Jim Norton (comedian)
Encyclopedia
James Joseph "Jim" Norton, Jr. (born July 19, 1968) is an American
stand-up comedian, radio personality
, author
, and actor
. He is an on-air personality, often dubbed the 'third mic' on The Opie and Anthony Show
, which airs on Sirius XM Radio. Norton has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno six times 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
.
Norton hosted a four episode stand-up showcase for HBO titled Down and Dirty with Jim Norton and appeared on The Comedy Central Roast
of Bob Saget
and Gabriel Iglesias
. He was also in Jerry Seinfeld
's 2002 documentary Comedian
. Jim is also a regular correspondent on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
.
soon after, at age 17. A couple of years later he attended Middlesex County College
, where he earned a B
in English
, an F in Problems and Statistics
, an F in Western Civilization
and an F in Biology
. A year later he obtained his GED, after being sober
for around three years.
's special Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
. Norton became a comedian in the early 1990s, when comic Jim Florentine
helped Norton receive his first paying stand-up gig.
Show on WNEW in late 2000 after several guest appearances by himself and along with Andrew Dice Clay
.
In 2002, Norton began appearing on the show three days a week (Tuesdays through Thursdays). Before Norton could become an official member of the radio show, it was canceled by Infinity Broadcasting (now CBS Radio
) due to the St. Patrick's Cathedral
"Sex for Sam 3" incident on August 15, 2002. Norton has co-hosted The Opie and Anthony
Show since it reemerged on XM Radio in October 2004. He is famous for such bits as "Frrrrrrunkis," "Uncle Paul," "Ted Sheckler", "Boardroom Jimmy" (a jargon-spouting stereotypical executive along the lines of Jim Cramer from Mad Money
), "Jimcy" (parodying the title character of 70's TV show Quincy, M.E.
played by Jack Klugman
) "Bill Tetley", "Lyle 'Chip' Chipperson" and calling in and screaming "Ramone," as Steve from Yellowstone, when the show hosts irritating guests. .
On December 2, 2009, when the Opie and Anthony Show hosted former Governor of Minnesota
Jesse Ventura
, an argument between Norton and Ventura erupted while the discussion was on the September 11 attacks (the official account of which Ventura questions) and the "counter-terrorism" measures against illegal immigration. Ventura was arguing against the INS
practice of stopping individuals and asking for ID, because this is "in the [U.S.] Constitution". At some point, when Norton disagreed with him on this, Ventura suggested that Norton did not believe in the Constitution
, to which Norton strongly objected. Soon after, Ventura walked off the air and the two exchanged explicit comments towards one another.
On May 27, 2010, The Jim Norton Show premiered on Raw Dog Comedy. Norton hosts the program, which features other comedians as well as clips of live stand-up.
's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn
, He was selected to be among the final twenty contestants for the second season of Last Comic Standing
, but had to back out due to contractual obligations.
His first half-hour HBO stand-up special aired on October 21, 2005, as part of the HBO Stand-up Series One Night Stand
. In the spring of 2007, Norton filmed his second HBO stand-up special which aired live on October 13, 2007.
In 2006, Norton landed the role of Rich on the HBO series Lucky Louie
. Rich is a foul-mouthed, perverted, "ill-informed", straight shooting character who lives with his mother and deals pot to high schoolers for a living, departing from the traditionally tamer sitcom model of a supporting character. Lucky Louie
ran for one season before HBO opted not to renew the series.
In June 2008, Norton taped several episodes of The Gong Show with Dave Attell
as one of the celebrity judges.
Since mid-2007, Norton has been a regular guest on Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld
on the Fox News Channel
. On June 21, 2010, Norton guest-hosted RedEye.
Norton appeared regularly as a correspondent for The Jay Leno Show
as Jim Norton: The Uninvited Guest.
In 2010 & 2011, Norton appeared in Louis CK's FX sitcom, Louie
.
and the Comedy Cellar
, and sometimes performed at the weekly alternative standup "Eating It" show at the Luna Lounge
before it closed in 2005. He is friends with several other comedians, including Rich Vos
, Reverend Bob Levy
, Jim Florentine
, Otto Petersen (of the R-rated ventriloquist act Otto & George
), Bill Burr
, Kevin Hart
, Colin Quinn
, Louis C.K.
, Robert Kelly
, Patrice Oneal
, Wendel Zimet, Gerald Sherbert, Keith Robinson and Artie Lange
. Norton was the Best Man at Rich Vos's 2005 wedding to Bonnie McFarlane. Dom Irrera
has described Norton as one of today's best comedians. Norton was the headline comedian for some dates of Traveling Virus comedy tour. He returned to the 2007
tour as well.
