When Jenna Fischer’s character on The Office left her post as secretary of Dunder Mifflin in 2009, it seemed only fitting that another St. Louisan, Ellie Kemper, would replace her. Viewers liked the bubbly redhead so much that she found a permanent spot on the show. Then, as the sitcom’s seventh season began, Carrie Kemper—Ellie’s younger sister—joined the writing team. (In fact, Carrie wrote the most recent Halloween episode, in which Ellie played a prominent role.) But it all started years ago, at their house in Ladue, where they’d put on low-budget performances for their parents and anyone else who’d watch…
Ellie: One was called New Baby—these names are kind of self-explanatory. My brothers didn’t want to be in the plays, so we were always lacking male characters. I feel like it was kind of edgy, a single mom… Once we became able to use video cameras, we would make music videos or actual narratives: The Man Under the Stairs and then its sequel The Classic Conehead—these were horror movies. The stairs in our house weren’t finished yet, so we thought we should make a video where Carrie was this terrifying man who lived under our stairs.
Carrie: I was four years younger than this neighbor, Katie Purcell, who was basically like the Kimmy Gibbler from Full House of our family. She and Ellie, I was just like their lump of clay; I would do any role they asked me to do. I could always tell when the makeup was turning from attractive to just monstrous because Katie’s hand would start shaking because she was laughing…
In high school [at John Burroughs], I looked forward to the winter so much because that’s when these musicals would be in action… I played Smitty in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, but in the program, they listed me as Ellie Kemper. The acting teacher was sure to put all over the lobby, “The part of Smitty is played by Carrie Kemper.” … We were always such good friends. I definitely looked up to her—she was always in the plays.
Ellie: When [Jon Hamm, who was briefly on Burroughs’ faculty] taught theater, we had a few weeks of improv, and he taught that portion. I remember him saying this thing that I think is sort of the key to improv and maybe all of acting, which is just listen and then react. It’s so simple, but it gives you over to the scene, so you’re serving the whole scene and not just doing what you need to do. He was the person to say that. [Pause.] And he’s very handsome.
Carrie: Two years ago, a high-school friend and I threw a St. Louis–themed birthday party where we shipped T-ravs and Imo’s to L.A. We made an Arch out of gray balloons, and we put pictures of famous St. Louisans on the wall. As you can imagine, Jon Hamm was featured prominently.
Ellie: Last year, [the cast and crew of The Office] had this gooey butter bake-off, with Phyllis [Smith], Jenna [Fischer], me, and the assistant director, named Rusty [Mahmood], and Jenna won…
Growing up, I was always the director or producer of the plays, because I was the older one. Now I’m like, “Uh oh, Carrie’s in the writers’ room. I’d better be really nice to her!”
Carrie: It’s so fun to be on-set with [Ellie]…She will text me after a take and say, “Was that OK?” … It’s put me in such a place of power. She cannot mess with me anymore. [Laughs.]
