Billy Gardell
Encyclopedia
Billy Gardell is an American actor and comedian. Gardell has been visible within the comedy world industry since 1989. He currently portrays Mike Biggs on the CBS television series Mike and Molly.
, Gardell attended Winter Park High School
in Orange County, Florida
during the mid-1980s. Gardell was a member of International Thespian Society
Troupe 850 (whose other notable alumni include Amanda Bearse
and Ben Rock
of The Blair Witch Project
).
(with Billy Bob Thornton
) You, Me, and Dupree (with Owen Wilson
) and Avenging Angelo
(with Sylvester Stallone
and Anthony Quinn
) as well as appearing numerous times in recurring roles in several U.S. television series, including NBC
’s Heist
, The Practice
, Yes, Dear
, Desperate Housewives
, Lucky
, My Name is Earl
, and The King of Queens
. Gardell appeared as himself on the Comedy Central
series Make Me Laugh
.
Gardell is known for his comedic roles. Beginning as a touring comedian at age 19, Gardell “opened” for more famous comedians, including George Carlin
and Dennis Miller
. Subsequently, he appeared on Miller’s television program Dennis Miller, telecast on the U.S. financial news network CNBC
(conducting “man-on-the-street” interviews). Notably, he created and staged a SNL
-style charity performance of a piece called Winter Park Live, the proceeds from which were donated to Comic Relief.
Gardell continues to make weekly appearances on hometown local radio station, WDVE
, appearing on the Jim and Randy Morning Show. Gardell also appeared on Chelsea Lately
, as a roundtable participant. Gardell appeared on a special for Comedy Central Presents
in 2007 that aired on April 4, 2008. Gardell also played the host of Pizza Talk, an imaginary TV show, in commercials for Round Table Pizza
.
In 2006, Gardell’s first comedy album, Billy Gardell: Throwback, was released. As of 2007, Gardell continued to tour as a standup comedian.
Since autumn 2010, Gardell has starred in the CBS
television series Mike & Molly
alongside Melissa McCarthy
.
His new stand-up special, "Halftime" recently aired on Comedy Central
.
Gardell is a Pittsburgh Steelers
fan, having participated in several Terrible Towel
waves with other Steeler fans
at Heinz Field
. His favorite player growing up was Jack Lambert, with his son liking current Steeler Hines Ward
.
Early life
Originally from Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Gardell attended Winter Park High School
Winter Park High School
Winter Park High School located in Winter Park, Florida is one of seventeen public high schools in Orange County. Winter Park High School is a magnet school for the International Baccalaureate program.-History:...
in Orange County, Florida
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
during the mid-1980s. Gardell was a member of International Thespian Society
International Thespian Society
The International Thespian Society is an honorary organization for high-school and middle-school theatre students located at more than 3,600 affiliated secondary schools across the United States, Canada, and abroad. The International Thespian Society was founded in Fairmont, West Virginia...
Troupe 850 (whose other notable alumni include Amanda Bearse
Amanda Bearse
Amanda Bearse is an American actress, director and comedienne best known for her role as wacky neighbor Marcy D'Arcy on Married.....
and Ben Rock
Ben Rock
Ben Rock is an American film and theatre director, based in Los Angeles. Rock's career was launched when he served as production designer on the independent sensation The Blair Witch Project made by fellow University of Central Florida graduates Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez, Greggory R. Hale,...
of The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur footage. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three student filmmakers The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur...
).
Career
Gardell has performed in several feature films, including Bad SantaBad Santa
Bad Santa is a 2003 American screwball black comedy film directed and co-written by Terry Zwigoff, produced by the Coen brothers, and starring Billy Bob Thornton as the title character and Tony Cox as his partner in crime. Actors Bernie Mac and John Ritter co-star...
(with Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
) You, Me, and Dupree (with Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson
Owen Cunningham Wilson is an American actor and writer, known for his roles in the films The Haunting, The Royal Tenenbaums, Zoolander, Meet the Parents, Wedding Crashers, You, Me and Dupree, Bottle Rocket, the Cars series, The Darjeeling Limited, Marley & Me, Midnight in Paris, Shanghai Noon,...
) and Avenging Angelo
Avenging Angelo
Avenging Angelo is a 2002 American film directed by Martyn Burke that stars Sylvester Stallone and Madeleine Stowe. This is the last film in which Anthony Quinn appeared...
(with Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
and Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
) as well as appearing numerous times in recurring roles in several U.S. television series, including NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
’s Heist
Heist (TV series)
Heist is an American television series that premiered March 22, 2006, on NBC, but was almost immediately canceled due to low ratings. The series was from acclaimed director Doug Liman and revolved around professional thief Mickey O' Neil , who created a team of experts to try to pull off the...
