Kulap Vilaysack

Kulap Tukta Vilaysack (/ˈkuːlɑːp vɪˈlaɪsɑːk/ KOO-lahp vi-LY-sahk; born May 11, 1980) is an American actress, comedian, and writer. She was the co-host of the Who Charted? podcast on the Earwolf network from 2010 until 2018.

Kulap Vilaysack
Kulap Vilaysack in 2015.
Born
Kulap Tukta Vilaysack

(1980-05-11) May 11, 1980[1]
Washington, D.C., U.S.
OccupationActress, comedian, writer, podcast host
Years active2002–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2008)​
Parent(s)Inhpeng and Bouaphet (née Sanavongsai)[2]
Websitehttp://kulapvilaysack.com/

Early life

Vilaysack was born in Washington, D.C. after her Laotian parents arrived from a refugee camp in Thailand. Her family soon moved to the Twin Cities, settling in the suburb of Eagan, Minnesota.[3] She has two younger sisters, Anita and Alyssa.[4]

After graduating from high school, Vilaysack moved to Los Angeles where she attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and received an associate's degree. She later took classes and performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles.[2] She was also a producer of the Los Angeles/Silverlake-based alternative comedy variety show, "Garage Comedy".[5]

Career

Vilaysack's acting work includes a recurring role as "Nurse Kulap" on the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital. Other television guest appearances include Bob's Burgers, The Office, The Sarah Silverman Program, The Hotwives of Orlando, Parks and Recreation, Happy Endings, Reno 911! and Whitney. In 2007, she briefly worked as an associate producer on America's Got Talent.

With comedian Howard Kremer, she co-hosted the podcast Who Charted? on the Earwolf network from 2010 to 2018.[6]

Vilaysack is the creator and showrunner of the reality show spoof Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, her first time working in this capacity.[7] The show premiered in early 2016 as part of the launch of NBC's streaming platform Seeso. Other executive producers on the project include Scott Aukerman, Robert Ben Garant, and Thomas Lennon.[8]

In October 2020, it was announced that Vilaysack would be joining Lemonada Media's podcast slate as the co-host of the new show, Add to Cart, alongside former MTV News correspondent SuChin Pak. The podcast launched on November 17, 2020[9] and is “a subversive and fun way about talking about consumerism, and how we all participate in it.”[10]

Personal life
Vilaysack with husband, Scott Aukerman, and their dog, Rocky (right)

Vilaysack married comedian Scott Aukerman in 2008.[11]

She directed a documentary about her family tree entitled Origin Story which premiered on Amazon on May 10, 2019.[12][13] The film incorporates the character Katharsis of The Movement, a superhero based on Vilaysack created by author Gail Simone.[14]

Other

Vilaysack and comedian June Diane Raphael are the founders and directors of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (UCB)-associated "UCB Corps" community, a volunteer charity organization. Vilaysack and Raphael 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".[15]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Run Ronnie Run Gay Female Military Type #2 Uncredited
2009 Spooner Asian Corporate
I Love You, Man Zooey's Friend
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard Blowout Customer #2 Uncredited
2010 Peep World Lily
2014 Welcome to Me Grace Dao
2018 Origin Story Herself Documentary; also director and producer
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2004–2005 Asia Street Comedy Various characters 3 episodes
2006 Fire Guys Hot Pi Episode #1.3
The Office Nikki Episode: "A Benihana Christmas"
2007 The Very Funny Show Various / Ian's Date 2 episodes
The Right Now! Show Various TV movie
2008–2012 Childrens Hospital Nurse Kulap / Nurse Sandy / Kulap 8 episodes
2008 The McCaingels Tze Lan O'Reilly Series regular
Downer's Grove Jane Episode: "Independent Brett"
Brothers & Sisters Gail 2 episodes
2009 American Contestant with Bob Odenkirk TV series short
Reno 911! Stewardess 1 Episode: "Extradition to Thailand"
Single Dads Molly Episode: "Brian Gets a Girlfriend"
The New Adventures of Old Christine Nurse Episode: "The Mole"
Secret Girlfriend Ling Episode: "You Get a New Girlfriend"
2010 The Sarah Silverman Program Carly Episode: "A Fairly Attractive Mind"
The Wanda Sykes Show Staffer #2 Episode #1.18
$#*! My Dad Says Woman Episode: "Make a Wish"
2011 Traffic Light Bartender 2 episodes
Whitney Waitress Episode: "Two Broke-Up Guys"
2012 Happy Endings Nicole Episode: "To Serb with Love"
Parks and Recreation Ulani Episode: "Ben's Parents"
2012–2018 Bob's Burgers Rupa / Farrah (voice) 2 episodes
2013–2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Various 6 episodes
2013 Tiny Commando Translator Aide 2 episodes
Married Single Divorced Show Herself Episode: "Sacking Up with Kulap Vilaysack"
2014 The Hotwives of Orlando Carmelotta 2 episodes
Rubberhead Girl 3 (segment "Lisa") TV movie
BoJack Horseman Film Crew Assistant (voice) Episode: "One Trick Pony"
Garfunkel and Oates Laura Episode: "Road Warriors"
2016–2017 Love Rebecca 3 episodes
2016–2019 Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ Cassandra 2 episodes
Also creator, executive producer, writer, director
2016–2018 Take My Wife Danielle 4 episodes
2017 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Nightmare Episode: "Crime & Punishment"
Ghosted Julia Episode: "Pilot"
2017–2019 I'm Sorry Corinne 2 episodes

References
  1. Kulap Vilaysack at IMDb
  2. (February 24, 2010). Kulap Vilaysack blooms in Hollywood. Lao American Magazine
  3. "Actress Traces Family Roots to Find Her Own 'Origin Story'". NBC News. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  4. Weiner, Cydney. "Actress Traces Family Roots to Find Her Own 'Origin Story'". NBC News. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  5. "Discussing the Future Of Talk With Scott Aukerman". Men's Journal. June 5, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  6. "This Week in Comedy Podcasts: Howard Kremer Goes Solo". Splitsider. March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  7. Porch, Scott (May 26, 2017). "Young Comic TV Showrunners from Left Field". New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  8. "Comedic couple Kulap Vilaysack and Scott Aukerman partner up for 'Bajillion Dollar Propertie$'". Southern California Public Radio. April 5, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  9. "This Week in Comedy Podcasts: Meet Your New Wellness Experts". Vulture. November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  10. "They lost their brothers to addiction. Now they're tackling deadly stigmas head on, with humor". Los Angeles Times. October 22, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  11. Russian, Ale. "Kulap Vilaysack on Finding Her Roots in Laos". TIME.com. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  12. "'Origin Story' Filmmaker Kulap Vilaysack Brings Lao Culture to Hollywood Hills". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  13. ""Bajillion Dollar Properties" Creator Kulap Vilaysack Wants To Be the Asian Shonda Rhimes". Fast Company. June 22, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  14. "Origin Story: A Documentary". Originstorydoc.com. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  15. "The UCB Community Cares". Ucbcorps.tumblr.com. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
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