Patton Oswalt
| Patton Oswalt | |
|---|---|
 Oswalt at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con |
|
| Born | January 27, 1969 Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand up, television, film |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Genres | Observational comedy, surreal humor, black comedy |
| Subject(s) | American culture, current events, pop culture |
| Influences | Jonathan Winters, Richard Pryor,[1] Emo Philips, Bugs Bunny, Blaine Capatch, Bill Hicks, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jay Leno, Sam Kinison, Steve Martin,[2] Louis C.K.[3] |
| Spouse | Michelle Eileen McNamara (2005–;[4] 1 daughter) |
| Notable works and roles | Spence Olchin in The King of Queens Remy in Ratatouille "Seymour" in The Weird Al Show' |
| Website | PattonOswalt.com |
Patton Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and voice actor known for roles such as Spencer Olchin in the popular sitcom The King of Queens, and voicing Remy from the film Ratatouille.
Contents |
Early life [edit]
Oswalt was born January 27,[5][6] 1969,[7] in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Carla and Larry J. Oswalt, a career United States Marine Corps officer.[4] He was named after General George S. Patton.[8] While a military brat, he later lived in Ohio and Tustin, California, before settling in Sterling, Virginia.[9] He is a 1987 graduate of Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Virginia and later attended the College of William and Mary, where he majored in English[10] and was initiated into the Alpha Theta Chapter of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.[11]
Career [edit]
Oswalt first began performing standup comedy in the late 1980s or early 1990s, by his own reckoning.[12] After writing for MADtv and starring in his own 1996 comedy special for HBO, he went on to garner notable roles in films and television shows. His most prominent and long-running role was as Spence Olchin on The King of Queens. His first starring film role was as the voice of Remy, the lead character in the 2007 Pixar film Ratatouille. He has also appeared in smaller roles in such films as Magnolia and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. He lent his voice as in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as a caller on the WTCR show "The Tight End Zone", and was the voice of a caller on "Chatterbox" on LCFR in the game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. He was also the voice of a reporter on "New World Order", a radio show on VCPR in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
Oswalt wrote the comic book story "JLA: Welcome to the Working Week", a backup story in Batman #600; a story for Dwight T. Albatross's The Goon Noir #01 and a story for Masks: Too Hot for TV. Expanding his voice artist repertoire, he began voicing the villainous character "Tobey" on PBS Kids GO! series WordGirl in 2007. He also appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner. In August 2007, he appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav. In 2007, he appeared on an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, "The Original Fry Cook", as Jim. He also appears as Carl, the Corndog Hut's mascot in American Hi-Fi's music video for "Another Perfect Day". He also appears in an episode of Static Shock. On June 27, 2007, Oswalt was a special guest on the Emeril Live program on the Food Network to promote Ratatouille. Other recent appearances include an episode of Venture Bros. where he voiced an aging boy adventurer Robin parody. In 2008 Oswalt moderated a reunion panel of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 cast at the San Diego Comic-Con International.
In 2009, Oswalt played Paul Aufiero, the leading role in Robert D. Siegel's 2009 directorial debut, Big Fan. He was to star in a 2010 Broadway revival of Lips Together, Teeth Apart.[13] However, the show was postponed then eventually canceled due to Megan Mullally's departure from the production when the director denied her request to replace Oswalt due to his lack of stage experience.[14]
He starred in the Showtime drama The United States of Tara as Neil, an employee of Four Winds Landscaping. He also provides the voice of Thrasher, a robot protagonist from the new Cartoon Network show, Robotomy.
In January 2011, Oswalt released his first book, Zombie Spaceship Wasteland.
In November 2011, Oswalt played the role of Hurlan Heartshe in the surrealist comedy miniseries The Heart, She Holler on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim. Also in November 2011, Oswalt was depicted blowing the second-ever puff of 3D pot smoke in A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas. In December 2011, Oswalt played Matt Freehauf in Jason Reitman's black comedy Young Adult.
He originated the role of Billy Stanhope on "Two and a Half Men" in 2012. In 2013, he appeared in a CollegeHumor skit as the Penguin, a Batman villain.
