Kulap Vilaysack
Kulap Vilaysack | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Vilaysack in 2015 | |
| Born | Kulap Tukta Vilaysack Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, comedian, writer, podcast host |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | kulapvilaysack |
Kulap Tukta Vilaysack (/ˈkuːlɑːp vɪˈlaɪsɑːk/ KOO-lahp vil-EYE-sahk) is an American actress, comedian, writer, director, and showrunner. She co-hosts the Add To Cart podcast with SuChin Pak on Lemonada Media.[1] She was the co-host of the Who Charted? podcast on the Earwolf network from 2010 until 2018.
Early life
[edit]Vilaysack was born in Washington, D.C. after her Laotian parents arrived from a refugee camp in Thailand. Her family soon moved to the Twin Cities, settling in the suburb of Eagan, Minnesota.[2] She has two younger sisters, Anita and Alyssa.[3]
After graduating from high school, Vilaysack moved to Los Angeles where she attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and received an associate's degree. She later took classes and performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles.[4] She was also a producer of the Los Angeles/Silverlake-based alternative comedy variety show, "Garage Comedy".[5]
Career
[edit]Vilaysack's acting work includes a recurring role as "Nurse Kulap" on the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital. Other television guest appearances include Bob's Burgers, The Office, The Sarah Silverman Program, The Hotwives of Orlando, Parks and Recreation, Happy Endings, Reno 911! and Whitney. In 2007, she briefly worked as an associate producer on America's Got Talent.
With comedian Howard Kremer, she co-hosted the podcast Who Charted? on the Earwolf network from 2010 to 2018.[6]
Vilaysack is the creator and showrunner of the reality show spoof Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, her first time working in this capacity.[7] The show premiered in early 2016 as part of the launch of NBC's streaming platform Seeso. Other executive producers on the project include Scott Aukerman, Robert Ben Garant, and Thomas Lennon.[8]
In October 2020, it was announced that Vilaysack would be joining Lemonada Media's podcast slate as the co-host of the new show Add to Cart alongside former MTV News correspondent SuChin Pak. The podcast launched on November 17, 2020[9] and is "a subversive and fun way about talking about consumerism, and how we all participate in it."[10]
Personal life
[edit]
Vilaysack married comedian Scott Aukerman in 2008.[11] In 2022 Vilaysack and Aukerman had a daughter, Emerald.[12]
She directed a documentary about her family tree entitled Origin Story which premiered on Amazon on May 10, 2019.[13][14] The film incorporates the character Katharsis of The Movement, a superhero based on Vilaysack created by author Gail Simone.[15]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Run Ronnie Run | Gay Female Military Type #2 | Uncredited |
| 2009 | Spooner | Asian Corporate | |
| I Love You, Man | Zooey's Friend | ||
| The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard | Blowout Customer #2 | Uncredited | |
| 2010 | Peep World | Lily | |
| 2014 | Welcome to Me | Grace Dao | |
| 2018 | Origin Story | Herself | Documentary; also director and producer |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2005 | Asia Street Comedy | Various characters | 3 episodes |
| 2006 | Fire Guys | Hot Pi | Episode #1.3 |
| The Office | Nikki | Episode: "A Benihana Christmas" | |
| 2007 | The Very Funny Show | Various / Ian's Date | 2 episodes |
| The Right Now! Show | Various | TV movie | |
| 2008–2012 | Childrens Hospital | Nurse Kulap / Nurse Sandy / Kulap | 8 episodes |
| 2008 | The McCaingels | Tze Lan O'Reilly | Series regular |
| Downer's Grove | Jane | Episode: "Independent Brett" | |
| Brothers & Sisters | Gail | 2 episodes | |
| 2009 | American Contestant with Bob Odenkirk | TV series short | |
| Single Dads | Molly | Episode: "Brian Gets a Girlfriend" | |
| The New Adventures of Old Christine | Nurse | Episode: "The Mole" | |
| Secret Girlfriend | Ling | Episode: "You Get a New Girlfriend" | |
| 2009–2020 | Reno 911! | Various | 5 episodes |
