Our new student voices series, “Beyond the Blue and the Gray,” created by Ellie Warwick ’26, connects us to fascinating Poly Prep alumni and offers a glimpse into their Poly and post-Poly lives.

From Brooklyn to Hollywood: The Evolution of Liz Feldman ’95

Profile by Ellie Warwick ’26

Living in sunny Los Angeles producing major TV shows and working behind the scenes, Liz Feldman ’95, still a Brooklyn girl at heart, reminisces about her memories at Poly Prep. 

“I remember a theater hallway with these stairs that went up to the gym; my friend group and I used to hang out right there. Dan Fogler ’94 was my best friend in Upper School, and we were inseparable. I remember he and I would talk about the fact that there hadn’t been any well-known or super successful actors or writers that had graduated from Poly, so we were dreaming about being those people. We thought, what are the odds that we could both ‘make it,’” Feldman shared. 

Little did she know the successes she would have in the entertainment industry in the future. 

Now, with Netflix hits such as Dead to Me and No Good Deed under her belt and four Emmy awards to date for her work on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Feldman has not only fulfilled her teenage dreams but exceeded them. Her path from Upper School to Hollywood success is stronger than ever. 

“Ever since I was a young kid at Poly, I knew what I wanted to do,” Feldman recalls. “When I was in eighth grade, we were supposed to write a paper about Mexican history, and instead, I asked my teacher if I could make a video about it. This was a very formidable moment because I thought this is what I want to do, and ever since then, I haven’t ever considered any other line of work.” 

However, Feldman’s career began on stage rather than behind the scenes. In her early days, starting when she was 16, she performed stand-up. “When you’re a kid, the only thing that’s accessible to you is performing because, being younger, you can’t necessarily be a writer, director, or producer. I have always loved comedy, writing jokes, and stand-up as a teenager because it was more fun to be the performer, and it was less responsibility. It’s more forward-facing and rewarding because there’s that immediate reaction of people physically laughing at your jokes.”

Liz Feldman with cast of “Dead to Me” actors Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate (Photo courtesy of Liz Feldman ’95)

Liz Feldman with cast of “No Good Deed” (Photo courtesy of Liz Feldman ’95)

Liz Feldman with cast of “No Good Deed” (Photo courtesy of Liz Feldman ’95)

After graduating from Poly, she got accepted to and planned to go to Vassar College in New York. “It was my dream.”

However, in Feldman’s case, life sent her in a different direction, which came in the form of an exciting opportunity in the field she wanted to be in. “I got a job working and performing on a show for Nickelodeon called All That. I remember they asked who wrote my jokes, and my manager said I wrote them. Hearing that, they wanted me to write for the show as well. At the time, it was not something I ever thought about, and I thought, here are these people with a lot more experience than me saying that I should pursue this. So I started as a writer-performer from the beginning because of this opportunity.” 

Her plans shifted again when she visited a friend at Boston University and spontaneously decided to audition for the School of Theatre’s improv troupe SPONtaneous COMbustion. When she found out that she had made it, she also realized that to perform with the group, she needed to be enrolled at Boston University, according to Boston University Today. Fast forward to 1999, she graduated from Boston University’s College of Communication with a degree in Television and Film Writing.

Though performing came first, “there was something always pointing [me] in the direction of writing.” For instance, even when she was doing stand-up, she would write jokes for other kids who were doing comedy. 

“I always say that you should listen to what the universe or people are encouraging you to do. When I was in Upper School, I remember Interim Head of School John Rankin, who was one of my English teachers [at the time] telling me, ‘You’re a good writer,’ and he was the first person who ever said that to me. I respected him so much that I thought, ‘well, maybe he knows what he’s talking about.’” 

Rankin recalls his time teaching Feldman at Poly. “In writing, there is this kind of element of good writing that you can’t teach people, they either have it or they don’t. And, she had it.”

So, when Feldman found herself grappling with a new challenge, she knew the route she should take. 

“At a certain point in my 20s, after pursuing performing, I didn’t have a lot of financial security. There was such volatility to performing because it’s so rewarding and fun, but you don’t have any control over where your next job is coming from or what your next job is. I realized that I was the kind of person who wanted to have a little bit more control over my life, to feel successful, and to be able to provide for myself. And I’d been so encouraged to write, so I decided to focus on that.”

Fogler remembers asking her, “‘Do you think we’re gonna make it in the entertainment business?’ and without hesitation she said, ‘Yes, absolutely.’”

Now, Feldman hopes her story can inspire others to embrace their own creative journeys and seize opportunities when they present themselves. 

“I think what we’re really meant to do will reveal itself in mysterious ways, and when you’re doing what you’re really supposed to be doing, it’s an undeniable feeling.” And on the flipside, when something doesn’t feel quite right, she explained, you may feel “a little unsatisfied or stuck.” Paying attention to clues and the support you get along the way, and taking a chance is also helpful, adding, “Go where you’re encouraged, and what happens, happens.”

Did You Know? Liz Feldman ’95 will receive Poly’s Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Achievement in 2025 at Reunion. Her friend, Dan Fogler ’94, received the award in 2024. Congratulations!

You can find Feldman along with co-host and good friend Jessi Klein on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Here To Make Friends, is an engaging and witty pod that celebrates friendships. “Loving the hosts, their friendships, and their friends. Great interviews. Funny and heartfelt stories! All shared so honestly and lovingly! Want to be their friend!,” said one of many glowing reviews. Check it out!