Erica Rhodes

Rhodes was born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts,^[6] the daughter of Kristina Nilsson and Dean Rhodes.^[7][8] Her mother, a native of Minnesota, is a former violinist^[9] who performed with the Boston Pops.^[10] Her maternal uncle (by marriage) is writer and radio personality Garrison Keillor.^[11] Rhodes's father was a professional clarinetist before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, after which he began working as a Certified Public Accountant.^[11] Her paternal grandfather was Jewish, and changed his surname from Rosenblum to Rhodes.^[12]

She attended Boston University College of Fine Arts and graduated from the Atlantic Theater Conservatory.^[13] Prior to establishing her career in acting and comedy, Rhodes worked at a medical marijuana clinic in Los Angeles.^[1]

Rhodes has been a frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion since her first appearance in 1996 where she initiated her recurring role as "The Conscience" of the host, Garrison Keillor.^[1][14][15] She appears on Keillor's 1997 Grammy-nominated album Garrison Keillor’s Comedy Theatre.^[16][17]

In 2008, Rhodes had a leading role in the independent horror film Plague Town.^[18]

Rhodes released her first comedy album, Sad Lemon, on June 29, 2019.^[19] The same year, she competed on the NBC comedy competition series Bring the Funny.^[20] In 2021, Rhodes released the comedy special La Vie en Rhodes, filmed outside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[21] The same year, she voiced the character of Dotty on the animated Netflix series A Tale Dark & Grimm.^[11]

She released her second comedy album, Ladybug, in 2023.^[22] In 2024, Rhodes competed on the series America's Got Talent.^[23]

Rhodes appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor podcast on September 28, 2016. She also made an appearance in episode 74 of Maddox's podcast, "The Best Debate In The Universe," which aired on November 6, 2017.^[24]

She has made several appearances on The Adam Carolla Show, beginning in 2019.^[25][26][27]

• 2019: Sad Lemon
• 2023: Ladybug