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Nora Kirkpatrick
Nora Kirkpatrick
from Wikipedia

Nora Kirkpatrick (born December 6, 1984) is an American actress, director, writer and musician.[1]

Key Information

Early life

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Kirkpatrick grew up in rural Iowa.[2] She graduated from La Quinta High School.[3] She graduated with a BA in theater from UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.[4][2]

Career

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Kirkpatrick was a founding member and accordion player for the Grammy Award winning and platinum record selling band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. After seven years touring on the road, she turned her focus to writing and directing, selling series to CBS, Hulu, and Comedy Central among others.[5]

In 2020, Kirkpatrick became a writer on two Amazon series: Daisy Jones & the Six, produced by Reese Witherspoon, and Rodeo Queens starring Dakota Johnson.[6] In 2019, Nora created, wrote and directed a 15- episode interactive television show for EKO and FunnyOrDie. This series, The Coop, co-starred Tony Hale, Bobby Moynihan, Bridget Everett and Margaret Cho.[7] She directed episode #712 of The Goldbergs for ABC and was the first woman ever to direct a campaign for Bud Light. Nora helmed three commercials for the brand, shot during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[8]

In 2018, Nora created, wrote and directed Door No. 1, a live-action VR comedy series, starring Snoop Dogg and Ravi Patel, for Hulu.[9] In a 2017 Forbes article, Kirkpatrick mentions virtual reality's ability to cause "spatial un-comfortability," and her aim to make the viewer the lead character of the story.[10] In 2017, Nora sold her TV show Assisted Living to CBS, which was executive produced by Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum.[5]

In 2016, Nora co-wrote and directed a five-part VR comedy series, Virtually Mike and Nora, with SNL alum Mike O'Brien, which is currently airing on Hulu. That same year, Nora sold her TV show, Best Seller, to Comedy Central. It was produced by Gloria Sanchez Productions and Olivia Wilde and co-written by SNL alum Dennis McNicholas.[11]

Her short films have played at film festivals all over the world, garnering awards including Best Female Director at the Prague International Film Festival (2020) and the Grand Jury Prize at the San Diego Film Festival, Sioux City Film Festival, and the Femme Filmmakers Festival.[12][13] She won a Davey Grant for her screenplay Long Time Listener, First Time Caller, and the Best Screenplay award from both Shore Scripts and Hollyshorts for Best Seller.

As an actor, she is probably best known for her role as Katherine, the stern president of Panhellenic, on the ABC Family TV series Greek, or for her recurring role on the ninth season of The Office as Esther Bruegger, a neighboring farmer's daughter who becomes Dwight's girlfriend. Kirkpatrick starred in the 2015 film Pink Grapefruit, which won the SXSW Grand Jury Award. She has played many other roles in film and TV, including Men at Work, Jennifer Falls, Don't Trust the B, and Chasing Life. She was one of the leads of the popular mockumentary web series Dorm Life, in which she played Courtney Cloverlock.

Music

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Kirkpatrick played the accordion in the band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. She is a founding member and together they won a Grammy in 2013.[14][15] She left the band after seven years in 2014 to focus on her directing career.[3]

Personal life

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Kirkpatrick was married to filmmaker Bryn Mooser from 2016 to 2022.[16]

Filmography

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Directing & Writing

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Virtually Mike and Nora (Hulu) Co-Director/Co-Creator 5 episodes
2018 Door No. 1 (Hulu) Director/Co-Writer "Ten Year" (season 1: episode 1)
2018 Best Seller (Comedy Central) Director/Creator/Writer "Pilot"
2019 Long Time Listener, First Time Caller Director/Writer Film
2019 The Coop Director/Creator/Co-Writer 15 episodes
2020 Bud Light Seltzer Campaign Director "Memories" "Celebration" "Resemblance"
2020 The Goldbergs (ABC) Director "Game Night" (season 7: episode 12)
2023 Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video) Writer Track 3: Someone Saved My Life Tonight (co-written with Will Graham) (episode 3)
2025 A Tree Fell in the Woods Writer & Director Film
2025 The Runarounds (Prime Video) Writer Bern Caught Stealing (season 1: episode 6)

