Do you have to be miserable to be funny? More than sixty comedians—including stand-ups, writers, actors, and directors from the US, Canada, and abroad—take on this question, sharing anecdotes and insights with lively enthusiasm.
01-23-2015
1h 34m
THIS
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Main Cast
Movie Details
Production Info
Director:
Kevin Pollak
Writers:
John Vorhaus, Kevin Pollak
Production:
Heretic Films
Key Crew
Original Music Composer:
Ben Folds
Editor:
Robert Legato
Producer:
Becky Newhall
Producer:
Burton Ritchie
Locations and Languages
Country:
US
Filming:
US
Languages:
en
Main Cast
Jon Favreau
Jonathan Kolia Favreau (/ˈfævroʊ/ FAV-roh; born October 19, 1966) is an American filmmaker and actor. As an actor, Favreau has appeared in films such as Rudy (1993), PCU (1994), Swingers (1996), Very Bad Things (1998), Deep Impact (1998), The Replacements (2000), Daredevil (2003), The Break-Up (2006), Four Christmases (2008), Couples Retreat (2009), I Love You, Man (2009), People Like Us (2012), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and Chef (2014).
As a filmmaker, Favreau has been significantly involved with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He directed, produced, and appeared as Happy Hogan in the films Iron Man (2008) and Iron Man 2 (2010). He also served as an executive producer for and/or appeared as the character in the films The Avengers (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).
He has also directed the films Elf (2003), Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005), Cowboys & Aliens (2011), Chef (2014), The Jungle Book (2016), The Lion King (2019), and The Mandalorian & Grogu (2026). Recently, Favreau has been known for his work on the Star Wars franchise with Dave Filoni, creating the Disney+ original series The Mandalorian (2019–present), which Filoni helped develop, with both serving as executive producers. Alongside Filoni, he serves as an executive producer on all of the show's spin-off series, including The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and the upcoming Skeleton Crew. He produces films under his production company banner, Fairview Entertainment, and also presented the variety series Dinner for Five and the cooking series The Chef Show.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Jon Favreau, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2, 1970) is an American filmmaker, actor, comedian, public speaker, comic book writer, author, and podcaster.
He came to prominence with the low-budget comedy film Clerks (1994), which he wrote, directed, co-produced, and acted in as the character Silent Bob of stoner duo Jay and Silent Bob. Jay and Silent Bob also appeared in Smith's later films Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Clerks II and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, which are set primarily in his home state of New Jersey. While not strictly sequential, the films have crossover plot elements, character references, and a shared canon known as the "View Askewniverse", named after Smith's production company View Askew Productions, which he co-founded with Scott Mosier.
Robert M. "Bobby" Cannavale (born May 3, 1970) is an American actor noted for his leading role as Bobby Caffey in the first two seasons of the critically acclaimed television series Third Watch. He also had a popular recurring role as Officer Vince D'Angelo on the comedy series Will & Grace.
Frederick James Prinze Jr. (born March 8, 1976) is an American actor, writer, and producer. He has starred in films such as I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and its sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), She's All That (1999), Summer Catch (2001), Scooby-Doo (2002), and its sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004). Prinze has also had recurring and starring roles in television shows, including Friends (2002), Boston Legal (2004), Freddie (2005–06) and 24 (2010), and voiced Kanan Jarrus in the Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels. He is the only child of comedian and actor Freddie Prinze.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Freddie Prinze Jr., licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Matthew Langford Perry (August 19, 1969 - October 28, 2023) was an American-Canadian actor, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the popular, long-running NBC television sitcom Friends, for which he earned an Emmy Award nomination in 2002. His portrayal of Ron Clark in The Ron Clark Story earned him an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe nomination. He also guest-starred in three episodes of the drama series The West Wing, which garnered him two consecutive Emmy nominations in 2003 and 2004. Perry also starred in the short-lived series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and had roles in the films The Whole Nine Yards (2000) and its sequel The Whole Ten Yards (2004), Numb (2007), and 17 Again (2009).
Perry was the co-creator, co-writer, executive producer and star of the ABC sitcom Mr. Sunshine, which premiered on February 9, 2011.
