Ally Maki | |
|---|---|
 Maki in 2021 | |
| Born | Ally Maki Matsumura December 29, 1986 Kirkland, Washington, U.S. |
| Other names | Ally Matsumura |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Musical career | |
| Formerly of | The Valli Girls |
Ally Maki Matsumura[1] (born December 29, 1986),[2][3] known professionally as Ally Maki, is an American actress. She portrayed Jess Kato in the TBS comedy series Wrecked and was the voice of Giggle McDimples in Toy Story 4.
Maki was born and raised in Kirkland, Washington.[4] She has two older brothers.[1]
Maki is a fourth-generation Japanese American, or Yonsei.[4] Her grandmother was held in the Japanese internment camp at Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Wyoming during World War II.[2][5] Her grandfather was a part of the 442nd infantry regiment, a unit consisting of primarily Japanese American soldiers.[2] One of her great-grandparents was a sharecropper in Mountain View, California.[4]
Maki was scouted at 14 by a talent agent in Seattle. In 2001, she moved to a communal home for artists in Santa Clarita, California. From there, she was recruited by Columbia Records to form the girl band The Valli Girls, for whom she played the keytar.[6] As part of her training, she took DJ lessons at Freakbeat Records.[2]
Maki performed in the television film iCarly: iGo to Japan (2008) as well as many cameo appearances in films and television series such as Step Up 3D (2010) and The Big Bang Theory (2010). She had supporting roles in the comedy-drama films The Family Tree (2011) and Geography Club (2013).
From 2009 to 2010, Maki had a recurring role as Dawn in the comedy-drama series 10 Things I Hate About You. She made a guest appearance in a season 4 episode of the TV series Bones as Dr. Tanaka, a forensic specialist from Japan. Maki was in the final considerations to play the role of Alice in the 2012 drama film The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which eventually went to Erin Wilhelmi.[7]
Between 2016 and 2018, she starred as Jess Kato in the TBS comedy series Wrecked.[8] From 2018 to 2019, she had a recurring supporting role in Marvel's Cloak & Dagger on Freeform.
In 2018, Maki founded the Asian American Girl Club, a lifestyle and apparel brand.[9][10]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 80's Ending | Japanese Girl | Short film |
| Rogues | Choir | ||
| 2010 | Step Up 3D | Jenny | |
| The Prankster | Kassandra Yamaguchi | ||
| 2011 | Recess Court | Cassie | Short film |
| The Family Tree | Shauna | ||
| 2012 | Beach Bar | Ireene Saki Zbeitnefski and Merbaby | |
| Music High | Ally | ||
| 2013 | Geography Club | Min | |
| Amelia's 25th | Ally | ||
| 2019 | Toy Story 4 | Giggle McDimples | Voice role |
| 2020 | Lamp Life | Voice role (short film) | |
| 2021 | Home Sweet Home Alone | Mei | |
| 2022 | Dealing With Dad | Margaret | |
| 2023 | Shortcomings | Miko | |
| Seagrass | Judith | ||
| TBA | 5 Years Apart | Olivia | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | My Wife and Kids | Sasha | Episode: "Samba Story" |
| 2003 | ER | Missy | Episode: "No Strings Attached" |
| 2003 | That's So Raven | Student #2 | Episode: "Campaign in the Neck" |
| 2003 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Japanese girl | Episode: "Chosen" |
| 2007 | Subs | Alexa Tanaka | Unsold FX pilot |
| 2008 | Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Student | Episode: "Queen's Gambit" |
| 2008 | Miss Guided | Michelle | Episode: "High School Musical" |
| 2008 | Privileged | Breckyn | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2008 | iCarly: iGo to Japan | Kyoko | Television film |
| 2009 | Bones | Dr. Haru Tanaka | Episode: "The Girl in the Mask" |
| 2009–2010 | 10 Things I Hate About You | Dawn | Recurring role; 16 episodes |
| 2009 | Greek | Hot Renaissance fair girl | Episode: "See You Next Time, Sisters!" |
| 2010 | The Big Bang Theory | Joyce Kim | Episode: "The Staircase Implementation" |
| 2011 | Workaholics | Brenanda | Episode: "We Be Ballin'" |
| 2011 | Franklin & Bash | Tonia | Guest role; 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Shake It Up | Keiko Ishizuka | Episode: "Made in Japan" |
| 2012 | Hot in Cleveland | Brooke | Episode: "Method Man" |
| 2013 | 2 Broke Girls | June | Episode: "And the Girlfriend Experience" |
| 2016 | New Girl | Kumiko | Episode: "No Girl" |
| 2016–2018 | Wrecked | Jess | Main role; 30 episodes |
| 2017–2019 | Dear White People | Ikumi | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | Marvel's Cloak & Dagger | Mina Hess | Recurring role; 8 episodes |
| 2018–2022 | Robot Chicken | Wanda Li (voice) | Episodes: "We Don't See Much of That in 1940s America", "May Cause Bubbles Where You Don't Want 'Em" |
| 2020 | Into the Dark | Allison | Episode: "My Valentine" |
| 2020–2023 | The Owl House | Viney (voice) | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2021–present | Hit-Monkey | Haruka (voice) | Main role; 9 episodes |
| 2023 | The Big Door Prize | Hana | Main role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Crazy/Sexy/Awkward | Rosemary | Episode: "The Wingwoman" |
| 2012 | Company Car | Ally | Episode: "He Said She Said" |