Norton performed at Bonnaroo
in 2008.
Show that Norton was close to finishing a book believed to be an autobiographical collection of stories and anecdotes from his childhood and his comedy career. However, the final title of the book ended up as "Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch" due to publishing conflicts. The book was released on July 10, 2007. It reached #4 on the New York Times Bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction. The book entered the Amazon.com
Top 10 for books on the day it was released, peaking at #7. Norton has admitted in the book his love of literature, most notably his admiration of the Irish author, poet and playwright Samuel Beckett
. Beckett’s minimalist, bleak and existential viewpoint immediately appealed to Norton's wry and often scathing sense of humor. An ex-girlfriend introduced him to Beckett’s work while in his late twenties. In an excerpt from his book Norton writes, “(she) would often quote passages from Molloy
and Endgame
while squatting over my chest…one night, during the awkwardness caused by the delay of her laxative taking effect, she looked down at me and asked, ‘Are you Waiting for Godot
or Krapp's Last Tape
you dirty boy!’ We both cracked up like silly geese and I knew I was in love.”
Norton's second book I Hate Your Guts came out on November 4, 2008. It reached #13 on the New York Times Bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction.
in the film Spider-Man
. As a surly truck driver character, Norton replies "He stinks and I don't like him".
Norton had a pivotal role in the film Courting Condi
, counseling Devin Ratray
on how to win the heart of Condoleezza Rice
, and especially advising him "not to get your bag stuck between the gap in her teeth".
Norton also appears in the film Zack and Miri Make a Porno
, directed by Kevin Smith
.
In 2010, Norton appeared in the films Furry Vengeance
and Kevin Smith's Cop Out.
. His second CD, Trinkets I Own Made from Gorilla Hands
, was released in April 2005.
In 2007, Norton released his first book, entitled Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch.
Jim's latest album "Despicable" was released on March 8, 2011.
and show producer Rick Delgado in connection with a stunt named "Voyeur Bus" involving a transparent bus full of topless women driving through Manhattan
streets. This bus rode around Manhattan
while being broadcast on the "Opie and Anthony
" radio show. Unfortunately, radio station management did not inform the O&A show that the bus' route was also the route that President Clinton was taking that same day. Twenty-eight hours after the arrest, Black and Norton were released.
On October 9, 2008, it was reported that Norton was being sued by Roy Hollander over his treatment during a phone interview on the Opie & Anthony Show. On August 28, 2009, the New York Post reported that Hollander would drop his suit if Norton would also drop his motion to have Hollander sanctioned for filing a baseless claim, as well as being forced to pay Norton's legal fees.
Writer
Self
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stand-up comedian, radio personality
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He is an on-air personality, often dubbed the 'third mic' on The Opie and Anthony Show
Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony are the hosts of The Opie & Anthony Show, a talk radio program airing in the United States and Canada on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Since the merger of the two satellite companies, this is now called Sirius/XM...
, which airs on Sirius XM Radio. Norton has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno six times and on the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
, filmed an HBO stand-up special for the series One Night Stand
One Night Stand
One Night Stand is an HBO stand-up series that first aired on February 15, 1989. The half-hour series aired weekly and featured stand-up comedy specials from some of the top performing comedians. The series originally comprised 55 specials over the course of its four years on HBO...
as well as his special "Monster Rain", co-starred in the short-lived HBO sitcom Lucky Louie
Lucky Louie
Lucky Louie is an American television sitcom created by Louis C.K., that aired for one season on HBO in 2006. In addition to being the creator, writer and executive producer of the series, C.K. stars as the eponymous Louie, a part-time mechanic...
and had cameos
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the films Spider-Man
Spider-Man (film)
Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film, the first in the Spider-Man film series based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp...
, Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. It is Smith's second film not to be set within the View Askewniverse and the first not set in New Jersey. It was...
and Courting Condi
Courting Condi
Courting Condi is a 2008 film by British filmmaker Sebastian Doggart that portrays the quest of a love-struck man, actor Devin Ratray, who wants to win the heart of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.-Plot:...
.
