Daniel Tosh
Daniel Tosh | |
---|---|
Birth name | Daniel Dwight Tosh[1] |
Born | Boppard, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany[2] | May 29, 1975
Medium | Stand-up comedy, television |
Years active | 1997–present |
Genres | Black comedy, observational comedy, satire, sarcasm |
Notable works and roles | Tosh.0, Brickleberry |
Website | www |
Daniel Dwight Tosh (born May 29, 1975)[3] is an American comedian, television host, actor, writer, and executive producer. He is known for his deliberately offensive and controversial style of black comedy, as the host of the Comedy Central television show Tosh.0 and as the star of stand-up comedy tours and specials.[4]
Early life
Born in Boppard, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany,[5] Tosh grew up in Titusville, Florida, the son of a Presbyterian minister. After graduating from Astronaut High School in 1993, Tosh attended the University of Central Florida, graduating in December 1996 with a degree in marketing.[6] Among his first jobs was a telemarketer at Central Florida Research Park. He said later, "Hey, $15 an hour to annoy people! I really was not preparing myself for the future at all. I had interviews lined up. I sat through one real interview and I was like, 'I wouldn't hire me.' I left halfway through the orientation. That's the closest thing I ever got to a real job."[7] Tosh moved to Los Angeles, but attributes his decision to work in comedy to being raised in Florida, which he considers "flat, hot, and dumb."[8]
Career
He started touring the comedy club circuit almost immediately after graduating from college. He appeared as one of the "New Faces" at the 1998 Just for Laughs in Montreal. His act was televised in 2000 in Montreal at the Théâtre Saint-Denis.[9] Tosh's first big career break came in 2001 with a performance on the Late Show with David Letterman. He made appearances on programs such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Comedy Central's Premium Blend.[10] He hosted a local late-night comedy show in Florida called Tens,[11][12] and served as a spokesman in Taco Bell commercials.[13] Tosh has been a regular guest on radio shows such as The Bob & Tom Show, Loveline, and Kevin and Bean.
In 2003, he performed in his own 30-minute special on Comedy Central Presents. On June 17, 2007, Comedy Central aired his stand-up special: Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious. He hosted an episode of Comedy Central's Live at Gotham.
Tosh appeared in an episode of MTV's Punk'd as a criminal who broke into Mekhi Phifer's car.[14] He played a fictional version of himself on "Elevator" produced by HBO's Runawaybox[15] and had a small role as Cowboy Hat in the feature film The Love Guru starring Mike Myers. Of his own acting ability, Tosh says, "I’m not a good actor. I can play myself, and a much gayer version of myself. That’s about my range."[16]
Tosh had said he planned to end his career on his 38th birthday, May 29, 2013, if he had not by that time succeeded as a comedian. He said he would do this by committing suicide or retiring to the beach.[17][18] He kept a countdown clock on his website that gave the number of days, minutes, and seconds until his 38th birthday which is when "Daniel's Groundhog Day Ends," a reference to the Bill Murray film. Tosh has described a comic's routine life on the road as "Groundhog Day".[18]
His special, Daniel Tosh: Happy Thoughts, premiered on Comedy Central on March 6, 2011, with 3.25 million viewers and a 1.9/5 share.[19] It was later released on DVD.
Tosh was an executive producer of, and the voice of Malloy in, the Comedy Central animated sitcom Brickleberry. The show was cancelled after three seasons on January 7, 2015.[20]
In 2013, Forbes estimated Tosh's net worth at $11 million, tied for ninth place in its list of all top-earning comedians whose income is primarily from stage ticket sales.[21]
Tosh.0
Tosh's Comedy Central television show Tosh.0 premiered on June 5, 2009, based on showcasing Internet video clips.[22] His mocking humor is described as "envelope pushing" and frequently features punchlines which are intentionally self-deprecating, racist, sexist, or homophobic. Tosh's explanation of his non-politically correct humor is "I'm not a misogynistic and racist person...But I do find those jokes funny, so I say them."[23]
Personal life
Tosh has one brother and two sisters.[24] Tosh has stated that he suffers from social anxiety and that he has disfavored public speaking.[25][26]
Philanthropy
Tosh has participated in a show for the family of deceased comedian Greg Giraldo and for Alabama disaster relief.[27][28]
Tosh has hosted an annual stand-up show called "Tosh Saves The World" which has featured comedians such as Bo Burnham, Chelsea Peretti, Hannibal Buress and Kumail Nanjiani, with the proceeds going to various charities.[29]
Reception
In 2011, Forbes reported that Tosh's 60-date nationwide stand-up tour was sold out.[16] In 2014, he reportedly performed sold out shows.[30] In June 2014, Forbes reported its estimate of Tosh's average stand-up comedy show ticket price at $161.94.[31]
Discography
- True Stories I Made Up (Compact Disc, 2005)
- Completely Serious (DVD, 2007)
- Happy Thoughts (CD/DVD, March 8, 2011)
