Kohl’s Commercial Actors

A complete guide to the actors, celebrities and performers featured in Kohl’s commercials

(By Carmichael Phillip)

Quick Summary: The most recognizable actors and celebrities who have appeared in Kohl’s commercials and campaigns include Ellie Kemper, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lea Michele, Sarah Hyland, Dylan Efron, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony. In recent years, the biggest face of Kohl’s advertising has been Ellie Kemper, who plays the cheerful and helpful “Kohl’s Mom.” Kohl’s has also used athletes, actors, singers and lifestyle personalities to promote holiday shopping, family fashion, beauty, home goods, athleticwear and seasonal deals.

Who Are the Actors in Kohl’s Commercials?

The actors and celebrities in Kohl’s commercials include Ellie Kemper, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lea Michele, Sarah Hyland, Dylan Efron, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony. Kohl’s also uses everyday commercial actors who play moms, dads, kids, shoppers, store customers, friends, gift-givers and family members in seasonal ads.

The most visible recent performer in Kohl’s commercials is Ellie Kemper. She plays “Kohl’s Mom,” a helpful, upbeat shopping expert who gives advice about holiday gifts, home items, fashion, beauty and family shopping. Her character is designed to make Kohl’s feel friendly, practical and easy to shop.

Kohl’s has also featured major celebrity and lifestyle campaigns over the years. Some stars appear directly in commercials, while others are connected to brand partnerships, retail collections, curated storefronts, fashion campaigns or seasonal advertising. That is why a strong Kohl’s commercial actor list should include both traditional actors and celebrity brand partners.

Ellie Kemper as Kohl’s Mom

Ellie Kemper is the best-known recent face of Kohl’s advertising. The actress, known for The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, plays the character commonly referred to as Kohl’s Mom.

In the Kohl’s Mom commercials, Kemper brings a bright, cheerful and slightly quirky energy. Her character helps shoppers solve holiday problems, choose gifts, find deals and navigate the pressure of family shopping. The performance works because Kemper has a naturally warm comic style. She can make a simple retail message feel like a funny scene.

Kohl’s uses the Kohl’s Mom character to create a recurring advertising personality. Instead of making every ad feel unrelated, the brand can bring back Kemper as a familiar guide. That makes the campaign easier to remember and gives Kohl’s a friendly spokesperson figure.

Giannis Antetokounmpo in Kohl’s Holiday Commercials

Giannis Antetokounmpo appears in Kohl’s holiday advertising alongside Ellie Kemper. The NBA superstar brings sports fame, family appeal and Milwaukee-area relevance to the campaign.

His appearance works especially well because Kohl’s is based in Wisconsin, and Giannis is closely associated with the Milwaukee Bucks. That local connection gives the campaign an extra layer of authenticity. He is not just a random athlete dropped into a retail commercial. He is a major sports figure with strong regional and national recognition.

In the holiday ads, Giannis often plays off Kemper’s Kohl’s Mom character. His star power brings attention, while Kemper’s comic energy keeps the ad light and gift-focused. Together, they help Kohl’s make holiday shopping feel playful rather than stressful.

Lea Michele and Sarah Hyland in Kohl’s Campaigns

Lea Michele and Sarah Hyland are also connected to Kohl’s advertising through the “When Life Gets Real, Start Here” campaign. The campaign focused on family, everyday moments, home life, clothing, comfort and the small practical needs that come with real life.

Michele is known for Glee, Broadway work and musical performances. Hyland is best known for Modern Family. Both actors bring strong television recognition and a family-friendly public image, which makes them useful for a retailer like Kohl’s.

Their campaign helped position Kohl’s as a store that supports multiple stages of life: parenting, home routines, family moments, personal style and practical shopping. Instead of focusing only on discounts, the campaign used recognizable actresses to connect Kohl’s to real households and everyday needs.

Dylan Efron and Kohl’s FLX Campaign

Dylan Efron is connected to Kohl’s through a campaign for the retailer’s private athleisure label, FLX. His campaign focused on active style, comfort, movement and clothing that can work for fitness, travel and everyday life.

Efron is known for his athletic lifestyle, outdoor content and television appearances. That makes him a natural fit for FLX, which is built around activewear and casual performance clothing.