Stand-up comedy [edit]
Oswalt's stand-up comedy covers topics ranging from pop culture frivolity such as comic book supervillains and 1980s glam metal to deeper social issues like American excess, materialism, foreign policy and religion. He also discusses his atheism in his stand-up. In 2004, Oswalt released a comedy album entitled Feelin' Kinda Patton and later that year a longer, unedited version of the same performance entitled 222 (Live & Uncut), both through the United Musicians collective, and a stand-up special, No Reason to Complain. He is also on a split EP called Patton vs. Alcohol vs. Zach vs. Patton with Zach Galifianakis and is featured on two Un-Cabaret compilations, "The Un & Only" and "The Good, the Bad and the Drugly". On July 10, 2007, Patton released his second CD Werewolves and Lollipops on Sub Pop records.
In 2004, Oswalt put together the Comedians of Comedy tour, made up of modern alt-comics Zach Galifianakis, Brian Posehn and Maria Bamford. The tour performed at smaller, more intimate indie rock venues instead of traditional (and expensive) comedy clubs. The Fall 2004 tour was documented in a 2005 film of the same name, and was followed by a six-episode Comedy Central series based on the Summer 2005 tour. This tour featured special guest appearances from comedians such as Blaine Capatch, David Cross, Rob Gasper, Bobby Tisdale and Todd Barry. Subsequent incarnations of the tour have included Eugene Mirman and Morgan Murphy.
In 2004 Oswalt's stand up material was featured on Comedy Central's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties. That same year a stand up DVD called No Reason to Complain was released. Oswalt appeared several times as a "lawyer" on Lewis Black's Root of All Evil. In the episode "Ultimate Fighting vs. Blogging", he argued that the popular influence of blogging has been evil, and in his closing argument, he performed a rick roll on the audience. He developed much of the material for his closing arguments on the program.
On February 28, 2009, Oswalt recorded his third comedy album at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University in Washington D.C. It premiered on Comedy Central as Patton Oswalt: My Weakness is Strong on August 23, 2009, and was released on DVD August 25, 2009.[15]
Oswalt's latest album, Patton Oswalt: Finest Hour, was released on September 19, 2011. The extended and uncensored DVD of this special was released in April 2012, a few days after its television premiere on Comedy Central.[16][17]
Personal life [edit]
Oswalt married writer Michelle Eileen McNamara on September 24, 2005. Their daughter, Alice Rigney Oswalt, was born on April 15, 2009.[18]
Oswalt is an atheist,[19] and has referenced his atheism in his comedy specials, No Reason to Complain, Feelin' Kind of Patton, My Weakness is Strong, and Finest Hour. It was also referenced by Katt Williams in the opening act of The Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav.
He is also a fan of Metalcore music.[20]
In 2013, he teamed up with PETA and spoke out against chaining pet dogs, and sent a letter to the Mayor and members of the city council of Newport News, Virginia urging them to ban the practice.[21]
Discography [edit]
Albums [edit]
| Year | Title | Label | Chart Positions[22] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 200 | US Comedy | US Digital | US Indie | US Heat | |||
| 2003 | 222 (Live & Uncut) | Chunklet Magazine | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | Feelin' Kinda Patton | United Musicians | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | Werewolves and Lollipops | Sub Pop | 137 | 1 | — | 18 | 4 |
| 2009 | My Weakness Is Strong | Warner Bros. | 67 | 1 | 5 | — | — |
| 2011 | Finest Hour | Comedy Central Records | 71 | 1 | – | 12 | — |
EPs [edit]
- Patton vs. Alcohol vs. Zach vs. Patton (2005) with Zach Galifianakis[23]
- Melvins/Patton Oswalt split 7 (2006) with The Melvins[24]
- Comedians of Comedy Tour 3"CD (2006)
- The Pennsylvania Macaroni Company (2006) with Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford, and Eugene Mirman[25]
- Frankensteins and Gumdrops (2008) Available during the WFMU pledge drive
