Dorthea Lauren Allegra Lapkus (born September 6, 1985) is an American actress and comedian, known for portraying Susan Fischer in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2014, 2019), Denise in The Big Bang Theory (2018–2019) and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe (2026–present), and Jess in the HBO comedy-drama series Crashing (2017–2019). She has also appeared in the television series Are You There, Chelsea? (2012), Hot in Cleveland (2012), Clipped (2015), and Good Girls (2020–2021) and in the films Jurassic World (2015), The Unicorn (2018), and The Wrong Missy (2020). She played the voice role of Lotta in the animated comedy series Harvey Girls Forever! (2018–2020).
Lapkus has appeared on various podcasts, including Comedy Bang! Bang!, improv4humans, and her own podcasts With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus, Laptime with Lauren Lapkus, Threedom, Raised by TV, and Newcomers.
Early life Dorthea Lauren Allegra Lapkus was born on September 6, 1985, in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. She has Greek and Lithuanian ancestry. At an early age, she filmed sketches with her older brother and later at Evanston Township High School where she participated in the annual student revue and variety show YAMO.
During her senior year of high school, she began taking improvisational theatre (improv) classes at the iO Theater. She attended DePaul University graduating in 2008 with a degree in English, while she continued performing improv most nights. Lapkus credits watching many television sitcoms and Saturday Night Live while young for inspiring her to become a comedian.
Career After almost a year in Los Angeles, Lapkus began landing roles in a number of commercials, including Snickers and Jack in the Box as well as a sketch on Jimmy Kimmel Live! From these successes, she acquired representation, and during pilot season, she landed a supporting role in the short-lived sitcom Are You There, Chelsea?.
After self-taping her audition, Lapkus was cast as correctional officer Susan Fischer on the first and second seasons of the Netflix series Orange is the New Black. In 2015, Lapkus and the cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Lapkus launched her own podcast With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus on the Earwolf network in 2014. Each week her guest is a host of their own podcast, and she appears as a character on their show. Her guests have included Paul F. Tompkins, Betsy Sodaro, Andy Daly, Nick Kroll, and Scott Aukerman. She has said that she "never expected to get into podcasts at all," and to her it is funny she has one.
In mid-2014, Lapkus was cast in the feature film Jurassic World, which she filmed in both Hawaii and New Orleans. Many of her scenes with Jake Johnson were improvised. In 2015, she portrayed Joy the receptionist in TBS's Clipped. In 2016, Lapkus wrote and starred in her own 30-minute episode of the sketch show Netflix Presents: The Characters. Between 2017 and 2019 Lapkus appeared in the HBO series Crashing in the recurring role of Jess, the main character's ex-wife.
In 2020, Lapkus launched a weekly podcast Newcomers with co-host Nicole Byer on the Headgum podcast network, in which the two friends watch film franchises for the first time and provide commentary on them. The podcast has covered the franchises Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Tyler Perry, Fast & Furious, Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Batman franchises. Past guests have included John Gemberling, Demi Adejuyigbe, Paul F. Tompkins, and Betsy Sodaro.
Lapkus performs improv regularly. She is a cast member of Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB)'s flagship show Asssscat and improv group Wild Horses.
Personal life Lapkus married actor and improviser Chris Alvarado on May 3, 2014. She announced their separation on February 14, 2016, and they divorced later that year.