An American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, and talk show host. Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple (1985) playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won her first Golden Globe Award for her role in the film. In 1990, she starred as Oda Mae Brown, a psychic helping a slain man (Patrick Swayze) find his killer in the blockbuster film Ghost. This performance won her a second Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Notable later films include Sister Act and Sister Act 2, The Lion King, Made in America, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Girl, Interrupted and Rat Race. She is also acclaimed for her roles as the bartender Guinan in Star Trek: The Next Generation and as Terry Dolittle in Jumpin' Jack Flash. Her latest role is the voice of Stretch in Toy Story 3. Goldberg has been nominated for 13 Emmy Awards for her work in television. She was co-producer of the popular game show Hollywood Squares from 1998 to 2004. She has been the moderator of the daytime talk show The View since 2007. Goldberg has a Grammy, two Emmys, two Golden Globes, a Tony, and an Oscar. In addition, Goldberg has a British Academy Film Award, four People's Choice Awards and has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award.
Martin Hayter Short, CM (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian comedian, actor, writer, singer and producer. He is best known for his comedy work, particularly on the TV programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live. He has also starred in many popular comedic films such as Three Amigos, Innerspace, Pure Luck, Jungle 2 Jungle, Mars Attacks!, Father of the Bride, and Father of the Bride Part 2.
James Thomas Fallon, Jr. (born September 18, 1974) is an American actor, television host, “comedian”, singer, and musician. He currently hosts NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show. Prior to that, he was best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998–2004, as well as appearing in several films.
The Rt. Hon. Christopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest (born February 5, 1948), better known as Christopher Guest, is an American screenwriter, composer, musician, director, actor and comedian. He is most widely known in Hollywood for having written, directed and starred in several improvisational "mockumentary" films that feature a repertory-like ensemble cast, such as This is Spinal Tap. In the United Kingdom, he holds a Baronial peerage, and has publicly expressed a desire to see the House of Lords reformed as a democratically-elected chamber. Despite initial activity in the Lords, his career there was cut short by the House of Lords Act 1999. When using his title, he is normally styled for short as Lord Haden-Guest.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Christopher Guest, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Janeane Garofalo (born September 28, 1964) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Janeane Garofalo, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Judd Apatow (born December 6, 1967) is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is well known for his work in comedy, especially for films he has been involved with throughout the latter half of the 2000s. He is the founder of Apatow Productions, a film production company that also developed the cult television series Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared.
Stephen Merchant is a British writer, director, radio presenter, stand-up comedian, and actor, best known for his work on The Office, Extras, and The Ricky Gervais Show.
Kevin Pollak is an American actor, impressionist, game show host, and comedian. He started performing stand-up comedy at the age of 10 and touring professionally at the age of 20. In 1988, Pollak landed a role in George Lucas' Willow, directed by Ron Howard, and began his acting career.
Matthew Paul Walsh (born October 13, 1964) is an American comedian and actor. He is best known for his role as Mike McLintock in Veep for which he received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He is a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy troupe, with which he co-starred in its original television series and the 2015 reboot. He also previously starred in short-lived comedy programs such as Dog Bites Man and Players, and was a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He has also appeared in films such as Road Trip (2000), Bad Santa (2003), School for Scoundrels (2006), Role Models (2008), The Hangover (2009), and The Do-Over (2016).
Description above from the Wikipedia article Matt Walsh (comedian), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Jay Scott Greenspan, better known by his professional name of Jason Alexander, is an American actor, writer, comedian, television director and producer, and singer. He is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998. He also has had an active career on the stage, appearing in several Broadway musicals including Jerome Robbins' Broadway in 1989, for which he won the Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical. He appeared in the Los Angeles production of The Producers with Martin Short. He is the Artistic Director of "Reprise! Broadway's Best in Los Angeles," where he has directed several musicals. Alexander is also an avid poker player.
Joseph Vincent Lo Truglio (/loʊˈtruːljoʊ/; born December 2, 1970) is an American actor, comedian, writer and producer. Best known for his role as Charles Boyle on the Fox/NBC sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, he also was a cast member on the television series The State and Reno 911!. His notable film roles include Wet Hot American Summer, I Love You Man, Superbad, Paul, Role Models and Wanderlust.
Jason Reitman (born October 19, 1977) is a Canadian-American actor and filmmaker, best known for directing the films Thank You for Smoking (2005), Juno (2007), Up in the Air (2009), Young Adult (2011), and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021). He has received one Grammy Award, one Golden Globe, and four Academy Award nominations.