Compilation album appearances [edit]
- Beth Lapides' Un-Cabaret – The Un & Only (2002)
- Beth Lapides' Un-Cabaret – The Good, The Bad, and the Drugly (2006)
- Comedy Death-Ray (2007)[26]
DVDs [edit]
- No Reason to Complain (DVD) (2004)
- My Weakness Is Strong (DVD) (2009)
- Finest Hour (DVD) (2012)
DVD appearances [edit]
- Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2 DVD (2004)[27]
- The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the El Rey (2005)
- The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the Troubadour (2007)
Filmography [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Small Doses | Television program | |
| 1994 | Seinfeld | Clerk | Television program Episode: "The Couch" |
| 1995 | MADtv | Crip in Wheelchair | Television program |
| 1996 | NewsRadio | Guy | Television program Episode: "The Trainer" |
| 1996–1998 | Mr. Show with Bob and David | Famous Mortimer Man in Restaurant |
Television program Episodes: "Patriotism, Pepper, and Professionalism" "Operation Hell on Earth" |
| 1997 | The Weird Al Show | Seymour | Television program Episode: "Bad Influence" |
| 1997 | HBO Half Hour Comedy Hour | Himself | Stand-up special |
| 1998 | Pulp Comics: Margaret Cho | Various | Television film |
| 1998 | Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist | Patton | Television program Voice only Episodes: "Miles Away" "Movies" |
| 1998–2007 | The King of Queens | Spence Olchin | Television program 122 episodes |
| 1999 | Comedy Central Presents | Himself | Stand-up special |
| 2000 | Super Nerds | Leslie | Television film |
| 2000 | Batman Beyond | Eldon Michaels | Television program Voice only Episode: "Sentries of the Last Cosmos" |
| 2000–2004 | Static Shock | Specs/Spectral | Television program Voice only Episodes: "The New Kid" "Trouble Squared" "Where the Rubber Meets the Road" |
| 2002 | The Man Show | Weepum Buzzkillus | Television program Uncredited Episode: "Juggy Car Wash" |
| 2002 | Home Movies | Helmet | Television program Voice only Episode: "Renaissance" |
| 2002–2003 | Crank Yankers | Boomer | Television program Voice only |
| 2003–2006 | Aqua Teen Hunger Force | DP Skeeter Ezekial |
Television program Voice only Episodes: "Frat Aliens" "The Last One" "Ezekial" |
| 2003–2007 | Kim Possible | Professor Dementor/Professor DeMenz | Television program Voice only 10 episodes |
| 2004 | The Fairly OddParents | Crimson Chin Writer | Television program Episode: "The Big Superhero Wish" |
| 2004 | Tom Goes to the Mayor | Zynx | Television program Voice only Episode: "Pioneer Island" |
| 2004–2009 | Reno 911! | Dungeon Master Kenny Rogers Assassin Boozehammer of Galen Car Crash Movie Snob Jillet-Ben Coe |
Television program 10 episodes |
| 2005 | Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker | Carter Bogie | Television program Episode: "Kids Putt-Putt/Double Dutch" |
| 2006 | Channel 101 | Lenny Loves Carbs Guy | Television film |
| 2006 | Clark and Michael | Realtor | Internet television program |
| 2006 | The Amazing Screw-On Head | Mr. Groin | Television film Voice only |
| 2006 | Squidbillies | Television program Voice only Episode: "Survival of the Dumbest" |
|
| 2006–2007 | The Batman | Cosmo Krank/Toymaker Marty Slack |
Television program Voice only Episodes: "Cash for Toys" "The Metal Face of Comedy" |
| 2007 | Human Giant | Frat Boy Let's Go Fan The Wire Fan |
Television program Episodes: "Let's Go" "Ice Cream Party" "24 Hour Marathon" |
| 2007 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Jim | Television program Voice only Episode: "The Original Fry Cook/Night Light" |
| 2007 | Reaper | Leon | Television program Episode: "Leon" |
| 2007–2008 | American Dad! | Various roles | Television program Voice only Episodes: "Frannie 911" "A.T. Abused Terrestrial" |
| 2007–2008 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Joshua Beard Beaver Boys Doctor |
Television show Episodes: "Dolls" "Rascals" "Brownies" |
| 2007–2012 | WordGirl | Tobey Robot 4th Grader Irate Driver |
Television program Voice only 25 episodes |
| 2008 | Lewis Black's Root of All Evil | Himself | Television program 6 episodes |
