worldwide, specifically copywriter John Park and art director Steve Reepmeyer...
in television commercials for Progressive Insurance and is noted for her recurring roles on several television shows, including the voices of Renee the Receptionist and Joy Peters on the Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
comedy Tom Goes to the Mayor
Tom Goes to the Mayor
Tom Goes to the Mayor is an American animated television series created by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim for Cartoon Network's late night programming block, Adult Swim. It premiered on November 14, 2004 and ended on September 25, 2006, with a total of thirty episodes.-History:Tom Goes to the...
(2004–2006); Marge on the AMC drama Mad Men
Mad Men
Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
(2007); and Diane on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
comedy Cavemen
Cavemen (TV series)
Cavemen is an American comedy-drama show which ran on ABC from October 2, 2007 to November 13, 2007. The show was created by Joe Lawson and set in San Diego, California...
(2007). She also appeared in the season 2 premiere of Men of a Certain Age
Men of a Certain Age
Men of a Certain Age is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered on TNT on December 7, 2009. The hour-long program stars Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula as three best friends in their late forties dealing with the realities of middle age. The show ran for two years,...
. Like Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Valerie Kudrow is an American actress, best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the television sitcom Friends, for which she received many accolades including an Emmy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards...
and Paul Reubens
Paul Reubens
Paul Reubens is an American actor, writer, film producer, and comedian, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor...
, Courtney is a member of The Groundlings
The Groundlings
The Groundlings are an improvisational comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes...
, an improvisational and sketch comedy theater in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Early life and education
Courtney was born and raised in Stony Point, New YorkStony Point, New York
Stony Point is a triangle-shaped town in Rockland County, United States. Rockland County is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The town is located north of the town of Haverstraw, east and south of Orange County, New York, and west of the Hudson River and Westchester County. The population...
, where she attended North Rockland High School
North Rockland High School
North Rockland High School is a high school located in Thiells, New York, serving 10th to 12th grade students from the northern section of Rockland County, in southern New York. It is the only high school in the Haverstraw-Stony Point District....
. She graduated from Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
in 1992 with a degree in criminology.
Career
In addition to her role as quirky, chipper insurance salesperson FloFlo (Progressive Insurance)
Flo is a fictional character that appears in commercials for Progressive Insurance. The character was created by the Boston-based agency Arnold Worldwide, specifically copywriter John Park and art director Steve Reepmeyer...
in a series of commercials for Progressive Auto Insurance
Progressive Corporation
The Progressive Corporation , known as the Progressive Casualty Insurance Company through its subsidiaries, provides personal automobile insurance, and other specialty property-casualty insurance and related services in the United States....
(2008–present), Courtney has appeared in ads for Skittles
Skittles (confectionery)
Skittles is a brand of fruit-flavoured sweets, currently produced and marketed by the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a division of Mars, Inc. They have hard sugar shells which carry the letter S. The inside is mainly sugar, corn syrup, and hydrogenated palm kernel oil along with fruit juice, citric acid,...
(2008), Wienerschnitzel
Wienerschnitzel
Wienerschnitzel is an American fast food chain founded in 1961 that specializes in hot dogs, but is currently expanding to other items. Wienerschnitzel locations are found almost exclusively in California and Texas, though others are located in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico,...
(2005), SC Johnson Glade
Glade (brand)
Glade is an S. C. Johnson & Son brand of household air fresheners that were first introduced in 1956. The family of products include: Aerosol Sprays, Candles, Car Scented Oil, Carpet & Room, Glass Scents, PlugIns, PlugIns Scented Oil, Press'n Fresh, Secrets, Scented Oil Candles, and Wisp...
products, and General Mills
General Mills
General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green...
breakfast cereal.
She has also appeared in such major motion pictures as Blades of Glory
Blades of Glory
Blades of Glory is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, and starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. The movie was released on March 29, 2007 by DreamWorks and MTV Films...
, The Heartbreak Kid
The Heartbreak Kid (2007 film)
The Heartbreak Kid is a 2007 romantic comedy film directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly. Starring Ben Stiller and Malin Åkerman, The Heartbreak Kid is a remake of the italian film Luna di miele in tre and a version of the 1972 film of the same name. Also starring are Michelle Monaghan, Jerry...
, and in the indie comedy Melvin Goes to Dinner
Melvin Goes to Dinner
Melvin Goes to Dinner is a 2003 American film adaptation of Michael Blieden's stage play Phyro-Giants!, directed by Bob Odenkirk. Blieden wrote the screenplay from his stage play, and he also stars in the film , along with Stephanie Courtney, Matt Price and Annabelle Gurwitch.-Plot:Melvin is a...
