Rachael Harris

Rachael Harris (born January 12, 1968) is an American actress and comedian. The accolades she has received include nominations for an Independent Spirit Award and a Saturn Award.

In film, Harris has had lead roles as Susan Heffley in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series (2010–2012) and Linda White in Natural Selection (2011). She has also had notable supporting roles in For Your Consideration (2006), The Hangover (2009), Bad Words (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014), Old Dads (2023), and Mother of the Bride (2024).

In television, Harris has had main cast roles as Cooper on the ABC sitcom Notes from the Underbelly (2007–2008), Joanne Dunlevy on the Fox sitcom Surviving Jack (2014), Dr. Linda Martin on the Fox and Netflix fantasy series Lucifer (2016–2021), and Nora on season 1 of the Disney+ and Hulu horror series Goosebumps (2023). She had a recurring role as Sheila Sazs on the USA Network series Suits (2012–2019).

Early life, family and education

Harris was born in Worthington, Ohio. She graduated from Worthington High School in 1986. Her first award in the arts came during a first grade talent show, performing "Please Mr. Postman" by the Carpenters, winning the talent show with the performance due to her brother stuffing the ballot box.

While attending Otterbein College, Harris acted onstage in dramas such as 'night, Mother and The Cherry Orchard. A professor recommended Harris perform comedy instead of drama. Initially, she resisted; her intent was to be a stage actress.

After college, Harris moved to New York City and secured a commercial agent. She worked as a hostess at restaurants along Broadway and the Upper East Side. Working with the Groundlings helped for mockumentary screenwriter and director Christopher Guest to notice Harris. She had a stint as a correspondent for The Daily Show's 2002–2003 season which was considered a breakout role for her into comedy. She was also in Monk, Kicking & Screaming, and commercials for Quaker Oats and T-Mobile.

Harris had guest roles on The Sarah Silverman Program in 2007 and 2008 and played Cooper in the ABC sitcom Notes from the Underbelly from 2007–2010. In 2008, she acted in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Desperate Housewives.

In 2009 Harris had a role in the comedy The Hangover, playing Melissa, the domineering, abusive girlfriend to Ed Helms's character Stu. She also made an appearance on ABC's Cougar Town, playing Shanna, a woman who was the "nemesis" of Jules.

In 2010 she was in The Good Guys, a Super Bowl commercial for the 2010 Census, and Off-Broadway, she performed in Love, Loss, and What I Wore. From 2010–2012, she played Susan Heffley in the original Diary of a Wimpy Kid film trilogy. On ABC, she made a guest appearance in the Modern Family 2011 episode "Caught in the Act" as Amelia, a restaurateur and mother to a playmate of Lily Pritchett. She appeared in Suits from 2012–2019 as Sheila Sazs, Louis Litt's on-and-off again love interest. She was in an episode of The Office in 2013.

In March 2014, Harris began a new role in the series Surviving Jack with Chris Meloni. In March 2015, Harris was cast as Linda, Lucifer's therapist in the Netflix original series Lucifer.

In 2018, Harris appeared alongside Cheryl Hines on the reality TV series Hell's Kitchen. They both sat at the blue team's chef's table in the episode "Hell Freezes Over".

Personal life Harris was married to actor Adam Paul from 2003 to 2008.

Harris and violinist Christian Hebel married on April 30, 2015. They have two sons, born in 2016 and 2018. Harris filed for divorce from Hebel in 2019.

Filmography

Film + Film Year Title Role Notes 1992Treehouse Trolls Treehouse MomFirst acting role, VHS Video 1996 The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson Fornaio Waitress #2 2000 Best in Show Winky's Party Guest 2002 Showtime Teacher Stuart Little 2 Additional voices 2003 A Mighty Wind Steinbloom's Assistant Daddy Day Care Co-Worker Elaine The Haunted Mansion Mrs. Coleman 2004 Starsky & Hutch Mrs. Feldman's Friend After the Sunset June 2005 Kicking & Screaming Ann Hogan 2006 For Your Consideration Debbie Gilchrist 2007 Matters of Life and Dating Carla License to Wed Janine Evan Almighty Ark Reporter 2009 The Hangover Melissa The Soloist Leslie Bloom 2010 Diary of a Wimpy Kid Susan Heffley 2011 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Natural Selection Linda 2012 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days Susan Heffley Wreck-It Ralph Deanna Voice 2013 Bad Words Eric Tai's Mother 2014 Lovesick Roberta Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb Madeline Phelps 2015 Barely Lethal Mrs. Larson Freaks of Nature Mrs. Mosely 2016 Brother Nature Aunt Pam 2019 International Falls Dee 2023 Old Dads Dr. Lois Shmieckel-Turner 2024 Unfrosted Anna Cabana Mother of the Bride Janice

Television

Awards and nominations