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Suzy Nakamura

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the character in an American graphic novel, see American Born Chinese (graphic novel).

Suzy Nakamura
Nakamura interviewed on Sidewalks in 2017
Born (1968-12-02) December 2, 1968 (age 57)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1994–present
SpouseHarry Hannigan (divorced)

Suzy Nakamura (born December 2, 1968)[1] is an American actress and improv comedian. She is known for her many guest appearances on sitcoms such as According to Jim, Half and Half, 8 Simple Rules, Curb Your Enthusiasm and How I Met Your Mother and her recurring role in the early seasons of the drama The West Wing as assistant to the Sam Seaborn character, as well as Dr. Miura in the ABC sitcom Modern Family and Karen in the Netflix series Dead to Me. She had leading roles in the television shows Dr. Ken and Avenue 5.

Early life

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Nakamura was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, to parents of Japanese descent.[2] Her father was an English teacher for the Chicago Public Schools.[3] Her parents died within a year of each other when she was in her twenties.[4] She has one older brother. Nakamura attended Lane Technical College Prep High School.[5] After graduation in 1985, she joined the Asian-American theater company, MinaSama-No.[3]

Nakamura studied theater at Columbia College Chicago from 1987 to 1989.[3] She would attend every other semester as she had to finance her education herself.[3] In 1991, Nakamura was the first Asian American woman to join The Second City improvisational comedy troupe.[3][6] She remained a part of the troupe for five years.[7]

Nakamura worked at Crate & Barrel prior to working as an actor.[8]

Career

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Nakamura has acted in various films, television shows, commercials, web-series, and stage plays throughout her career, in addition to performing improv comedy.[8][9] She cofounded The Second City Detroit in 1993.[10]

Her first film role was as a troubled teen in Rea Tajiri's Chicago-based film, Strawberry Fields (1997).[11] It was an official selection at the 54th Venice International Film Festival.[9][12]

On May 7, 2015, ABC picked up Ken Jeong's Dr. Ken starring Jeong as a fictional version of himself and Nakamura as his wife for its 2015–16 Fall Season. She played a recurring role as investigative reporter Irene Abe on FX's crime drama television series Snowfall.[13] In August 2018, it was announced that Nakamura had joined HBO's television comedy Avenue 5 as Iris Kimura, the assistant to billionaire Herman Judd (played by Josh Gad).[14][15] The series premiered on January 19, 2020.[16]

Honors and awards

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She was an honoree at the East West Players' 52nd Visionary Award in 2018.[2]

Personal life

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Nakamura was married to Harry Hannigan.[17] They separated in 2018 and have since divorced.[18]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Strawberry Fields Irene Kawai
1998 Deep Impact Jenny's Assistant
1999 Treasure Island Yo-Ji
1999 8mm Computer Wizard
2000 Timecode Connie Ling
2002 Stark Raving Mad Betty Shin Credited as Suzi Nakamura
2002 Barrier Device Serena
2003 Malibu's Most Wanted Soon-Yee Baxter Hernandez
2004 Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Gordon's Wife
2005 Must Love Dogs Mai
2005 The 40-Year-Old Virgin Speed Dater (uncredited)
2006 For Your Consideration First AC
2007 American Zombie Judy
2007 Evan Almighty Staffer
2008 Spy School Ms. Bleckner
2011 The Little Engine That Could Teacher (voice) Direct-to-video
2014 Horrible Bosses 2 Kim
2023 Knox Goes Away Emily Ikari
2025 Fireflies in the Dusk Dr. Abbott Short film
2026 Miss You, Love You Kathy

