Heather Juergensen
Encyclopedia
Heather Julia Juergensen (born January 2, 1970) is an American
actress and writer
.
in 1987. Soon after, she began writing and performing for the stage in both New York
and Los Angeles
. Early on she was cast to co-star opposite Frank Vincent
in the independent film The Afterlife of Grandpa, but turned it down to study psychology
at McGill University
.
While at an acting and writing workshop sponsored by New York's Ensemble Studio Theater, she collaborated with Jennifer Westfeldt
in writing a series of scenes produced off-Broadway under the name "Lipschtick". The response to one of the scenes inspired them to write a film script about two straight women who fall into a romantic relationship. The film was developed by a studio but not produced. They held script readings and sold shares to buy back the script rights and pay for the film's production. The result was the award-winning film Kissing Jessica Stein
.
She has written screenplay
s/teleplays for Miramax, Warner Brothers, ABC
, VH-1 and CBS
, among others. Her first foray into writing for herself as an actress was her 1996 one-woman show Letters to Ben Stein, an imaginary tale of an epistolary romance with the actor/economist.
She contributed to the Tarcher/Penguin book The May Queen, a collection of essays exploring issues and experiences relevant to women in their thirties. Juergensen's film work has been honored at the Chicago International Film Festival
, the Miami International Film Festival
, and the Indie Spirit Awards. Her acting credits include roles in Red Roses and Petrol and Haunted Mansion
.
She has directed, written, and starred in a short film called The Suzy Prophecy. In addition, she is currently working on the script for a sports comedy set in the world of girls' track and shot. She appeared in The Hammer
, a boxing
comedy starring Adam Carolla
, which Carolla and her husband co-wrote.
section of Los Angeles with her husband, Fox Sports
' columnist and comedy writer Kevin Hench
, and their two dogs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Life and career
Juergensen was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Stuyvesant High SchoolStuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School , commonly referred to as Stuy , is a New York City public high school that specializes in mathematics and science. The school opened in 1904 on Manhattan's East Side and moved to a new building in Battery Park City in 1992. Stuyvesant is noted for its strong academic...
in 1987. Soon after, she began writing and performing for the stage in both New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Early on she was cast to co-star opposite Frank Vincent
Frank Vincent
Frank Vincent is an American actor, musician, author and entrepreneur. He is a favorite performer of director Martin Scorsese, having played important roles in three of Scorsese's most acclaimed films: Raging Bull , Goodfellas and Casino . He often plays a gangster and works both in features and...
in the independent film The Afterlife of Grandpa, but turned it down to study psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
.
While at an acting and writing workshop sponsored by New York's Ensemble Studio Theater, she collaborated with Jennifer Westfeldt
Jennifer Westfeldt
Jennifer Westfeldt is an American actress and screenwriter known for the hit 2001 independent film Kissing Jessica Stein, which she co-wrote with Heather Juergensen and in which the two women starred.- Early life :...
in writing a series of scenes produced off-Broadway under the name "Lipschtick". The response to one of the scenes inspired them to write a film script about two straight women who fall into a romantic relationship. The film was developed by a studio but not produced. They held script readings and sold shares to buy back the script rights and pay for the film's production. The result was the award-winning film Kissing Jessica Stein
Kissing Jessica Stein
Kissing Jessica Stein is a 2001 independent romantic comedy film, written and co-produced by the film's stars, Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen. The film also stars Tovah Feldshuh and is directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld...
.
She has written screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
s/teleplays for Miramax, Warner Brothers, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, VH-1 and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, among others. Her first foray into writing for herself as an actress was her 1996 one-woman show Letters to Ben Stein, an imaginary tale of an epistolary romance with the actor/economist.
She contributed to the Tarcher/Penguin book The May Queen, a collection of essays exploring issues and experiences relevant to women in their thirties. Juergensen's film work has been honored at the Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
, the Miami International Film Festival
Miami International Film Festival
The Miami International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Miami, Florida in the late winter. The film festival is sponsored by the Miami Film Society, which has been around since 1983....
, and the Indie Spirit Awards. Her acting credits include roles in Red Roses and Petrol and Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion is a dark ride located at Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland. A significantly re-imagined incarnation of the ride, known as Phantom Manor, is located in Disneyland Paris...
.
She has directed, written, and starred in a short film called The Suzy Prophecy. In addition, she is currently working on the script for a sports comedy set in the world of girls' track and shot. She appeared in The Hammer
The Hammer (film)
The Hammer is a 2007 comedy film starring Adam Carolla and Heather Juergensen. It was directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld.-Plot:Jerry Ferro is pushing 40 years old and is not what you would call a success. He works part-time in construction as a carpenter and part-time as a boxing instructor at a...
, a boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
comedy starring Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla is an American radio personality, television host, comedian, and actor. He currently hosts The Adam Carolla Show, a talk show distributed as a podcast on the ACE Broadcasting Network...
, which Carolla and her husband co-wrote.
Personal life
Heather lives in the Hancock ParkHancock Park
Hancock Park is a park in the Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California, area, which is the location of the La Brea Tar Pits, the George C. Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art . The park does not, however, lie within the Hancock Park neighborhood which is...
section of Los Angeles with her husband, Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
' columnist and comedy writer Kevin Hench
Kevin Hench
Kevin Hench is an American screenwriter, television producer, television writer and columnist for Foxsports.com.Hench is a frequent collaborator with comedian Adam Carolla, having co-written and co-produced the 2007 film The Hammer and two network TV pilots starring Carolla. Hench was also a...
, and their two dogs.