His role in Kohl’s advertising shows how the retailer uses different types of public figures for different departments. Ellie Kemper works well for holiday gifting and family shopping. Dylan Efron works well for athleticwear and active lifestyle. Lea Michele and Sarah Hyland work well for family-centered style and home life.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s Kohl’s Connection

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are connected to Kohl’s through celebrity retail collections and fashion campaigns. Kohl’s has used celebrity partnerships for years to attract shoppers interested in style, music, entertainment and accessible fashion.

Jennifer Lopez’s Kohl’s collection gave the retailer a glamorous celebrity-fashion angle. Marc Anthony’s collection added a men’s fashion and lifestyle component. These partnerships helped Kohl’s compete in the department-store space by connecting everyday retail shopping to famous entertainment figures.

While not every celebrity collection is the same as a standard 30-second commercial, these names are still important for a Kohl’s commercial actor and campaign hub because they are part of the retailer’s broader advertising and celebrity-brand history.

Everyday Actors in Kohl’s Commercials

In addition to celebrities, Kohl’s commercials rely heavily on everyday commercial actors. These performers often play parents, children, couples, friends, shoppers, home decorators, gift-givers, store customers and family members.

Retail commercials need performers who can make ordinary shopping moments feel warm and relatable. A Kohl’s ad might show a parent buying gifts, a child opening a present, a couple decorating a home, or a shopper finding a great deal. The actors must communicate emotion quickly because most retail ads are short.

Many of these supporting commercial actors are not publicly credited. Unless an actor is a celebrity, campaign spokesperson or listed in a commercial database, their name may not be easy to confirm. That is why the most identifiable Kohl’s commercial names tend to be celebrities such as Ellie Kemper, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lea Michele, Sarah Hyland and Dylan Efron.

Complete List of Kohl’s Commercial Actors and Celebrities

Why Kohl’s Uses Familiar Faces

Kohl’s uses familiar faces because retail advertising depends on trust, warmth and recognition. A celebrity can make a shopping campaign stand out quickly. But the celebrity still has to fit the store’s personality.

Ellie Kemper works for Kohl’s because her comedy feels friendly and family-safe. Giannis Antetokounmpo works because he adds sports appeal and regional relevance. Lea Michele and Sarah Hyland work because they are recognizable actresses who can connect with family and lifestyle messaging. Dylan Efron works because his image fits activewear and casual comfort.

This casting strategy helps Kohl’s cover multiple shopping categories. One campaign can focus on holiday gifts. Another can focus on moms and families. Another can focus on athleticwear. Another can focus on celebrity fashion. The actors give each campaign a clear personality.

Acting Breakdown

The acting in Kohl’s commercials is usually light, warm and practical. The performers are not asked to create heavy drama. Instead, they must make shopping feel easy, joyful and personal.

Ellie Kemper’s Kohl’s Mom performance works because she brings fast comic timing and cheerful energy. She makes the character feel helpful without becoming too serious. Giannis Antetokounmpo adds a fun celebrity surprise, especially in holiday spots where his appearance creates excitement.

Lea Michele and Sarah Hyland bring a softer family-lifestyle tone. Dylan Efron brings active, casual energy. Meanwhile, everyday Kohl’s commercial actors help make the store feel useful for real families, not just celebrities. Together, these performances help Kohl’s sell the idea that shopping can be practical, stylish and fun.

FAQ Section

Who is the actress in the Kohl’s commercial?

The actress in many recent Kohl’s commercials is Ellie Kemper, who plays the character known as Kohl’s Mom.

Who is Kohl’s Mom?

Kohl’s Mom is a cheerful holiday and shopping-advice character played by Ellie Kemper.

Who is in the Kohl’s commercial with Giannis?

The Kohl’s holiday commercials with Giannis feature Giannis Antetokounmpo alongside Ellie Kemper.

Was Lea Michele in a Kohl’s campaign?

Yes. Lea Michele partnered with Kohl’s for the “When Life Gets Real, Start Here” campaign.

Was Sarah Hyland in a Kohl’s campaign?

Yes. Sarah Hyland partnered with Kohl’s for the “When Life Gets Real, Start Here” campaign and was also connected to Candie’s, a brand sold at Kohl’s.

Was Dylan Efron in a Kohl’s campaign?

Yes. Dylan Efron partnered with Kohl’s for a campaign connected to the FLX activewear brand.

Were Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony connected to Kohl’s?

Yes. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were connected to Kohl’s through celebrity fashion collections and related retail campaigns.

