Naomi Grossman

Last updated
Naomi Grossman
Naomi Grossman at PaleyFest 2013.jpg
Born (1975-02-06) February 6, 1975 (age 49)
Alma mater Northwestern University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
  • producer
Years active1990–present
Website www.naomigrossman.net

Naomi Grossman (born February 6, 1975) is an American actress, writer, and producer best known for her role as Pepper in the second and fourth season of the FX horror television series American Horror Story .

Contents

Early life

Grossman was born in Denver, Colorado. In her early life, she performed in community theatre shows. She received a lot of attention at Ponderosa High School, in Parker, Colorado, at their theatre program. After attending high school. She was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Argentina, she attended and graduated from Northwestern University with a theater major, as the only university she applied to. [1] [2] She was a member of improvisational and sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings in Los Angeles, California, and wanted to ultimately perform on Saturday Night Live . When the group cut ties with her, she began teaching the Spanish language and separating herself from her acting career. [3] Grossman writes and produces and has cited Lily Tomlin, Tracey Ullman, Gilda Radner and Carol Burnett as inspirations. [1]

Career

Grossman began her career in 1990 with minor television roles, along with commercial and theatre appearances. [1]

Not knowing what role she was auditioning for, Grossman sent in an audition for American Horror Story: Asylum in mid-2012 and was cast in soon after as Pepper, a woman with microcephaly; the season premiered later that year on October 17. [4] In preparation for the role, she shaved her head bald. [3] In 2014, it was revealed that Grossman would return to the series in its fourth season, American Horror Story: Freak Show , reprising her role as Pepper from the second season, making her the first to play the same role in two different seasons of the show. She spoke of her casting in the fourth season saying that reprising her role was "the last thing from [her] mind" since it had never been done before. [5]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999 She's All That Extra (uncredited)
2000Marisa, Where Art Thou?WendyShort film
2005Over the ShoulderGoth Girl
2007BubblesMama
Wacky Spoof CommercialsPeople's Bank Gal 2
2008YesBonnie
Men at WorkWoman
2009RepresentShaniaShort film
Table for Three Actress
The Hollywood HousesitterWaitressShort film
My Boyfriend Is a BlimpSuzy
Jesus's SecretaryMary
Hot YogaAmani
Food PoisoningNaomi
Burka Girls Gone WildUnknown
2010Random Chapters in the Life of Some GuyWifeShort film
Paradrunken ActivityKatie
2011ChubductionHilary Q.
Teat the ParentsGirlfriendShort film
2012Kev Jumba Dances with the Stars!Dot
Touch My JunkTravelerShort film
2013Bakersfield, EarthUnknown
RipBella TiavasStylized as #RIP
2014Just Me and All of YouKatrinaShort film
2016 Fear, Inc. Cat
The ChairMother
2017An Accidental Zombie (Named Ted)Carrie
DriftingShort film
2018 Painkillers Nurse Sheralyn
Sleep Away Mrs. Sturridge
Short Straw Jolene
2019 Bite Me Chrissy
The Lurker Grace Fisher
1BR Janice
2020The InitiationLillianFilming
Sky Sharks Natalie Rochefort
2024HauntologyAnnalisa Drouais

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990 Father Dowling Mysteries Confirmation KidEpisode: "The Passionate Painter Mystery"
1998 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch CheerleaderEpisode: "The Pom Pom Incident"
2007 Destination Truth Herself/Translator3 episodes
2012FammGlammGazeldaEpisode: "Quality Control"
2012–2013 American Horror Story: Asylum Pepper Supporting role; 7 episodes
2014 American Horror Story: Freak Show Supporting role; 10 episodes
Halloween Wars HerselfEpisode: "The Haunted Farm"
2016Alley WayReagan7 episodes
Point SocietySojourner2 episodes
2017 Hell's Kitchen HerselfEpisode: "Leaving It on the Line"
2017–2019ctrl alt delete LornaMain role
2018 Casual TanyaEpisode: "All About You"
American Horror Story: Apocalypse Samantha Crowe2 episodes
2020 Good Girls Dr. Amanda JohnsonEpisode: "Frere Jacques"
2021 American Horror Stories Rabid RuthEpisode: "Drive In"
2022 Painted with Raven Herself (guest judge)Episode: "Shock It to Me"

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Williams, Tenere. "Naomi Grossman: Actress - "I Could Be On A Desert Island with a Pen, Paper, a Camera, and YouTube and Be Happy"". Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  2. Renken, Charlotte (November 2, 2014). "Santa Fe Comic Con: Naomi Grossman "Play With Me! Inside American Horror Story"". Hush Comics. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Hayne, Michael (October 24, 2014). "Naomi Grossman of "American Horror Story": "I've never been told I was so pretty until played the ugliest person on TV"". Salon . Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  4. "American Horror Story : Season 2". Metacritic . Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  5. Branch, Chris (December 12, 2014). "'American Horror Story' Star Naomi Grossman: Pepper Made Ryan Murphy Break His Own Rule". The Huffington Post . Retrieved January 6, 2015.