Naomi Grossman

Naomi Grossman (born February 6, 1975) is an American actress, writer, and producer best known for her role as Pepper in the second and fourth season of the FX horror television series American Horror Story.

Naomi Grossman
Born (1975-02-06) February 6, 1975
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Alma materNorthwestern University
Occupation
  • Actress
  • writer
  • producer
Years active1990–Present
Websitewww.naomigrossman.net

Early life

Grossman was born in Denver, Colorado. In her early life, she performed in community theatre shows. After attending high school. She was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Argentina, she attended and graduated from Northwestern University with a theater major, as the only university she applied to.[1][2] She was a member of improvisational and sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings in Los Angeles, California, and wanted to ultimately perform on Saturday Night Live. When the group cut ties with her, she began teaching the Spanish language and separating herself from her acting career.[3] Grossman also writes and produces and has cited Lily Tomlin, Tracey Ullman, Gilda Radner and Carol Burnett as inspirations.[1]

Career

Grossman began her career in 1990 with minor television roles, along with commercial and theatre appearances.[1]

Not knowing what role she was auditioning for, Grossman sent in an audition for American Horror Story: Asylum in mid-2012 and was cast in soon after as Pepper, a woman with microcephaly; the season premiered later that year on October 17.[4] In preparation for the role, she shaved her head bald.[3] In 2014, it was revealed that Grossman would return to the series in its fourth season, American Horror Story: Freak Show, reprising her role as Pepper from the second season, making her the first to play the same role in two different seasons of the show. She spoke of her casting in the fourth season saying that reprising her role was "the last thing from [her] mind" since it had never been done before.[5]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Marisa, Where Art Thou? Wendy Short film
2005 Over the Shoulder Goth Girl
2007 Bubbles Mama
Wacky Spoof Commercials People's Bank Gal 2
2008 Yes Bonnie
Men at Work Woman
2009 Represent Shania Short film
Table for Three Actress
The Hollywood Housesitter Waitress Short film
My Boyfriend Is a Blimp Suzy
Jesus's Secretary Mary
Hot Yoga Amani
Food Poisoning Naomi
Burka Girls Gone Wild Unknown
2010 Random Chapters in the Life of Some Guy Wife Short film
Paradrunken Activity Katie
2011 Chubduction Hilary Q.
Teat the Parents Girlfriend Short film
2012 Kev Jumba Dances with the Stars! Dot
Touch My Junk Traveler Short film
2013 Bakersfield, Earth Unknown
Rip Bella Tiavas Stylized as #RIP
2014 Just Me and All of You Katrina Short film
2016 Fear, Inc. Cat
The Chair Mother
2017 An Accidental Zombie (Named Ted) Carrie
Drifting Short film
2018 Painkillers Nurse Sheralyn
Sleep Away Mrs. Sturridge
Short Straw Jolene
2019 Bite Me Chrissy
The Lurker Grace Fisher
1BR Janice
2020 The Initiation Lillian Filming

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1990Father Dowling MysteriesConfirmation KidEpisode: "The Passionate Painter Mystery"
1998Sabrina, the Teenage WitchCheerleaderEpisode: "The Pom Pom Incident"
2007Destination TruthHerself/Translator3 episodes
2012FammGlammGazeldaEpisode: "Quality Control"
2012–2013American Horror Story: AsylumPepperSupporting role; 7 episodes
2014American Horror Story: Freak ShowSupporting role; 10 episodes
Halloween WarsHerselfEpisode: "The Haunted Farm"
2016Alley WayReagan7 episodes
Point SocietySojourner2 episodes
2017Hell's KitchenHerselfEpisode: "Leaving It on the Line"
2017–presentctrl alt delete LornaMain role
2018CasualTanyaEpisode: "All About You"
American Horror Story: ApocalypseSamantha Crowe2 episodes
2020Good GirlsDr. Amanda JohnsonEpisode: "Frere Jacques"

References
  1. Williams, Tenere. "Naomi Grossman: Actress - "I Could Be On A Desert Island with a Pen, Paper, a Camera, and YouTube and Be Happy"". Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  2. Renken, Charlotte (November 2, 2014). "Santa Fe Comic Con: Naomi Grossman "Play With Me! Inside American Horror Story"". Hush Comics. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  3. Hayne, Michael (October 24, 2014). "Naomi Grossman of "American Horror Story": "I've never been told I was so pretty until played the ugliest person on TV"". Salon. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  4. "American Horror Story : Season 2". Metacritic. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  5. Branch, Chris (December 12, 2014). "'American Horror Story' Star Naomi Grossman: Pepper Made Ryan Murphy Break His Own Rule". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
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