Samuel Franklin Levine (born March 12, 1982) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his portrayal of Neal Schweiber on NBC's short-lived Freaks and Geeks and PFC Hirschberg in the 2009 film Inglourious Basterds. Levine was also the sidekick and fill-in host on the internet talk show Kevin Pollak's Chat Show. Levine was a regular competitor on Collider's Movie Trivia Schmoedown. He returned to the Schmoedown in 2019 and is currently the manager of The Usual Suspects faction.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Samm Levine, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
David Michael Koechner is an American character actor (film, television and stage), comedian and musician.
Koechner began studying improvisational comedy in Chicago at the ImprovOlympic, under the teachings of Del Close, before joining the Second City Northwest. After one-year stints of doing sketch comedy on Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, he began taking small parts in films such as Man on the Moon and Wag the Dog. While filming the country mockumentary Dill Scallion, Koechner befriended Dave 'Gruber' Allen, forming The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show. The act became a hit at Hollywood clubs such as Largo, and the duo were invited to open for Tenacious D.
After a breakout role as Champ Kind in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, he began appearing frequently with larger supporting roles in many high profile comedic films, including Talladega Nights, Snakes on a Plane, Waiting..., The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, Extract and Thank You for Smoking, in addition to recurring guest appearances on Anchorman co-star Steve Carell's The Office as Todd Packer. On 17 January 2007, Koechner's Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show premiered on Comedy Central, giving him a starring role and full creative control. Koechner's first leading role as Coach Lambeau Fields in Fox Atomic's sports comedy, The Comebacks opened on 19 October 2007.
Description above from the Wikipedia article David Koechner, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Nicholas "Nick" Swardson (born October 9, 1976) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and writer. He is best known for his recurring role as Terry Bernardino in the Comedy Central series Reno 911!, for his work in Happy Madison movies, and for his new Comedy Central television series Nick Swardson's Pretend Time.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Nick Swardson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Paul Andrew "Andy" Richter (born October 28, 1966) is an American actor, writer, comedian, and late night talk show announcer. He is best known as Conan O'Brien's sidekick on each of Conan's talk shows: NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC's The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, and Conan on TBS.
He starred in the cult classic TV series Andy Richter Controls the Universe as well as Andy Barker, P.I.. He voiced Mort in the Madagascar film franchise and Ben Higgenbottom in the Nickelodeon animated television series The Mighty B!.
Robert Lane "Bob" Saget (born May 17, 1956 - January 9, 2022) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. Although he was best known for his past roles in the family-oriented shows Full House and America's Funniest Home Videos, Saget was known outside of television for his starkly blue stand-up routine. He was also an honorary member of Seal and Serpent.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Bob Saget, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Richard Bruce Kind (born November 22, 1956) is an American actor (stage, screen, and voice) and comedian. He is best known for his roles as Captain Stan Yenko on CBS's East New York (2022-23), Dr. Mark Devanow on Mad About You (1992–1999, 2019), and Paul Lassiter on Spin City (1996–2002). He's also well known for his other roles as Peter in The History of the World Part II (2023), Mitch on Netflix's The Watcher, Formica Michael Mikowitz on The Goldbergs, Walter Bloom in tick, tick... Boom! (2021), Cousin Andy on Curb Your Enthusiasm (2002–2021), Rudy Giuliani in Bombshell (2019), John Sears in Suburbicon (2017), Gus Barton on IFC's Brockmire, Marty in All We Had (2016), Mayor Aubrey James on FOX's Gotham, Sam Meyers on the Amazon Prime series Red Oaks, Max Klein in Argo (2012), Joey Rathburn on HBO's Luck starring Dustin Hoffman, Uncle Arthur Gopnik in the Coen Brothers film A Serious Man (2009), Abner Kravitz in the film Bewitched (2005), Louis Tiboni in The Station Agent (2003), He began his acting career in Chicago, where he performed in numerous stage productions. He made his Broadway debut in 1984 in the play "The Pirates of Penzance." He has starred in the smash hit Broadway musical The Producers, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Candide, and Bounce, among others. He is a Drama Desk Award winner and Tony nominee for the Broadway hit The Big Knife. He has appeared in over 50 films, including Clifford (1994), Stargate (1994), For Your Consideration (2006), Hereafter (2010), and Beau Is Afraid (2023).
