<Tr> <Th> Known for </Th> <Td> Flo in Progressive Insurance ads </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Scott Kolanach (m . 2008) </Td> </Tr> <P> Stephanie Courtney (born February 8, 1970) is an American actress and comedian, best known for playing the advertising character Flo in television and radio commercials for Progressive Corporation beginning in 2008, and noted for her recurring roles on several television series, including the voices of Renee the Receptionist and Joy Peters on the Adult Swim comedy Tom Goes to the Mayor (2004--06), Marge on the AMC drama Mad Men (2007); and Diane on the ABC comedy Cavemen (2007). She also appeared in the season 2 premiere of Men of a Certain Age . Courtney was a member of The Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy theater in Los Angeles, California . </P> <P> Courtney was born in Stony Point, Rockland County, New York the youngest of three children of a high school history teacher father and a singer mother . In 1992 she graduated from Binghamton University with a degree in English, where she had played Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible . By then, she said, "I was never tortured over whether I wanted to become an actress . There was never another option in my mind ." After graduation, she moved to New York City, where her roommate was future author and columnist Megan Daum . While working as evening secretary for Smith Barney chairman Robert S. Greenhill, Courtney studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse . </P>

Actress who plays flo on progressive insurance commercials