Maria Christina 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 lead role on the Adult Swim series Eagleheart (2011–2014), and a lead role as Abbey Logan on the comedy series Those Who Can't. She played the title role in the movie Night of the Living Deb.
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.In a 2016 interview with The Oregonian, Thayer states that she was born "in the hospital"—there is no hospital in Boring, and the nearest hospitals are in Multnomah County, Portland. Additionally, in a 2014 interview while on the set of Night of the Living Deb, she states "I'm from Portland, Oregon." During her childhood, the family relocated to Apple Valley, Minnesota, where she attended Apple Valley High School and was a member of the award-winning forensics program and the National Forensic League, as well as 1993 Homecoming Queen. She studied acting at The Juilliard School in New York.
Career In 2005, Thayer appeared in 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 love interest (who may be a distant relative). She also played Grace and Leo's daughter, Lila, 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 Cayton-Holland and Andrew Orvedahl (The Grawlix).
Personal life Thayer was previously engaged to actor David Harbour.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1999KimberlyLouise2001StorytellingAmySegment: "Fiction"ScratchShort film2005Strangers with CandyTamela "Tammi" LittlenutHitchLisa2006AcceptedRory Thayer2008Forgetting Sarah MarshallWyoma2009State of PlaySonia Baker2011Let GoBeth2015Night of the Living DebDeborah Clarington2017Table 19 Infamous Kate Milner
Television Year Title Role Notes1999–2000Strangers with CandyTamela "Tammi" Littlenut14 episodes2001Big AppleRosemary3 episodesTinaEpisode: "Herding Cats"2003Miss MatchChelsea GreerEpisode: "Pilot"Law & Order: Criminal IntentClaire BrodyEpisode: "A Murderer Among Us"2004Comedy LabJillEpisode: "12:21"2005Romancing the BrideKimmyTelevision film2006Will & GraceLailaEpisode: "The Finale"Jenny (voice)Episode: "Will Power"Nip/TuckTransplant ConsultantEpisode: "Burt Landau"Law & Order: Special Victims UnitHopeEpisode: "Infiltrated"2008Lipstick JungleCassidy3 episodes200930 RockJennifer RogersEpisode: "St. Valentine's Day"HouseAnnieEpisode: "Both Sides Now"2010Important Things with Demetri MartinEdithEpisode: "Strategy"Our ShowTelevision film2011Traffic LightEsmeEpisode: "Credit Balance"Harry's LawJulie CassidyEpisode: "Purple Hearts"Annie Claus is Coming to TownAnnie2011–2014EagleheartSusie Wagner24 episodes2012LouieRental Car LadyEpisode: "Dad"New GirlAmeliaEpisode: "Halloween"2013Cougar TownLisa Riggs3 episodesPortlandiaEpisode: "Nina's Birthday"Family ToolsWendy DoyleEpisode: "Now You See Me, Now You Don't"MaronMeganEpisode: "Dominatrix"Arrested DevelopmentTracey BluthEpisode: "It Gets Better"2014ReviewElizaEpisode: "Marry; Run; Party"American Dad!Nun (voice)Episode: "Cock of the Sleepwalk"DadsMariaEpisode: "Baby Face"Men at WorkBridgetEpisode: "Molly" 2014–2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Monica Dubinsky / Marissa Price 4 episodes 2014 Mulaney The Doula Episode: "The Doula" The League Cheryl 2 episodes 2015 Man Seeking Woman Maude Episode: "Dram" Kroll Show Duchess Tina Episode: "The Time of My Life" Difficult People Nicole Episode: "The Courage of a Soldier" Gotham Scottie Mullen 2 episodes Married Kristi Episode: "Gymnastics" 2016-2019 Those Who Can't Abbey Logan 3 seasons 2016 The Mindy Project Courtney 3 episodes 2017 The Catch Gretchen Episode: "The Knock-Off" Brooklyn Nine-Nine Jean Munhroe Episode: "The Venue" 2018 Robot Chicken Julia Child, Helen, Woman (voice) Episode: "Why Is It Wet?" 2020 Robot Chicken Rita Repulsa, Jeffrey's Mom, Bird (voice) Episode: "Sundancer Craig in: 30% of the Way to Crying" A.P. Bio Molly Episode: "Get Hoppy” 2021 Superstore Hannah 4 episodes 2026 St. Denis Medical Carolyn Episode: "You're in His Bubble Space"
Music videos Year Artist Title Role 2011 Hospitality "Friends of Friends" Friend in Glasses 2012 Nick Lowe "Sensitive Man" Girlfriend
Stage Year Title Role Notes2002Necessary TargetsNunaVariety Arts TheatreEndpapersSara MaynardVariety Arts Theatre2012UnscreenedStranger in the ParkElephant Theatre Company2013Love's Labour's LostRosalineDelacorte Theater
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