Lauren Graham Biography / Pictures

Lauren Graham (born March 16, 1967) is an American actress and producer. Lauren Graham is best known for playing Lorelai Gilmore on the WB Network dramedy series Gilmore Girls and Sarah Braverman on Parenthood.

Biography

Lauren was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the daughter of Donna Grant, a fashion buyer, and Lawrence Graham, a candy industry lobbyist who is the current president for National Confectioners Association. Lauren Graham is of Irish descent and was raised Catholic. Graham's parents divorced when she was five, and Lauren moved to Washington, D.C., where her father became a congressional staffer. Lauren Graham traveled extensively with her father while growing up. While Lauren Graham was close with her dad, she recalls, “I think he thought I was an oddball, because I was very driven and ambitious.”

At a young age, Lauren rode horses competitively, but soon switched to acting. Lauren discovered acting while in elementary school and further honed her talent at Langley High School, where she took part in the drill team. Lauren quickly took to acting in community theatre and other small productions. Lauren Graham earned her actor's equity card in 1988 after two years in summer stock at the Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan. Lauren graduated from Barnard College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. After moving to Texas in 1992, Lauren Graham earned a Master of Fine Arts in Acting Performance from Southern Methodist University.

After completing her education, Lauren moved back to New York City where she became a waitress and aspiring actress, including her first paid work doing publicity appearances wearing the costume of Striker, the dog mascot of the US-based 1994 FIFA World Cup. In 1995, she relocated to Hollywood, California. Lauren Graham appeared in various commercials for products such as Dimetapp and Lean Cuisine and hosted free preview weekends on The Movie Channel.

In addition to her many guest starring and co-starring roles on prime-time television, Lauren starred in three failed sitcoms, including Townies (with Molly Ringwald and Jenna Elfman) and the short-lived sitcom Lush Life (with Lori Petty and Karyn Parsons). Between 1996 and 1997 Lauren became a regular guest star on several hit NBC shows. Lauren Graham played a graduate student who caught the eye of Dick on 3rd Rock from the Sun, Richard's dim-witted girlfriend on Caroline in the City, and Jerry's speed-dial ranking girlfriend on Seinfeld. Lauren Graham played a Hollywood producer who had a love interest in Rey Curtis in a three-part episode of Law & Order, where she acted opposite Scott Cohen, who would later play one of Graham's love interests, Max Medina, on Gilmore Girls. Lauren Graham also portrayed a villainous efficiency expert on Newsradio.

In 2000, Lauren landed her breakthrough role as Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls. For her work Lauren Graham received a nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series (Drama) at the 2001 Golden Globe Awards. Beginning with Season 7 episode "To Whom It May Concern" and continuing throughout the rest of the season, Lauren served as a producer on Gilmore Girls. TV Guide reported that she received the position in an attempt to persuade her to sign for an eighth season.

Lauren returned to her guest-starring roots when Lauren Graham portrayed herself in two episodes of NBC's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Lauren has also appeared on Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown, co-hosted by Dave Foley of Newsradio. After winning her preliminary match, she came in second to another former Newsradio star, Maura Tierney, in the championship game. On June 26, 2002, Lauren was the last guest interviewed by Rosie O'Donnell on her daytime talk show.

Graham's film roles encompass several NYU student films and multiple major studio releases, including Sweet November, Bad Santa, The Pacifier, Because I Said So, and Evan Almighty.

Lauren has said that she enjoys playing in short films, and acting in the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Lauren Graham has performed in numerous short films, including the 15-minute long Gnome, viewable on YouTube and the iTunes Store. In 2007, Lauren signed a seven-figure development deal with NBC in one of the year's richest TV talent pacts.

Lauren has also worked as the voiceover announcer in national advertising for Kellogg's various Special K products, and in American Express ads introducing the Plum Card, which is targeted towards small and growing businesses.

Lauren made her Broadway debut as Miss Adelaide in the revival of Guys and Dolls, which began preview performances at the Nederlander Theatre on February 5, 2009 and opened on March 1, 2009. Initial reviews for this performance have been mixed, but generally regard her fresh take on the character as a success. The production closed June 14, playing 113 shows and 28 previews.

It was announced in January 2009 that Lauren would star in the comedy pilot, The Bridget Show (previously Let It Go) for ABC playing a talk show host and self-help guru who fails to follow her own advice during a breakup. However, the pilot was not given a series order.

On October 9, 2009, it was announced that Lauren would replace Maura Tierney in the television series Parenthood as single mother Sarah Braverman. Tierney left the show to seek treatment for cancer. The series debuted on NBC the following year, and was later renewed for a second season.

In June 2010, it was confirmed that Lauren would star in the upcoming Scream 4, but Lauren Graham left the project on June 30, 2010.

Lauren is currently in a relationship with her Parenthood costar, Peter Krause. Lauren Graham and Krause play brother and sister on the show.