In addition to his acting career, he is also a vocal advocate for social justice causes. He is a member of the board of directors of the Creative Coalition, an organization that advocates for the arts in public policy. He is also a supporter of the Human Rights Campaign and the Anti-Defamation League. He is also an alumnus of The Second City in Chicago.
Amy Schumer was born in Manhattan and grew up on Long Island, New York. She attended South Side High School and was voted both "Class Clown" and "Teacher's Worst Nightmare" upon graduation in 1999. Schumer graduated from Towson University in 2003 with a degree in theater. She moved to New York City after college, where she studied at the William Esper Studio for two years and worked as a bartender and a waitress. Through her father, she is the niece of Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator from New York.
Amy Schumer portrayed a young woman diagnosed with breast cancer in the off-Broadway black comedy Keeping Abreast. She started doing stand-up comedy on June 1, 2004, when she first performed at Gotham Comedy Club. She recorded a special for Comedy Central before appearing on Last Comic Standing; she said in August 2012 that she thought of the special as her "big break".
After not passing an audition for an earlier season, she advanced to the finals of the fifth season of the NBC reality television talent show Last Comic Standing and placed fourth. Schumer said in April 2011, "Last Comic was totally fun. I had a great time because there was no pressure on me; I had been doing stand-up around two years. I wasn't supposed to do well. So every time I advanced it was a happy surprise. I kept it honest on the show and it served me well." (Wikipedia)
Kevin Nealon is an American actor and comedian, best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1995, acting in several of the Happy Madison films, for playing Doug Wilson on the Showtime series Weeds, and providing the voice of the title character, Glenn Martin on Glenn Martin, DDS.
Paul S. Feig is an American director, actor and author. Feig is known for playing Mr. Eugene Pool, Sabrina's science teacher, on the first season of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Feig also created the critically acclaimed show, Freaks and Geeks and has directed a several episodes of The Office and Arrested Development; plus select episodes of 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Mad Men and other television series. Feig has been nominated for two Emmy Awards for writing on Freaks and Geeks and three for directing on The Office. Feig directed the 2011 film Bridesmaids featuring Kristen Wiig.
Laraine Newman is an American actress, voice actress, comedian and writer, who was part of the original cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live and played the main villain Lawanda Dumore in the 1991 film Problem Child 2
James Christopher Gaffigan (born July 7, 1966) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. His material often addresses fatherhood, laziness, food, religion, and general observations. He has been nominated seven times at the Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album.
Maria Bamford (born September 3, 1970) is an American actress and stand-up comedian. Her work has drawn critical acclaim and controversy because her humor often uses self-deprecating and dark topics, including her dysfunctional family, depression, anxiety, suicide, and mental illness. She loves pugs, and typically owns at least one senior pug at any given time.
Paul Francis Tompkins, born on September 12, 1968, in Philadelphia, is an American comedian and actor known for his stand-up comedy and improvisational skills. He's gained acclaim for his witty storytelling and has appeared on various television shows and podcasts, showcasing his comedic versatility and distinctive style. Tompkins is recognized for his quick wit, sharp humor, and engaging performances, solidifying his place in the comedy scene.
Beyond stand-up, he's recognized for his work in improvisational comedy, notably as a frequent guest on the podcast "Comedy Bang! Bang!" and his own podcast "Spontaneanation," where he showcases his improvisational skills.
Lawrence John Miller (born October 15, 1953) is an American comedian, actor, podcaster, and columnist. He is primarily regarded as a character actor, with The A.V. Club noting that he "can be counted upon to improve every film or television show he appears in". His better-known roles include Lou Bonaparte in Mad About You (1993–1998), Pointy-haired Boss in Dilbert (1999–2000), Edwin Poole in Boston Legal (2004–2008), Mr. Hollister in Pretty Woman (1990), Dean Richmond in The Nutty Professor (1996) and Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000), Walter Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) and Paolo Puttanesca in The Princess Diaries (2001) and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). He reprised his role as Walter Stratford in the televison series 10 Things I Hate About You (2009–2010).