Lapkus married actor Mike Castle on October 5, 2018. On May 18, 2021, Lapkus announced that they were expecting a baby girl in the summer. She gave birth to a daughter in July 2021. On December 8, 2023, Lapkus revealed she was expecting another baby girl and announced the following May that she had given birth to a second daughter.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes2005Movie BoyPamela 2011Dog DNAShort filmSecrets, SecretsShort film Plastic HeartLaurenShort film 2012DreamworldSushiCleve Dixon: Terrible DetectiveBarbara DietrichsonManhattan MixupAgent SmithShort film 20133D PrinterShort filmAre You HereDelia ShepardThe To Do ListGirl Heckler 2014Bread and ButterDeirdre NewsomeBlendedTracy the Babysitter2015Jurassic WorldVivian2016Opening NightAlex Bean2017Girlfriend's DayCardie #2 2018The UnicornMaloryDog DaysDaisy Good Girls Get HighPattyHolmes & WatsonMillie2019Between Two Ferns: The MovieCarol Hunch 2020The Wrong MissyMissyFor Madmen Only: The Stories of Del CloseLynnHappiest SeasonMall Security CrystalThe Last BlockbusterNarratorDocumentary film2022The Curse of Bridge HollowMayor Tammy Rice2023The Out-LawsPhoebe KingAnother Happy DayJoannaAlso executive producer2026That Friend
Television Year Title Role Notes2007Carpeted AfterhoursBeckyTelevision film2010Jimmy Kimmel Live!Various roles2 episodes20102011Angie4 episodes2011Video Game ReunionLuigi's Stalker3 episodesVarious2 episodes2012Are You There, Chelsea?Dee Dee12 episodesHot in ClevelandOscarEpisode: "A Box Full of Puppies"Joe, Joe & JaneMelissaTV pilot2013–2014,2019Orange Is the New BlackSusan Fischer14 episodesScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series2013–2016Comedy Bang! Bang!Various roles5 episodes2013You're WholeEllieEpisode: "Lemonade/Fishing/Cupcakes"2014House of LiesBenita Spire3 episodesThe Hotwives of OrlandoBank RepEpisode: "Staycation"Friends with Better LivesDeenaEpisode: "The Lost and Hound"Key & PeeleMarion Glass2 episodes2014–2016Drunk HistoryHerself / Normal Woman3 episodes2015Kroll ShowCandaceEpisode: "The In Addition Tos"ClippedJoySeries regular; 10 episodes2015–2016Another PeriodPenelope2 episodes2015–2017Penn Zero: Part-Time HeroMatilda / additional voices4 episodes2016Netflix Presents: The CharactersVariousEpisode: "Lauren Lapkus"Bob's BurgersKrissy DavisVoice, episode: "Bye Bye Boo Boo"Adventure TimePatience St. Pim / Blue Tranch / TedVoice, 5 episodesTripTankClarineVoice, episode: "TripTank 2025"The Earliest ShowSamantha Newman6 episodesNominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Hell's KitchenHerselfEpisode: "Let the Catfights Begin"2016–2018Animals.Various voices7 episodes2016–2021American Dad!Various voices8 episodes2017ClarenceLauren / Kim / Square MomVoice, episode: "Rock Show"Bajillion Dollar Propertie$NadineEpisode: "A Divided House"Ginger SnapsCalistaVoice, 10 episodesThe Guest BookSandy2 episodes2017–2019CrashingJess9 episodesStar vs. the Forces of EvilHiggsVoice, 2 episodes2018Life in PiecesCindyEpisode: "Reading Egg Nurse Neighbor"LuciferBree Garland / AbelEpisode: "Infernal Guinea Pig"DIYJackVoice, television filmNailed It!HerselfEpisode: "Jingle Fails"2018–2019The Big Bang TheoryDenise8 episodes2018–2020Harvey Girls Forever!LottaVoice, 52 episodes2018–2025Big City GreensVal, Rich Lady, BellaVoice, recurring role2018–2023Craig of the CreekMackenzieVoice, 7 episodes 2019Lights Out with David SpadeHerselfEpisode: "Wayne Brady, Tim Dillon, Lauren Lapkus"2020Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?Herself (celebrity contestant)2 episodes; total winnings: $500,000 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesRed FoxVoice, episode: "Sidekick Ahoy"CorporateDebby DebersonEpisode: "Good Job"The George Lucas Talk ShowHerselfEpisode: "Revenge of Return of the Jedi"AnimaniacsCupcake / GabriellaVoice, episode: "The Cutening/Close Encounters of the Worst Kind/Equal Time"2020–2021Good GirlsPhoebe Donnegan17 episodesClose EnoughQuinn / KristenVoice, 2 episodes2020–2024Star Trek: Lower DecksJennifer Sh'reyanVoice, 10 episodes2021–2022Inside JobDeanyVoice, 2 episodes2023History of the World, Part IIShakespeare WriterEpisode: "I"A Million Little ThingsMallory2 episodesFamily FeudHerself Episode: "The Rookie vs. The Rookie Feds and Lauren Lapkus vs. June Diane Raphael"The $100,000 PyramidHerself – Celebrity PlayerEpisode: "RuPaul vs Lauren Lapkus and Steve Schirripa vs Loni Love"Celebrity Wheel of FortuneHerself - ContestantEpisode: "Lauren Lapkus, Ego Nwodim and Jeff Ross"2023–2025Digman!GasolinaVoice, 3 episodes2024Yo Gabba Gabbaland!Lauren the Gardener2 episodesIt's Florida, ManAbsolute SociopathEpisode: "Bunnies"Invincible Fight GirlCocaVoice, 3 episodes2025Night CourtBelindaEpisode: "Rebound and Down"GastronautsHerselfEpisode: "I'll Know It When I Taste It"St. Denis MedicalWifeEpisode: "Aloha, Everyone"The Morning ShowEmmaEpisode: "The Parent Trap"2026Mating SeasonLexiVoice, 2 episodesSofia the First: Royal MagicCharmsieVoice, episode: "The Enchanted Lake" 2026–presentStuart Fails to Save the UniverseDenise10 episodes
Video games Year Title Role2015Lego Jurassic World Vivian
Podcasts Year Title Role Notes 2012–2023 improv4humans Various 42 episodes 2012–2026 Comedy Bang! Bang! 60 episodes 2013 The Reality Show Show Herself Episode 39: "There Is Ninjas" 2013, 2014 Totally Laime Episode 160: "Let's All Pee"Episode 242: "One Hundred Percent!"2014 Pop My Culture Episode 154: "Lauren Lapkus and Chris Alvarado" Professor Blastoff Episode 175: "Reality TV" 2014, 2017 Who Charted? 2 episodes 2014–2020 Hollywood Handbook 4 episodes 2014–2019 With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus Various (guest) 150 episodes2015 The Hooray Show with Horatio Herself Episode 2: "Cereal" Gilmore Guys Episode 60: "Lorelai Out of Water" Never Not Funny Episode 1615: "Lauren Lapkus" The Nerdist Podcast Episode 692: "Lauren Lapkus" Thrilling Adventure Hour 5 episodes Box Angeles Episode 88: "Lauren Lapkus" The Dead Authors Podcast Beatrix Potter Addendum vi: Beatrix Potter Psychic Pshow with Lauren Lapkus Host 4 episodes Sklarbro Country Herself Episode 267: "Hump The Gun" 2015–2018 SPONTANEANATION with Paul F. Tompkins 4 episodes 2015–2019 Wild Horses: The Perspective Co-host 22 episodes 2015–2021 Will You Accept This Rose? Herself 16 episodes2016 You Made It Weird Episode 297: "Lauren Lapkus" If I Were You Episode 209: "Friend Group (w/ Lauren Lapkus!)" The Longest Shortest Time Episode 78: "Lauren Lapkus Answers Kids' Unanswerable Questions" WTF with Marc Maron Episode 732: "Lauren Lapkus" I Was There Too Episode 45: "Jurassic World with Lauren Lapkus" 2016–2023 Doughboys 4 episodes2017 How Did This Get Made? Episode 159: "Sleepwalkers" Big Grande's Teacher's Lounge Ms. Smuckers Episode 9: "Great Grief with Home Economics Teacher Ms. Smuckers" High and Mighty Herself Episode 101: "Raised by TV" Get Up On This Episode 306: "Lauren Lapkus" 2017, 2019 Bitch Sesh 2 episodes 2017–2019 Raised by TV Co-host 71 episodes2018 The Andy Daly Podcast Pilot Project Various 2 episodes Womp It Up! Traci Reardon 2 episodes Hello from the Magic Tavern Crystal the Genie Season 2, Episode 63: "Genie" Mother May I Sleep With Podcast Herself Season 3, Episode 12: "Wicked Moms Club" 2018–2020 Throwing Shade Herself 3 episodes 2018–present Threedom Co-host 173 episodes2020 Laptime with Lauren LapkusHerself/various 48 episodes Mission to ZyxxMaxie Wiggs Episode 415: "Dear Maxie" Talk Chef Guest Star Season 1, Episode 8: "Lauren Lapkus" 2020–2024 Newcomers Co-host 54 episodes 2024 Tiny Dinos Herself 1 episode
References
External links
Lauren Lapkus on Breaking it Down with Frank MacKay