, for which she and the ensemble cast were awarded the Copper Wing at the 2003 Phoenix Film Festival
Phoenix Film Festival
Phoenix Film Festival is a festival that celebrates feature films and their creators. The celebration takes place annually in the city of Phoenix, Arizona...
.
Courtney was also a member of the improv team Sliced Bread who were competitors on World Cup Comedy, a show similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Whose Line Is It Anyway? is a short-form improvisational comedy TV show. Originally a British radio programme, it moved to television in 1988 as a series made for the UK's Channel 4, for a 10 series run...
, on the former PAX Network (now known as the Ion Network).
She has also appeared on an episode of Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
as "Gwen", in a season 3 episode entitled "Dad", as well as an episode of House in season 7, entitled "Selfish
Selfish (House)
"Selfish" is the second episode of the seventh season of the American medical drama House. It aired on September 27, 2010.-Plot:Della Carr is skating at an indoor park for a muscular dystrophy charity event as her brother Hugo watches from his wheelchair along with his friends. She then takes Hugo...
," as well in the Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond is an American television sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 13, 1996, to May 16, 2005. Many of the situations from the show are based on the real-life experiences of lead actor Ray Romano, creator/producer Phil Rosenthal and the show's writing staff...
episode entitled "Cookies." She also appears in the film Fred The Movie as Kevin's Mom.
Personal life
In 2008, she married Scott Kolanach, the lighting and sound director at The GroundlingsThe Groundlings
The Groundlings are an improvisational comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes...
Theatre.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Sweet Bird of You | Kate | Short film |
| 1998 | Mr. Show with Bob and David | Waitress | Episode: "Eat Rotten Fruit from a Shitty Tree" |
| 2000 | Tenacious D Tenacious D (TV series) Tenacious D, is a TV series that ran on HBO in 1997, 1999, and 2000. It featured the fictional accounts of the real band Tenacious D, which is composed of members Jack Black and Kyle Gass... |
Various | Episode: "The Fan" |
| 2001 | Angel Angel (TV series) Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999... |
Gwen | Episode: "Dad" |
| 2002 | Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond is an American television sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 13, 1996, to May 16, 2005. Many of the situations from the show are based on the real-life experiences of lead actor Ray Romano, creator/producer Phil Rosenthal and the show's writing staff... |
Woman | Episode: "Cookies" |
| 2003 | Melvin Goes to Dinner Melvin Goes to Dinner Melvin Goes to Dinner is a 2003 American film adaptation of Michael Blieden's stage play Phyro-Giants!, directed by Bob Odenkirk. Blieden wrote the screenplay from his stage play, and he also stars in the film , along with Stephanie Courtney, Matt Price and Annabelle Gurwitch.-Plot:Melvin is a... |
Alex | |
| 2003 | Various | Episode: "The New Guys" | |
| 2003 | Sketch Pad | Various | Episode: "Roller" |
| 2004 | Significant Others | Pam | Episode: "A School, Not Cool & a Fool" |
| 2004 | Faking the Video | Fake Producer | TV series |
| 2004 | Without a Trace Without a Trace Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:... |
Lynette Shaw | Episode: "American Goddess" |
| 2004-2006 | Tom Goes to the Mayor Tom Goes to the Mayor Tom Goes to the Mayor is an American animated television series created by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim for Cartoon Network's late night programming block, Adult Swim. It premiered on November 14, 2004 and ended on September 25, 2006, with a total of thirty episodes.-History:Tom Goes to the... |
Various (voice) | 27 episodes |
| 2005 | Broadcast 23 | Mrs. Morgan | Short film |
| 2005 | ER ER (TV series) ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television... |
Charlotte | Episode: "Just as I Am" |
| 2005 | Carolina | Episode: "Valerie Gets a Magazine Cover" Episode: "Valerie Stands Out on the Red Carpet" |
|
| 2006 | Courting Alex Courting Alex Courting Alex is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from January 23, 2006 to March 29, 2006, and was a vehicle for Jenna Elfman of Dharma & Greg fame.... |
Ticket Agent | Episode: "Birthday" |
| 2006 | Lovespring International Lovespring International Lovespring International is an American comedy series created by Guy Shalem and Brad Isaacs which aired on Lifetime on Mondays at 11pm during the Summer of 2006 in the United States. Lovespring was canceled on December 1, 2006... |
Woman on Tape | Episode: "A Rear Window" |
| 2006 | For Your Consideration For Your Consideration (film) For Your Consideration is a 2006 comedy film directed by Christopher Guest. It was co-written by Guest and Eugene Levy, both also starring in the film.... |
Boom Operator | |
