David Wain

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David Wain
Wain.jpg
Wain in 2008
Born David Benjamin Wain
(1969-08-01) August 1, 1969 (age 43)
Shaker Heights, Ohio
Spouse(s) Zandy Hartig (2009-)
Website
http://davidwain.com/

David Benjamin Wain (born August 1, 1969) is an American comedian, writer, actor and director. He is most widely known for directing the feature films Role Models and Wet Hot American Summer, the 1990s' sketch comedy series The State and for producing/directing/writing the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital. Wain was a founding member of Stella, along with Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black.

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Early life[edit]

Wain was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Wain first began his career in 1991 as a writer/director, with the short film Aisle Six.[citation needed] The film stars Thomas Lennon, Joe Lo Truglio, Michael Patrick Jann and other members of The State. In 1988 while attending NYU, Wain became a founding member of the sketch comedy group The New Group. This group would later come to be known as The State, and in 1993 he and his fellow members created and starred in The State, a sketch show that lasted 26 episodes on MTV. After The State ended, he, Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter eventually formed the comedy trio Stella. In 1978, a young David (roughly age eight or nine) gave a video tour of Shaker Heights.[1]

Career[edit]

Wain's first feature film Wet Hot American Summer (2001) is an absurdist summer camp comedy starring Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Ken Marino, Michael Ian Black and Elizabeth Banks. Wain directed the film, and co-wrote/co-produced it with Michael Showalter, who also plays a lead role. Showalter credits Wain with being an active and observant Jew who infused the movie with an authentically Jewish sense of humor.[2]

His second feature film The Ten, starring Winona Ryder and Paul Rudd (and a large ensemble cast of well known actors) had a short theatrical run and was released on DVD on January 15, 2008.

Wain's third feature, Role Models, starring Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jane Lynch and Elizabeth Banks, was his first widely released film. Released in theaters on November 7, 2008, the film received positive reviews from critics and fans alike, as well as earning $19 million dollars on its opening weekend.[3] Its eventual worldwide gross was over $91 million.[citation needed]

Wain stars in a web series titled Wainy Days on the website My Damn Channel, which is in its fifth season as of December 2011. The series follows a fictionalized version of Wain through his everyday life as he tries to romance numerous women and discusses his problems with his friends at the sweatshop where he works. Elizabeth Banks, Jonah Hill, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Corddry, Thomas Lennon, Josh Charles, A.D. Miles, Paul Rudd, and Michael Ian Black, and various other Stella/The State/Wet Hot American Summer alum have all guest-starred in various episodes.

As one third of the comedy troupe Stella, Wain has hosted a long running NYC nightclub show, toured the United States, made a series of shorts, and created a 2005 series on Comedy Central.

Wain is featured as the voice of The Warden in the animated series Superjail!. He was a featured commentator in the I Love the 70s series, I Love the 90s Part Deux series, and the weekly VH1 show Best Week Ever. Wain has also dabbled in theatre. He, Michael Showalter and Joe Lo Truglio wrote the play SEX, aka Wieners and Boobs. With The State, Wain co-wrote the book State by State with The State. He has appeared in such movies as The Baxter, Keeping the Faith and Role Models.

Wain's 4th feature film, Wanderlust, was released on February 24, 2012. It starred Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Malin Akerman, Alan Alda, and many more. Wain directed the film, from a screenplay he wrote with Ken Marino, and has a cameo in the film as a TV weatherman.

Personal life[edit]

Wain grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. As a young person, Wain went to a summer camp in Maine, which Wet Hot American Summer was loosely based on.

Wain lives in New York City with his wife Zandy Hartig. They have two sons.

On an episode of the Comedy Bang Bang podcast, David revealed that he is an avid squash player. He plays 2-3 times a week.[4]

Filmography[edit]

Actor[edit]

Television
Film

Writer[edit]

Director[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]