Why are some Kohl’s commercial actors hard to identify?

Many Kohl’s commercials use everyday commercial actors whose names are not publicly listed. Celebrity spokespeople are easier to identify than supporting actors in standard retail ads.

What does Kohl’s advertise?

Kohl’s advertises clothing, shoes, beauty products, home goods, toys, holiday gifts, athleticwear, accessories and seasonal retail deals.

Where can I learn more about Kohl’s?

You can visit the official Kohl’s website for current products, sales, brands and shopping information.

Related Links

• Kohl’s Commercial Actors — A hub page covering actors, celebrities and performers in Kohl’s commercials.
• Who is the girl in the new Kohl’s commercial? — A focused article about Ellie Kemper in Kohl’s advertising.
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• AT&T Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A telecom commercial actor hub featuring Craig Robinson and other stars.
• AT&T – Sky High Wifi Commercial (Craig Robinson and others) — A related celebrity commercial article.
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• Michelob Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A sports and celebrity commercial hub featuring Kurt Russell.
• What Actor Is in the Michelob Ultra Super Bowl Commercial? — A related Super Bowl commercial actor article.
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• Versace Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A fashion commercial actor hub featuring Anne Hathaway, Cillian Murphy and Channing Tatum.
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• Ubrelvy Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A pharma commercial hub featuring Serena Williams.
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• Lexus Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A luxury car commercial actor hub featuring Blair Underwood.
• Car Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A broad guide to automotive commercial performers.
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• Lucid Gravity Driven Commercial Actors 2026 — An electric-vehicle commercial actor breakdown.
• Telecommunications Actors (The 2026 Edition) — A hub for telecom and technology commercial performers.
• T-Mobile Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A T-Mobile commercial actor hub.
• Verizon Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A Verizon commercial actor hub.
• Samsung Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A consumer technology commercial actor hub.
• Who is the actress in the new iPhone commercial? — A technology-commercial actress identification article.
• Insurance Commercial Actors (The 2026 Edition) — A hub covering actors in insurance commercials.
• Farmers Insurance Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A Farmers Insurance hub featuring J.K. Simmons.
• Geico Commercial Actors: The Complete Guide — A full cast-list hub for GEICO commercial actors.
• Progressive Commercial Actors: The Complete Guide — A Progressive commercial actor hub.
• Allstate Commercial Actors: The Complete Guide — A full cast-list hub for Allstate ad performers.
• Liberty Mutual Commercial Actors (Full Breakdown 2026) — A Liberty Mutual commercial actor hub.
• State Farm Commercial Actors — A State Farm commercial actor hub.
• Actors in Commercials (A Complete Guide) — A broad hub for actors, actresses, celebrities and voice performers in ads.
• Actors in Commercials — The main Acting Magazine category for commercial actor articles.
• Commercial Actors — A category archive for commercial actor profiles and ad breakdowns.
• How do you find actors from commercials? — An evergreen guide to identifying commercial performers.
• How do you find out who the actress was in a commercial? — A related guide to identifying commercial actresses.
• Who are the Top Commercial Actors and Actresses? — A helpful overview of recognizable performers in advertising.
• How Much Do Actors Make for Commercials? — Explains how commercial performers may be compensated.
• How much do actors in Super Bowl commercials make? — A guide to high-profile commercial pay.
• What Does a Commercial Actor Do? — Explains the work commercial actors perform in advertising.
• How Do Actors Get Cast in Commercials? — A guide to commercial casting and auditions.
• Do Commercial Actors Get Residuals? — A useful article about commercial actor residuals.

Final Thoughts

Kohl’s commercials work best when they combine everyday retail needs with familiar performers. Ellie Kemper gives the brand a memorable recent spokesperson through her Kohl’s Mom character, while Giannis Antetokounmpo adds sports star power to the holiday campaign. Lea Michele, Sarah Hyland, Dylan Efron, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony show how Kohl’s also uses celebrity partnerships to connect with shoppers across fashion, family, lifestyle and activewear categories.

The strongest Kohl’s ads make shopping feel simple, warm and personal. Whether the commercial features a famous actor or an everyday shopper, the message is usually the same: Kohl’s wants to be a useful place for families, gifts, style, home goods and everyday value.

Carmichael Phillip is a managing editor of Acting Magazine. In addition to editing, Mr. Phillip is a writer, coordinator and creative director.

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