Suzy Nakamura

{{for|the character in an American graphic novel|American Born Chinese (graphic novel){{!}}American Born Chinese (graphic novel)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Suzy Nakamura

| image = Suzy Nakamura on Sidewalks.jpg

| caption = Nakamura interviewed on Sidewalks in 2017

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|12|2}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Actress

| yearsactive = 1994–present

| spouse = Harry Hannigan (divorced)

}}

Suzy Nakamura (born December 2, 1968){{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/2349c4335f20400abfa43a1cb6aabac3|title=Today in Entertainment History|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2020-02-27}} 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

Nakamura was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, to parents of Japanese descent. Her father was an English teacher for the Chicago Public Schools.Columbia College Chicago, [http://digitalcommons.colum.edu/cadc_chronicle/120 "Columbia Chronicle (05/6/1991)"] (May 6, 1991). Columbia Chronicle, College Publications, College Archives & Special Collections, Columbia College Chicago. Her parents died within a year of each other when she was in her twenties.{{Cite web |last=Ko |first=Nalea |date=2012-12-13 |title=FUNNY LADY SUZY NAKAMURA TALKS COMEDY THERAPY |url=https://www.pacificcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/44_NOV.16-DEC_13_ISSUE.PDF |access-date=2020-03-15 |website=Pacific Citizen |language=en}} She has one older brother. Nakamura attended Lane Technical College Prep High School.{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/3/22/18393694/chicago-stage-skills-pay-off-for-suzy-nakamura-on-dr-ken|title=Chicago stage skills pay off for Suzy Nakamura on 'Dr. Ken'|last=Zwecker|first=Bill|date=2017-03-22|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en|access-date=2020-01-20}} After graduation, she joined the Asian-American theater company, MinaSama-No.

Nakamura studied theater at Columbia College Chicago from 1987 to 1989. She would attend every other semester as she had to finance her education herself. In 1991, Nakamura was the first Asian American woman to join The Second City improvisational comedy troupe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.journalnow.com/entertainment/arts/for-suzy-nakamura-dr-ken-means-diversity/article_bd528389-5591-5cdb-9525-85ab7f5ec859.html|title=For Suzy Nakamura, 'Dr. Ken' means diversity|last=Elber|first=Lynn|website=Winston-Salem Journal|language=en|access-date=2020-01-20}} She remained a part of the troupe for five years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themarysue.com/interview-suzy-nakamura-dr-ken/|title=Interview: Dr. Ken's Suzy Nakamura Talks Performing Comedy While Asian and Female|last=|first=|date=|website=www.themarysue.com|access-date=2020-01-20}}

Nakamura worked at Crate & Barrel prior to working as an actor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/suzy-nakamura-keeps-auditions-words-6624/|title=Suzy Nakamura Keeps Auditions About the Words|date=2016-09-15|website=www.backstage.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-20}}

Career

Nakamura has acted in various films, television shows, commercials, web-series, and stage plays throughout her career, in addition to performing improv comedy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nichibei.org/2015/11/life-with-dr-ken-suzy-nakamura-discusses-her-new-abc-sitcom/|title=Life with 'Dr. Ken' Suzy Nakamura discusses her new ABC sitcom » Nichi Bei|website=www.nichibei.org|access-date=2020-01-20}}

She cofounded The Second City Detroit in 1993.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vpmV0qa2Qe8C&q=suzy+nakamura+second+city&pg=PA229|title=Whose Improv Is it Anyway? Beyond Second City|last=Seham|first=Amy E.|date=2001|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|isbn=9781604737592|page=229}}

Nakamura got her first film role as a troubled teen in Rea Tajiri's Chicago-based film, Strawberry Fields (1997).{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-04-ca-43914-story.html|title='Strawberry Fields' Rooted in Painful Past|date=1999-06-04|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-20}} It was an official selection at the 54th Venice International Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianarts25.org/rea-tajiri|title=REA TAJIRI|website=25th Anniversary Asian Arts Initiative|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-20}}

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. Jeong had previously gotten Nakamura a role in Judd Apatow's Funny People, but the scene was ultimately cut.{{Cite web|url=https://www.omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/for-suzy-nakamura-dr-ken-has-not-just-diverse-actors/article_44ff3f68-a3c2-5698-af06-96a7f5b3a9b7.html|title=For Suzy Nakamura, 'Dr. Ken' has not just diverse actors, but diverse stories|website=Omaha.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-20}}

She was an honoree at the East West Players' 52nd Visionary Award in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://eastwestplayers.org/east-west-players-52nd-anniversary-visionary-awards-dinner-and-silent-auction/|title=East West Players' 52nd Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction|last=Wood|first=Ximon|website=East West Players|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-19}}

In August 2018, it was announced that Nakamura had joined HBO's television comedy Avenue 5 as Iris Kimura, the assistant to Josh Gad's billionaire character, Herman Judd.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/suzy-nakamura-hugh-laurie-armando-iannucci-hbo-comedy-pilot-avenue-5-1202451933/|title=Suzy Nakamura Joins Hugh Laurie In Armando Iannucci's HBO Comedy Pilot 'Avenue 5'|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2018-08-24|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2020-01-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/avenue-5s-josh-gad-and-suzy-nakamura-on-the-intersectio-1841065202|title=Avenue 5's Josh Gad and Suzy Nakamura on stupidity and success|website=TV Club|language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-19}} The series premiered on January 19, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/curb-your-enthusiasm-returns-and-avenue-5-takes-flight-1841032426|title=Curb Your Enthusiasm returns and Avenue 5 takes flight|website=TV Club|language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-19}}

She had a recurring role as investigative reporter Irene Abe on FX's crime drama television series Snowfall.{{Cite web|last=Rudolph|first=Ileane|title='Snowfall' EP Says 'Gang Wars Are Ramping Up,' Plus He Teases a New Moral Center|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/986866/snowfall-season-4-gang-wars-franklin-irene-preview/|access-date=2021-03-05|website=TV Insider|language=en-US}}

Personal life

Nakamura was married to Harry Hannigan.{{cite web|title=Suzy Nakuamura Biography|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/suzy-nakamura/bio/3000193248/|website=TV Guide|access-date=January 25, 2022}} They separated in 2018 and have since divorced.{{Cite tweet |user=SuzyNakamura |number=1435630112200855564|title=Hi @Wikipedia, I’ve been separated since 2018 and I’m divorced |url=https://twitter.com/SuzyNakamura/status/1435630112200855564 |date=September 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908194940/https://twitter.com/SuzyNakamura/status/1435630112200855564|archive-date=September 8, 2021}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| 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

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | 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

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| 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 \| Nurse \| 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

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | 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

| Nurse

| 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=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2022 \| Ghostwire: Tokyo \| Woman B, Woman D

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2022

| Ghostwire: Tokyo

| Woman B, Woman D

Theater

An Infinite Ache
The Showatorium
Coptors
Shogun's Heroes
Coed Prison Sluts – The Musical
The Armando Diaz Experience
The Deconstruction Derby
The Zodiac Thrillers
The Dickie Bell Twist Dance Party
Pen to Paper
The Second City Alumni Jam
The Powerhouse Variety Show
The Redwood Curtain
Power to the People Mover
National Touring Company (The Second City – Chicago)
POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive (Shubert Theatre – Broadway) as Jean

References

External links

{{IMDb name|620232}}

Category:American actresses of Japanese descent

Category:Actresses from Chicago

Category:Living people

Category:American film actresses

Category:American television actresses

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:1968 births

Category:Comedians from Chicago

Category:American women comedians

Category:American comedians of Asian descent