15 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About ‘Veep’

Published on July 27, 2015. Updated April 12, 2017

HBO’s political satire starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, and Anna Chlumsky follows the day to day White House activities of Vice President and then President Selina Meyer. Her team of attention-seeking misfits puts her campaign for President in jeopardy and often results in hilarity. Whether it’s conflict in the Middle East, a data breach or sex scandal, somehow the Meyer team keeps Selina in the oval office. Veep has won numerous awards including the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Comedy Series, and the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy. You may be an avid watcher and a fan of the comedy, but there are probably some things you didn’t know about this great comedy. Find out 15 things you probably didn’t know about Veep:

15. The Emmys

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Selina) won an Emmy in 2013 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comdey Series. Tony Hale (Gary), who plays Selina’s bag-man, fed Louis-Dreyfus lines during her acceptance speech, replicating Selina and Gary’s interactions on Veep. Louis-Dreyfus is the only actress to accept an Emmy for three different comedies, as she was also awarded an Emmy for Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine.

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14. A Little Improv

While filming Veep, the actors are encouraged to improvise and make the show funnier. The gags that work are then incorporated into the final cut.

Patrick Harbron / © HBO / Courtesy: Everett Collection

13. No Audition Necessary

Anna Chlumsky (Amy) didn’t have to audition for her role in Veep as she had already worked with writer and producer Armando Iannucci on the film In the Loop (2009). In the Loop is also a political satire about a potential war between the USA and the UK.

Photo by Erik Pendzich/Rex

12. Kent’s Story

Gary Cole (Kent Davidson) is also an author who contributed to the book Love Heels: Tales from Canine Companions for Independence (2003). His story was inspired by his daughter Mary who was diagnosed with autism and has a service dog called Tattinger.

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11. Bible Study

Although he does not appear as religious as bagman Gary Walsh on Veep, Tony Hale met his wife Martel Thompson, a makeup artist, at a New York Bible study group. The couple have been married since 2003 and have a daughter, Loy Ann Hale.

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10. Brainy and Witty

Anna Chlumsky is well suited for her role as a political consultant and campaign manager in Veep as she has a degree in international affairs from the University of Chicago. While in college, she also performed in several university theater productions.

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9. Seinfeld Connections

Before Veep, Gary Cole (Kent Davidson) and Julia-Louis-Dreyfus (Selena Meyer) both appeared on Seinfeld. In the episode “The Soup Nazi,” where Elaine is told “no soup for you,” Cole is behind George (Jason Alexander) and Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) in the soup line. Furthermore, Kevin Dunn (Ben Caffrey) was up for the part of George, but Alexander landed the part.

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8. The Upright Citizens Brigade

Matt Walsh, who plays Whitehouse spokesperson Mike McLintock, is one of the founders of The Upright Citizens Brigade. The TV series starred Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, and Ian Roberts.

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7. The White House

Veep is not the first time Gary Cole (Kent Davison) has acted in the White House. He appeared as Vice-President Bob Russel in The West Wing (1999) and played President Mike Brady in the film The Brady Bunch in the White House (2002). Co-star Kevin Dunn (Ben Caffrey) also played White House staff in the 1993 film Dave starring Kevin Klein.

Source: NBC

6. The Sutherlands

Sarah Sutherland (Catherine Meyer) is a third generation actor and was named after Sarah Jessica Parker. Her grandfather is Canadian actor Donald Sutherland who plays President Snow in the upcoming Hunger Games movies, and her father is Keifer Sutherland who portrayed the infamous Jack Bauer in 24.

Photo by Picture Perfect/REX Shutterstock

5. Show Me The Laurie

Hugh Laurie is a recent addition to the Veep cast and plays the witty and charming Tom James. He played the exact opposite character in House M.D. However, his character’s sarcasm and superiority complex made him the most watched man on TV according to the Guinness Book of World Records and also the highest paid actor with $400K per House episode in 2011. Does playing a politician pay less or more than portraying a doctor?

4. Danny Chung

Randall Park plays Danny Chung, Selena’s competition for the Presidential nomination. Off-screen, he started the LCC Asian American Theater at UCLA where he graduated with a degree in creative writing and English, and received a Master’s Degree in Asian American studies.

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/REX

3. The Humanitarian

Sufe Bradshaw plays no nonsense White House secretary Sue Wilson, but off-screen this actress has a heart of gold. She volunteers for Humanity for the Homeless and mentors students at Voices Unheard. She also founded The Actor’s Lounge, which gives new actors a chance to perform.

Photo by REX/Rob Latour

2. Amy’s Agent

Anna Chlumsky’s (Amy) mom is her agent and got the gig when Chlumsky was discovered at a mall and asked to model. Anna was three months old at the time and got her first acting job at the age of nine in Uncle Buck and of course is very well known from the 1991 flick My Girl.

(c)Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

1. The Billionaire’s Daughter

Julia-Louis Dreyfus is the daughter of billionaire businessman Gerard Louis-Dreyfus. In 2006, she was on Forbes list of the 10 Hottest Billionaire Heiresses.

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