Norton hosted a four episode stand-up showcase for HBO titled Down and Dirty with Jim Norton and appeared on The Comedy Central Roast
Comedy Central Roast
The Comedy Central Roasts are a series of celebrity roast specials which air on the Comedy Central cable network.-History:Between 1998 and 2001, Comedy Central produced and televised the annual roasts of the New York Friars' Club. After the original five-year agreement expired, the network began...
of Bob Saget
Bob Saget
Robert Lane "Bob" Saget is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. Although he is best known for his roles as Danny Tanner in Full House, host of America's Funniest Home Videos and Future Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother, Saget is also known outside of television for his blue...
and Gabriel Iglesias
Gabriel Iglesias
Gabriel J. Iglecias , known professionally as Gabriel Iglesias, is an American standup comedian and actor, known for his shows I’m Not Fat… I’m Fluffy and Hot & Fluffy.-Early life:...
. He was also in Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
's 2002 documentary Comedian
Comedian (film)
Comedian is a 2002 documentary focusing on Jerry Seinfeld that explores the other side of stand-up comedy; that is, the preparation, politics, nerves, creativity, and so on. The film also features an up-and-coming comic named Orny Adams as he struggles to make it in show business...
. Jim is also a regular correspondent on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
.
Early life
Norton dropped out of high school in his senior year and never graduated. He entered rehabDrug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
soon after, at age 17. A couple of years later he attended Middlesex County College
Middlesex County College
Middlesex County College is a community college with its main campus located in Edison, New Jersey, United States. The two-year college serves the needs of Middlesex County, as well as surrounding communities. There are two urban campuses located in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy.The college was...
, where he earned a B
Academic grading in the United States
Academic grading in the United States most commonly takes on the form of five letter grades. Historically, the grades were A, B, C, D, and F—A being the highest and F, denoting failure, the lowest. In the mid-twentieth century, many American educational institutions—especially in the Midwest —began...
in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
, an F in Problems and Statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
, an F in Western Civilization
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
and an F in Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
. A year later he obtained his GED, after being sober
Sobriety
Sobriety is the condition of not having any measurable levels, or effects from, alcohol or other drugs that alter ones mood or behaviors. According to WHO "Lexicon of alcohol and drug terms..." sobriety is continued abstinence from alcohol and psychoactive drug use...
for around three years.
Career
At age 12, Norton decided he wanted to be a comedian after seeing Richard PryorRichard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets...
's special Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert was the second of Richard Pryor's filmed concert performances, but the first to be released theatrically...
. Norton became a comedian in the early 1990s, when comic Jim Florentine
Jim Florentine
James "Jim" Florentine is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, comedian, voice artist, and performer...
helped Norton receive his first paying stand-up gig.
Radio
Norton became a regular guest on The Opie and AnthonyOpie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony are the hosts of The Opie & Anthony Show, a talk radio program airing in the United States and Canada on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Since the merger of the two satellite companies, this is now called Sirius/XM...
Show on WNEW in late 2000 after several guest appearances by himself and along with Andrew Dice Clay
Andrew Dice Clay
Andrew Dice Clay is an American comedian and actor who played the lead role in the film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.Clay has been in several movies and has released a number of stand-up albums...
.
In 2002, Norton began appearing on the show three days a week (Tuesdays through Thursdays). Before Norton could become an official member of the radio show, it was canceled by Infinity Broadcasting (now CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
) due to the St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
"Sex for Sam 3" incident on August 15, 2002. Norton has co-hosted The Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony are the hosts of The Opie & Anthony Show, a talk radio program airing in the United States and Canada on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Since the merger of the two satellite companies, this is now called Sirius/XM...
Show since it reemerged on XM Radio in October 2004. He is famous for such bits as "Frrrrrrunkis," "Uncle Paul," "Ted Sheckler", "Boardroom Jimmy" (a jargon-spouting stereotypical executive along the lines of Jim Cramer from Mad Money
Mad Money
Mad Money is an American finance television program hosted by Jim Cramer that began airing on CNBC on March 14, 2005. Its main focus is investment and speculation, particularly in publicly traded stocks...
), "Jimcy" (parodying the title character of 70's TV show Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E., also called Quincy, is a United States television series from Universal Studios that aired from October 3, 1976, to September 5, 1983, on NBC...
played by Jack Klugman
Jack Klugman
Jacob Joachim "Jack" Klugman is an American stage, film and television actor known for his roles in sitcoms, movies, and television and on Broadway...
) "Bill Tetley", "Lyle 'Chip' Chipperson" and calling in and screaming "Ramone," as Steve from Yellowstone, when the show hosts irritating guests. .
On December 2, 2009, when the Opie and Anthony Show hosted former Governor of Minnesota
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
Jesse Ventura
Jesse Ventura
James George Janos , better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American politician, the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, Navy UDT veteran, former SEAL reservist, actor, and former radio and television talk show host...