, The Practice
The Practice
The Practice is an American legal drama created by David E. Kelley centering on the partners and associates at a Boston law firm. Running for eight seasons from 1997 to 2004, the show won the Emmy in 1998 and 1999 for Best Drama Series, and spawned the successful and lighter spin-off series Boston...
, Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear is a television sitcom that aired from October 2, 2000, to February 15, 2006, on CBS. It starred Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley and Liza Snyder....
, Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
, Lucky
Lucky (TV series)
Lucky is an American dark comedy television series which ran for one season on FX Networks in 2003. The show starred John Corbett as Michael "Lucky" Linkletter, a professional poker player and gambling addict. The series was created by Robb Cullen and Mark Cullen...
, My Name is Earl
My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
, and The King of Queens
The King of Queens
The King of Queens is an American sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007.This show was produced by Hanley Productions and CBS Productions , CBS Paramount Television ,and CBS Television Studios in association with Columbia TriStar Television , and Sony Pictures...
. Gardell appeared as himself on the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
series Make Me Laugh
Make Me Laugh
Make Me Laugh was an American game show in which contestants watched three stand-up comedians performing their acts, one at a time, earning one dollar for every second that they could make it through without laughing. Each comedian got sixty seconds to try to crack the contestant up...
.
Gardell is known for his comedic roles. Beginning as a touring comedian at age 19, Gardell “opened” for more famous comedians, including George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
and Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
. Subsequently, he appeared on Miller’s television program Dennis Miller, telecast on the U.S. financial news network CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
(conducting “man-on-the-street” interviews). Notably, he created and staged a SNL
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
-style charity performance of a piece called Winter Park Live, the proceeds from which were donated to Comic Relief.
Gardell continues to make weekly appearances on hometown local radio station, WDVE
WDVE
WDVE is a mainstream rock music formatted radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA at 102.5 MHz. It is often referred to by Pittsburghers as simply "DVE." WDVE's transmitter is located on Pittsburgh's North Side...
, appearing on the Jim and Randy Morning Show. Gardell also appeared on Chelsea Lately
Chelsea Lately
Chelsea Lately is an American late night comedy talk show hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler on E!. The show debuted on July 16, 2007, and is produced by Handler's production company, Borderline Amazing Productions...
, as a roundtable participant. Gardell appeared on a special for Comedy Central Presents
Comedy Central Presents
Comedy Central Presents is a half-hour long stand-up show that features various stand-up comedians in each episode.-DVDs:Starting in 2008, Comedy Central started releasing "Best of" compilation DVDs, with uncensored audio...
in 2007 that aired on April 4, 2008. Gardell also played the host of Pizza Talk, an imaginary TV show, in commercials for Round Table Pizza
Round Table Pizza
Round Table Pizza is a large chain of pizza parlors in the western United States. The company's headquarters are located in Concord, California.The company slogan for many years has been "The Last Honest Pizza".- History :...
.
In 2006, Gardell’s first comedy album, Billy Gardell: Throwback, was released. As of 2007, Gardell continued to tour as a standup comedian.
Since autumn 2010, Gardell has starred in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television series Mike & Molly
Mike & Molly
Mike & Molly is an American sitcom created by Mark Roberts, which premiered on CBS on September 20, 2010. The series stars Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy as the title characters.-Premise:...
alongside Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy is an American actress and comedian.From 2000 to 2007, she portrayed Sookie St. James on the The WB television series Gilmore Girls. From 2007 to 2009, she portrayed Dena on the ABC sitcom Samantha Who? She currently stars in the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly, for which she...
.
His new stand-up special, "Halftime" recently aired on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
.
Personal life
Gardell is married to Patty Gardell. They have a 9 year old son William.Gardell is a Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
fan, having participated in several Terrible Towel
Terrible Towel
The Terrible Towel is a rally towel associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team in the National Football League . Created in 1975 by then Steelers radio broadcaster Myron Cope, The Terrible Towel has spread in popularity; fans take their Towel to famous sites while on vacation...
waves with other Steeler fans
Steeler Nation
Steeler Nation is the unofficial name of the fan base of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, coined by NFL Films narrator John Facenda in "Blueprint for Victory," the team's 1975 highlights film...
at Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
. His favorite player growing up was Jack Lambert, with his son liking current Steeler Hines Ward
Hines Ward
Hines E. Ward, Jr. is an American football player who currently plays the wide receiver position for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, where he is the longest-tenured current player on the team. He was voted MVP of Super Bowl XL. He played college football at the University of Georgia...
.
External links
- Billy Gardell at dve.com