June Diane Raphael Explained

June Diane Raphael
Birth Date:4 January 1980
Birth Place:Rockville Centre, New York, U.S.
Education:New York University (BFA)
Years Active:2002–present
Children:2

June Diane Raphael (; born January 4, 1980)[1] is an American actress, comedian, and screenwriter. She has starred in TV comedy programs Burning Love, Adult Swim's , and Grace and Frankie. Notable film work includes supporting roles in Year One and Unfinished Business, as well as her 2013 Sundance film Ass Backwards, which she co-wrote and starred in with her creative partner Casey Wilson. She currently co-hosts both How Did This Get Made? alongside Jason Mantzoukas and her husband Paul Scheer, and The Deep Dive with Jessica St. Clair.

Early life

Raphael was born and raised in Rockville Centre, New York, to Diane and John Raphael, where she graduated from South Side High School in 1998. She is of Irish descent, and was raised Catholic.[2] She has two older sisters, Lauren and Deanna.

Raphael attended New York University (NYU), where she studied acting at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. After graduating from NYU in 2002, Raphael and her best friend from college, Casey Wilson, studied improvisational comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City, where they would eventually run their two-woman sketch show for a number of years. Performing the long-running stage show opened doors for them as writers.

Career

Raphael began her comedy career writing and performing with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB) in New York and later in Los Angeles. Among her best known work at UCB was the long-running sketch show Rode Hard and Put Away Wet, written and performed alongside her comedy partner and best friend Casey Wilson;[3] the stage show ran from 2003 to 2006 in New York and Los Angeles and was an official selection at 2005's US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado. Raphael and Wilson's comedic partnership has since branched out into an active writing career in film and television; they co-wrote their first screenplay for the comedy Bride Wars, in which they also appeared in supporting roles.[4]

As a film and television actress, Raphael has made appearances on shows such as Party Down, Happy Endings, New Girl, and Lady Dynamite[5] [6] and in films such as Long Shot and Blockers.[7] In 2010, Raphael co-starred as Barb in the improvised comedy series Players on Spike TV. She also starred in all three seasons of the web series Burning Love alongside Ken Marino and Michael Ian Black.

Raphael has collaborated with writing partner Casey Wilson on scripts for film and television. They most recently wrote and starred together in the raunchy female buddy comedy Ass Backwards, which also co-stars Alicia Silverstone, Jon Cryer, Vincent D'Onofrio, Paul Scheer, and Bob Odenkirk.[8] The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2013. In 2013 it was reported that Raphael and Wilson were working on a second film to star in together, produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's company Gary Sanchez Productions.[9]

In February 2010, Raphael joined the rotating cast of the Off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore (written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron) at the Westside Theatre in Manhattan.[10] Raphael and Casey Wilson created the comedic stage show The Realest Real Housewives, which they starred in alongside Jessica St. Clair, Melissa Rauch, Danielle Schneider and Morgan Walsh. The show began running monthly at the Los Angeles Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in 2011.[11] Raphael also contributed short stories to the 2010 book Worst Laid Plans, based on the long-running stage show, in which she frequently performed.[12]

Raphael co-starred in the Adult Swim action-comedy series , which aired for three seasons from 2011 to 2013. She currently co-hosts with her husband, Paul Scheer, the movie discussion podcast How Did This Get Made? along with comedian Jason Mantzoukas. The podcast is a roundtable discussion where Scheer, Raphael, Mantzoukas and other special guests "try make sense of movies that make absolutely no sense."[13]

In 2015, Raphael took on a leading role as Brianna Hanson in the Netflix comedy series Grace and Frankie. Together with Kate Black, Raphael authored Represent: The Woman's Guide to Running for Office and Changing the World, a step-by-step guide for women who are considering a political career.[14]

Personal life

Raphael is married to actor-comedian Paul Scheer. They met in January 2004, after first meeting when the artistic director of Manhattan's Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre brought Scheer in to offer advice to Raphael and her comedy partner Casey Wilson on making improvements to their UCB two-woman sketch show. They moved from New York to Los Angeles in 2005. In October 2009, they married at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.[15] They have two sons, born 2014[16] and 2016.[17]

Raphael and comedian Kulap Vilaysack are the founders and directors of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (UCB) associated "UCB Corps" community, a volunteer charity organization. Raphael and Vilaysack organize charity events and projects to help improve the community, with the help of volunteers and other UCB performers "who want to make our world a better place".[18]

