Playing lanky, clumsy, and unforgettable characters who often stole scene after scene from her A-list co-stars did not just define Judy Greer’s onscreen career – she turned it into an art form. The minute the actress stepped foot on camera, she exuded a natural comedic flair audiences could not help but love her in films such as “What Women Want” (2000) with Mel Gibson, “The Wedding Planner” (2001) with Jennifer Lopez, and “13 Going on 30” (2004) with Jennifer Garner. Years after playing the onscreen best friend or assistant, Greer scored a starring role in “Miss Guided,” (ABC, 2008- ), where she played a woman who ended up working as a high school guidance counselor at her alma mater.Judith Laura Evans was born on July 20, 1975 in Livonia, MI; the daughter of a mechanical engineer and a hospital administrator. She attended Winston Churchill High School, where she later admitted that her social status went from not being noticed to not caring at all (while still not being noticed). “That was my high school experience – first year, big loser; second year, big loser; third year, OK; and fourth year, I didn’t care and enjoyed myself,” Greer said. The self-proclaimed “former ugly duckling” trained for almost 10 years in Russian ballet, before entering the prestigious theater program at DePaul University, where she graduated in 1997.
Just three days after Greer graduated college, she landed a small part in the romantic comedy “Kissing A Fool” (1998) with Jason Lee and David Schwimmer. The one-time telemarketer and oyster shucker flew to Los Angeles for the movie premiere and ended up staying, living with her American bulldog Buckley and dating independent film producer Felipe Marino. She joined the cast of “Jawbreaker” (1999), a dark comedy that focused on a popular clique of girls who accidentally kill their best friend with a birthday prank. That same year, Greer found herself locking lips with George Clooney in the opening scene of “Three Kings.” She also played the waitress who becomes the object of Charlie Kaufman’s obsession in the Academy Award-winning film “Adaptation” (2002). Even though she had landed only supporting roles up until this time, Greer caught the eye of producers and managed to get a foothold on everyone’s list for essaying unexpectedly scene-stealing characters in movies and television series.
Acting on the small screen did not reduce Greer’s spark. She was a wonderful addition to the cast of “Arrested Development” (FOX, 2003-06) in the recurring role of Kitty Sanchez, Jason Bateman’s assistant. She also appeared in “Love and Money” (CBS, 1999), “CSI: Miami” (2002- ), “Two and a Half Men” (CBS, 2003- ) and “Californication” (Showtime, 2007- ). After her hilarious portrayal of a circus performer in a 2006 episode of “My Name Is Earl” (NBC, 2005- ), Entertainment Weekly called Greer “woefully underemployed but always adorable.”
Greer soon became the go-to-girl for roles opposite some of Hollywood’s biggest names, playing their sidekicks or – as in the case of “13 Going on 30” – a loveable villain. In the movie, Greer played a backstabbing best friend to Garner’s main character, but offscreen, the two became the best of friends. “The minute I met her I felt like I had always known her,” Garner said. The film’s plot ironically dealt with how experiences in high school make a considerable impact on our adult lives. If that were the case, then much of the actress’ experiences as an awkward and unpopular Michigan teen inspired some of her most memorable onscreen roles.
Throughout her career, Greer also stretched her dramatic muscles by scoring parts in non-comedic films and independent projects. She starred in the 2004 thriller “The Village” from famed writer-director M. Night Shyamalan, along with Sigourney Weaver, Joaquin Phoenix, and Adrien Brody. Another thriller followed, this time by master of horror Wes Craven in the 2005 werewolf movie “Cursed.” That same year, Greer acted in “Elizabethtown,” as Orlando Bloom’s sister and Susan Sarandon’s daughter in writer-director Cameron Crowe’s tale of a young man whose life changes after almost committing suicide.
In 2008, Greer returned to the romantic comedy genre with “27 Dresses,” starring alongside Katherine Heigl and James Marsden. She made an even bigger splash on the small screen, starring in a role that seemed perfectly suited for her. Finally, as the star of “Miss Guided,” a TV series produced by Ashton Kutcher, Greer played Becky Freeley, an upbeat and kindhearted guidance counselor who relates to her students because she, herself, had endured similar gawky and embarrassing high school experiences. Getting her own TV show – particularly one as tailor-made for her as “Miss Guided” – was a dream come true for Greer who admitted that she had “…always wanted to be on TV because it reaches the most people.”