History of Jenna Fischer in Timeline
"Jenna Fischer, born Regina Marie Kirk, is an American actress widely recognized for her portrayal of Pam Beesly in the acclaimed NBC sitcom 'The Office.' Her performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2007. Fischer also contributed as a producer for the show's final season."
March 7, 1974: Birth of Jenna Fischer
Jenna Fischer was born on March 7, 1974 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
1998: Move to Los Angeles and Theatre Work
In 1998, Jenna Fischer moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and began performing Commedia dell'arte with the Zoo District Theatre Company. Her performance in their musical adaptation of "Nosferatu" caught the attention of a talent agent.
October 7, 2000: Marriage to James Gunn
On October 7, 2000, Jenna Fischer married filmmaker James Gunn. This marked the beginning of their marriage, which lasted until their separation in 2007.
2001: First Televised Speaking Role
Jenna Fischer landed her first televised speaking role in 2001, playing a waitress on the TV sitcom "Spin City." This marked a significant step forward in her acting career.
November 2004: Premiere of "LolliLove" at the St. Louis International Film Festival
"LolliLove," a film directed by and starring Jenna Fischer and her then-husband James Gunn, premiered at the St. Louis International Film Festival in November 2004. Despite the film's positive reception, Fischer found the experience of directing and starring in the film to be overwhelming and decided to focus primarily on acting in the future.
April 2005: Jenna Fischer Discusses Her Role in "The Office"
In an April 2005 interview, Jenna Fischer expressed her desire to continue playing the role of Pam Beesly in "The Office" for a long time, highlighting her connection to the character and her enjoyment of working on the show.
2006: Various Acting Roles
Jenna Fischer appeared on Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown," starred in Willie Wisely's music video for "Through Any Window," and appeared in episode 25 of the serialized play "Darque Magick" in 2006.
March 2007: "Sad Happy Sucker" Theatre Workshop
"Sad Happy Sucker," the play written by Jenna Fischer's husband Lee Kirk, had a theatre workshop run in February and March 2007.
September 2007: Separation from James Gunn
In September 2007, Jenna Fischer and James Gunn announced their separation. This event marked the end of their marital relationship, which began in 2000.
2007: Primetime Emmy Award Nomination
Jenna Fischer's performance as Pam Beesly in "The Office" earned her a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2007.
2007: Supporting Roles in Feature Films
Jenna Fischer took on supporting roles in three feature films in 2007: "The Brothers Solomon," "Blades of Glory," and "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story."
January 2008: Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
The cast of "The Office," including Jenna Fischer, won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in January 2008. Fischer, chosen to deliver the acceptance speech, expressed the cast's gratitude and acknowledged the challenges many of them faced as actors before the show's success.
2008: Divorce from James Gunn
In 2008, Jenna Fischer and James Gunn finalized their divorce, concluding their marriage which began in 2000.
2008: Hosting Kitten Rescue's Fur Ball Gala
In 2008, Jenna Fischer hosted Kitten Rescue's annual Fur Ball Gala, demonstrating her commitment to animal welfare and involvement with local rescue organizations.
2008: Co-stars in "The Promotion"
Jenna Fischer co-starred with John C. Reilly in the 2008 film "The Promotion," marking their second collaboration after "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story."
June 2009: Engagement to Lee Kirk
In June 2009, Jenna Fischer's engagement to filmmaker Lee Kirk was announced. The couple met and developed their relationship while working together on the film The Giant Mechanical Man.
July 2009: Participates in Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game
In July 2009, Jenna Fischer showcased her athleticism by playing left field for the National League team in the Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game during the MLB All-Star Week festivities in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
2009: Hosting Kitten Rescue's Fur Ball Gala
In 2009, Jenna Fischer continued her support for animal welfare by hosting Kitten Rescue's annual Fur Ball Gala, highlighting her ongoing dedication to rescue efforts.
2009: Jenna Fischer Discusses Playing Pam Beesly
In 2009, Jenna Fischer spoke about her deep attachment to playing the character of Pam Beesly on "The Office," emphasizing her love for portraying the character's journey.
March 2010: Co-chairs Fundraiser Auction for Nerinx Hall High School
Jenna Fischer returned to her alma mater, Nerinx Hall High School, in March 2010 to co-chair an annual fundraiser auction, where she auctioned off a set visit to "The Office" and autographed props from the show.
March 2010: Lee Kirk's cameo on The Office
In March 2010, Lee Kirk made a cameo appearance on The Office as Clark, a male lactation consultant. This appearance highlighted his connection to the show where Jenna Fischer played a significant role.
