Major: Theater
Robyn Coffin's uncle was an actor, and by 5 years of age she knew she wanted to do the same thing.
Although she could not afford to attend a university, Coffin heard about College of DuPage’s Theater department and enrolled.
“COD challenged me with classes and scripts I had never been exposed to,” she said. “Connie (Canaday Howard) challenged me with roles outside of my comfort zone. I worked on four shows with Connie and took five of her classes. Shakespeare in particular was a beast that I was afraid to tackle, but Connie provided guidance and mentoring in that area. For 10 years after college, I worked professionally on Shakespeare productions.”
During her time at COD, Coffin earned the John Belushi Memorial Scholarship, which made it possible for her to attend school. She then transferred to Columbia College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Theater.
“At COD, I was surrounded by professionals, due to Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (the resident professional ensemble at the McAninch Arts Center),” she said. “I learned how to be a professional actor very early on so by the time I got to Columbia, it was clear I had been training among some of the best actors and teachers out there. I grew in every way possible – professionally, artistically and personally. I still talk to and am very close with most of my COD friends and peers.”
COD challenged me with classes and scripts I had never been exposed to.
Robyn Coffin
After graduating from Columbia, Coffin signed with an agency, Stewart Talent, and has since appeared in 45 professional shows. In 2014, the Windows commercial she appeared in ran during an episode of Fox TV’s “New Girl” that ran after the Super Bowl, providing a high level of visibility. She also filmed commercials for Liberty Mutual Insurance, Hefty Party Moms, Hebrew National Hot Dogs and Marzetti.
Coffin also has a recurring role as Cindy Hermann on the hit NBC series “Chicago Fire,” with a major storyline around her character during season 11.
She worked with former COD alum Suzette Brown and her husband on the feature film “Finding Hope” playing Edith, a kind-hearted Mormon, and she played a horrible boss in the film “The Life and Death of an Unhappily Married Man.” In 2015, she played a supporting role in “Unexpected” with Cobie Smulders, which went to Sundance and received a national release. During the summer of 2017, she completed several roles in the films “Love in the Time of Irony,” “Every 21 Seconds” and the 2018 release “Widows,” although her part did not make it into the film’s final cut.
She both coached and taught at the Vagabond School of the Arts and was an ensemble member with Buffalo Theatre Ensemble at COD, where in 2019 she appeared in “Holmes and Watson,” a show that featured numerous alumni on stage and behind the scenes. She made the film “Later Days” and opened a show, “Incomplete Conversations,” in 2019 with Silent Theatre Company, where she was also an ensemble member.
The pandemic forced Coffin to make a few changes, and she worked full-time with Endeavor Business Media. She is back to teaching while continuing her role on “Chicago Fire.”
For all her accomplishments, Coffin was named a Distinguished Alumni at COD. She is thankful for everything that the College has provided her.
“It felt amazing as a coach and teacher to be part of people’s journey, much like Connie was a huge part of mine,” she said. “If I influenced anyone the way Connie influenced me, I would feel truly fulfilled.”
Learn more about the Theater program at College of DuPage
COD Theater Success Stories
“COD provided invaluable connections, both personally and professionally, that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.” - Ron May
Ron's COD StoryCOD Theater Success Stories
"It was priceless to be in classes with teenagers and adults returning to school because the various perspectives offered richness to classroom discussion that I wouldn’t get in a homogeneous classroom population." - Nicole Hendricks
Nicole's COD StoryCOD Theater Success Stories
"COD truly re-instilled the hope in my own dreams. I was starting to grow further from acting as a major, but the classes I took and the professors I had made me feel like it was possible." - Josh Keske
Josh's COD StoryCOD Theater Success Stories
"Because of the generosity and openness and encouragement I received at COD, I have the tools and the confidence to pursue this dream no matter how ‘impractical’ and uncertain." - Nicole Bloomsmith
Nicole's COD StoryCOD Theater Success Stories
"Your time will come when it’s right. Never measure your own success against that of your peers and friends, as it will polarize you and give you pause. See what they did to succeed and foster that fire on the trail that you’re blazing!" - Patrick Ryan
Patrick's COD Story