, an argument between Norton and Ventura erupted while the discussion was on the September 11 attacks (the official account of which Ventura questions) and the "counter-terrorism" measures against illegal immigration. Ventura was arguing against the INS
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
practice of stopping individuals and asking for ID, because this is "in the [U.S.] Constitution". At some point, when Norton disagreed with him on this, Ventura suggested that Norton did not believe in the Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, to which Norton strongly objected. Soon after, Ventura walked off the air and the two exchanged explicit comments towards one another.
On May 27, 2010, The Jim Norton Show premiered on Raw Dog Comedy. Norton hosts the program, which features other comedians as well as clips of live stand-up.
Television
For two years, Norton was a regular on Comedy CentralComedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn
Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn
Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn is a comedic talk show that aired on Comedy Central. The show featured roundtable discussions, inviting various guests of many views, mixing mostly comics/entertainers expressing themselves with journalists and political figures. Quinn's regular guests consisted mainly...
, He was selected to be among the final twenty contestants for the second season of Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing is an American reality television talent show that has aired from 2003 through 2010.The goal of the program is to select a comedian from a group, who will receive a development contract with the NBC network, and a television special first to air on the cable-TV network Comedy...
, but had to back out due to contractual obligations.
His first half-hour HBO stand-up special aired on October 21, 2005, as part of the HBO Stand-up Series One Night Stand
One Night Stand
One Night Stand is an HBO stand-up series that first aired on February 15, 1989. The half-hour series aired weekly and featured stand-up comedy specials from some of the top performing comedians. The series originally comprised 55 specials over the course of its four years on HBO...
. In the spring of 2007, Norton filmed his second HBO stand-up special which aired live on October 13, 2007.
In 2006, Norton landed the role of Rich on the HBO series Lucky Louie
Lucky Louie
Lucky Louie is an American television sitcom created by Louis C.K., that aired for one season on HBO in 2006. In addition to being the creator, writer and executive producer of the series, C.K. stars as the eponymous Louie, a part-time mechanic...
. Rich is a foul-mouthed, perverted, "ill-informed", straight shooting character who lives with his mother and deals pot to high schoolers for a living, departing from the traditionally tamer sitcom model of a supporting character. Lucky Louie
Lucky Louie
Lucky Louie is an American television sitcom created by Louis C.K., that aired for one season on HBO in 2006. In addition to being the creator, writer and executive producer of the series, C.K. stars as the eponymous Louie, a part-time mechanic...
ran for one season before HBO opted not to renew the series.
In June 2008, Norton taped several episodes of The Gong Show with Dave Attell
The Gong Show
The Gong Show is an amateur talent contest franchised by Sony Pictures Television to many countries. It was broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976 through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976–1980 and 1988–1989. The show was produced by Chuck Barris, who also served...
as one of the celebrity judges.
Since mid-2007, Norton has been a regular guest on Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld
Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld
Red Eye w/Greg Gutfeld is a late-night/early-morning satirical talk show on the Fox News Channel, airing at 3:00 am ET Tuesday through Saturday. The show features panelists and guests discussing the latest news in politics, pop culture, entertainment, business, sports, and religion...
on the Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
. On June 21, 2010, Norton guest-hosted RedEye.
Norton appeared regularly as a correspondent for The Jay Leno Show
The Jay Leno Show
The Jay Leno Show is an American comedy show created by and starring Jay Leno, that aired from September 14, 2009 to February 9, 2010 on NBC following the May 29, 2009 conclusion of Leno's first tenure as host of The Tonight Show...
as Jim Norton: The Uninvited Guest.
In 2010 & 2011, Norton appeared in Louis CK's FX sitcom, Louie
Louie (TV series)
Louie is an American comedy television series on the FX network that began airing in 2010. It is written, directed, edited and produced by the show's creator, stand-up comedian Louis C.K., who stars as a fictionalized version of himself, a comedian and newly divorced father raising his two...
.
Stand-up
Norton frequently tours the country, performing at the most well-known comedy clubs. In 2004, Norton was voted best comedian and breakthrough performer of the year on the Cringe Humor website, which is dedicated to some prominent New York comedians. Norton frequently performs at Caroline'sCaroline's
Carolines on Broadway is a venue for stand-up comedy located in Times Square in New York City on Broadway between 49th and 50th Street. It is one of the most established, famous, and recognized stand-up comedy clubs in the United States. Its marketing slogan is "America's Premiere Comedy...
and the Comedy Cellar
Comedy Cellar
The Comedy Cellar is a comedy club in Manhattan, where many top New York comedians perform. It was founded in 1982 by then standup comedian, and current television writer/producer Bill Grundfest...