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1996 Common Law Suzy Yamamoto 2 episodes
1997 The Player Robbie Lawless Unsold pilot
1998 The Closer Beverly Andolini 10 episodes
1999–2000 The West Wing Cathy 9 episodes
2000 Daddio Holly Martin 14 episodes
2002 Imagine That Rina Oh 6 episodes
2002 I Got You Unsold pilot
2002 Curb Your Enthusiasm Assistant manager 5 episodes
2002–2006 Half & Half Tina 10 episodes
2003 Abby Carol Episode: "Ted & Carol & Will & Abby"
2003 All of Us Teacher #1
2004 Good Morning, Miami Carol
2004 The King of Queens Molly Episode: "Name Dropper"
2004–2005 8 Simple Rules Mrs. Krupp
2005 Confessions of a Dog Unsold pilot
2005 According to Jim Yoki Hirasaki Episode: "The Competition"
2006 Worst Week of My Life Megan Unsold pilot
2006–2007 The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman Carol Rinaldi 4 episodes
2006–2007 Help Me Help You Inger 12 episodes
2007 Insatiable Unsold pilot
2008 Grey's Anatomy Jenn Smith Episode: "Here Comes the Flood"
2008 My Name is Earl Phyllis Woohoo Episode: "Joy in a Bubble"
2008 True Jackson, VP Cricket Episode: "Pilot"
2008 The Mentalist Dr. Fox Episode: "His Right Red Hand"
2009 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Tabitha Episode: "The Gang Gives Frank an Intervention"
2009–2010 10 Things I Hate About You Principal Holland 6 episodes
2009–2010 Modern Family Dr. Miura Episodes: "Run for Your Wife", "Fears"
2009 Private Practice Margaret Delhom Episode: "Sins of the Father"
2010–2011 Men of a Certain Age Elissa 3 episodes
2010 Bones Carrie Turner Episode: "The Death of the Queen Bee"
2010 Castle Jennifer Wong Episode: "Food to Die For"
2011 How I Met Your Mother Dr. Kirby Episode: "A Change of Heart"
2012–2013 Go On Yolanda 22 episodes
2013 Melissa & Joey Elyse Episode: "Something Happened"
2014 Liv and Maddie Tammy Episode: "Switch-a-Rooney"
2014 Bad Teacher Mrs. Hu Episode: "A Little Respect"
2014–2018 The Goldbergs Mrs. Kim 4 episodes
2015 Togetherness Xan Episode: "Kick the Can"
2015 Bob's Burgers Yuki Episode: "Hawk & Chick"
2015–2019 Veep Anna Episodes: "Mommy Meyer"
"Discovery Weekend" & "Veep"
2015 Whole Day Down Saint Anne 6 episodes
2015–2017 Dr. Ken Allison Park Main role (44 episodes)
2017 How to Beat Your Sister-in-Law (at everything) Suzy Episode: "Puppy Love"
"Flyered Up the Ass"
2017 9JKL Casting Director Episode: "TV MD"
2018 Black-ish Dr. Ima Episode: "Dream Home"
"Fifty-Three Percent"
2018 Station 19 Susan Episode: "Every Second Counts"
2018 Elementary Dr. Bridget Tanaka Episode: "Through the Fog"
2018 All About the Washingtons Mrs. Chadwick Episode: "Papa Said Log You Out"
2019–2022 Dead to Me Karen Recurring role
2019 Harley Quinn Realtor (voice) Episode: "Being Harley Quinn"
2019–2023 Tacoma FD Linda Price Recurring role
2020–2022 Avenue 5 Iris Kimura Main cast
2020 The Neighborhood Dr. Chen Episode: "Welcome to Couples Therapy"
2021 Snowfall Irene Abe Recurring role (season 4)
2021 Ten Year Old Tom Amanda (voice) Episode: "Tom Urinates on Boston/First Responder"
2021–2022 Inside Job Tamiko Ridley (voice) Recurring role
2024 Exploding Kittens Abbie (voice) Main cast

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2022 Ghostwire: Tokyo Woman B, Woman D

Theater

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References

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  1. ^ "Today in Entertainment History". AP NEWS. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Wood, Ximon. "East West Players' 52nd Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction". eastwestplayers.org. East West Players. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e Columbia College Chicago, "Columbia Chronicle (05/6/1991)" (May 6, 1991). Columbia Chronicle, College Publications, College Archives & Special Collections, Columbia College Chicago.
  4. ^ Ko, Nalea (December 13, 2012). "FUNNY LADY SUZY NAKAMURA TALKS COMEDY THERAPY" (PDF). Pacific Citizen. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Zwecker, Bill (March 22, 2017). "Chicago stage skills pay off for Suzy Nakamura on 'Dr. Ken'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  6. ^ Elber, Lynn. "For Suzy Nakamura, 'Dr. Ken' means diversity". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  7. ^ "Interview: Dr. Ken's Suzy Nakamura Talks Performing Comedy While Asian and Female". www.themarysue.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Suzy Nakamura Keeps Auditions About the Words". www.backstage.com. September 15, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Yamamoto, J.K.; Shimpo, Rafu (November 19, 2015). "Life with 'Dr. Ken' Suzy Nakamura discusses her new ABC sitcom". nichibei.org. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  10. ^ Seham, Amy E. (2001). Whose Improv Is it Anyway? Beyond Second City. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 229. ISBN 9781604737592 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Matsumoto, Jon (June 4, 1999). "'Strawberry Fields' Rooted in Painful Past". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  12. ^ "Rea Tajiri". asianarts25.org. 25th Anniversary Asian Arts Initiative. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  13. ^ Rudolph, Ileane. "'Snowfall' EP Says 'Gang Wars Are Ramping Up,' Plus He Teases a New Moral Center". TV Insider. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  14. ^ Petski, Denise (August 24, 2018). "Suzy Nakamura Joins Hugh Laurie In Armando Iannucci's HBO Comedy Pilot 'Avenue 5'". Deadline. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  15. ^ Eakin, Marah (January 18, 2020). "Avenue 5's Josh Gad and Suzy Nakamura on stupidity and success". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  16. ^ Shoemaker, Allison (January 19, 2020). "Curb Your Enthusiasm returns and Avenue 5 takes flight". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  17. ^ "Suzy Nakuamura Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  18. ^ @SuzyNakamura (September 8, 2021). "Hi @Wikipedia, I've been separated since 2018 and I'm divorced" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 8, 2021 – via Twitter.
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