Karen Maruyama, a Japanese American actress and comedian, has taught comic superstars like Will Ferrell and Melissa McCarthy and is director of the famous Groundlings theater, a school that welcomes more than 2,000 comedy students a year.
The Groundlings, founded in 1974 as a troupe by Gary Austin, has been home to names like Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Will Forte and Lisa Kudrow. Maruyama, herself an alumna of the company, has had recurring roles on “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Arrested Development” and “Strip Mall.”