, and sometimes performed at the weekly alternative standup "Eating It" show at the Luna Lounge
Luna Lounge
Luna Lounge was a bar at 171 Ludlow Street, on the west side of Ludlow Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side. It opened in 1995, and was a popular venue for local bands and stand-up comics...
before it closed in 2005. He is friends with several other comedians, including Rich Vos
Rich Vos
Richard Ira "Rich" Vos is an American comedian. Originally from Plainfield, New Jersey, Vos has been a working stand-up for decades. Colin Quinn described Vos in his early days as a "Jersey Hack"....
, Reverend Bob Levy
Reverend Bob Levy
"The Reverend" Bob Levy is an American stand-up comedian and radio personality who is most well known as the host of the comedy roasts and frequent guest on the Opie and Anthony Show as well as the Howard Stern Show, co-host of the Miserable Men show on Howard 101, and stand-up comedy performances...
, Jim Florentine
Jim Florentine
James "Jim" Florentine is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, comedian, voice artist, and performer...
, Otto Petersen (of the R-rated ventriloquist act Otto & George
Otto & George
Otto & George is an adult-themed ventriloquist comedy team composed of comedian Otto Petersen and his dummy George Dudley. Petersen began performing with George as a street act in Manhattan and Brooklyn in the early 1970s...
), Bill Burr
Bill Burr
William "Bill" Burr is an American stand-up comedian, radio host and actor.-Life and career:Burr was born in Canton, Massachusetts. His father was a dentist, and Bill worked as a hygienist for a short time. He began stand-up at age 23 after attending Emerson College. In 1995, he moved to New...
, Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart
Kevin John Hart is a British-Australian theologian, philosopher and poet. He is currently Edwin B. Kyle Professor of Christian Studies and Chair of the Religious Studies Department at the University of Virginia...
, Colin Quinn
Colin Quinn
Colin Edward Quinn is an American stand-up comedian and writer best known for his five years in the cast of Saturday Night Live, as the sidekick/announcer of MTV's late 1980s gameshow Remote Control and as host of Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn on Comedy Central from 2002–2004.-Early years:Quinn was...
, Louis C.K.
Louis C.K.
Louis Szekely , known professionally as Louis C.K., is a stand-up comedian, television and film writer, actor, producer, and director...
, Robert Kelly
Robert Kelly (comedian)
Robert Kelly is an Irish-American stand-up comedian from Boston, Massachusetts. He frequently performs at the Comedy Cellar...
, Patrice Oneal
Patrice Oneal
Patrice Lumumba Malcolm Oneal , usually credited as Patrice O'Neal, was an American stand-up comedian, radio personality, and actor. He was known for his cutting, often confrontational crowd work during which he often played couples against each other...
, Wendel Zimet, Gerald Sherbert, Keith Robinson and Artie Lange
Artie Lange
Arthur Steven "Artie" Lange, Jr. is an American actor, comedian and radio personality best known for his tenures with the The Howard Stern Show and the comedy sketch series MADtv....
. Norton was the Best Man at Rich Vos's 2005 wedding to Bonnie McFarlane. Dom Irrera
Dom Irrera
Domenick Jack Irrera , originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a stand-up comedian. Much of his material is in the form of stories about his life, especially his childhood years and growing up in an Italian-American family, which contributes to the "natural" feel of his...
has described Norton as one of today's best comedians. Norton was the headline comedian for some dates of Traveling Virus comedy tour. He returned to the 2007
Opie and Anthony's Traveling Virus Comedy Tour (2007)
The Opie and Anthony Traveling Virus is a concert tour starring comedians featured on Opie and Anthony, a talk radio show which airs on XM Satellite Radio. It is the second annual Traveling Virus tour, the first one occurring in 2006 in four different US cities...
tour as well.
Norton performed at Bonnaroo
Bonnaroo Music Festival
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an annual four day music festival created and produced by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment, held at Great Stage Park on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. It hosted its tenth annual event June 9–12, 2011...
in 2008.
Writing
In February 2007, it was learned on The Opie and AnthonyOpie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony are the hosts of The Opie & Anthony Show, a talk radio program airing in the United States and Canada on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Since the merger of the two satellite companies, this is now called Sirius/XM...