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 What's Bugging Seth Nora Green
2005 White Nights Sharon
2007 Katrina Tyler TV film
2007 Crashing Barton's Girlfriend
2007 Randal June Short film
2008 Man Stroke Woman Various TV film
2009 Flower Girl Wendy
2010 Long Story Short Georgia Short film
2010 Growth Kristin Daniels
2010 How to Make Love to a Woman Carla
2011 Dreamworld Jules
2011 Happy Place Margaret Short film
2011 Mime Apples Mime Short film
2012 Peter at the End Lucy Short film
2013 Big Sur Alyson
2013 Sexy Evil Genius Abby
2013 All Together Now Kylie
2013 Bayou Tales Diana
2014 Crying Man Brooke
2015 Pink Grapefruit Lead
2015 Los Dr. Ryan
2016 The Babymoon Shanon
2016 Sandy Wexler Sienna
2017 The Attempt Molly
2017 Woman Child Kate Montgomery

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 John from Cincinnati Hotel Bartender Episodes: "His Visit: Day Four", "His Visit: Day Seven"
2008–2009 Dorm Life Courtney Cloverlock 37 episodes
2009–2011 Greek Katherine Parker 19 episodes
2010 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jane Lewis Episode: "Cold Blooded"
2011 Breaking In Patty Boggs Episode: "21.0 Jump Street"
2012–2013 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Chrissy Episodes: "The Wedding", "Monday June..."
2012 Men at Work Nora Episode: "Milo Full of Grace"
2013 The Office Esther Bruegger Recurring role (season 9); 5 episodes
2014 Jennifer Falls Stephanie Series regular
2015 Chasing Life Jaclyn "Model Behavior" (season 1: episode 17)
"First Person" (season 2: episode 11)
2016 Riders Mary "Love and Lust" (season 1: episode 1)
"Life on Mars" (season 1: episode 2 )
"A Trip At A Wedding" (season 1: episode 3)
2018 Door No. 1 Stephanie
2019 The Coop Dr. Diane
2024 Shrinking Kellie "The Last Thanksgiving" (season 2: episode 12)

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Nora Kirkpatrick (born December 6, 1984) is an American actress, , director, and recognized for her versatile contributions across film, television, , and . Raised in rural , Kirkpatrick graduated from the (UCLA) School of Theater, Film and Television, where she studied theater. Following her education, she joined the indie band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros as a founding member and player, touring internationally for seven years and contributing to albums including the 2012 release Here, and their 2013 Grammy-winning Big Easy Express. In acting, Kirkpatrick has appeared in notable television roles, including Esther Bruegger on , as well as guest parts on Greek, , , and ; she also featured in films such as Adam Sandler's (2016) and Paul Lieberstein's (2019). Transitioning to writing and directing, she earned a nomination for her work on the Amazon series (2023) and contributed scripts to The Runarounds (2023–present). Her directorial projects include the VR comedy series Door No. 1 (2017) for , starring , and Assisted Living, a pilot sold to executive produced by and . Kirkpatrick's feature directorial debut, A Tree Fell in the Woods, premiered at the 2025 , showcasing her innovative storytelling in live-action narrative. She has also directed episodes of The Goldbergs for ABC and become the first woman to helm a Bud Light advertising campaign, alongside commercials for brands like One and . Her pioneering work in interactive and VR formats, such as Virtually Mike and Nora (2016) for and The Coop for Eko and , highlights her commitment to blending , , and .

Biography

Early life

Nora Kirkpatrick was born on December 6, 1984, in . She grew up in a family that emphasized stability and practical career choices, with her parents advising her to pursue a secure job after completing her education rather than venturing into the arts. Kirkpatrick spent her formative years in rural , where the Midwestern environment fostered a grounded upbringing amid agricultural landscapes and small-town communities. This setting provided her with an early appreciation for storytelling and creativity, influenced by the simplicity and resourcefulness of rural life. At the age of 16, Kirkpatrick developed a keen interest in , embarking on her initial acting endeavors that marked the beginning of her artistic pursuits. These early experiences contrasted with her family's expectations, setting the stage for her later decision to defy their advice and relocate to after high school.

