David Spade

David Spade
Spade on June 3, 2008
Birth name	David Wayne Spade
Born	(1964-07-22) July 22, 1964 Birmingham, Michigan
Nationality	American
Years active	1987–present
Children	Harper (born 2008)
Website	DavidSpade.com

David Wayne Spade (born July 22, 1964) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, television personality, voice artist, and comedian. He rose to fame in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, then began a successful acting career in both film and television. He has starred or co-starred in the films Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, Joe Dirt, Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2, among others. He has also been part of an ensemble cast of two long-running sitcoms: Just Shoot Me! (1997-2003) and Rules of Engagement (2007-2013). He also starred as C. J. Barnes in the sitcom 8 Simple Rules from 2004-2005. Spade also notably providing the voice of Kuzco in the 2000 animated film The Emperor's New Groove and its direct-to-video sequel, Kronk's New Groove.

Spade is known for a comedic style, in both his stand-up material and acting roles, that involves a combination of sarcasm and self-deprecation.

Early life, high school and college

Spade was born on July 22, 1964 in Birmingham, Michigan, and is the son of Judith J. (née Meek), a writer and magazine editor, and Wayne M. Spade, a sales representative. His brothers are Bryan and Andy Spade; Andy is the husband of designer Kate Spade.

Spade and his family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, when he was four years old. His parents divorced soon thereafter, and he and his brothers were raised for the most part by their mother, in relative poverty.

Spade attended Saguaro High School and later Scottsdale Community College, before transferring to Arizona State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business in 1986. He also was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Spade performed standup at the university's long-running sketch comedy show, Farce Side Comedy Hour, on numerous occasions. In the mid-80s he also did "stand up" in the Monday night comedy show at Greasy Tony's Pizza in Tempe, Arizona.

Career

With the help of friend and fellow comedian Dennis Miller, he joined Saturday Night Live in 1990 as a regular cast member and writer. While there, he became known for his brand of sarcasm, and his smart aleck characters in a number of sketches were hits. Some of them include a flight attendant for "Total Bastard Airlines" who bids a perceived-as-unpleasant "Buh-Bye" to each passenger upon disembarking; a receptionist for Dick Clark who, as a matter of policy, asks people indiscriminately "And you are?"; and the sarcastic "Hollywood Minute" reporter who communicates with celebrities by means of one-liners. Other characters include Christy Henderson from the Gap Girls, and Karl from the Karl's Video sketches. He also did impressions of various celebrities, including Brad Pitt and Michael J. Fox. According to interviews with Spade, most of the material that he wrote early in his time at SNL was given to Dana Carvey to perform on the show. Due to his relatively low work rate, he was in danger of being fired as a performer, until the "Hollywood Minute" segment secured his position.

The most infamous moment of "Hollywood Minute" occurred in 1996, when a picture appeared on-screen of Eddie Murphy, himself a former Saturday Night Live cast member, and Spade exclaimed, "Look children, it's a falling star. Make a wish!", referring to Murphy's lack of box office success at the time, most recently with the film Vampire in Brooklyn. The crack led to audience boos, and made Murphy upset at both Spade and SNL for years afterwards.

Though most of the cast left in 1995, Spade stayed the following year to help in the transition with the new cast. He then quit in 1996 citing "burnout" as the reason. Said Spade, "When I leave, it will be to ease the pressure, not to be a movie star. You can't stay there forever – it kills you inside. It ages you in dog years. It's a tough place." He returned to host an episode in 1998 and another in 2005.

Spade's attempt at a film career met with success. He appeared with fellow Saturday Night Live cast member and friend Chris Farley in two buddy comedy films, Tommy Boy (1995) and Black Sheep (1996). The two were planning a third film together when Farley died of a drug overdose in 1997 at the age of 33.

Although he received several offers to star in his own TV shows, he turned them down and joined the ensemble cast of Steven Levitan's office sitcom Just Shoot Me!, opposite Laura San Giacomo and George Segal, which ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003. He played a sarcastic receptionist, Dennis Finch.

While appearing on Just Shoot Me, Spade had his first solo starring role as the title character in the 2001 film Joe Dirt, which was a modest box office success. The film was co-written by Spade and Fred Wolf.

Spade starred again in the 2003 film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, again co-written by Spade and Wolf. It was the first of many films in which Spade has appeared that were produced by another Saturday Night Live castmate, Adam Sandler. Most notable among these are the films Grown Ups (2010) and Grown Ups 2 (2013), both of which included Spade and Sandler among the lead roles, and both of which were major box office hits.

Spade hosted both the Teen Choice Awards and SpikeTV's Video Game Awards in 2003. He voiced characters on several episodes of Beavis and Butt-head, and produced his own TV series Sammy in 2000. From 2002 to 2006 Spade regularly appeared in commercials for Capital One (with Nate Torrence) where he played the employee of a fictional rival company whose policy toward honoring credit card rewards (and just about everything else) is "always no." In 2004, he joined the cast of 8 Simple Rules, following the death of the sitcom's star, John Ritter, for the show's third and final season.

He hosted the Comedy Central TV show The Showbiz Show with David Spade for three seasons, from September 2005 to October 2007. On the show Spade made fun of Hollywood and celebrities in a manner similar to his old "Hollywood Minute" segment on SNL.

Spade was one of the voice talents for the 2006 video game The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning. He provided the voice of Spyro's dragonfly companion, Sparx.