Show that Norton was close to finishing a book believed to be an autobiographical collection of stories and anecdotes from his childhood and his comedy career. However, the final title of the book ended up as "Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch" due to publishing conflicts. The book was released on July 10, 2007. It reached #4 on the New York Times Bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction. The book entered the Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
Top 10 for books on the day it was released, peaking at #7. Norton has admitted in the book his love of literature, most notably his admiration of the Irish author, poet and playwright Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
. Beckett’s minimalist, bleak and existential viewpoint immediately appealed to Norton's wry and often scathing sense of humor. An ex-girlfriend introduced him to Beckett’s work while in his late twenties. In an excerpt from his book Norton writes, “(she) would often quote passages from Molloy
Molloy (novel)
Molloy is a novel by Samuel Beckett. The English translation is by Beckett and Patrick Bowles.-Plot introduction:On first appearance the book concerns two different characters, both of whom have interior monologues in the book. As the story moves along the two characters are distinguished by name...
and Endgame
Endgame (play)
Endgame, by Samuel Beckett, is a one-act play with four characters, written in a style associated with the Theatre of the Absurd. It was originally written in French ; as was his custom, Beckett himself translated it into English. The play was first performed in a French-language production at the...
while squatting over my chest…one night, during the awkwardness caused by the delay of her laxative taking effect, she looked down at me and asked, ‘Are you Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Godot is an absurdist play by Samuel Beckett, in which two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait endlessly and in vain for someone named Godot to arrive. Godot's absence, as well as numerous other aspects of the play, have led to many different interpretations since the play's...
or Krapp's Last Tape
Krapp's Last Tape
Krapp's Last Tape is a one-act play, written in English, by Samuel Beckett. Consisting of a cast of one man, it was originally written for Northern Irish actor Patrick Magee and first titled "Magee monologue"...
you dirty boy!’ We both cracked up like silly geese and I knew I was in love.”
Norton's second book I Hate Your Guts came out on November 4, 2008. It reached #13 on the New York Times Bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction.
Film
Norton had a one line cameoCameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the film Spider-Man
Spider-Man (film)
Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film, the first in the Spider-Man film series based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp...
. As a surly truck driver character, Norton replies "He stinks and I don't like him".
Norton had a pivotal role in the film Courting Condi
Courting Condi
Courting Condi is a 2008 film by British filmmaker Sebastian Doggart that portrays the quest of a love-struck man, actor Devin Ratray, who wants to win the heart of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.-Plot:...
, counseling Devin Ratray
Devin Ratray
Devin D. Ratray is an American actor, singer and songwriter. He is most famous for his roles in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.-Biography:...
on how to win the heart of Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
, and especially advising him "not to get your bag stuck between the gap in her teeth".
Norton also appears in the film Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. It is Smith's second film not to be set within the View Askewniverse and the first not set in New Jersey. It was...
, directed by Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
.
In 2010, Norton appeared in the films Furry Vengeance
Furry Vengeance
Furry Vengeance is a 2010 American comedy film directed by Roger Kumble. It stars Brendan Fraser, Matt Prokop, and Brooke Shields.-Plot:It all started when a prairie dog screams after Riggs' car passes by it and throwing a cigar, not minding about the environment...
and Kevin Smith's Cop Out.
Selected works
Norton's first CD was released in 2003 entitled Yellow DisciplineYellow Discipline
Yellow Discipline is the first full-length comedy album from comedian Jim Norton.-Track listing:#"Vinny's awful intro"#"New Joisey"#"Fargo & a droopy lip"#"kill yourself in Seattle"#"Bed, Bath & Beyond"#"Boca Raton and shaky people"...
. His second CD, Trinkets I Own Made from Gorilla Hands
Trinkets I Own Made From Gorilla Hands
Trinkets I Own Made From Gorilla Hands is the second full-length comedy album released by comedian Jim Norton. It was recorded at The Stress Factory, a club near Norton's home town of Bayonne, New Jersey...
, was released in April 2005.
In 2007, Norton released his first book, entitled Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch.
Jim's latest album "Despicable" was released on March 8, 2011.
Legal troubles
In 2000, Norton was arrested with Lewis BlackLewis Black
Lewis Niles Black 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...
and show producer Rick Delgado in connection with a stunt named "Voyeur Bus" involving a transparent bus full of topless women driving through Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
streets. This bus rode around Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
while being broadcast on the "Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony are the hosts of The Opie & Anthony Show, a talk radio program airing in the United States and Canada on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Since the merger of the two satellite companies, this is now called Sirius/XM...