Stand-up specials
- Comedy Central Presents: Daniel Tosh (2003)
- Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious (2007)
- Daniel Tosh: Happy Thoughts (2011)
- Daniel Tosh: People Pleaser (2016)
Tours
- "Tosh Tour Twenty Ten" (2010)
- "Tosh Tour On Ice" (2011)
- "Tosh Tour Twenty Twelve" (2012)
- "Tosh Tour June Gloom" (2013)
- "The Great Nor'easter Tour" (2015)
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1998 | Sins of the City | DJ Dog Man |
1999 | Premium Blend | Performer |
2000 | Just for Laughs | Performer |
2001–2002 | Late Show with David Letterman | Performer |
2003 | Just for Laughs | Himself |
Comedy Central Presents | Stand-up Special | |
Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Performer | |
2004 | Punk'd | Criminal |
Best Week Ever | Panelist | |
2004–2009 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Performer |
2006 | Comics Unleashed | Panelist |
2007 | Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious | Stand-up Special |
2007–2008 | Elevator | Himself |
2008 | Live at Gotham | Host |
The Life & Times of Tim | Theo | |
2009–present | Tosh.0 | Host |
2010 | Supreme Court of Comedy | Performer |
2011 | Dave's Old Porn | Himself |
Daniel Tosh: Happy Thoughts | Stand-up Special | |
2012–2015 | Brickleberry | Malloy |
2016 | Daniel Tosh: People Pleaser | Stand-up Special |
Film
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2008 | The Love Guru | Cowboy Hat |
References
- ^ Loveline, November 5, 2009
- ^ "Daniel Tosh Interview". Independent.com. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ "Happy Birthday, Daniel Tosh!". Tosh.0 Blog. May 29, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ "Daniel Tosh". Dead-Frog. Retrieved June 17, 2007.
- ^ Daniel Tosh. "Enlightened Garbage." Comedy Central Records, 2005.
- ^ UCF Staff (April 6, 2011). "Comedian Daniel Tosh Spotted at UCF". UCF Today. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- ^ "Daniel Tosh: From Lake Claire to Comedy Central". Central Florida Future. November 8, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ "Daniel Tosh of Tosh.O Touring This Way". The Massachusetts Daily Collegian.
- ^ "Daniel Tosh Interview". Santa Barbara Independent. April 10, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
- ^ Cuneo, Jessamyn (January 2007). "Over The Edge With Daniel Tosh". American Superstar Magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2007.
- ^ "The Legend of WAMI-TV - Page 3". Ke4qpf.com. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ WAMI-DT
- ^ "This Week's Day-by-Day Picks". Houston Press. March 27, 2003. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "Punk'd Season 3 Episode 6". Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ Daniel Tosh Elevator – YouTube. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ^ a b Rose, Lacey (January 5, 2011). "Tosh.0's Daniel Tosh Pushes The Envelope... Further". Forbes. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ^ John Wenzel (February 20, 2009). "Daniel Tosh's jokes sneak up on you while you're already laughing". denverpost.com. The Denver Post. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
- ^ a b Delfin Vigil (August 26, 2007). "At The Top of His Stand-up Game". sfgate.com. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
- ^ Kissell, Rick (March 9, 2011). "'Idol' powers weekly Fox rout – Entertainment News, TV News, Media – Variety". Variety. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
- ^ Elizabeth Wagmeister. "'Brickleberry' Cancelled By Comedy Central After Three Seasons - Variety". Variety.
- ^ "The Top-Earning Comedians of 2013". Forbes. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ^ Frankel, Daniel (March 5, 2009). "Push for Tosh at Comedy Central". Variety.com. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
- ^ "Daniel Tosh at TCA: 'I'm not sexist or racist, I just like the jokes'". ew.com.
- ^ "Biography". DanielTosh.com. Retrieved June 17, 2007.
- ^ Kevin and Bean, January 11, 2011
- ^ Gadino, Dylan (November 7, 2005). "Daniel Tosh: Life in the Tosh Pit". Punchline Magazine. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
I've always had a social anxiety. I'm not a huge fan of speaking in front of people..
- ^ Zimbio, Daniel Tosh Joins perform Raise Money for Greg Giraldo's Family, July 3, 2011.
- ^ k.e. "Daniel Tosh on Alabama Tornado Disaster: God Hates Nick Saban!". The Hollywood Gossip.
- ^ "Portland Monthly Mag", Tosh Saves the World Comedy Show, November 2012
- ^ Weber, Carly (January 21, 2014). "REVIEW: Tosh talks back". Hoopla. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ^ Lawrence, Jesse (June 17, 2014). "Dave Chappelle Tickets For NYC Run Second Most Expensive Comedy Tour Of 2014". Forbes. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
External links
- 1975 births
- Living people
- American male film actors
- American stand-up comedians
- American male voice actors
- American television personalities
- American people of German descent
- Eastern Florida State College people
- German emigrants to the United States
- People from Titusville, Florida
- People from Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis
- University of Central Florida alumni
- 21st-century American male actors