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Geoff James Nugent (born 14 February 1977), known professionally as Jim Jefferies (and previously Jim Jeffries), is an Australian stand-up comedian, actor, and writer.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Jim Jefferies, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Kumail Ali Nanjiani (born May 2, 1978) is a Pakistani-American comedian, actor, and screenwriter. He is primarily known for his role as Dinesh in the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley (2014–2019) and for co-writing and starring in the romantic comedy film The Big Sick (2017). For co-writing the latter with his wife, Emily V. Gordon, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. In 2018, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Nanjiani has also voiced Prismo on the animated series Adventure Time and starred in the TNT series Franklin & Bash and the Adult Swim series Newsreaders. He also co-hosted the Comedy Central show The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, as well as playing various roles on the comedy series Portlandia.
Richard Philip Lewis (June 29, 1947 – February 27, 2024) was an American actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. He came to prominence in the 1980s and became known for his dark, neurotic and self-deprecating humor.
As an actor he was known for co-starring with Jamie Lee Curtis in the sitcom Anything but Love, for playing the role of Prince John in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights and for his recurring role as a semi-fictionalized version of himself in HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Gregory Everett "Greg" Proops (born October 3, 1959) is an Americanactor, stand-up comedian and television host. He is widely known for his work as an improvisational comedian on the UK and U.S. versions of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. He also performed on Drew Carey's Green Screen Show and played Max Madigan on the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP.
David "Dave" Thomas (born May 20, 1949) is a Canadian comedian and actor. He was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, but moved to Durham, North Carolina where his father, John E. Thomas, attended Duke University and earned a PhD in Philosophy. Thomas attended George Watts and Moorehead elementary schools. The family moved back to Dundas, Ontario in 1961 where he attended Dundas District high school and later, graduated with an honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Thomas was granted an honorary doctorate from McMaster University November 20, 2009.
Lewis Niles Black (born August 30, 1948) is an American stand-up comedian, author, playwright, social critic and actor. He is known for his comedy style, which often includes simulating a mental breakdown, or an increasingly angry rant, ridiculing history, politics, religion, trends and cultural phenomena. He hosted the Comedy Central series Lewis Black's Root of All Evil, and makes regular appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart delivering his “Back in Black” commentary segment. When not on the road performing, he resides in Manhattan. He also maintains a residence in Chapel Hill, N.C. He is currently the spokesman for Aruba Tourism, appearing in television ads that aired in late 2009 and 2010. He was voted 51st of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all time by Comedy Central in 2004.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Lewis Black, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Marc Maron (born September 27, 1963) is an American stand-up comedian and podcast host.
He has been host of The Marc Maron Show, and co-host of both Morning Sedition, and Breakroom Live, all politically-oriented shows, produced under the auspices of Air America Media. He was also the host of Comedy Central's Short Attention Span Theater for a year, replacing Jon Stewart. Maron has been a frequent guest on the Late Show with David Letterman and made 44 appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, more than any other stand-up performer. He was also a regular guest on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and hosted the short-lived American version of the British game show Never Mind the Buzzcocks on VH1.
James Lawrence Brooks is an American director, producer and screenwriter. Growing up in North Bergen, New Jersey, Brooks endured a fractured family life and passed the time by reading and writing. After dropping out of New York University, he got a job as an usher at CBS, going on to write for the CBS News broadcasts. He moved to Los Angeles in 1965 to work on David L. Wolper's documentaries. After being laid off he met producer Allan Burns who secured him a job as a writer on the series My Mother the Car.
Brooks wrote for several shows before being hired as a story editor on My Friend Tony and later creating the series Room 222. Grant Tinker hired Brooks and Burns at MTM Productions to create The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1970. The show, one of the first to feature an independent working woman as its lead character, was critically acclaimed and won Brooks several Primetime Emmy Awards. Brooks and Burns then created two successful spin-offs from Mary Tyler Moore in the shape of Rhoda (a comedy) and Lou Grant (a drama). Brooks left MTM Productions in 1978 to co-create the sitcom Taxi which, despite winning multiple Emmys, suffered from low ratings and was canceled twice.
He moved into feature film work when he wrote and co-produced the 1979 film Starting Over. His next project was the critically acclaimed film Terms of Endearment, which he produced, directed and wrote, winning an Academy Award for all three positions. Basing his next film, Broadcast News, on his journalistic experiences the film earned him a further two Academy Award nominations. Although his 1994 work I'll Do Anything was hampered by negative press attention due to the cutting of all of its recorded musical numbers, As Good as It Gets (co-written with Mark Andrus) earned further praise. It was seven years until his next film, which came in the shape of 2004's Spanglish. His sixth film, How Do You Know, was released in 2010. Brooks also produced and mentored Cameron Crowe on Say Anything... (1989) and Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson on Bottle Rocket (1996).