" radio show. Unfortunately, radio station management did not inform the O&A show that the bus' route was also the route that President Clinton was taking that same day. Twenty-eight hours after the arrest, Black and Norton were released.
On October 9, 2008, it was reported that Norton was being sued by Roy Hollander over his treatment during a phone interview on the Opie & Anthony Show. On August 28, 2009, the New York Post reported that Hollander would drop his suit if Norton would also drop his motion to have Hollander sanctioned for filing a baseless claim, as well as being forced to pay Norton's legal fees.
Filmography
Actor- 1997: Brokers ...Homeless Guy
- 2000: Sidesplitters: The Burt & Dick Story ...Dick
- 2000: EdEd (TV series)Ed is an NBC television program co-produced by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants Incorporated, NBC Productions, and Viacom Productions that aired from 2000 to 2004....
.... (two episodes) - 2002: Run Ronnie RunRun Ronnie RunRun Ronnie Run is an American direct-to-video comedy film produced in 2001 and released in 2003, a spin-off from the HBO sketch comedy show Mr. Show. The recurring character Ronnie Dobbs is the focal point of the movie...
...Police Officer (uncredited) - 2002: American Dummy .... Eddie Barnum
- 2002: Errors, Freaks & Oddities .... Paul
- 2002: Tough Crowd with Colin QuinnTough Crowd with Colin QuinnTough Crowd with Colin Quinn is a comedic talk show that aired on Comedy Central. The show featured roundtable discussions, inviting various guests of many views, mixing mostly comics/entertainers expressing themselves with journalists and political figures. Quinn's regular guests consisted mainly...
.... Himself - 2002: Spider-ManSpider-Man (film)Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film, the first in the Spider-Man film series based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp...
.... Surly Truck Driver - 2006: Crooks....Paul
- 2002: Rock Bottom .... Diesel
- 2003: The Gynecologists ...Sheldrake
- 2006: Lucky LouieLucky LouieLucky Louie is an American television sitcom created by Louis C.K., that aired for one season on HBO in 2006. In addition to being the creator, writer and executive producer of the series, C.K. stars as the eponymous Louie, a part-time mechanic...
(TV) .... Rich - 2006: BullyBully (video game)Bully, also known as Canis Canem Edit for the PAL PlayStation 2 version, is an open world video game released by Rockstar Vancouver for the PlayStation 2 on 17 October 2006 in North America, and 25 October 2006 in the United Kingdom...
(Video Game) .... Officer Morrison - 2008: Zack and Miri Make a PornoZack and Miri Make a PornoZack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. It is Smith's second film not to be set within the View Askewniverse and the first not set in New Jersey. It was...
...Man being interviewed for porn movie - 2008: Grand Theft Auto IVGrand Theft Auto IVGrand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
(Video Game; Radio Personality) .... Chuck on "Just or Unjust" on WKTT Radio - 2009: Courting CondiCourting CondiCourting Condi is a 2008 film by British filmmaker Sebastian Doggart that portrays the quest of a love-struck man, actor Devin Ratray, who wants to win the heart of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.-Plot:...
- 2010: Cop Out
- 2010: Furry VengeanceFurry VengeanceFurry Vengeance is a 2010 American comedy film directed by Roger Kumble. It stars Brendan Fraser, Matt Prokop, and Brooke Shields.-Plot:It all started when a prairie dog screams after Riggs' car passes by it and throwing a cigar, not minding about the environment...
Writer
- 2005: One Night StandOne Night StandOne Night Stand is an HBO stand-up series that first aired on February 15, 1989. The half-hour series aired weekly and featured stand-up comedy specials from some of the top performing comedians. The series originally comprised 55 specials over the course of its four years on HBO...
(TV) (unknown episodes) - 2007: Jim Norton: Monster Rain (TV)
Self
- 1998: The Jim BreuerJim BreuerJim Breuer is an American stand-up comedian, actor and radio host. He is most noted for his time as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and starring in the 1998 cult "stoner comedy" Half Baked, alongside Dave Chappelle....
Show ...Himself (1 Episode) - 2002: Comedian ...Himself
- 2002: Tough Crowd with Colin QuinnTough Crowd with Colin QuinnTough Crowd with Colin Quinn is a comedic talk show that aired on Comedy Central. The show featured roundtable discussions, inviting various guests of many views, mixing mostly comics/entertainers expressing themselves with journalists and political figures. Quinn's regular guests consisted mainly...
