Grace Helbig
Encyclopedia
Grace Anne Helbig is an American comedienne, actress and internet personality. She is best known for creating the My Damn Channel
web series Daily Grace and as a correspondent on Attack of the Show!
on the G4 network.
. Her parents are John and Theresa Helbig (now McGinnis). She has an older brother, John, and a younger brother, Timothy. Her parents divorced when she was about three years old. From her parents' remarriages, Helbig has a stepfather, Bill, and a stepmother, Maureen. She attended Gateway Regional High School in Woodbury Heights, New Jersey
, where she played on the varsity tennis team.
in Mahwah, NJ. It was there that she met her friend and creative partner, Michelle Vargas. During her college years, she took improv classes at the People's Improv Theater in New York City
. She started her first improv and sketch comedy groups with some of her college friends. She was a semi-finalist in the 2005 Miss New Jersey USA
beauty pageant.
with her friend Michelle Vargas and they documented their experience in vlog form. In late 2007, Helbig and Vargas moved to Brooklyn
where they lived and vlogged together for a year and a half. As of 2011, they no longer live together, but still reside in Brooklyn and continue to create vlogs together for their Grace n' Michelle channel on YouTube.
, which consisted of adult-oriented, inappropriate renditions of classic fairy tales. My Damn Channel founder and CEO Rob Barnett
came across her personal vlogs and offered her the opportunity to host a vlog on My Damn Channel. This became Daily Grace, a video blog web series with new episodes published every weekday. Initially, Daily Graces primary purpose was to promote other web series on My Damn Channel, but it soon became its own brand of entertainment created entirely by Helbig herself with a high degree of creative freedom. In October of 2010, Daily Grace began publishing to YouTube in addition to My Damn Channel. As of November 2011, Daily Grace has over 94,000 subscribers and 12 million video views on YouTube. Since the series' inception in 2008, Helbig has created approximately 900 videos, as of November 2011.
TV series Michael and Michael Have Issues starring Michael Showalter
and Michael Ian Black
.
During 2010–2011, she made several appearances as process server Byran McElderry's assistant Grace on the TruTV show All Worked Up.
In December 2010, Helbig appeared as an extra in a sketch on Late Show With David Letterman
.
Since spring of 2011, Helbig has appeared on Attack of the Show!
on the G4 network as both a co-host and a correspondent.
My Damn Channel
My Damn Channel is an entertainment website.- History :My Damn Channel was founded by Rob Barnett. It launched July 31, 2007.Named one of the 50 Best Websites of 2011 by TIME Magazine...
web series Daily Grace and as a correspondent on Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show! is an American live television program shown weeknights on G4, G4 Canada and Fuel TV in Australia. The program is hosted by Kevin Pereira and Candace Bailey...
on the G4 network.
Early life
Helbig was born and raised in South JerseySouth Jersey
South Jersey comprises the southern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the lower Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. The designation is a colloquial one, reflecting not only geographical but perceived cultural differences from the northern part of the state, with no official...
. Her parents are John and Theresa Helbig (now McGinnis). She has an older brother, John, and a younger brother, Timothy. Her parents divorced when she was about three years old. From her parents' remarriages, Helbig has a stepfather, Bill, and a stepmother, Maureen. She attended Gateway Regional High School in Woodbury Heights, New Jersey
Woodbury Heights, New Jersey
Woodbury Heights is a Borough located in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 census, the borough had a total population of 2,988....
, where she played on the varsity tennis team.
College
In 2003, Helbig began studying at Ramapo CollegeRamapo College
Ramapo College of New Jersey is a public liberal arts and professional studies institution of the New Jersey system of higher education.- Location :...
in Mahwah, NJ. It was there that she met her friend and creative partner, Michelle Vargas. During her college years, she took improv classes at the People's Improv Theater in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She started her first improv and sketch comedy groups with some of her college friends. She was a semi-finalist in the 2005 Miss New Jersey USA
Miss New Jersey USA
The Miss New Jersey USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New Jersey in the Miss USA pageant.New Jersey has had only moderate success at Miss USA, and has never produced a winner. New Jersey's best streak was from 1989 to 1991 when they had two 2nd...
beauty pageant.