Although he did not intend to do so, Brooks returned to television in 1987 as the producer of The Tracey Ullman Show. He hired cartoonist Matt Groening to create a series of shorts for the show, which eventually led to The Simpsons in 1989. The Simpsons won numerous awards and is still running after 20 years. Brooks also co-produced and co-wrote the 2007 film adaptation of the show, The Simpsons Movie. In total, Brooks has received 47 Emmy nominations, winning 20 of them.
Penn Jillette is an American magician, juggler, comedian, musician, inventor, actor, and best-selling author known for his work with fellow magician Teller as half of the team Penn & Teller.
Michael Ian Black (born Michael Ian Schwartz; August 12, 1971) is an American comedian, actor, writer and director. He has starred in several TV comedy series, including The State, Ed, Viva Variety, Stella and Michael & Michael Have Issues. He is also a prominent poker player, appearing on Celebrity Poker Showdown several times. He released a well-received children's book, Chicken Cheeks, in 2009.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Michael Ian Black, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
David Benjamin Wain (born August 1, 1969) is an American comedian, writer, actor and director. He is most widely known for the feature films Role Models and Wet Hot American Summer, the 1990s' sketch comedy series The State and for directing the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital. Wain was a founding member of Stella, along with Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Smigel (born February 7, 1960) is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, producer, and puppeteer, known for his Saturday Night Live "TV Funhouse" cartoon shorts and as the puppeteer and voice behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. He also co-wrote the first two Hotel Transylvania films and You Don't Mess with the Zohan, both starring Adam Sandler.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Robert Smigel, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Scottrick "Scott" Aukerman, born with an innate gift for turning the mundane into madness, entered the world on July 2nd, 1970, armed with a knack for comedy that could tickle a stone-faced statue. As a comedian, writer, and producer, he's mastered the art of turning awkward moments into uproarious tales that leave stomachs sore from laughter.
Raised on a diet of punchlines and pop culture references, Scott's comedic genius emerged from the primordial soup of late-night TV watching marathons of old sitcoms and sketch comedy shows. Armed with a wit as sharp as a well-honed butter knife, he conquered the world of comedy like a mad scientist concocting the perfect joke in his lab.
With a podcast empire that could rival an overzealous monarch's reign, Scott pioneered the world of improvised comedy podcasts, where the bizarre meets the brilliant, and spontaneity reigns supreme. His shows are a delightful rollercoaster ride through the absurd, complete with hilarious characters and offbeat humour that's a sanctuary for the eccentric and a refuge for the wonderfully weird.
Scott Aukerman, the comedic maestro with a penchant for the peculiar, continues to captivate audiences with his infectious humour, proving that in this crazy world, laughter truly is the best medicine—preferably taken in large doses, delivered by a master jokester like Scott.
Scott is married to actress, former girlfriend, and fellow podcaster Kulap Vilaysack. The couple are proud parents to a nepo-baby named Emerald and two dogs, Georgia Michaela and Molly Ringwald.
Michael English Showalter (born June 17, 1970; Princeton) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and director. He is one third of the sketch comedy trio Stella. Showalter first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's The State, which aired from 1993 to 1995. He co-wrote (with David Wain) and starred in Wet Hot American Summer (2001) and he wrote, directed, and starred in The Baxter (2005), with Michelle Williams, Justin Theroux and Elizabeth Banks. Both of these movies featured many of his co-stars from The State, and so do several of his other projects.
James Joseph "Jim" Norton, Jr. (b July 19, 1968) is an American comedian, radio personality, author, and actor. He is an on-air personality, often dubbed the 'third mic' on The Opie & Anthony Show, which airs on Sirius XM Radio. Norton has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and on the Late Show with David Letterman, filmed an HBO stand-up special for the series One Night Stand as well as his special "Monster Rain", co-starred in the short-lived HBO sitcom Lucky Louie and had cameos in the films Spider-Man, Zack and Miri Make a Porno and Courting Condi.
Robert Archer Delaney is an American-British comedian, actor, author, and activist. He was the co-star and co-author of the TV show Catastrophe, and has showed up in minor parts in blockbuster activity parody films like Deadpool 2 and the Fast and Furious side project Hobbs and Shaw.