(TV) ...Himself (unknown episodes) - 2004: Meet The Creeps Vol. 1 ...Himself
- 2004: Last Comic StandingLast Comic StandingLast Comic Standing is an American reality television talent show that has aired from 2003 through 2010.The goal of the program is to select a comedian from a group, who will receive a development contract with the NBC network, and a television special first to air on the cable-TV network Comedy...
...Himself (1 Episode) - 2004: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno ...Himself (1 Episode)
- 2005: One Night StandOne Night StandOne Night Stand is an HBO stand-up series that first aired on February 15, 1989. The half-hour series aired weekly and featured stand-up comedy specials from some of the top performing comedians. The series originally comprised 55 specials over the course of its four years on HBO...
...Himself (Episode #1.10) - 2005: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno ...Himself (2 Episodes)
- 2006: The Late Show with David Letterman ...Himself (1 Episode)
- 2007: Red Eye w/ Greg GutfeldRed Eye w/ Greg GutfeldRed Eye w/Greg Gutfeld is a late-night/early-morning satirical talk show on the Fox News Channel, airing at 3:00 am ET Tuesday through Saturday. The show features panelists and guests discussing the latest news in politics, pop culture, entertainment, business, sports, and religion...
...Himself - 2007: Lucky Louie: A Week In The LifeLucky LouieLucky Louie is an American television sitcom created by Louis C.K., that aired for one season on HBO in 2006. In addition to being the creator, writer and executive producer of the series, C.K. stars as the eponymous Louie, a part-time mechanic...
...Himself (1 Episode) - 2007: Jimmy Kimmel LiveJimmy Kimmel LiveJimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC.The nightly hour-long show made its debut on January 26, 2003, following Super Bowl XXXVII. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is produced by Jackhole Productions in association with ABC Studios...
...Himself (1 Episode) - 2007: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno ...Himself
- 2007: Jim Norton: Monster Rain (TV) ...Himself
- 2007: Looking for Lenny Himself
- 2008: Red Eye w/ Greg GutfeldRed Eye w/ Greg GutfeldRed Eye w/Greg Gutfeld is a late-night/early-morning satirical talk show on the Fox News Channel, airing at 3:00 am ET Tuesday through Saturday. The show features panelists and guests discussing the latest news in politics, pop culture, entertainment, business, sports, and religion...
...Himself - 2008: Down and Dirty with Jim Norton (TV) ...Himself
- 2008: The Gong Show with Dave AttellThe Gong Show with Dave AttellThe Gong Show with Dave Attell is a revival of the 1970s Chuck Barris comedy game show called The Gong Show, hosted by comedian Dave Attell. The show premiered on July 17, 2008...
(TV) ...Himself - 2008: The Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget (TV Episode)
- 2008 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno...Himself
- 2009: Chelsea LatelyChelsea LatelyChelsea 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...
...Himself - 2009: Red Eye w/ Greg GutfeldRed Eye w/ Greg GutfeldRed Eye w/Greg Gutfeld is a late-night/early-morning satirical talk show on the Fox News Channel, airing at 3:00 am ET Tuesday through Saturday. The show features panelists and guests discussing the latest news in politics, pop culture, entertainment, business, sports, and religion...
...Himself - 2009: HannityHannityHannity is a television show on the Fox News network, a replacement to the long-running show Hannity & Colmes. It is hosted by conservative political pundit Sean Hannity....
...Himself - 2009: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno...Himself
- 2009: Z Rock ...Himself
- 2010: Chelsea LatelyChelsea LatelyChelsea 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...
...Himself - 2010: Red Eye w/ Greg GutfeldRed Eye w/ Greg GutfeldRed Eye w/Greg Gutfeld is a late-night/early-morning satirical talk show on the Fox News Channel, airing at 3:00 am ET Tuesday through Saturday. The show features panelists and guests discussing the latest news in politics, pop culture, entertainment, business, sports, and religion...
...Himself - 2010: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno...Himself
- 2010: LouieLouie (TV series)Louie is an American comedy television series on the FX network that began airing in 2010. It is written, directed, edited and produced by the show's creator, stand-up comedian Louis C.K., who stars as a fictionalized version of himself, a comedian and newly divorced father raising his two...
- 2011: Chelsea LatelyChelsea LatelyChelsea 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...
...Himself - 2011: Red Eye w/ Greg GutfeldRed Eye w/ Greg GutfeldRed Eye w/Greg Gutfeld is a late-night/early-morning satirical talk show on the Fox News Channel, airing at 3:00 am ET Tuesday through Saturday. The show features panelists and guests discussing the latest news in politics, pop culture, entertainment, business, sports, and religion...
...Himself