Raphael is also co-founder of The Jane Club, a coworking space in Los Angeles for professional women.[19]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006data-sort-value="Wedding Weekend, The" The Wedding WeekendTed's Tammy
Caffeine: A Love StoryJuneShort film
2007ZodiacMrs. Carol Toschi
2008Forgetting Sarah MarshallAnn at the Bar
2009Bride WarsAmandaAlso writer
Year OneMaya
2010data-sort-value="Dry Land, The" The Dry LandSusie
Cried SuicideJessicaShort film
Going the DistanceKaren
WeaknessElizabeth
2012BacheloretteCool Stripper
Girl Most LikelyDara
2013Ass BackwardsKate FennerAlso writer and executive producer
Chani's Boss
2015Unfinished BusinessSusan Truckman
Bad NightMs. Goldstein
2017Girlfriend's DayKaren Lamb
data-sort-value="Disaster Artist, The" The Disaster ArtistRobyn Paris
2018BlockersBrenda
2019Long ShotMaggie Millikin
2020data-sort-value="High Note, The" The High NoteGail
2021Yes DayAurora PetersonUncredited
8-Bit ChristmasKathy Doyle
2022Cheaper by the DozenAnne Vaughn
2023ScrambledMonroe
2026WeaponsFilming

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002EdStudentEpisode: "Memory Lane"
2007Derek and Simon: The ShowJuneEpisode: "I Love You"
Flight of the ConchordsFeliciaEpisode: "Girlfriends"
data-sort-value="Very Funny Show, The" The Very Funny ShowCast MemberSeries regular
2007–2008Human GiantVarious4 episodes
2009In the MotherhoodLizEpisode: "It Takes a Village Idiot"
2010Party DownDanielle Lugozshe2 episodes
PlayersBarb TolanSeries regular; 10 episodes
Big LakeMiss HauserEpisode: "Fad Diet"
2010–2011Funny or Die PresentsVarious Characters5 episodes
2011Happy EndingsMelinda ShershowEpisode: "The Shershow Redemption"
Free AgentsJulieEpisode: "Sexin' the Raisin"
2011–2013Piper FergusonSeries regular; 35 episodes
2011–2023American Dad!Suze, various voices17 episodes
2012Animal PracticeDr. Jill Leiter3 episodes
Electric CityEva Jacobs2 episodes
2012–2013Burning LoveJulie GristlewhiteSeries regular; 34 episodes
Whitney Chloe2 episodes
2012–2018New GirlSadieSeasons 1–3, 6, 7 (recurring; 8 episodes)
2013Drunk HistoryIsabella Stewart GardnerEpisode: "Boston"
Kroll ShowDina BluddEpisode: "Soaked in Success"
Inside Amy SchumerMandyEpisode: "Bridal Shower"
Parks and RecreationTynnyferEpisode: "Doppelgängers"
2014data-sort-value="Greatest Event in Television History, The" The Greatest Event in Television HistoryEmily ScottEpisode: "Bosom Buddies"
data-sort-value="Mason Twins, The" The Mason TwinsPender MasonNBC sitcom pilot; also creator, executive producer
BoJack HorsemanVarious voicesEpisode: "Later"
data-sort-value="Birthday Boys, The" The Birthday BoysBarbara O'ShaughnessyEpisode: "Women Are Funny"
2014–2015data-sort-value="League, The" The LeaguePam2 episodes
2015Marry MeMollyEpisode: "Surprise Me"
data-sort-value="Hotwives of Las Vegas, The" The Hotwives of Las VegasJandiceEpisode: "Old Friends, New Enemies"
2015–2022Grace and FrankieBrianna HansonSeries regular; 83 episodes
2016data-sort-value="Muppets, The" The MuppetsLucy Royce2 episodes
Lady DynamiteKaren Grisham3 episodes
Another PeriodEleanor RooseveltEpisode: "Roosevelt"
data-sort-value="Amazing Gayl Pile, The" The Amazing Gayl PileMindy Walker-FantinoEpisode #3.1
2017VeepHelen WrightEpisode: "Library"
Bajillion Dollar Propertie$SabraEpisode: "The Wheelbarrows"
Playing HouseVanessaEpisode: "None of Your Business"
Curb Your EnthusiasmBebeEpisode: "The Accidental Text On Purpose"
2017–presentBig MouthDevin LeSeven (voice)28 episodes
2018Little Big AwesomeSheena (voice)Episode: "No Throwing Disc Left Behind/Happy Birthday, Here's a Goat!"
