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Lenny Clarke

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Lenny Clarke
Clarke in 2006
Born (1953-09-16) September 16, 1953 (age 71)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
MediumStand-up, film, television
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Massachusetts Boston
Years active1980–present
Spouse
Jennifer Miller
​
(m. 1996)​
WebsiteOfficial website

Lenny Clarke (born September 16, 1953) is an American comedian and actor famous for his thick Boston accent and role as Uncle Teddy on the series Rescue Me.

Early life

Clarke was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in September 16, 1953. In his early life, Lenny Clarke tried to campaign for mayor in Cambridge[1]

Career

He was the most famous "saloon comic" in Boston during the 1980s, the heyday of the Boston comedy scene.[2] The DVD release When Standup Stood Out (2006) details Clarke's early career and affiliations with other famous Boston comics, such as Steven Wright and Denis Leary, his good friends. In 1980, Clarke wrote and starred in a local television show Lenny Clarke's Late Show featuring Wright and Leary, in collaboration with Boston comedy writer Martin Olson. Clarke and Olson were roommates, and their apartment, known by comedians as "The Barracks", was a notorious "crash pad" for comics visiting Boston, per the film.

Clarke starred in his own short-lived network sitcom Lenny (1990), and in such TV shows as Contest Searchlight, The Job, The John Larroquette Show and It's All Relative and movies like Monument Ave., Fever Pitch and Southie. From 2004 to 2011, Clarke appeared in the recurring role of Uncle Teddy on the FX comedy-drama Rescue Me.

In 2006, Clarke and Leary appeared on television during a Red Sox telecast and, upon realizing that Red Sox 1st baseman Kevin Youkilis is Jewish, delivered a criticism of Mel Gibson's anti-semitic comments.[3]

In 2007, Clarke played the role of Ron Abbot on the short lived Fox comedy series The Winner. On May 16, 2007, the show was cancelled after six episodes due to low ratings.[citation needed]

Clarke is also an occasional guest on the WEEI radio shows in Boston.[citation needed] It was on this show that he announced he would be a regular on the 2009 Fox Sitcom Brothers as the racist neighbor who is married to a black woman. He wound up appearing in three episodes before the series was cancelled.[citation needed] In the 2011-12 TV season, he landed a role as the main character's father on the NBC mid-season replacement sitcom Are You There, Chelsea?.[citation needed]

On the evening of January 19, 2010, Clarke appeared on stage at the victory speech of Republican Senator elect from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, who was elected to the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy.[citation needed]

He had appeared on ESPN's 30 for 30 - 4 Days in October alongside ESPN sports and pop culture columnist Bill Simmons as a narrator giving insight on the 2004 ALCS comeback by the Red Sox against the New York Yankees.[citation needed]

Filmography

Films

Year Film Role Director Notes
1987 Smart Alex Steve Oedekerk
1988 The Wrong Guys Cab Driver Danny Bilson
1996 Two If by Sea Kelly Bill Bennett
1997 Meet Wally Sparks Joey Peter Baldwin
1998 Monument Ave. Skunk Ted Demme
Southie Fat Eddie John Shea
Getting Personal L.J. Ron Burrus
There's Something About Mary Fireman Peter and Bobby Farrelly
Rounders Savino John Dahl
2000 Me, Myself & Irene Barber Shop Car Owner Peter and Bobby Farrelly
Massholes Cop John Chase
2001 What's the Worst That Could Happen? Windham Sam Weisman
2002 Moonlight Mile Gordy Brad Silberling
2003 Stuck on You Jailhouse Comic Peter and Bobby Farrelly
Just Another Story Jelly GQ
2004 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Gruff Grocer Brad Silberling
2005 Fever Pitch Uncle Carl Peter and Bobby Farrelly
2007 Sides Lenny Franco Trombino
The Child King Tow Truck Owner Frank Kerr
2008 What Doesn't Kill You Hogie Brian Goodman
2010 Hosed Lenny Marc A. Dole Short film
2011 The Restaurant Mario Robert Scali Short film
2012 Here Comes the Boom Loud Dietrich Fan Frank Coraci
2014 Lazarus Rising Father Parsons John Depew
2015 Three Sheets Lucky Rufus Chaffee
2015 Ted 2 Cop Seth MacFarlane
2016 Ghostbusters Coffee House Ghost Paul Feig Extended Edition Only
2017 Stronger Uncle Bob David Gordon Green
2021 Halloween Kills Phil David Gordon Green

TV series

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Lenny Lenny Callahan Series Lead (1990–1991)
1991 The Sunday Comics Host
1993 The John Larroquette Show Officer Adam Hampton 1993–1996
1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave Casey O'Keefe 1.01 "Smooth Sailing"
1999 Touched by an Angel Larry 6.03 "The Last Day of the Rest of Your Life"
2001 The Job Frank Harrigan 2001–2002
2002 7th Heaven Lenny 7.06 "Regarding Eric"
2003 It's All Relative Mace O'Neil 2003–2004
2004 Rescue Me Uncle Teddy 2004–2011
2007 The Winner Ron Abbott
2009 Brothers Lenny 1.05 "Lenny"; 1.06 "Commercial/Coach DMV"; 1.11 "Christmas"
2010 'Til Death Mr. Donnelly 4.23 "Joy's Mom"
2011 Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe Rawlins Television film
2012 Are You There, Chelsea? Melvin Newman
2013 Clear History Poker Buddy Television film
DECo. Jim Zimmer 1.01 "Pilot"; 1.04 "The Visit"
2014 Sirens Johnny's Father 1.04 "Famous Last Words"; 1.06 "The Finger"; 1.10 "Shotgun Wedding"
Wicked Bites Himself 1.22 "Pitching in for Kids with the Boston Red Sox"
2019 SMILF Zaggy 2.01 "Sh*t Man, I've Literally Failed"
2020 Defending Jacob Food Truck Guy

Producer/executive producer

Year Title Notes
2002 Contest Searchlight

Writer

Year Title Notes
1985 Nothin' Goes Right Uncredited
1991 The Sunday Comics
2002 Comedy Central Presents 6.05 "Lenny Clarke"

References

  1. ^ "Lenny Clarke | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  2. ^ "www.jesterjournal.com Lenny Clarke live at Comix review". www.jesterjournal.com.
  3. ^ Tc (16 August 2006). "Rescue Me (from Mel Gibson)".
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