| 2006 | Re-Animated Re-Animated Out of Jimmy's Head: Re-Animated is a live-action/animated television film that aired on Cartoon Network on December 8, 2006, the first original live action/animated production produced by the network.Re-Animated was released on DVD September 11, 2007... |
Team Member Donna | TV movie |
| 2007 | Celebrity Deathmatch Celebrity Deathmatch Celebrity Deathmatch is a claymation television show that depicts celebrities against each other in a wrestling ring, almost always ending in the loser's gruesome death. It was known for its excessive amount of blood used in every match and exaggerated physical injuries... |
Tina Fey | Episode: "The Banter Bloodbath" |
| 2007 | Blades of Glory Blades of Glory Blades of Glory is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, and starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. The movie was released on March 29, 2007 by DreamWorks and MTV Films... |
Reporter at Sign Ups | |
| 2007 | Derek and Simon: The Show | Glenda | Episode: "Troubled Times: Part 2 - Murder & Deception" |
| 2007 | Sara | ||
| 2007 | Gayla | ||
| 2007 | Mad Men Mad Men Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each... |
Marge | 5 episodes |
| 2007 | Cavemen Cavemen (TV series) Cavemen is an American comedy-drama show which ran on ABC from October 2, 2007 to November 13, 2007. The show was created by Joe Lawson and set in San Diego, California... |
Diane | Episode: "Nick Jerk, Andy Work" Episode: "The Shaver" |
| 2008 | Cavemen Cavemen (TV series) Cavemen is an American comedy-drama show which ran on ABC from October 2, 2007 to November 13, 2007. The show was created by Joe Lawson and set in San Diego, California... |
Diane | Episode: "Caveman Holiday" |
| 2008 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is an American sketch comedy television series, created by and starring Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, which premiered February 11, 2007 on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim comedy block and ran until May 2010... |
'Demons' Casting Director | Episode: "Robin Williams" |
| 2008 | Kath & Kim Kath & Kim (U.S. TV series) Kath & Kim is an American version of the Australian television comedy series of the same name starring Selma Blair and Molly Shannon. The series premiered on NBC on October 9, 2008... |
Ruth | Episode: "Money" |
| 2008-2009 | Back on Topps | Debbie Topps | TV series |
| 2009 | Atom TV | Episode: "Face to Bush" | |
| 2009 | United States of Tara | Beth | Episode: "Aftermath" |
| 2009 | Coco Lipshitz: Behind the Laughter | Karen Balsac | Short film |
| 2010 | Leno Family Member | Episode: "1.75" | |
| 2010 | Sons of Tucson Sons of Tucson Sons of Tucson is a comedy television series starring Tyler Labine, Frank Dolce, Matthew Levy and Benjamin Stockham. It premiered on Fox on March 11, 2010... |
Denise | Episode: "The Break-In" |
| 2010 | Fred: The Movie Fred: The Movie Fred: The Movie is a 2010 independent comedy film written by David A. Goodman, directed by Clay Weiner, and produced by Brian Robbins. The film is based on the adventures of Fred Figglehorn, a character created and played by Lucas Cruikshank for Cruikshank's YouTube channel... |
Kevin's Mom | TV movie |
| 2010 | House House (TV series) House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in... |
Claire | Episode: "Selfish Selfish (House) "Selfish" is the second episode of the seventh season of the American medical drama House. It aired on September 27, 2010.-Plot:Della Carr is skating at an indoor park for a muscular dystrophy charity event as her brother Hugo watches from his wheelchair along with his friends. She then takes Hugo... " |
| 2010 | Men of a Certain Age Men of a Certain Age Men of a Certain Age is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered on TNT on December 7, 2009. The hour-long program stars Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula as three best friends in their late forties dealing with the realities of middle age. The show ran for two years,... |
Episode: "If I Could, I Surely Would" | |
| 2011 | The Looney Tunes Show The Looney Tunes Show The Looney Tunes Show is a packaged show, created for Cartoon Network, and broadcast from 2002 to 2005. It was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. The show featured cartoon shorts from the original Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical cartoon series produced from 1930 to 1969.-External links:... |
Emma Webster (Young Granny) Granny (Looney Tunes) Granny is a co-star of many Sylvester the Cat and Tweety Bird animated shorts throughout the 1950s and 1960s, is a Looney Tunes character that was created by Tex Avery. She is the owner of Tweety . Granny's voice was first provided by Bea Benaderet from 1937 through 1953... |
Episode: "Eligible Bachelors" |
| 2011 | Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred is a 2011 independent comedy film. The film is the sequel to the 2010 film Fred: The Movie, based on the adventures of Fred Figglehorn, a character created and played by Lucas Cruikshank for Cruikshank's YouTube channel. It is a Halloween themed sequel... |
Kevin's Mom | TV movie |