Good Morning, Miami

Background:

Seattle, Washington-born, Newport Beach, California-raised Constance Zimmer has steadily created a triumphant career as a working actress. Since her move to Los Angeles several years ago, she has acted constantly in plays, commercials, television and independent movies. Perhaps, she is most memorable for playing the lazy and burned-out assistant Penny in NBC’s comedy “Good Morning, Miami” (2002-2004), in which Zimmer’s deadpan performance earned the actress extensive acclaim. Other TV works include recurring roles in “Boston Legal” (2006), HBO’s “Entourage” (2005-2006), “Joan of Arcadia” (2004-2005), “The Fighting Fitzgeralds” (2001), “The Wayans Bros.” (1998), and a costarring role in ABC’s “In Justice” (2006). Some of her feature-film credits include the independent films Just Pray (2005), Home Room (2002), Spin Cycle (2000) and Warm Blooded Killers (1999). On stage, Zimmer took home a Dramalogue Award for her brilliant starring performance in a Los Angeles production of “Catholic School Girls.”

Off screen, Zimmer is a professional fundraiser for such charitable foundations as Tuesday’s Child, AIDS Project Los Angeles and The American Cinematheque. She has become a partner in the store opening of ‘House of Petro Zillia’ in Los Angeles. The beautiful player also makes handmade jewelry, greeting cards, candles and many other self-designed endeavors. She now resides in Eagle Rock, California.


Ex-Gymnast

Childhood and Family:

Constance Zimmer was born on October 11, 1970, in Seattle, Washington. She spent much of her early days at the Los Angeles district and wanted to become an actress after she got hooked on acting in high school. Upon high school graduation, she attended the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, and later studied the craft with famous trainers like Stella Adler and Arthur Mendoza. She was a gymnast until hitting puberty.

On her free time, Zimmer, enjoys hiking, gardening and photography. Also, she loves spending time with friends, having a book club, taking care of her dog and two cats as well as dreaming of opening her own store.


Chaos Theory

Career:

Constance Zimmer decided to chase an acting career after she fell in love with the craft as a high school student. She perfected her acting talent at Los Angeles’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts and later studied with the famous Arthur Mendoza and Stella Adler, which immediately led to gigs in local theater. Zimmer’s stage career was highlighted with her award-winning portrayal in a Los Angeles production of “Catholic School Girls,” where she won a Dramalogue for Best Actress.

Zimmer’s first opportunity to break television arrived when she appeared as a girl in line in the 1993 made-for-television film The Day My Parents Ran Away, which was followed by an episodic role in the series “Babylon 5” (1994). After starring in several national commercials, most notably for Duracell, she dedicated herself full-time to her acting career. She was then seen making guest appearances in such shows as the comedy “Ellen” (1997), the hits “Seinfeld” and “Beverly Hills, 90210” (both 1998), “Diagnosis Murder” (1998), “Felicity” (1998), “The King of Queens” (1998) and “Chicago Hope” (1999), as well as having recurring roles in “The Wayans Bros.” (1998) and “Hyperion Bay” (1998-1999). During that same period, Zimmer also made her first appearance on the big screen film as zestfully clean woman in the comedy Senseless (1998), starring Marlon Wayans and David Spade. A year later, she was cast as Vicky Portenza in Warm Blooded Killers, starring with Mick Murray.

A supporting role in the amusing short Spin Cycle was Zimmer’s opening work in the new millennium before she took on guest roles in the series “The X Files” (2000), “Rude Awakening” (2000), “Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction” (2000), “Gideon’s Crossing” (2001) and “FreakyLinks” (2001). She portrayed Beth in five episodes of the short-lived comedy “The Fighting Fitzgeralds” (2001) and Siobahn! Ross in three episodes of The WB’s “My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star” (2002). Additionally, she played Kyle in the action film Farewell, My Love (2001), Emily in Homeward Bound (2002, TV), Assistant Kelly in the indie movie Home Room (2002), and Cassie Tilman in Mystery Woman (2003, TV), along with Kellie Martin and Robert Wagner.

After a string of guest performances, Zimmer eventually booked her first TV series regular role on the NBC comedy show “Good Morning, Miami,” where she was cast as the sharp and burned-out office assistant Penny from 2002 until 2004. Her pokerfaced delivery of zingers received praise across the board. After the series left the airwaves, she spent the second season recurring as Sister Lilly Waters in the CBS “Joan of Arcadia” (2004-2005), as well as guest starred in episodes of “NYPD Blue” (2004) and “Jake in Progress” (2005). Also in 2005, she acted in the short Just Pray, which was accepted into the TriBeca film festival.

In early 2006, Zimmer could be seen working with Jason O’Mara, Kyle MacLachlan and Daniel Cosgrove in the ABC crime/drama series “In Justice.” There, she portrayed a zealous, devoted and competitive undergrad named Brianna. In the HBO show “Entourage,” starring Jeremy Piven and Kevin Connolly, the young performer had the recurring role of Dana Gordon, a gig she held from June 2005 to August 2006. More recently, she portrayed Claire Simms in several episodes of David E. Kelley show’s “Boston Legal” (2006), the spin off of “The Practice.”

36-year-old Zimmer has completed the comedy made-for-TV film 52 Fights (2006), costarring opposite Frank Crim, Chris Diamantopoulos, Matt Letscher and Christine Taylor. She is also scheduled to play a small role in the comedy/drama Chaos Theory (2006). The forthcoming film will star Lisa Calder, Sarah Chalke, Simon Chin, among others.


Awards:
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