| 2009 | Flight of the Conchords | Elton John Impersonator | Television program Episode: "Prime Minister" |
| 2009 | Iron Chef America | Himself | Television program Episode: "Symon vs. Nawab: Pineapple" |
| 2009 | The Venture Bros. | Wonderboy | Television program Voice only Episode: "Self-Medication" |
| 2009 | Dollhouse | Joel Mynor | Television program Episodes: "Man on the Street" "A Love Supreme" |
| 2009–2010 | Community | Male Nurse Jackie | Television program Episodes: "Home Economics" "The Psychology of Letting Go" |
| 2009–2011 | United States of Tara | Neil | Television program 21 episodes |
| 2009–2011 | Bored to Death | Howard Baker | Television program Episodes: "The Case of the Beautiful Blackmailer" "The Gowanus Canal Has Gonorrhea!" "Gumball!" "I Keep Taking Baths Like Lady Macbeth" |
| 2010 | The Sarah Silverman Program | Vincent Van Guy | Television program Episode: "A Good Van is Hard to Find" |
| 2010 | Neighbors from Hell | Pazuzu | Television program Voice only 10 episodes |
| 2010 | Caprica | Baxter Sarno | Television program 6 episodes |
| 2010 | Glenn Martin, DDS | Volunteer Center Guy | Television program Voice only Episode: "Volunteers" |
| 2010–2011 | Robotomy | Thrasher | Television program Voice only 10 episodes |
| 2011 | Futurama | Unattractive Giant Monster | Television program Voice only Episode: "Benderama" |
| 2011 | Jon Benjamin Has a Van | Steven Drears | Television program Episode: "House on the Lake" |
| 2011 | The Heart, She Holler | Hurlan | Miniseries |
| 2011 | Raising Hope | Rubin | Television program Episode: "Bro-gurt" |
| 2012 | The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange | Clyde the Pac Man Ghost | Television program Voice only Episode: "Generic Holiday Special" |
| 2012 | Bob's Burgers | Moody Foodie | Television program Voice only Episode: "Moody Foodie" |
| 2012 | Metalocalypse | Television program Voice only Episodes: "Dethcamp" "Dethvanity" |
|
| 2012 | Two and a Half Men | Billy Stanhope | Television series Episodes: "The War Against Gingivitis" "Oh Look! Al-Qaeda!" "A Big Bag of Dog" "Run, Steven Staven! Run!" |
| 2012 | The Simpsons | T-Rex | Television program Voice only Episode: "The Day the Earth Stood Cool" |
| 2012 | Burn Notice | Colin Schmidt | Television series Episodes: "Down & Out" "Best Laid Plans" "Odd Man Out" |
| 2013 | Portlandia | Thor83 | Television program Episodes: "Nina's Birthday" "Missionaries" |
| 2013 | Justified | Constable Bob Sweeney | Television program |
| 2013 | The Newsroom | Jonas Pfeiffer | Television program |
| 2013 | Parks and Recreation | Garth Blundon | Television program Episode: "Article Two" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories | Radio Caller on Heartland Values with Nurse Bob | Voice only |
| 2006 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories | New World Order Caller/Reporter | Voice only |
| 2007 | Ratatouille | Remy | Voice only |
| 2007 | Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am | DP Skeeter |
Voice only |
| 2010 | Dead Rising 2 | Randy Tugman/Survivors | Voice only |
| 2012 | Kinect Fun Labs: Kinect Rush - A Disney Pixar Adventures: Snapshot | Remy | Voice only |
| 2013 | Metro: Last Light | Voice only |
- Music video appearances
- American Hi-Fi – "Another Perfect Day" (2001)
- The Ettes – "Excuse" (2011)
Bibliography [edit]
- JLA: Welcome to the Working Week (DC Comics, 2003)
- The Overrated Book (co-author with Henry H. Owings, 2006)
- The Goon noir (co-author with Thomas Lennon, Steve Niles and Eric Powell, 2007)
- The Rock Bible: Unholy Scripture for Fans & Bands (co-author with Henry H. Owings, 2008)
- Serenity: Float Out (Dark Horse Comics, 2010)
- Zombie Spaceship Wasteland (2011)
References [edit]
- ^ "aspecialthing.com :: View topic – THE AST INTERVIEW: PATTON OSWALT". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ^ "The AST Interview: Patton Oswalt". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ "Patton Oswalt: The AST Interview". Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ a b "Michelle McNamara, Patton Oswalt". The New York Times. September 25, 2005.