| 2010 | The Sarah Silverman Program | Carly | Episode: "A Fairly Attractive Mind" |
| The Wanda Sykes Show | Staffer #2 | Episode #1.18 | |
| $#*! My Dad Says | Woman | Episode: "Make a Wish" | |
| 2011 | Traffic Light | Bartender | 2 episodes |
| Whitney | Waitress | Episode: "Two Broke-Up Guys" | |
| 2012 | Happy Endings | Nicole | Episode: "To Serb with Love" |
| Parks and Recreation | Ulani | Episode: "Ben's Parents" | |
| 2012–2022 | Bob's Burgers | Rupa / various (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2013–2016 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Various | 6 episodes |
| 2013 | Tiny Commando | Translator Aide | 2 episodes |
| Married Single Divorced Show | Herself | Episode: "Sacking Up with Kulap Vilaysack" | |
| 2014 | The Hotwives of Orlando | Carmelotta | 2 episodes |
| Rubberhead | Girl 3 (segment "Lisa") | TV movie | |
| BoJack Horseman | Film Crew Assistant (voice) | Episode: "One Trick Pony" | |
| Garfunkel and Oates | Laura | Episode: "Road Warriors" | |
| 2016–2017 | Love | Rebecca | 3 episodes |
| 2016–2019 | Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ | Cassandra | 2 episodes Also creator, executive producer, writer, director |
| 2016–2018 | Take My Wife | Danielle | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Nightmare | Episode: "Crime and Punishment" |
| Ghosted | Julia | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 2017–2019 | I'm Sorry | Corinne | 2 episodes |
| 2023–2024 | Velma | Lola (voice) | 11 episodes |
References
[edit]- ^ "Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak". Lemonada Media. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ "Actress Traces Family Roots to Find Her Own 'Origin Story'". NBC News. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ Weiner, Cydney (November 6, 2014). "Actress Traces Family Roots to Find Her Own 'Origin Story'". NBC News. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
- ^ (February 24, 2010). Kulap Vilaysack blooms in Hollywood. Lao American Magazine
- ^ "Discussing the Future Of Talk With Scott Aukerman". Men's Journal. June 5, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "This Week in Comedy Podcasts: Howard Kremer Goes Solo". Splitsider. March 8, 2018. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ Porch, Scott (May 26, 2017). "Young Comic TV Showrunners from Left Field". New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ^ "Comedic couple Kulap Vilaysack and Scott Aukerman partner up for 'Bajillion Dollar Propertie$'". Southern California Public Radio. April 5, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "This Week in Comedy Podcasts: Meet Your New Wellness Experts". Vulture. November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- ^ "They lost their brothers to addiction. Now they're tackling deadly stigmas head on, with humor". Los Angeles Times. October 22, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- ^ Russian, Ale (September 25, 2017). "Kulap Vilaysack on Finding Her Roots in Laos". Time. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "I Hope Everyone's A Mummy". Threedom.
- ^ "'Origin Story' Filmmaker Kulap Vilaysack Brings Lao Culture to Hollywood Hills". The Hollywood Reporter. May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- ^ ""Bajillion Dollar Properties" Creator Kulap Vilaysack Wants To Be the Asian Shonda Rhimes". Fast Company. June 22, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "Origin Story: A Documentary". Originstorydoc.com. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
External links
[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1980 births
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from Minnesota
- Actresses from Washington, D.C.
- American people of Laotian descent
- American music podcasters
- American film actresses
- American stage actresses
- American television actresses
- American voice actresses
- American women comedians
- American writers of Laotian descent
- Living people
- People from Eagan, Minnesota
- Upright Citizens Brigade Theater performers
- 21st-century American comedians
- American women podcasters
- Comedians from Washington, D.C.
- Comedians from Minnesota
- American business and finance podcasters