{{short description|American actress, writer, and producer}} {{Infobox person | name = Naomi Grossman | image = Naomi Grossman at PaleyFest 2013.jpg | caption = Grossman at PaleyFest 2013 for ''American Horror Story: Asylum'' | birth_name = | birth_place = Denver, Colorado, U.S. | birth_date = <!-- Valid citation required for date of birth for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> | alma_mater = Northwestern University | occupation = {{Flatlist| *Actress *writer *producer}} | years_active = 1990–present | website = {{URL|www.naomigrossman.net}} }} '''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.<ref name="TW">{{cite web|url=http://www.tenerewilliams.com/naomi-grossman-actress-i-could-be-on-a-desert-island-with-a-pen-paper-a-camera-and-youtube-and-be-happy/|title=Naomi Grossman: Actress - "I Could Be On A Desert Island with a Pen, Paper, a Camera, and YouTube and Be Happy"|last=Williams|first=Tenere|accessdate=January 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013144659/http://www.tenerewilliams.com/naomi-grossman-actress-i-could-be-on-a-desert-island-with-a-pen-paper-a-camera-and-youtube-and-be-happy/|archive-date=October 13, 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hushcomics.com/2014/11/02/santa-fe-comic-con-naomi-grossman-play-with-me-inside-american-horror-story/|title=Santa Fe Comic Con: Naomi Grossman "Play With Me! Inside American Horror Story"|last=Renken|first=Charlotte|date=November 2, 2014|work=Hush Comics|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Salon">{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2014/10/24/naomi_grossman_of_american_horror_story_ive_never_been_told_i_was_so_pretty_until_played_the_ugliest_person_on_tv/|title=Naomi Grossman of "American Horror Story": "I've never been told I was so pretty until played the ugliest person on TV"|last=Hayne|first=Michael|date=October 24, 2014|work=Salon|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Grossman writes and produces and has cited Lily Tomlin, Tracey Ullman, Gilda Radner and Carol Burnett as inspirations.<ref name="TW"/>
==Career== Grossman began her career in 1990 with minor television roles, along with commercial and theatre appearances.<ref name="TW"/>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/american-horror-story/season-2|title=American Horror Story : Season 2|work=Metacritic|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> In preparation for the role, she shaved her head bald.<ref name="Salon"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/12/american-horror-story-pepper-connected_n_6315626.html|title='American Horror Story' Star Naomi Grossman: Pepper Made Ryan Murphy Break His Own Rule|last=Branch|first=Chris|date=December 12, 2014|work=The Huffington Post|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> She performed her monologue life story focusing on her failed relationships, ""American Whore Story"" at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2024.
==Filmography== ===Film=== <!-- Please note: do NOT use "rowspans" per WP:FILMOGRAPHY -->
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |1999 |''She's All That'' |Extra (uncredited) | |- | 2000 | ''Marisa, Where Art Thou?'' | Wendy | rowspan=5|Short film |- | 2005 | ''Over the Shoulder'' | Goth Girl |- | rowspan=2|2007 | ''Bubbles'' | Mama |- | ''Wacky Spoof Commercials'' | People's Bank Gal 2 |- | rowspan=2|2008 | ''Yes'' | Bonnie |- | ''Men at Work'' | Woman | |- | rowspan=8|2009 | ''Represent'' | Shania | Short film |- | ''Table for Three'' | Actress | |- | ''The Hollywood Housesitter'' | Waitress | rowspan=5|Short film |- | ''My Boyfriend Is a Blimp'' | Suzy |- | ''Jesus's Secretary'' | Mary |- | ''Hot Yoga'' | Amani |- | ''Food Poisoning'' | Naomi |- | ''Burka Girls Gone Wild'' | Unknown | |- | rowspan=2|2010 | ''Random Chapters in the Life of Some Guy'' | Wife | rowspan=2|Short film |- | ''Paradrunken Activity'' | Katie |- | rowspan=2|2011 | ''Chubduction'' | Hilary Q. | |- | ''Teat the Parents'' | Girlfriend | Short film |- | rowspan=2|2012 | ''Kev Jumba Dances with the Stars!'' | Dot | |- | ''Touch My Junk'' | Traveler | rowspan=2|Short film |- | rowspan=2|2013 | ''Bakersfield, Earth'' | Unknown |- | ''Rip'' | Bella Tiavas | Stylized as ''#RIP'' |- | 2014 | ''Just Me and All of You'' | Katrina | Short film |- | rowspan=2|2016 | ''Fear, Inc.'' | Cat | |- | ''The Chair'' | Mother | |- | rowspan=2|2017 | ''An Accidental Zombie (Named Ted)'' | Carrie | |- | ''Drifting'' | | Short film |- | rowspan=3|2018 | ''Painkillers'' | Nurse Sheralyn | |- | ''Sleep Away '' | Mrs. Sturridge | |- | ''Short Straw '' | Jolene | |- | rowspan=3|2019 | ''Bite Me'' | Chrissy | |- | ''The Lurker'' | Grace Fisher | |- | ''1BR '' | Janice | |- | rowspan="2" | 2020 | ''The Initiation'' | Lillian | Filming |- |''Sky Sharks'' |Natalie Rochefort | |- | 2024 | ''Hauntology'' | Annalisa Drouais | |- |2025 | ''Him'' | Marjorie | |}
===Television=== <!-- Please note: do NOT use "rowspans" per WP:FILMOGRAPHY -->
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! 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'' || rowspan=2|Pepper || Supporting role; 7 episodes |- | rowspan=2|2014 || ''American Horror Story: Freak Show'' || Supporting role; 10 episodes |- | ''Halloween Wars'' || Herself || Episode: "The Haunted Farm" |- | rowspan=2|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 role |- | rowspan=2|2018 || ''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" |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1303594}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grossman, Naomi}} Category:21st-century American actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Northwestern University School of Communication alumni Category:Actresses from Denver Category:20th-century American actresses Category:American film actresses Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)