Karen Maruyama (born May 29, 1958) is an American actress and comedian.[1]

Karen Maruyama
Maruyama in 1986
Born (1958-05-29) May 29, 1958 (age 66)
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian
Years active1990–present

Career

edit

Maruyama has appeared on television in supporting roles in a number of sitcoms, including recurring characters on The Jamie Foxx Show, Strip Mall, Suddenly Susan, and Arrested Development.[1] Maruyama is well known as an improv performer and instructor, and was a featured guest on the American and British versions of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, as well as being a member of The Groundlings.[2] She also appeared as a parking lot attendant in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

She played a nurse in The Bucket List[2] (2007) and a housekeeper in the 2012 film The Campaign.[1] She is part of the cast of The Jim Henson Company's live stage show "Puppet Up! - Uncensored"[1] which has toured to Aspen, Las Vegas, Edinburgh, Sydney and Melbourne and is currently appearing monthly at Avalon Hollywood.

Maruyama was also featured as a fashion victim in an episode of the makeover show How Do I Look?.[3] She also appeared as a non-celebrity contestant on the 1984 CBS game show, Body Language, under the name Karen Upshaw, saying she was from Perris, California. She was paired with celebrity players Ted Lange and Constance Towers. She was also on The New $25,000 Pyramid in 1983 with Audrey Landers and Michael McKean.

Filmography

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1990 Circuitry Man Biker Bandit
1990–91 On the Television Imelda Marcos Episode: "Our Maid Imelda"
1992 Full House Mrs. Knotts Episode: "The Long Goodbye"
1992 Doogie Howser, M.D. Kathy Walker Episode: "Do the Right Thing... If You Can Figure Out What It Is"
1994 Viper Police Operator Episode: "Pilot"
1994 Pulp Fiction Gawker #1
1994 Ellen Kate Episode: "Adam's Birthday"
1995 The Enforcer Voice
1995 Murphy Brown Wardrobe Woman Episode: "It's Miller Time"
1995 Sawbones Polito Television film
1995 The American President Leo's Assistant
1996 Dunston Checks In Telephone Operator
1996 Mad About You Nurse #2 Episode: "The Procedure"
1996 Rudy Coby: Ridiculously Dangerous Grandma Television film
1996–97 Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys Shao Lin Voice
1997 Night Stand Miyoshi Episode: "Leave Your Job or I'm Leaving You"
1997 Caroline in the City Actress Episode: "Caroline and the Wayward Husband"
1997 Blade Runner Fish Dealer Video game, voice
1997–98 Whose Line Is It Anyway? (UK) Herself 3 episodes
1998–2000 Whose Line Is It Anyway? (US) Herself 3 episodes
1998 Veronica's Closet Event Official Episode: "Veronica's Got a Secret"
1998 Holding the Baby Mona Episode: "Father Knows Breast"
1998 Guys Like Us Kim Recurring role
1998 Suddenly Susan Mrs. Fong 5 episodes
1999 The Thirteenth Year Mrs. Nelson Television film
1997–99 The Simpsons Japanese Stewardess, Dancing Lady #1 Voice, 2 episodes[2]
2000 The Wild Thornberrys Leopard Voice, episode: "Black and White and Mom All Over"
2000 King of the Hill Buddhist Voice, episode: "Won't You Pimai Neighbor?"
2000 Titus Nurse Patty Episode: "Episode Eleven"
2000 Static Shock Kim Voice, episode: "Grounded"
2000 Curb Your Enthusiasm Female Parking Attendant (Joanna) Episode: "Interior Decorator"
1999–2001 The Jamie Foxx Show Gloria 11 episodes
2001 Futurama Amazonian Voice, episode: "Amazonian Women in the Mood"
2001 Even Stevens Millie Episode: "A Weak First Week"
2001 Strip Mall Foo 9 episodes
2001 Heavy Gear: The Animated Series Yoji Kirakowa Voice
2002 Justice League Tsukuri, Firefighter Voice, episode: "Fury"
2003 Columbo Maid Episode: "Columbo Likes the Nightlife"
2003 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Head Protestor, Shadowy Woman, Flower Vendor Voice, 2 episodes
2005 The King of Queens Connie Episode: "Black List"
2007 The Bucket List Nurse Shing
2010 Raising Hope Mrs Hwong Episode: "Toy Story"
2012 The Campaign Mrs. Yao
2012 Crash & Bernstein Vice-Principal Takashi Episode: "Educating Crash"
2013 Good Luck Charlie Coach Episode: "Go Teddy!"
2013 2 Broke Girls Su-Min Lee Episode: "And the Girlfriend Experience"
2014 Garfunkel & Oates Susie Episode: "Rule 34"
2016 Go-Go Boy Interrupted Liz Episode: "My First Time Doing Porn"
2018 Heathers Mrs. Finn 3 episodes
2018 Life of the Party Mediator
2019 Dead to Me Marcy Episode: “It's Not You, It's Me"
2020 Bosch Wanda Williams Episode: "Dark Sacred Night"
2021 Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar Caricaturist
2022 Dead End: Paranormal Park Barborah Voice
2022 I'm Totally Fine Sandra
2023 The Loud House Nora Nussebaum, Fan Voices, episode: "Road Trip: Screen Queen"

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "Interview "The Campaign" Actress Karen Maruyama". AsianInNY. Blog.AsianInNY.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Karen Maruyama". TheGroundlings.com. The Groundlings Theatre & School. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  3. ^ "How Do I Look?". CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
edit