Erica Rhodes (born April 5, 1983) is an American actress and comedian. She has been performing on A Prairie Home Companion since the age of 13 and appeared in several movies and TV shows, including Plague Town, 1000 Ways to Die, and The Consultants. She has also guest-starred on New Girl, @midnight with Chris Hardwick, and Modern Family. She competed in the reality television comedy competition series Bring the Funny.
Early life Rhodes was born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts, the daughter of Kristina Nilsson and Dean Rhodes. Her mother, a native of Minnesota, is a former violinist who performed with the Boston Pops. Her maternal uncle (by marriage) is writer and radio personality Garrison Keillor. Rhodes's father was a professional clarinetist before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, after which he began working as a Certified Public Accountant. Her paternal grandfather was Jewish, and changed his surname from Rosenblum to Rhodes.
She attended Boston University College of Fine Arts and graduated from the Atlantic Theater Conservatory. Prior to establishing her career in acting and comedy, Rhodes worked at a medical marijuana clinic in Los Angeles.
Career Rhodes has been a frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion since her first appearance in 1996 where she initiated her recurring role as "The Conscience" of the host, Garrison Keillor. She appears on Keillor's 1997 Grammy-nominated album Garrison Keillor’s Comedy Theatre.
In 2008, Rhodes had a leading role in the independent horror film Plague Town.
Rhodes released her first comedy album, Sad Lemon, on June 29, 2019. The same year, she competed on the NBC comedy competition series Bring the Funny. In 2021, Rhodes released the comedy special La Vie en Rhodes, filmed outside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The same year, she voiced the character of Dotty on the animated Netflix series A Tale Dark & Grimm.
She released her second comedy album, Ladybug, in 2023. In 2024, Rhodes competed on the series America's Got Talent.
Podcast and radio appearances Rhodes appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor podcast on September 28, 2016. She also made an appearance in episode 74 of Maddox's podcast, "The Best Debate In The Universe," which aired on November 6, 2017.
She has made several appearances on The Adam Carolla Show, beginning in 2019.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 Cavities Smoking blonde Short film 2008 The Crack Down Girlfriend 2006 Great Performance 2008 Plague Town Jessica Monohan 2009 18 Year Old Virgin Angela 2009 The Watch Lisa Short film 2010 Go West Julie 2010 Blindsided Waitress Short film 2010 A Prairie Home Companion Live in HD! Again! Daisy Buchanan Television film 2011 Javatown Shannon 2011 Big Sky Liz 2011 Untitled MF 6: Bring the Rukus Summer 2011 The Memory Game Julia Short film 2011 The Theater Bizarre Cellist Segment: "Sweets"2011 The Rainy Days of Timothy Grey Sally Weathersby Short film2011 Killer Eye: Halloween Haunt Jenna2012 Waiting for Dracula Ophilia 2012 Posey Linda Short film; also producer2013 Long Live the Dead Robin Segment: "Dweezie" 2014 Play Nice June Tiara 2017 The Off Season Laurie 2018 The Dinner Party Bridget
Television Year Title Role Notes 2008 The World's Astonishing News Patricia Stallings 2004 FilmFakers Robowoman Episode: "The Mukashi Code" 2008 Downstairs Guys Sandy YouTube series 2008 Upstairs Girls Sandy YouTube series 2010 The Consultants Erika Lipton 2011 1000 Ways to Die Goddess Episode: "Apocalypse Harley" 2014 New Girl Wendy Episode: "Clavado En Un Bar" 2015 Suspense Jane Kimball Episode: "The Impulse" 2015 Why? with Hannibal Buress Dead Woman Episode: "Hannibal and Kate Plus 8" 2016 Modern Family Marianne Episode: "I Don't Know How She Does It" 2021 A Tale Dark & Grimm Dotty Netflix series; voice role 2024 America's Got Talent Herself Audition: July 2 2024 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Herself Stand up set
Comedy specials Year Title Notes 2021 La Vie en Rhodes
Discography 2019: Sad Lemon 2023: Ladybug
References
External links
Official website
Erica Rhodes Talent Page Erica Rhodes Biography