Bobcat Goldthwait

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Bobcat Goldthwait

Goldthwait at the Sundance Film Festival, January 2006
Born Robert Francis Goldthwait
May 26, 1962 (1962-05-26) (age 47)
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actor, comedian, director, screenwriter
Years active 1980–present

Robert Francis "Bobcat" Goldthwait (born May 26, 1962) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film and television director. He is commonly known for his energetic, rabid stage personality, his dark, acerbic black comedy, and his gruff but high-pitched voice. Goldthwait was ranked as the 61st greatest comedian of all-time by Comedy Central.

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[edit] Early life

Goldthwait was born in Syracuse, New York, the son of Kathleen, a department store employee, and Tom Goldthwait, a sheet metal worker.[1] He was raised in a Catholic working class family.[2] Goldthwait decided on a career as a comedian at an early age and was performing professionally while still in high school at the age of 15. He attended St. Matthew's grammar school in East Syracuse, New York, where he met fellow comedian and voice-over actor Tom Kenny(the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants) in first grade. He and Tom graduated together from Bishop Grimes High School in East Syracuse, New York, in 1980. He and Tom Kenny formed a comedy troupe called The Generic Comics, with East Syracuse native, Tom Nettle. Although nicknamed Bobcat and Tomcat, they did not appear as a comedy team together. Early in his career, Goldthwait also co-wrote with Boston comedy writer Martin Olson, who is listed as writer on his first two comedy specials, Share the Warmth (HBO) and Don't Watch This Show (Cinemax).

[edit] Career

[edit] Stand-up and acting

Goldthwait became recognized as a solo stand-up comedian and had two televised concert specials in the 1980s: An Evening with Bobcat Goldthwait — Share the Warmth and Bob Goldthwait — Is He Like That All the Time? He became known for his unique brand of comedy, which combines elements of political satire and often bizarre or somewhat unsettling black comedy.

Goldthwait and Robin Williams appeared on the same bill together but not as a comedy team using the names "Jack Cheese" and "Marty Fromage." Goldthwait used the name Jack Cheese when he appeared in the film Tapeheads; when Williams made a cameo as Mime Jerry in Goldthwait's Shakes the Clown, he was billed as Marty Fromage.

Goldthwait has appeared in several movies. His first major role was in the Police Academy series. He starred in the 1986 comedy film One Crazy Summer, which also starred John Cusack, and his other big role was in the 1987 comedy film Burglar with Whoopi Goldberg. He also starred in Scrooged with Bill Murray. He notably starred in Hot to Trot in 1988 with John Candy and Dabney Coleman. In 1992, Goldthwait wrote, directed, and starred in the movie Shakes the Clown. He also made a cameo appearance as an insane writer in the 1994 film Radioland Murders. In 1985, Goldthwait appeared in Twisted Sister's official video to the songs "Leader of the pack" and "Be Chrool to Your Scuel", from the album Come Out and Play. During the fall of 1993 Goldthwait did stand up material as an opening act for Nirvana on what would be their final North American tour, as well as the promo video for the band's album In Utero, and once fooled an interviewer during a phone interview, impersonating Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl.

On one of the final shows of The Arsenio Hall Show, Goldthwait, upset that the show was coming to an end, stood on the couch of the set and proceeded to spray-paint "Paramount Sucks" on the glass wall, knock over some video equipment and throw the cushions of the couch into the audience as they cheered. (It was believed that Paramount Studios refused to renew Arsenio's contract since The David Letterman Show was now moving to CBS, so Goldthwait took his anger out on Paramount.)

Goldthwait retired from stand-up comedy in 2005. The official final gig took place in Las Vegas in September 2005.[citation needed] He resumed touring in early 2008 temporarily from January through April. He again toured in 2009, performing stand up shows in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on April 3 & 4, and Omaha, Nebraska on August 28 and 29.

The March 28, 2005 article of the New York Post announced that Bobcat Goldthwait was the new director of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live. He had been directing the show since the fall season of 2004. Since joining, ratings for the show increased to over 2 million viewers per night. The numbers have jumped to 50% with teens. In May 2006, he left to pursue his film career. He maintains contact with Jimmy Kimmel (they are good friends) and still directs for television and film. He returned to directing segments for Jimmy Kimmel Live in the summer of 2007.

[edit] Guest appearances

In 1992 Bobcat appeared as a guest co-host of the second episode of the The Ben Stiller Show during the show's first season.

Bobcat appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 1993 where he tossed furniture and ran around the set, then into the audience. He has also made several guest appearances on talk shows as well as comedy programs. On May 9, 1994, Goldthwait appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where he briefly lit the guest chair on fire.[3] As a result, he was charged a $2,700 fine along with the cost of the chair ($698); he was also required to tape several public service announcements about fire safety.[3] The incident was later the basis of the plot for his subsequent appearance on The Larry Sanders Show and also inspired a pseudo-fire safety PSA on MadTV. He was also in the 5th episode of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, "Bobcat", and the 37th episode, "Anniversary".

One of the most recognizable features of Goldthwait's performances is his voice. Goldthwait has voiced characters on the television series Capitol Critters (1992), The Moxy Show (1995), Unhappily Ever After (1995–1999), The Tick (1995), Hercules: The Animated Series (1998–1999), Lilo and Stitch and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000). Goldthwait has also appeared as himself hosting the comedy quiz show Bobcat's Big Ass Show (1998). Goldthwait was also a semi-regular guest in the later seasons of the Tom Bergeron-version of Hollywood Squares in 1998.

Once per show, Bobcat would scream into the back end of a live horse.

Most recently, Goldthwait was a featured guest on the August 20, 2009 episode of Adam Carolla's podcast. And on August 26, 2009 returned to guest on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show with old friend Robin Williams which he revealed a tattoo on his buttocks of an anthropomorphized cymbal with a mustache and slanted eyes (a pun on the cliched Chinese symbol tattoo).

[edit] Sleeping Dogs Lie

Goldthwait's third feature film Sleeping Dogs Lie (originally titled Stay) starring Melinda Page Hamilton was in the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and was part of the "Independent Dramatic Features" competition. Sleeping Dogs Lie is about a youthful, impulsive sexual encounter which opens the door to a dark comedy about the complexities of honesty. It was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in the "Dramatic Features" category. The film was bought by Roadside Attractions & Samuel Goldwyn Films at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival for the North American rights to the film, and was released on October 20, 2006. Gaumont bought the international rights to the film. It was released on February 21, 2007 by Gaumont in France, and on March 16, 2007 in the UK.

[edit] Awards

His film Windy City Heat won a Comedia Award for Best Comedy Film at Montreal's Just for Laughs Film Festival in 2009.

[edit] Personal life

Bobcat Goldthwait is best known for his role of Zed in Police Academy, and for owning the largest statue of Hulk Hogan ever built.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Filmography

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.filmreference.com/film/77/Bob-Goldthwait.html
  2. ^ Champ, Christine (2009-08-19). "Interview: Bobcat Goldthwait on World's Greatest Dad, Time Machines, Woody Allen, and More". Film.com. http://www.film.com/celebrities/bobcat-goldthwait/story/interview-bobcat-goldthwait-worlds-greatest/29736269. Retrieved 2009-08-19. 
  3. ^ a b http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20104764,00.html

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobcat_Goldthwait"