2019Fresh Off the BoatGuru SheelaEpisode: "Just The Two Of Us"
Splitting Up TogetherTamryn Thomas VandelooEpisode: "Baby's First Job Interview"
I'm SorryJillEpisode: "Little Louse on the Prairie"
2020–2021Black MondayCorky Harris8 episodes
2021data-sort-value="Goldbergs, The" The GoldbergsPamelaEpisode: "Cocoon"
Nine Perfect StrangersErin (voice)Episode: "Random Acts of Mayhem"; uncredited
Queen Paolana (voice)Episode: "Where Pleasant Fountains Lie"
2022Home EconomicsLauren2 episodes
Everything's TrashJax3 episodes
Little DemonAmanda (voice)Episode: "Night of the Leeches"
2023Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurMarcy Muzzler (voice)Episode: "Like Mother, Like Moon Girl"
Based on a True StoryLipinski Sister #14 episodes
data-sort-value="Morning Show, The" The Morning ShowEagle News Anchor2 episodes
data-sort-value="Loud House, The" The Loud HouseBella "Big" Bucks (voice)Episode: "Can't Lynn Em All"
FrasierJune PatrickEpisode: "Blind Date"
2023–2024Abbott ElementaryElizabeth Washington2 episodes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: June Diane Raphael Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards . TV Guide . 2016-11-17.
  2. Web site: You Made It Weird #181: June Diane Raphael . Nerdist.com . 2016-11-17.
  3. Web site: Raphael. June Diane. Wilson. Casey. 2013-11-08. The Worst Road Trip Ever. 2021-08-25. Esquire. en-US.
  4. The oral history of Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway's 'Bride Wars'. 2021-08-25. Entertainment Weekly. en.
  5. Web site: Peele. Anna. 2012-12-06. Q&A: June Diane Raphael, The Funniest Woman on Adult Swim. 2021-08-25. Esquire. en-US.
  6. Web site: Role Recall: June Diane Raphael Revisits the Shows That Led to 'Grace and Frankie'. 2021-08-25. Yahoo. 4 May 2016 . en-US.
  7. 'Long Shot's funniest star explains why the rom-com is cathartic. 2021-08-25. Entertainment Weekly. en.
  8. Web site: Casey Wilson & June Diane Raphael Talk 'Ass Backwards,' Road Trip Goggles, And The Challenges of Indie Filmmaking. 2021-08-25. theplaylist.net.
  9. Web site: Yamato . Jen . Gary Sanchez Springs For June Diane Raphael & Casey Wilson Feature Pitch . Deadline . 2013-11-18 . 2014-01-18.
  10. Web site: Itzkoff. Dave. 2009-12-10. New Cast Members Announced as 'Love, Loss and What I Wore' Recoups. 2021-08-25. ArtsBeat. en-US.
  11. Web site: Trachta. Ali. 2011-01-28. The Realest Real Housewives at UCB: A Celebration of the Best Show Ever + Paul Scheer!. 2021-08-25. LA Weekly. en-US.
  12. Web site: "Worst Laid Plans" at UCB review. 2021-08-25. www.jesterjournal.com.
  13. Web site: Lindsey. Craig D.. Interview: Paul Scheer of "How Did This Get Made?" Interviews Roger Ebert. 2021-08-25. RogerEbert.com. en.
  14. Book: Raphael. June Diane. Represent: The Woman's Guide to Running for Office and Changing the World. Black. Kate. 2019-09-03. Workman Publishing Company.
  15. Web site: Westhoff . Ben . Paul Scheer and June Diane Raphael: Comedians Who Bond Over Terrible Hollywood Movies. L.A. Weekly . 2013-02-06 . 2016-11-17.
  16. Web site: Webber . Stephanie . June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer Welcome First Child, Baby Boy. US Weekly . 2014-05-14 . 2014-05-17.
  17. Web site: June Diane Raphael on Dressing Her Baby Bump for Grace and Frankie Season 3, Mastering Motherhood . Etonline.com . 2017-03-03 . 2016-03-21.
  18. Web site: The UCB Community Cares . Ucbcorps.tumblr.com . 2016-11-17.
  19. Web site: The Jane Club - Team . The Jane Club . 2020-12-14.