Education

Nora Kirkpatrick studied abroad in , , and prior to attending college, experiences that exposed her to diverse theatrical and cinematic traditions around the world. These international pursuits, undertaken after high school, allowed her to explore global storytelling forms and performances, fostering a broad cultural appreciation for the arts that contrasted with her rural Midwestern background. She later enrolled at the (UCLA), where she earned a in theater from the School of Theater, Film and Television. Kirkpatrick's curriculum encompassed techniques, , and directing fundamentals, including practical workshops and productions that honed her skills in character development and narrative construction. These classes emphasized collaborative creativity, equipping her with the technical and artistic tools essential for professional work in film and television. This academic path served as a crucial bridge from Kirkpatrick's upbringing in rural to the competitive landscape of Hollywood, transforming her early global explorations and foundational interests into structured expertise that opened doors to multifaceted roles in entertainment. By integrating international perspectives with rigorous training at a premier institution, her education positioned her to navigate and contribute to the industry's diverse opportunities.

Personal life

Kirkpatrick married filmmaker and humanitarian in December 2016 during a winter ceremony in . Both immersed in the entertainment industry—Mooser as an Oscar-nominated and Kirkpatrick as an , , and director—their union reflected overlapping professional worlds in and media innovation. The couple has a , Atlas Jack Mooser. The couple divorced in 2022. Kirkpatrick has since kept details of her post-divorce life private, with no public information available on her current relationship status as of 2025. Throughout her career, she has emphasized maintaining boundaries around her personal affairs, prioritizing privacy amid public-facing work in Hollywood.

Career

Music career

Nora Kirkpatrick served as a founding member and accordion player for the indie folk rock band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, joining shortly after her graduation from UCLA in 2007. Over the next seven years, until 2014, she toured extensively with the group across the globe, performing at major festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, and SXSW. Her role contributed to the band's vibrant live performances, characterized by communal energy and eclectic instrumentation that blended folk, rock, and Americana elements. The band's debut album, Up from Below (2009), achieved gold certification in the United States for sales exceeding 500,000 copies, marking a breakthrough in the indie music scene. Subsequent releases, such as Here (2012) and the self-titled Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (2013), further solidified their popularity through extensive touring and critical acclaim for their anthemic, harmony-driven sound. In 2013, the band won a Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video for Big Easy Express, a documentary concert film featuring collaborations with Mumford & Sons and Old Crow Medicine Show, highlighting their innovative approach to live music documentation. Kirkpatrick's time with the band profoundly shaped her artistic development, fostering skills in collaboration, improvisation, and narrative expression through music that informed her later multidisciplinary pursuits. During tours, she began honing her writing abilities, which bridged her musical background to broader creative endeavors, emphasizing a holistic approach to performance and storytelling.

Acting career

Nora Kirkpatrick made her acting debut in 2005 with the role of Nora Green in the independent film What's Bugging Seth, marking the start of her screen career following her graduation from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television. Early subsequent roles included Kristin Daniels in the horror film Growth (2009) and Carla in the ensemble comedy How to Make Love to a Woman (2010), where she began establishing herself in supporting parts across genres. These initial appearances laid the foundation for her transition into television, highlighting her ability to portray relatable, everyday characters. Kirkpatrick achieved breakthrough recognition with her recurring role as Katherine Parker, the authoritative president of the Panhellenic Council, in the ABC Family comedy-drama series Greek from 2007 to 2011. She further solidified her television presence with comedic supporting roles, including Nora in Men at Work (2012–2014), Stephanie in the TV Land series Jennifer Falls (2014), and April in the ABC Family drama Chasing Life (2014–2015). In 2013, she portrayed Esther Bruegger, Dwight Schrute's love interest and a neighboring farmer's daughter, in a five-episode arc during the ninth and final season of NBC's The Office. A notable milestone in her film work came in 2015 when she starred as the Wife in the short film Pink Grapefruit, directed by Michael Mohan, which premiered at the and won the Grand Jury Award for Narrative Short at SXSW. The film's intimate portrayal of relationships during a weekend getaway in Palm Springs received praise for its sharp dialogue and ensemble chemistry, contributing to Kirkpatrick's growing reputation in independent cinema. Throughout her career, Kirkpatrick has demonstrated versatility by balancing comedic timing in ensemble sitcoms with more nuanced dramatic performances in character-focused stories, evolving from frequent television supporting roles to selective projects that emphasize depth and collaboration.

