Quick Facts
| Intro | American actress |
| Is | Actor Stage actor Television actor |
| From | United States of America |
| Field | Film, TV, Stage & Radio |
| Gender | female |
| Birth | 30 October 1975, Boring |
| Age | 47 years |
Biography
Maria Catherine Thayer (born October 30, 1975) is an American actress and comedian. She first earned public recognition for her portrayal of Tammi Littlenut on the cult series Strangers With Candy in 1999. Thayer has also had supporting roles in the comedy films Hitch (2005), Accepted (2006), and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008).
She has appeared in numerous television series, including a recurring role on the Adult Swim series Eaglehart (2011–14), and a lead role as Abbey Logan on the comedy series Those Who Can't.
Early life
Thayer was born in Portland, Oregon, and spent her early life in the small town of Boring, east of Portland, where her parents owned a bee farm. During her childhood, the family relocated to Minnesota, where she attended Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota, and was a member of the award-winning forensics program and the National Forensic League, as well as Homecoming Queen. She studied acting at The Juilliard School in New York.
Career
Appeared in 2005's Hitch, with Will Smith and Eva Mendes.
In Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Thayer plays a woman on holiday with a new husband, played by Jack McBrayer. Thayer and McBrayer reunited on an episode of 30 Rock in which she portrays Kenneth Parcell's blind, shallow love interest. She also played Grace and Leo's daughter, Lila (at age 18), in the series finale of Will & Grace (2006). In 2009, she appeared in the film State of Play as Sonia Baker, the researcher and mistress of a congressman.
Thayer stars in the Adult Swim comedy series Eagleheart, which began airing on February 3, 2011 on Cartoon Network. She appeared as Tracey Bluth in the fourth season of Arrested Development in flashback scenes. In 2012, she was featured in the music video "Sensitive Man" by Nick Lowe.
In 2014, Thayer played the sudden wife of Forrest MacNeill (Andy Daly) on the Comedy Central show "Review" for the episode "Marry, Run, Party" of the first season.
Starting in 2015, she starred in the TruTV sitcom Those Who Can't as an incompetent teacher at a Denver high school, alongside Ben Roy, Adam Clayton-Holland and Andrew Orvedahl (The Grawlix).
Personal life
Thayer was previously engaged to actor David Harbour.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Kimberly | Louise | |
| 2001 | Storytelling | Amy | Segment: "Fiction" |
| 2001 | Scratch | Short film | |
| 2005 | Strangers with Candy | Tamela "Tammi" Littlenut | |
| 2005 | Hitch | Lisa | |
| 2006 | Accepted | Rory Thayer | |
| 2008 | Forgetting Sarah Marshall | Wyoma | |
| 2009 | State of Play | Sonia Baker | |
| 2011 | Let Go | Beth | |
| 2014 | Night of the Living Deb | Deborah Clarington | |
| 2017 | Table 19 |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | Strangers with Candy | Tamela "Tammi" Littlenut | 14 episodes |
| 2001 | Big Apple | Rosemary | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | Education of Max Bickford, TheThe Education of Max Bickford | Tina | Episode: "Herding Cats" |
| 2003 | Miss Match | Chelsea Greer | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Claire Brody | Episode: "A Murderer Among Us" |
| 2004 | Comedy Lab | Jill | Episode: "12:21" |
| 2005 | Romancing the Bride | Kimmy | Television film |
| 2006 | Will & Grace | Lila | Episode: "The Finale" |
| 2006 | Colbert Report, TheThe Colbert Report | Jenny | Voice Episode: "Will Power" |
| 2006 | Nip/Tuck | Transplant Consultant | Episode: "Burt Landau" |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Hope | Episode: "Infiltrated" |
| 2008 | Lipstick Jungle | Cassidy | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | 30 Rock | Jennifer Rogers | Episode: "St. Valentine's Day" |
| 2009 | House | Annie | Episode: "Both Sides Now" |
| 2010 | Important Things with Demetri Martin | Edith | Episode: "Strategy" |
| 2010 | Our Show | Television film | |
| 2011 | Traffic Light | Esme | Episode: "Credit Balance" |
| 2011 | Harry's Law | Julie Cassidy | Episode: "Purple Hearts" |
| 2011 | Annie Claus is Coming to Town | Annie | |
| 2011–2014 | Eagleheart | Susie Wagner | 24 episodes |
| 2012 | Louie | Rental Car Lady | Episode: "Dad" |
| 2012 | New Girl | Amelia | Episode: "Halloween" |
| 2013 | Cougar Town | Lisa Riggs | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Portlandia | Episode: "Nina's Birthday" | |
| 2013 | Family Tools | Wendy Doyle | Episode: "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" |
| 2013 | Maron | Megan | Episode: "Dominatrix" |
| 2013 | Arrested Development | Tracey Bluth | Episode: "It Gets Better" |
| 2014 | Review | Eliza | Episode: "Marry; Run; Party" |
| 2014 | American Dad! | Nun (voice) | Episode: "Cock of the Sleepwalk" |
| 2014 | Dads | Maria | Episode: "Baby Face" |
| 2014 | Men at Work | Bridget | Episode: "Molly" |
| 2014–2016 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Monica Dubinsky / Marissa Price | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Mulaney | The Doula | Episode: "The Doula" |
| 2014 | The League | Cheryl | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Man Seeking Woman | Maude | Episode: "Dram" |
| 2015 | Kroll Show | Duchess Tina | Episode: "The Time of My Life" |
| 2015 | Difficult People | Nicole | Episode: "The Courage of a Soldier" |
| 2015 | Gotham | Scottie Mullen | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Married | Kristi | Episode: "Gymnastics" |
| 2016 | Those Who Can't | Abbey Logan | 10 episodes |
| 2016 | The Mindy Project | Courtney | 3 episodes |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Necessary Targets | Nuna | Variety Arts Theatre |
| 2002 | Endpapers | Sara Maynard | Variety Arts Theatre |
| 2012 | Unscreened | Stranger in the Park | Elephant Theatre Company |
| 2013 | Love's Labour's Lost | Rosaline | Delacorte Theater |
Music videos
| Year | Artist | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Hospitality | "Friends of Friends" | Friend in Glasses |
| 2012 | Nick Lowe | "Sensitive Man" | Girlfriend |
