THE CAST OF CHARACTERS
Meet the wildly different personalities at the center of Life of Nurmi, each with their own agenda, blind spots, bad habits, and remarkable ability to make everyone else’s life more complicated.
Former Attorney. Reluctant Public Figure. Newly Self-Appointed Life Coach.
Kirk Nurmi
Kirk has survived one of the most notorious trials in America, become nationally despised, abandoned his legal career, and moved in with his sister and niece. Naturally, this has convinced him he would be the best life coach. Dry, stubborn, exasperated and just confident enough to make terrible decisions, Kirk is usually the only person in the room who thinks he has everything under control.
In real life, Kirk Nurmi was the defense attorney for Jodi Arias in one of the most watched murder trials in the country. Originally assigned to the case while working as a public defender, he later became a nationally recognized figure in his own right, particularly within the true-crime community.
Ashley Rose
Stand-Up Comedian. Mom. Comedy Club Co-Owner. Professional Button-Pusher.
Ashley is Kirk’s sister, Peyton’s mom, part-owner of a comedy club, and an amazing stand-up comedian who would very much like everyone to remember that last part. Funny, stubborn, and never short on opinions, she’s constantly battling Mike, her comedy club co-owner, while trying to manage a teenage daughter and a brother whose life has suddenly landed in her living room. Ashley is played by a real-life stand-up comedian, bringing her own comedy experience and timing to the character.
Follow Ashley on social media to see more of her stand-up and comedy.
Stand-Up Comedian. Comedy Club Co-Owner. Ashley’s Favorite Rival.
Mike Dapper
Mike is a stand-up comedian and co-owner of the comedy club, which means he already has his hands full dealing with Ashley 24/7. Quick-witted, stubborn, and increasingly outnumbered now that Kirk has joined Team Ashley, Mike becomes the guy trying to maintain some sense of order while the siblings gleefully test what’s left of his patience.
Mike’s comedy credentials are real: his credits include national ESPN commercials, Kill Tony, performances at The Comedy Store and The Laugh Factory, and years as a Phoenix radio personality. Mike has produced more than 1,000 comedy shows.
Chris is a regular comedian at Ashley and Mike’s comedy club. The moment he recognizes Kirk as America’s most hated attorney, Chris starts heckling him from the stage, and before long, chips are flying between Chris, Kirk, and Ashley. With Kirk becoming an increasingly unavoidable presence at the club, Chris has plenty of opportunities to remind him exactly what he thinks of him.
Off-screen, Chris is an accomplished stand-up comedian, radio personality and content creator whose credits include Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Laugh After Dark and his one-hour special Small Town Famous. He also hosts The Morning Brew with Chris Bennett & Best Friends on Q Country 92.5 and has built a strong social media following around his comedy.
Emily Farmer
Con Artist. Aspiring Socialite. Kirk’s Worst Nightmare.
Emily is Kirk’s former client, a spectacularly shameless con artist who sees becoming one of the most hated people in America as a branding opportunity. While Kirk would happily never hear her name again, Emily is obsessed with him, convinced their notoriety is only the beginning, and determined to drag him along for the ride. She wants fame, glamour, and a documentary, whether Kirk participates willingly or not. Charming, relentless, and almost impossible to embarrass, Emily has an extraordinary talent for turning Kirk’s worst moments into her next big opportunity.
Chris Bennett
Stand-Up Comic. Comedy Club Regular.
Kirk’s First “Success Story.”
Peyton Bailey
Teenager. Phone Addict. Unimpressed by Everyone.
Peyton is Ashley’s teenage daughter who is usually glued to her phone and reluctantly dragged into whatever chaos her mom has planned. She may look like she’s tuning everyone out, but according to Ashley, Peyton hears absolutely everything the second there’s a chance to embarrass her. Dry, observant, and effortlessly unimpressed, she’s often the quietest person in the room and the one with the best line.
Mike Watkiss
Journalist. Documentary Filmmaker. Emily’s Dream. Kirk’s Headache.
Mike sees the Kirk-and-Emily circus for what it is: a story too good not to chase. He wants to make a documentary about America’s most hated duo, which thrills Emily and horrifies Kirk. Unfortunately for Kirk, Mike doesn’t take no very seriously. Persistent, curious, and always looking for the story behind the story, he keeps showing up while Emily is more than happy to keep giving him reasons to stay.