Writing and directing career

Nora Kirkpatrick transitioned into writing and directing by creating innovative interactive content, beginning with Door No. 1 in 2018, a pioneering live-action VR comedy series for that she wrote and directed. The choose-your-own-adventure format placed viewers at a 10-year high school reunion, featuring and emphasizing immersive storytelling through head-turning choices. This project marked her as an early innovator in VR narrative comedy, blending humor with interactive technology. Kirkpatrick's writing credits include staff work on the Amazon series Daisy Jones & the Six (2023), an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated production executive-produced by , where she contributed to episodes exploring a fictional rock band's rise and fall; the series earned a nomination for Long Form – Original in 2024. She also served as a writer and co-producer on the Amazon series The Runarounds (2025–present), created by the team behind , focusing on a high school band's adventures in , with her writing credited on key episodes like "Bern Caught Stealing." Additionally, she created, wrote, and directed the pilot for , a half-hour single-camera comedy sold to in 2016 and produced by and ; she also created , a pilot sold to in 2017 executive produced by and . Over the years, she has developed series for platforms including Amazon, , , and , often integrating her comedic voice into ensemble-driven narratives. In directing, Kirkpatrick helmed episodes for networks such as ABC's The Goldbergs (season 7, episode 12), Hulu projects like Door No. 1, and Funny or Die's interactive series The Coop (2019), an eight-episode Eko production allowing viewer-driven choices in a comedic coop mystery. Her short films include Long Time Listener, First Time Caller (2019), which she wrote and directed, following a repressed woman's late-night radio call seeking answers on marriage and purpose, earning festival recognition. Her feature directorial debut, A Tree Fell in the Woods (2025), which she also wrote, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, starring Alexandra Daddario, Josh Gad, Daveed Diggs, and Ashley Park in a comedy-drama about two couples confronting deception during a New Year's Eve cabin getaway blocked by a fallen tree. She is also set to direct the romantic comedy Whodunnit starring Lana Condor for BuzzFeed Studios. Kirkpatrick expanded into commercial directing post-2019, signing with Furlined for U.S. and U.K. representation, where she debuted with a Bud Light Seltzer campaign by and later directed spots like a collaboration with . In 2025, she joined Spindle for U.K. and representation, highlighting her approach to comedy and visual storytelling across formats. Her work consistently emphasizes character-driven humor and innovative visuals, drawing from her multifaceted background.

Filmography

Film

  • What's Bugging Seth (2005) – Nora Green
  • Crashing (2007) – Barton's Girlfriend
  • Growth (2009) – Kristin Daniels
  • How to Make Love to a Woman (2010) – Carla
  • Dreamworld (2011) – Jules
  • Big Easy Express (2012) – Self
  • Big Sur (2013) – Alyson
  • All Together Now (2013) – Kylie
  • Sexy Evil Genius (2013) – Abby
  • Pink Grapefruit (2015) – Lead (Wife); the short film won the Narrative Short Jury Award at SXSW
  • They Call Us Monsters (2016) – Self
  • The Babymoon (2017) – Shanon
  • Sandy Wexler (2017) – Sienna
  • Song of Back and Neck (2018) – Nora
  • Modern/Love in 7 Short Films (2019) – Wife

Television

Nora Kirkpatrick began her television career with recurring roles in popular comedy series during the late 2000s and continued with supporting parts in various shows through the 2010s and into the 2020s. Her notable television acting credits include:
  • Katherine / Katherine Parker in Greek (2007–2011), a recurring role across multiple seasons in the ABC Family drama-comedy series about college life.
  • Esther Bruegger in The Office (2009–2013), appearing in four episodes of the NBC mockumentary sitcom as a quirky office worker.
  • Patty Boggs in Breaking In (2011), a guest role in the Fox comedy series about a security firm.
  • Nora in Men at Work (2012–2014), a recurring character in the TBS sitcom centered on a group of friends navigating life and relationships.
  • Chrissy in Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013), a guest appearance in the ABC comedy starring Krysten Ritter.
  • Ruby in Jennifer Falls (2014), one of the leads in the TV Land comedy about a woman returning to her hometown after a career downfall.
  • Jaclyn in Chasing Life (2015), guest roles in 2 episodes of the ABC Family drama following a young woman's cancer diagnosis.
  • Guest spots in shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2008) and other series during the 2010s.
  • Kellie in Shrinking (2023–2024), a role in the Apple TV+ comedy-drama starring Jason Segel.
  • Penny Richardson in Daisy Jones & The Six (2023), appearing in the Amazon Prime Video miniseries based on the novel about a 1970s rock band.
Kirkpatrick's television work spans comedies and dramas, often featuring her in supporting or recurring capacities that highlight her comedic timing.

References

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