Naomi Grossman 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.
Early life Grossman was born in Denver, Colorado. In her early life, she performed in community theatre shows. She received a lot of attention at Ponderosa High School, in Parker, Colorado, at their theatre program. 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. 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. Grossman writes and produces and has cited Lily Tomlin, Tracey Ullman, Gilda Radner and Carol Burnett as inspirations.
Career Grossman began her career in 1990 with minor television roles, along with commercial and theatre appearances.
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. In preparation for the role, she shaved her head bald. 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. She performed her monologue life story focusing on her failed relationships, ""American Whore Story"" at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2024.
Filmography Film
Year Title Role Notes1999She's All ThatExtra (uncredited) 2000 Marisa, Where Art Thou? WendyShort film 2005 Over the Shoulder Goth Girl2007 Bubbles Mama Wacky Spoof Commercials People's Bank Gal 22008 Yes Bonnie Men at Work Woman 2009 Represent Shania Short film Table for Three Actress The Hollywood Housesitter WaitressShort 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 WifeShort film Paradrunken Activity Katie2011 Chubduction Hilary Q. Teat the Parents Girlfriend Short film2012 Kev Jumba Dances with the Stars! Dot Touch My Junk TravelerShort film2013 Bakersfield, Earth Unknown Rip Bella Tiavas Stylized as #RIP 2014 Just Me and All of You Katrina Short film2016 Fear, Inc. Cat The Chair Mother2017 An Accidental Zombie (Named Ted) Carrie Drifting Short film2018 Painkillers Nurse Sheralyn Sleep Away Mrs. Sturridge Short Straw Jolene2019 Bite Me Chrissy The Lurker Grace Fisher 1BR Janice 2020 The Initiation Lillian FilmingSky SharksNatalie Rochefort 2024 Hauntology Annalisa Drouais2025 Him Marjorie
Television
Year Title Role Notes 1990 Father Dowling Mysteries Confirmation Kid Episode: "The Passionate Painter Mystery" 1998 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Cheerleader Episode: "The Pom Pom Incident" 2007 Destination Truth Herself/Translator 3 episodes 2012 FammGlamm Gazelda Episode: "Quality Control" 2012–2013 American Horror Story: Asylum Pepper Supporting role; 7 episodes2014 American Horror Story: Freak Show Supporting role; 10 episodes Halloween Wars Herself Episode: "The Haunted Farm"2016 Alley Way Reagan 7 episodes Point Society Sojourner 2 episodes 2017 Hell's Kitchen Herself Episode: "Leaving It on the Line" 2017–2019 ctrl alt delete Lorna Main role2018 Casual Tanya Episode: "All About You" American Horror Story: Apocalypse Samantha Crowe 2 episodes 2020 Good Girls Dr. Amanda Johnson Episode: "Frere Jacques" 2021 American Horror Stories Rabid Ruth Episode: "Drive In" 2022 Painted with Raven Herself (guest judge) Episode: "Shock It to Me"
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