Fans were quick to do a double take after a once-ubiquitous ’90s TV star was spotted blending into everyday life in Los Angeles.
The 56-year-old actress, who won a SAG Award for her breakout role as Annie on Caroline in the City opposite Lea Thompson, stepped out in Santa Monica in a mismatched, eclectic look while walking her dog.
Bundled up in a long coat, baseball cap, and oversized messenger bag, she looked worlds away from her sleek, futuristic costumes on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The understated outing also marked a sharp contrast to her scene-stealing turn alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1996 holiday hit Jingle All the Way.
Still, longtime fans may have caught the familiar sparkle that once made her unforgettable as Donna, the sexy bar owner who eventually won the heart of Steve Carell’s Michael Scott on The Office.
And despite the casual disguise, her appearance has left fans guessing – can you name the iconic ’90s TV queen?
Fans were quick to do a double take after a once-ubiquitous ’90s TV star was spotted blending into everyday life in Los Angeles
The 56-year-old actress, who won a SAG Awardfor her breakout role as Annie on Caroline in the City opposite Lea Thompson, stepped out in Santa Monica in a mismatched, eclectic look while walking her dog
Amy Pietz is the actress you’re looking for.
The versatile star has quietly built one of the busiest and most wide-ranging resumes on American television, popping up everywhere from cult sci-fi to glossy network sitcoms.
Pietz first cut her teeth with small but memorable roles on shows including Star Trek: The Next Generation, while also appearing in films such as Rudy in 1993.
In 1995, she landed a regular role on the short-lived WB sitcom Muscle, before her career breakthrough came as Annie Spadaro on NBC’s Caroline in the City.
The series ran from 1995 to 1999 and earned Pietz a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series.
She followed that success by starring alongside Steven Weber on NBC’s sitcom Cursed, which aired for a single season in 2001.
From there, Pietz became a familiar face across network television, with recurring and guest roles on Rodney, Aliens in America, Ally McBeal, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Law & Order: SVU, Nip/Tuck, Desperate Housewives, Two and a Half Men, Mom and How to Get Away with Murder.
Fans also spotted her popping up on shows including Burn Notice, The Closer, Curb Your Enthusiasm and American Dad, proving her versatility across comedy and drama.
Amy Pietz is the actress you’re looking for; (pictured 1996)
In 1995, she landed a regular role on the short-lived WB sitcom Muscle, before her career breakthrough came as Annie Spadaro on NBC’s Caroline in the City; (pictured with Lea Thompson in 1997)
Pietz first cut her teeth with small but memorable roles on shows including Star Trek: The Next Generation, while also appearing in films such as Rudy in 1993
Cursed cast Chris Elliott, Steven Weber, Pietz and Wendell Pierce in 2000
Pietz had a scene-stealing turn alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1996 holiday hit Jingle All the Way
In 2010, she returned to NBC as Donna on The Office, a role that cemented her status as one of TV’s great scene-stealers
In 2010, she returned to NBC as Donna on The Office, a role that cemented her status as one of TV’s great scene-stealers.
She later played Meredith King on ABC Family’s The Nine Lives of Chloe King, starred on The CW’s No Tomorrow and appeared on Marc Maron’s IFC series Maron as a fellow rehab patient.
Most recently, Pietz delighted superhero fans with her turn as Ralph Dibny’s mother on The Flash, adding yet another genre to her ever-expanding résumé.
In 2020, Pietz reflected on what first drew her to acting during an interview with Onstage, recalling a pivotal moment in junior high school. ‘When I went to junior high school everything changed when my English teacher, Philip Gissen, made me read my writing aloud and insisted I try out for the musical Oliver.
‘When it was my turn to hop onto the gymnasium auditorium stage that was lit for all of us to sing a song from the show, I knew then that I would be a professional actor for the rest of my life,’ she said. ‘
The spotlight enveloped me in a safe place where I could see no-one and it felt very private even though I was very exposed. I knew in a moment I’d need that safe place to be myself.’
She also looked back fondly – and humorously – on her time playing Donna on The Office, especially when asked whether she felt bitter that Michael ultimately chose Holly Flax, played by Amy Ryan.
‘Totally! I can not believe that I was simply the red herring for that great story. I asked if there was anything I could do to get Amy Ryan off the show.
‘I pitched them all these storylines which just didn’t work. Total sour grapes,’ Pietz joked. ‘I love Amy Ryan, but completely jealous that Donna didn’t get Michael Scott. He’s the one that got away, man.’
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