Post-college
After graduating college with a BA in Contemporary Arts in 2007, Helbig began house sittingHouse sitting
House sitting is the practice whereby a landlord , leaving their house for a period of time, entrusts it to one or more "house sitters", who by a mutual agreement are entitled to live there rent-free in exchange for assuming responsibilities such as taking care of the homeowner's pets, performing...
with her friend Michelle Vargas and they documented their experience in vlog form. In late 2007, Helbig and Vargas moved to Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
where they lived and vlogged together for a year and a half. As of 2011, they no longer live together, but still reside in Brooklyn and continue to create vlogs together for their Grace n' Michelle channel on YouTube.
My Damn Channel and Daily Grace
In early 2008, Helbig narrated the short-lived web series, Bedtime Stories on My Damn ChannelMy Damn Channel
My Damn Channel is an entertainment website.- History :My Damn Channel was founded by Rob Barnett. It launched July 31, 2007.Named one of the 50 Best Websites of 2011 by TIME Magazine...
, which consisted of adult-oriented, inappropriate renditions of classic fairy tales. My Damn Channel founder and CEO Rob Barnett
Rob Barnett
Rob Barnett is the Founder & CEO of the entertainment studio and distributor of videos, My Damn Channel. Previously, Barnett has worked as a producer, programmer, and media executive in film, television, and radio.-Professional life:...
came across her personal vlogs and offered her the opportunity to host a vlog on My Damn Channel. This became Daily Grace, a video blog web series with new episodes published every weekday. Initially, Daily Graces primary purpose was to promote other web series on My Damn Channel, but it soon became its own brand of entertainment created entirely by Helbig herself with a high degree of creative freedom. In October of 2010, Daily Grace began publishing to YouTube in addition to My Damn Channel. As of November 2011, Daily Grace has over 94,000 subscribers and 12 million video views on YouTube. Since the series' inception in 2008, Helbig has created approximately 900 videos, as of November 2011.
TV work
In 2009, Helbig played a supporting role in an episode of the short-lived Comedy CentralComedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
TV series Michael and Michael Have Issues starring Michael Showalter
Michael Showalter
Michael English Showalter is an American comedian, actor, writer, and director. He is a member of the sketch comedy trio Stella. Showalter first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's The State, which aired from 1993 to 1995...
and Michael Ian Black
Michael Ian Black
Michael Ian Black is an American comedian, actor, writer and director. He has starred in several TV comedy series, including The State, Ed, Viva Variety, Stella and Michael & Michael Have Issues. He is also a prominent poker player, appearing on Celebrity Poker Showdown several times...
.
During 2010–2011, she made several appearances as process server Byran McElderry's assistant Grace on the TruTV show All Worked Up.
In December 2010, Helbig appeared as an extra in a sketch on Late Show With David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
.
Since spring of 2011, Helbig has appeared on Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show! is an American live television program shown weeknights on G4, G4 Canada and Fuel TV in Australia. The program is hosted by Kevin Pereira and Candace Bailey...
on the G4 network as both a co-host and a correspondent.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Michael and Michael Have Issues | Anna | Appears in Episode 5, "College" |
| 2010 | Late Show With David Letterman Late Show with David Letterman Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is... |
Unnamed Extra | Season 18, Episode 51, "Joe Grossman's Geopolitical Insights & Analysis" |
| 2010–2011 | All Worked Up | Grace | Plays process server Byran McElderry's assistant in a few episodes. |
| 2011–present | Attack of the Show! Attack of the Show! Attack of the Show! is an American live television program shown weeknights on G4, G4 Canada and Fuel TV in Australia. The program is hosted by Kevin Pereira and Candace Bailey... |
Herself | Interviewer, field reporter, occasional host of "The Feed", guest co-host |
People's Improv Theater
Helbig performs every Wednesday at the People's Improv Theater in New York City with her improv group Borealis. On the third Friday of every month, she co-hosts the live late night stage show Morning Show with Jacob "Hobart" Brown.You Deserve a Drink
Helbig shoots and edits the web series You Deserve a Drink in collaboration with her friend Mamrie Hart.Action Pals
Helbig is co-founder of the production company Action Pals, which specializes in comedy and new media.External links
Interviews, Biographies
- Grace Helbig's biography at The People's improv theater
- Interview with Stated Magazine
- Brief autobiography, Interview with The Rise To The Top
- Audio interview with The People's improv theater PITCast
- Grace Helbig is interviewed for Inside the Actor's Studio Apartment
- UGO:Who Are The Sexiest Geek Girls of the Internet?
- Audio interview with Rob Stern on Overload The Machine
- Milk of Minutia audio interview with Grace Helbig (interview begins at approximately 11:25)