Robert Michael Slayton is an American actor and stand-up comedian. He is probably best known for a supporting role in the 2001 film Bandits, and as a frequent guest on The Adam Carolla Show.
Slayton, often referred to as “The Pitbull of Comedy,” has been performing his own intense style of comedy for well over 30 years, becoming one of the best known, respected, and energetic comics working today.
He had scene-stealing roles in the movies Get Shorty, Ed Wood, Dreamgirls, and Bandits. He’s been seen on dozens of television shows, including The Tonight Show, Politically Incorrect, Home Improvement, and in Woody Allen's Amazon TV project, Crisis in Six Scenes.
His many appearances on HBO have included “Comic Relief” and his own Showtime special, "Born to be Bobby". He was a series regular on the HBO series Mind of a Married Man, and played Joey Bishop opposite Ray Liotta and Joe Mantegna in the critically acclaimed film “The Rat Pack”
His distinctive gravelly voice has often been heard on animated shows, including Dr. Katz and Family Guy, as well as many popular radio shows across the country including Howard Stern and regular appearances on SiriusXM.
A seasoned veteran of comedy clubs and late night television, Jimmy Pardo has appeared on such shows as "The Tonight Show", "Conan", "The Late Late Show" and his own half hour special on Comedy Central. Utilizing his trademark crowd work skills, Jimmy spent the last 6 years as Conan O'Brien's opening act at "Conan" tapings. Jimmy has also appeared on "Conan" as a panel guest, a field correspondent and recently filled in as co-host. He also conducts the unconventional celebrity backstage interviews for Teamcoco.com's "The Pardo Patrol." In 2006, Jimmy Pardo became a podcasting pioneer when he began hosting the raucous-but-smart weekly podcast "Never Not Funny", which Entertainment Weekly called "one of the sharpest and gut-bustingest shows on the Internet." The show has been named a top comedy podcast by The AV Club, Esquire, GQ and USA Today, and its guest list (Conan O'Brien, Jon Hamm, Richard Lewis, Zach Galifianakis and Sarah Silverman, just to name a few) reads like a Who's Who of Hollywood. Never Not Funny also hosts the annual Pardcast-a-Thon fundraiser, a 12-hour marathon webcast to benefit Smile Train. To date, the Pardcast-a-Thons have raised over half a million dollars for the charity. Over the years Jimmy has also been seen on such shows as "Comedy Bang Bang", "@Midnight", "Maron" and "Monk". He hosted "National Lampoon's Funny Money" for Game Show Network, four seasons of AMC's "Movies at Our House," and episodes of NBC's "Late Friday", VH1's "The Surreal Life" and "The Playboy Morning Show". Jimmy has recorded three comedy albums: "Uno," "Pompous Clown" and 2013's "Sprezzatura," which Entertainment Weekly named one of the 5 Best Stand-Up Albums of the year.
Stephen John "Steve" Coogan (born October 14, 1965) is an English comedian, actor, writer and producer.
His best known character in the United Kingdom is Alan Partridge, a socially awkward and politically incorrect regional media personality, who featured in several television series, such as The Day Today, Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge and I'm Alan Partridge. Outside the UK, Coogan is better known for his film roles.
Jemaine Clement (born January 10, 1974) is a New Zealand comedian, actor and musician. He is best known as one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords along with Bret McKenzie.
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Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, Hanks is one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide, and is widely regarded as an American cultural icon.
Hanks made his breakthrough with leading roles in the comedies Splash (1984) and Big (1988). He won two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor for starring as a gay lawyer suffering from AIDS in Philadelphia (1993) and a young man with below-average IQ in Forrest Gump (1994). Hanks collaborated with film director Steven Spielberg on five films: Saving Private Ryan (1998), Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Terminal (2004), Bridge of Spies (2015), and The Post (2017), as well as the 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers, which launched him as a director, producer, and screenwriter.
Hanks' other notable films include the romantic comedies Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and You've Got Mail (1998); the dramas Apollo 13 (1995), The Green Mile (1999), Cast Away (2000), Road to Perdition (2002), and Cloud Atlas (2012); and the biographical dramas Saving Mr. Banks (2013), Captain Phillips (2013), Sully (2016), and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019). He has also appeared as the title character in the Robert Langdon film series, and has voiced Sheriff Woody in the Toy Story film series.
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