July 3, 2010: Marriage to Lee Kirk
On July 3, 2010, Jenna Fischer married filmmaker Lee Kirk. The wedding was officiated by their friend Jeff Probst, and marked a significant personal milestone for Fischer.
October 2010: Producer for "Sad Happy Sucker"
Jenna Fischer served as a producer for the critically acclaimed play "Sad Happy Sucker," written by her husband Lee Kirk, during its run from mid-August to October 2010.
2010: Role in Gunn's film Super
In 2010, Jenna Fischer played a role in casting Rainn Wilson, her co-star from The Office, in James Gunn's film Super, showcasing her involvement in the film industry beyond acting.
2010: Hosting Kitten Rescue's Fur Ball Gala
In 2010, Jenna Fischer once again hosted Kitten Rescue's annual Fur Ball Gala, further showcasing her passion for animal welfare and support for rescue initiatives.
February 2011: Release of "Hall Pass"
The Farrelly brothers comedy "Hall Pass," featuring Jenna Fischer, was released in February 2011.
May 2011: Pregnancy announcement
In May 2011, Jenna Fischer announced her pregnancy with her first child with Lee Kirk. This announcement coincided with her character's pregnancy on The Office.
September 2011: Birth of first child
In September 2011, Jenna Fischer gave birth to her first child, a son, with Lee Kirk. This marked an important personal event for the couple.
April 2012: Premiere of The Giant Mechanical Man
In April 2012, The Giant Mechanical Man, a film written and directed by Lee Kirk and starring Jenna Fischer, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The event highlighted their creative collaboration.
June 2013: Stars in "Reasons to Be Happy" Off-Broadway
Following the conclusion of "The Office," Jenna Fischer starred in Neil LaBute's off-Broadway play "Reasons to Be Happy," which ran from May to June 2013.
May 2014: Birth of second child
In May 2014, Jenna Fischer and Lee Kirk welcomed their second child, a daughter, expanding their family.
September 18, 2016: Stars in "Meteor Shower" at the Old Globe Theatre
From July 30 to September 18, 2016, Jenna Fischer starred in the world premiere of Steve Martin's comedy "Meteor Shower" at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California.
November 2017: Publication of "The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide"
In November 2017, Jenna Fischer's first book, "The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide," was published, offering advice and insights from her experiences in the entertainment industry.
April 2018: Jenna Fischer's Wardrobe Malfunction on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
Jenna Fischer handled a wardrobe malfunction with humor when the zipper on her dress broke before an interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in April 2018. She appeared on stage in a towel and jeans, making light of the situation.
September 11, 2019: Announcement of Office Ladies podcast
On September 11, 2019, Jenna Fischer announced that she and Angela Kinsey would co-host a weekly The Office rewatch podcast called Office Ladies. The announcement marked the start of a new venture for the duo, promising insights and stories from their time on the show.
October 16, 2019: Premiere of Office Ladies podcast
The Office Ladies podcast premiered on October 16, 2019. This first episode marked the beginning of a popular rewatch podcast hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, featuring guests like John Krasinski and Rainn Wilson.
2019: Co-hosts "Office Ladies" Podcast
In 2019, Jenna Fischer began co-hosting the "Office Ladies" podcast, which quickly gained popularity among fans of "The Office."
January 21, 2021: Office Ladies wins Podcast of the Year
On January 21, 2021, the Office Ladies podcast, hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, was honored with the iHeartRadio Podcast of the Year Award, recognizing its popularity and impact.
February 2021: Announcement of The Office BFFs book
In February 2021, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey announced their upcoming book, 'The Office BFFs'. The book promises to offer insights and anecdotes from their time on The Office, reflecting their close friendship.
May 17, 2022: Publication of The Office BFFs book
On May 17, 2022, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey's book, 'The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There', was published. The book contains stories and photos from their time on The Office, celebrating their friendship and experiences.
February 28, 2023: Casting in Mean Girls film adaptation
On February 28, 2023, Jenna Fischer was announced to play the role of Mrs. Heron in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Mean Girls, which is based on the 2004 film.
October 2024: Announcement of new phase for Office Ladies
In October 2024, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey announced the next phase of their podcast Office Ladies. They plan to expand to a twice-a-week format and introduce a new podcast called 'Second Drink' with additional content and interviews.
October 2024: Revealing breast cancer diagnosis
In October 2024, Jenna Fischer revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer a year earlier. She shared that she was now cancer-free after undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and a lumpectomy.