- ^ Abernathy, Samantha (January 7, 2012). "One For The Road: Have A KFC Bowl For Patton Oswalt's Birthday". Gothamist.
- ^ Tobey, Matt "Happy Birthday, Patton Oswalt!". CC: Insider. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- ^ "Patton Oswalt: Biography, Latest News & Videos". TV Guide. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- ^ Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! (2011-10-15). "Comedian Patton Oswalt Plays Not My Job". NPR. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
- ^ Oswalt, Patton (2011). Zombie Spaceship Wasteland. Scribner. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-4391-4908-9.
- ^ Chaney, Jen (2011-12-15). "Patton Oswalt gets philosophical, but he’s still funny". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
- ^ "Phi Kappa Tau Hall of Fame". phikappatau.org. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
- ^ He relates this in 2009's Patton Oswalt: My Weakness is Strong.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (Dec 22, 2009). "Megan Mullally and Patton Oswalt Will Have Lips Together, Teeth Apart on Broadway". Playbill.com. Retrieved Mar 10, 2010.
- ^ Healy, Patrick.McNally Play Is Postponed After Mullally’s Departure"The New York Times, March 25, 2010
- ^ The date of the DVD release was mentioned during commercial breaks the night of the special's Comedy Central premiere on August 23, 2009.
- ^ Hartlaub, Peter. "Sf gate - DVD review: 'Finest Hour' by Patton Oswalt". Sf gate. Sf gate. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ L. Ray, Austin. "Patton Oswalt Finest Hour special review". The Spit Take. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ Leckart, Steven (June 26, 2007). "Ratatouille Star Patton Oswalt on Geeks vs. Nerds". Wired. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
- ^ Koski, Genevieve (August 31, 2011). "Interview: Patton Oswalt". The A.V. Club. Onion Inc. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
- ^ 2 weeks ago. "Every Time I Die | Ex Lives". Riffermadness.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
- ^ "Patton Oswalt Tells Newport News To Unchain The Dogs". The Daily Press. 9 January 2013.
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/artist/328332/patton+oswalt/chart?f=315
- ^ "Chunklet". Chunklet. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ POSTED FRIDAY 10.06.06 (2008-10-22). "Chunklet". Chunklet. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ "Chunklet". Chunklet. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ Comedy Death Ray. "Comedy Death Ray: Music: Various Artists". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2 by Various Artists[dead link]
- ^ "Palm Springs Film Festival Names 'Young Adult' for Vanguard Award". indieWire. 2011-12-13. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
- ^ "SBIFF 2012: Virtuosos Include Hilarious Patton Oswalt, Shirtless Andy Serkis". The Hollywood Reporter. 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
- ^ "Central Ohio Critics Award Nominations". indieWire. 2012-01-03. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
External links [edit]
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Patton Oswalt |
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Patton Oswalt |
- Official website
- Patton Oswalt on Myspace
- Patton Oswalt at the Internet Movie Database
- Patton Oswalt at Comedy Central
- Brand new audio interview on The Sound of Young America from PRI.
- Interview with Oswalt from August 2006 on public radio program The Sound of Young America
- Random Rules: Patton Oswalt a feature from The A.V. Club
- Hustler Interview: Patton Oswalt
- IMPOSE interview
- Note Books essay on Largehearted Boy
- Reading John Collier's "The Chaser" at Daytrotter
- Interview by "Rotten.com"
- 'Getting Late' interview by Pete Dominick on Sirius Radio
- "Finest Hour" review
- 1969 births
- 20th-century American actors
- 21st-century American actors
- Actors from Virginia
- American film actors
- American atheists
- American stand-up comedians
- American television actors
- American television writers
- American voice actors
- American video game actors
- American comics writers
- College of William & Mary alumni
- Living people
- People from Burbank, California
- People from Portsmouth, Virginia
- People from Loudoun County, Virginia
- Sub Pop artists
- Warner Bros. Records artists
- People from Orange County, California
- Actors from Ohio
- Actors from California
- Military brats
