June Diane Raphael Bio
June Diane Raphael is an American actress, comedian, and screenwriter recognized for her work across television and film. Born on January 4, 1980, in Rockville Centre, New York, she has built a diverse career in comedy through acting, writing, and podcasting. Raphael gained prominence through her roles in television comedies and her creative partnership with fellow comedian Casey Wilson. She has become a familiar face in both scripted and improvisational comedy, while also establishing herself as a writer and author.
Raphael is particularly known for co-hosting the popular movie discussion podcast How Did This Get Made? alongside her husband Paul Scheer and comedian Jason Mantzoukas. The podcast examines bizarre and critically panned films with humor and insight. Additionally, she co-hosts The Deep Dive podcast with Jessica St. Clair, further showcasing her ability to engage audiences through conversation and comedy. Her work spans multiple platforms, demonstrating her versatility as a performer and content creator in the entertainment industry.
Early Life and Background
June Diane Raphael was born and raised in Rockville Centre, New York, to her parents John Raphael and Diane Raphael. She grew up in a Catholic household and is of Irish descent. Raphael attended South Side High School in Rockville Centre, where she graduated in 1998. Her upbringing on Long Island provided the foundation for her eventual move into entertainment, though she would later relocate to pursue greater opportunities in comedy and performance.
Following her high school graduation, Raphael pursued higher education at New York University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Her time in New York City proved instrumental in shaping her career path, as the city’s vibrant comedy scene offered her access to training and performance opportunities. The exposure to New York’s entertainment landscape during her university years helped direct her toward improvisational comedy and sketch writing, which would become cornerstones of her professional identity.
Path to Comedy
Raphael’s journey into comedy began at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB), first in New York and later in Los Angeles. Alongside her comedy partner and best friend Casey Wilson, she created and performed in the long-running sketch show Rode Hard and Put Away Wet. This stage production ran from 2003 to 2006 across both cities and was selected as an official entry at the 2005 US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado. The success of their live performances established Raphael and Wilson as a formidable writing and performing duo in alternative comedy circles.
The partnership between Raphael and Wilson expanded beyond live theater into film and television writing. Their first major screenplay opportunity came with the comedy film Bride Wars, where they served as co-writers and also appeared in supporting roles. This early success opened doors for further writing projects and acting opportunities. Raphael’s ability to balance both creative writing and performance set her apart in the industry, allowing her to pursue multiple avenues within entertainment simultaneously.
June Diane Raphael Career
Early Career (2002-2010)
Raphael began her professional comedy career in 2002, working primarily within the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre ecosystem. Her early work focused on sketch comedy and improvisation, honing her skills through live performance. The momentum from her stage work with Casey Wilson led to their first significant break in Hollywood with Bride Wars. During this period, Raphael also began making television appearances, establishing her presence in the medium through guest roles and recurring parts on various comedy series.
Throughout the late 2000s, Raphael appeared in several television shows that showcased her comedic talents. She made appearances on programs such as Party Down and Happy Endings, demonstrating her ability to adapt to different comedic styles and ensemble casts. In 2010, she took on a co-starring role as Barb in the improvised comedy series Players on Spike TV. This period marked her transition from primarily stage-based work to more consistent on-screen appearances, laying the groundwork for her later success in television.
Breakthrough (2011-2015)
Raphael’s career gained significant momentum in the early 2010s with several high-profile projects. In 2011, she co-starred in the Adult Swim action-comedy series NTSF:SD:SUV::, which aired for three seasons until 2013. The show, a parody of procedural crime dramas, allowed Raphael to display her versatility in a genre-bending format. That same year, she also starred in all three seasons of the web series Burning Love, a parody of reality dating shows created by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab.
2013 marked a major milestone for Raphael as a writer and performer. She and Casey Wilson wrote and starred together in Ass Backwards, a female buddy comedy that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2013. The film featured notable co-stars including Alicia Silverstone, Jon Cryer, Vincent D’Onofrio, Paul Scheer, and Bob Odenkirk. Raphael also appeared in supporting film roles during this period, including parts in Year One and Unfinished Business, further expanding her filmography and demonstrating her range across different types of comedy projects.
Notable Works and Milestones
In 2015, Raphael joined the main cast of the Netflix comedy series Grace and Frankie, a significant career achievement that introduced her to a wider audience. The show, which co-starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, and Sam Waterston, ran until 2022 and became one of Raphael’s most recognized acting roles. Her work on the series solidified her status as a reliable character actress capable of delivering both humor and heart in ensemble productions. Raphael continued to build her film career with roles in comedies such as Blockers and Long Shot, both released in the late 2010s.
Beyond her screen work, Raphael expanded into authorship with the publication of Represent: The Woman’s Guide to Running for Office and Changing the World. Co-written with Kate Black, the book serves as a practical guide for women considering political careers. This project demonstrated Raphael’s ability to leverage her public platform for advocacy and education beyond entertainment. Her podcast work continued to thrive during this period, with How Did This Get Made? growing in popularity and establishing itself as a beloved comedy podcast with a dedicated audience.
June Diane Raphael Award Nominations
Throughout her career, June Diane Raphael has focused primarily on comedy writing, acting, and podcasting rather than pursuing award recognition. Her work has garnered critical appreciation and audience loyalty, particularly through her long-running podcast and her contributions to ensemble comedy productions. While she may not have accumulated traditional award nominations, her consistent presence in television and film over nearly two decades speaks to her reliability and talent in the industry.
June Diane Raphael Awards Won
June Diane Raphael has not focused her career on accumulating traditional awards or trophies. Instead, her achievements are measured by her sustained presence in comedy, her successful writing partnership with Casey Wilson, and the dedicated following of her podcast How Did This Get Made? Her ability to maintain a diverse career across multiple media platforms represents its own form of success in the competitive entertainment landscape.
June Diane Raphael Family
June Diane Raphael was born to John Raphael and Diane Raphael, who raised her in Rockville Centre, New York. Her family background includes Irish heritage, and she was brought up in the Catholic faith. Raphael’s parents supported her educational pursuits, leading her to attend South Side High School and later New York University, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While her family life remains relatively private, her upbringing on Long Island provided the foundation for her eventual career in entertainment.
Personal Life
June Diane Raphael married actor and comedian Paul Scheer in October 2009. The couple wed at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in a ceremony that reflected their shared humor and creativity. Raphael and Scheer first met in January 2004 when the artistic director of Manhattan’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre brought Scheer in to consult on Raphael and Casey Wilson’s two-woman sketch show. The couple relocated from New York to Los Angeles in 2005 to pursue greater opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Raphael and Scheer have two sons together, born in 2014 and 2016. The family maintains their residence in Los Angeles, where both parents continue their active careers in comedy and entertainment. Beyond their professional collaboration on How Did This Get Made?, the couple balances their work commitments with family life. Their relationship represents one of the enduring creative partnerships in contemporary comedy, with both spouses supporting each other’s various projects while maintaining successful individual careers.