From 2007 to 2013, Spade starred as Russell Dunbar in the ensemble CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement.

In 2010 he worked with TBS on a pilot for an animated series based on Joe Dirt, but it was eventually dropped.

Awards and honors

Spade received an Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations for his role as Dennis Finch on Just Shoot Me!.

On September 5, 2003, Spade received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Personal life

Spade has one daughter named Harper with Playboy Playmate Jillian Grace. Spade confirmed his paternity on September 3, 2008.

Spade is very sensitive to light. The combination of bright lights on-set and working under sunlight while filming Black Sheep caused permanent damage to his eyes. Spade says of his condition: "I have to wear a hat even indoors and flashes in particular freak me out. I even have to make them turn down the lights in the make-up trailers. I've become such a pain in the butt with this light-sensitive thing, it's a wonder they don't just shoot me!"

In December 2005, Spade donated $100,000 to the police department in his hometown of Phoenix, as part of a program designed to provide patrol officers with rifles. Spade's contribution will buy 50 AR-15 semi-automatic rifles for Phoenix police officers.

On May 20, 2013, he donated $200,000 for the Oklahoma tornado relief program.

In 2014, Spade donated $100,000 toward the ALS ice bucket challenge.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1987	Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol	Kyle
1992	Light Sleeper	Theological Cokehead
1993	Coneheads	Eli Turnbull
1994	Reality Bites	The "Wienerschnitzel" Manager
1994	PCU	Rand McPherson
1995	Tommy Boy	Richard Hayden	MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo
1996	Black Sheep	Steven "Steve" Dodds
1996	A Very Brady Sequel	Sergio
1996	Beavis and Butt-head Do America	uncredited	voice role
1997	8 Heads in a Duffel Bag	Ernest "Ernie" Lipscomb
1998	Senseless	Scott Thorpe
1998	The Rugrats Movie	Ranger Frank "Franklin"	voice role
1999	Lost & Found	Dylan Ramsey	writer
2000	Loser	The Video Store Clerk
2000	The Emperor's New Groove	Emperor Kuzco / Llama Kuzco	voice role Nominated - Kid's Choice Award
2001	Joe Dirt	Joseph "Joe" Dirt	writer
2003	Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star	Dickie Roberts	writer
2005	Racing Stripes	Scuzz	voice role
2005	Lil' Pimp	Principal Nixon	voice role Direct-to-video
2005	Kronk's New Groove	Emperor Kuzco	voice role Direct-to-video
2006	Grandma's Boy	Shilo
2006	The Benchwarmers	Richie Goodman	Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Best Choice Chemistry
2007	I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry	Transvestite Groupie
2010	Grown Ups	Marcus Higgins
2011	Jack & Jill	Monica	Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress
2011	Snowflake, the White Gorilla	Jenga	voice role
2012	Hotel Transylvania	Griffin the Invisible Man	voice role
2013	Jungle Master	Boss Cain	voice role
2013	Grown Ups 2	Marcus Higgins
2015	Space Breakout	Xanor	voice role
2015	Hotel Transylvania 2	Griffin the Invisible Man	Filming, voice role
2015	Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser	Joseph "Joe" Dirt	Filming

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1988	The Facts of Life	Scott	Season 9, Episode 22: "Big Apple Blues"
1989	Baywatch	B. J.	Season 1, Episode 3: "Second Wave"
1990	ALF	Larry Slotkin	Season 4, Episode 14: "Make 'em Laugh"
1990	Monsters	Teddy	Season 3, Episode 7: "Small Blessings"
1990	Born to Be Mild	Stage Assistant	uncredited; cameo
1990–1996	Saturday Night Live	Various	writer and cast member from 1990–1996 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program (1990-1993) Hosted episodes in 1998 and 2005.
1992	The Larry Sanders Show	Himself	Season 1, Episode 2: "The Promise"
1994	Beavis and Butt-Head	Mr. Manners Mr. Candy Ticket Attendant	voice role; uncredited; cast member from 1994–1997
1997–2003	Just Shoot Me!	Dennis Finch	Nominated - Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV Nominated - TV Land Award for Co-Worker You're Least Likely to Invite Out for Happy Hour Nominated - American Comedy Award
1998	David Spade: Take the Hit	Himself	Stand up comedy special
2000	Sammy	Sammy Blake James Blake	voice role; canceled after 2 episodes
2002	Greg The Bunny	Himself	cameo
2003	2003 Spike Video Game Awards	Host	TV special
2004	Father of the Pride	Tommy the Coyote	voice role
2004–2005	8 Simple Rules	C. J. Barnes	main cast member from 2004–2005
2005–2007	The Showbiz Show with David Spade	Himself
2007–2013	Rules of Engagement	Russell Dunbar	main cast; nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Comedy
2011	Entourage	Himself	Season 8 Episode 6 "The Big Bang"
2012	Hot in Cleveland	Christopher	Season 3 episode 24: "Blow Outs"
2014	The Spoils of Babylon	Talc Munson	Episode 4: "The Foundling"
2014	David Spade: My Fake Problems	Himself	Stand up comedy special
2014	The Goldbergs	Foto Shop owner	Season 2 episode 1 "Love is a Mixtape"

Music videos

Year	Title	Performer	Notes
1993	"Buddy"	Adam Sandler

Video games

Year	Title	Character	Notes
2000	The Emperor's New Groove (video game)	Kuzco/Llama Kuzco
2006	The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning	Sparx

External links

• Official website
• David Spade at IMDb