Zoe Lister-Jones Bio
Zoe Lister-Jones is an American actress, director, producer, and screenwriter known for her versatile work across television and independent film. Born on September 1, 1982, in Brooklyn, New York, she has established herself as a multifaceted creative force in Hollywood. Lister-Jones gained widespread recognition for her television roles while simultaneously building a career as a filmmaker with a distinctive voice that blends humor with intimate character studies.
As a performer, she is best known for portraying Jen Collins Short on the CBS sitcom Life in Pieces from 2015 to 2019. Her television portfolio also includes recurring roles on popular series such as Delocated, Whitney, and New Girl. Beyond acting, Lister-Jones has made significant contributions to cinema through her writing and directing work, including her directorial debut Band Aid in 2017 and her work on The Craft: Legacy in 2020.
Early Life and Background
Zoe Lister-Jones was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City. Her mother, Ardele Lister, is a Canadian-born video artist based in New York, while her father, Bill Jones, is an American photographer and media artist. Her mother was born to a Jewish family, and her father converted to Judaism. The family attended a local Conservative egalitarian synagogue every Saturday, and her mother served as president of the congregation while maintaining a kosher home.
Lister-Jones graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn in 2000. She pursued higher education at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where she graduated with honors. During her academic journey, she also studied at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. This combination of formal training and exposure to different performance traditions helped shape her artistic approach.
In addition to her theatrical training, Lister-Jones developed musical talents during her formative years. She performed with a rock band and later released a solo CD titled Skip the Kiss. Her background in music would eventually influence her filmmaking, particularly in projects that incorporate original songs and musical elements. This early exposure to multiple artistic disciplines laid the groundwork for her career as a multi-hyphenate creative.
Path to Actress
Zoe Lister-Jones began her professional journey in New York City theater, with credits including productions of Seminar, The Little Dog Laughed, and The New Group’s The Accomplices. In 2004, she wrote and performed a one-woman show titled Co-dependence is a Four Letter Word at Performance Space 122, showcasing her ability to portray multiple characters. Her early screen work included appearances in the Law & Order franchise across multiple iterations.
Her first significant film role came in 2005 with Palladio, directed by her father Bill Jones and based on the novel by Jonathan Dee. She followed this with appearances in independent films such as Arranged in 2007. Her breakthrough in television came with her role as Kim on Adult Swim’s Delocated from 2009 to 2010, which introduced her to a wider audience. This led to more prominent television opportunities in the following years.
The transition to broader recognition accelerated with her role as Lily in the NBC sitcom Whitney from 2011 to 2013. Concurrently, she began developing her own projects, starting with the independent feature Breaking Upwards in 2009, which she co-starred in, co-produced, and co-wrote. This project marked the beginning of her creative partnership with Daryl Wein and demonstrated her ability to succeed both in front of and behind the camera.
Zoe Lister-Jones Career
Early Career (2004-2014)
Zoe Lister-Jones launched her career with a combination of theater work, independent films, and television guest appearances. In 2009, she co-created Breaking Upwards with Daryl Wein and Peter Duchan, a film exploring a couple navigating their own breakup strategy. Shot on a budget of $15,000 in New York, the film premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and was featured in The New York Times as an example of independent film innovation. Lister-Jones wrote lyrics and performed multiple tracks for the soundtrack.
During this period, she continued building her acting resume with roles in films such as Stuck Between Stations and Lola Versus. Lola Versus, her second collaboration with Daryl Wein, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2012 and was distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures. She also appeared in mainstream films including Salt and The Other Guys. Her television work expanded with roles on HBO’s Bored to Death and as Kate in Friends with Better Lives.
Breakthrough (2015-2021)
Lister-Jones achieved mainstream success with her role as Jen Collins Short on the CBS sitcom Life in Pieces, which ran from 2015 to 2019. This role established her as a recognizable presence in network television. Simultaneously, she appeared as Councilwoman Fawn Moscato on the hit Fox series New Girl in 2015. These high-profile television roles provided her with the platform and resources to pursue her directorial ambitions.
In 2017, Lister-Jones made her feature directorial debut with Band Aid, a comedy-drama she also wrote and starred in. The film, which explores a couple who channel their marital arguments into music, featured an ensemble cast including Adam Pally, Fred Armisen, and Hannah Simone. The project showcased her ability to blend personal themes with accessible comedy, marking her emergence as a distinctive filmmaker with her own creative vision.
Her directorial career continued to evolve with The Craft: Legacy in 2020, a sequel to the 1996 cult classic The Craft. Written and directed by Lister-Jones, the film was produced by Columbia Pictures and Blumhouse Productions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-wrote and co-directed How It Ends with Daryl Wein, a comedy-drama released in 2021. This period solidified her reputation as a capable director capable of handling diverse genres.
Notable Works and Milestones
In 2023, Zoe Lister-Jones expanded her creative portfolio with Slip, a comedy series for The Roku Channel that she produced, wrote, directed, and starred in. The project was executive produced by Dakota Johnson under Lister-Jones’ TeaTime Pictures banner. On December 5, 2023, Slip received two Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best New Scripted Series and Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series. In 2024, she co-starred in Pavements, an experimental musical biopic about the indie band Pavement that premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.
Zoe Lister-Jones Award Nominations
Zoe Lister-Jones has received recognition from prestigious award bodies throughout her career. In December 2023, her series Slip was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards at the 39th ceremony: Best New Scripted Series and Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series. These nominations acknowledged her work both as a creator and as a performer, highlighting her versatility in the entertainment industry.
Zoe Lister-Jones Awards Won
Information regarding specific awards won by Zoe Lister-Jones is not available in the provided sources. While her work has received critical acclaim and industry recognition, including Independent Spirit Award nominations, verified details about award wins are not documented in the current reference materials.
Zoe Lister-Jones Family
Zoe Lister-Jones comes from an artistic family background. Her father, Bill Jones, is an American photographer and media artist who directed his daughter in the 2005 film Palladio. Her mother, Ardele Lister, is a Canadian-born video artist based in New York who served as president of a local Conservative egalitarian synagogue. The family maintained Jewish traditions, attending synagogue services and keeping a kosher home during Lister-Jones’ upbringing in Brooklyn.
Personal Life
Zoe Lister-Jones married her creative collaborator Daryl Wein in 2013. The couple had been together for 17 years before announcing their separation in 2021. Throughout their relationship, they worked together on numerous projects including Breaking Upwards, Lola Versus, Consumed, Band Aid, and How It Ends. In February 2024, at the Independent Spirit Awards, Lister-Jones publicly identified as queer and revealed that she is currently dating filmmaker Sammi Cohen.