Ilana Glazer

2006–2008: Early comedy work

Glazer began taking classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in 2006, and performed around New York City doing improv and stand-up for the next several years.^[10][11]

2009–2019: Breakthrough with Broad City

In 2009, along with co-creator Abbi Jacobson, Glazer began shooting Broad City, a web series starring the two as fictionalized versions of themselves. The series was nominated for an ECNY Award for 'Best Web Series'^[12] and was positively received, garnering attention from major media outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal.^[13] The series, which ran from 2009 to 2011,^[14] caught the attention of Amy Poehler, who subsequently met with Glazer and Jacobson to help them shop a pilot script based on the series.^[15][14] Poehler also agreed to star in the web series finale.^[16][17] In 2011, cable network FX, working with Poehler as the producer, purchased a script commitment for the series from Glazer and Jacobson. However, the network did not approve the script and decided not to proceed with development. Glazer and Jacobson then approached Comedy Central, who agreed to purchase the script from FX and order a pilot.^[18][19]

Broad City made its broadcast television premiere in January 2014 and was received with positive reviews and strong ratings, becoming Comedy Central's highest-rated first season since 2012 among the younger demographics, including adults 18–34, with an average of 1.2 million viewers.^[20] The show has received critical acclaim from fans and critics alike. Review aggregation website Metacritic noted season 1 received "generally favorable reviews," giving it a score of 75 out of 100, based on reviews from 14 critics.^[21] In February 2014, Comedy Central renewed the show for a second season.^[22] Season 2 received positive reviews, with Metacritic giving it a score of 89 out of 100, based on reviews from eight critics.^[23] In January 2015, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on February 17, 2016.^[24] In January 2016, the series was renewed for a fourth and a final fifth season,^[25] which premiered on January 24, 2019.

During this time Glazer also acted in various film and television projects. From 2012 to 2014, Glazer co-created the web series Chronic Gamer Girl with Alex Charak.^[26][27] Glazer starred in the 2013 independent feature film How to Follow Strangers.^[28] The film won top prize at the Lower East Side Film Festival.^[29] They appear in the 2015 film The Night Before.^[30] Glazer starred alongside Scarlett Johansson and Kate McKinnon in the 2017 comedy Rough Night.^[31]

2020–present: Professional expansion

Glazer's debut stand-up special The Planet Is Burning premiered on Amazon Prime in January 2020.^[32] It was directed by Ryan Cunningham and Glazer served as an executive producer. Their second stand-up special Human Magic priemered on Hulu in December 2024.^[33] Glazer co-wrote, produced, and starred in the horror film False Positive, released on Hulu on June 25, 2021.^[34] In 2024, they co-wrote and starred in the movie Babes.^[35]

In 2022, Glazer was in the main cast of the Apple TV+ mystery comedy series The Afterparty.^{[citation needed]}

In 2025 Glazer released their second standup special entitled, Ilana Glazer: Comedy Magic for Hulu. Tara Ariano of Cracked praised the special noting "how much parenthood has coincided with a notable sharpening of their comic focus" and that "Glazer’s parenthood has given them something to say that’s worth listening to".^[36] In March 2025, Glazer made their acting Broadway debut, taking a supporting role in the play Good Night, and Good Luck written and starring George Clooney, adapted from his 2005 film of the same name.^[37][38] In the play, Glazer portrays Shirley Wershba, a reporter and editor for CBS News, who had to hide her marriage to Joseph Wershba from the network.^[39][40] Patrick Ryan of USA Today praised their performance, describing her as "incandescent as the razor-sharp Shirley Wershba, whose hush-hush office romance brings a welcome dose of tenderness" within the dramatic play.^[41]

Identity

Glazer was once roommates with comedian Rachel Bloom after college in Brooklyn.^[47] Glazer is queer and has credited their work on Broad City with helping them understand their sexuality.^[48] Glazer is also nonbinary, an identity they realized while they were pregnant: "For the first time, my femininity didn't feel like drag or a joke or a role, but a powerful, open space. And my masculinity was also something I didn't need to make a joke out of. It was something that I thought was cool and hot and a part of me. That was an interesting aspect of being a queer, birthing person."^[49]

Marriage and family

In February 2017, Glazer married their longtime boyfriend, computational biologist^[9] David Rooklin, in a private ceremony.^[50][51] On March 17, 2021, Glazer announced on social media and in a magazine photo shoot that they and Rooklin were expecting a child together. Their child, a daughter, was born in July 2021.^[52][53]

Film

Television

Theater

Standup specials